It's the Blue Moon release for March 2012 !!!
WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 31, 2012
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. My tastings are based on MVC (Modal
Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices
are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does
NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers or product
consultants. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-tasting.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. My tastings are based on MVC (Modal
Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices
are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does
NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers or product
consultants. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-tasting.
THIS IS THE BLUE MOON RELEASE !!
Recommended for the Blue Moon (drink it tonight) is: Chateau de
Trinquevedel Tavel Rose 2011, delicious flavours and FRESH like you
wouldn't believe (only 7 months old). Perfect colour, 13.5% ABV.
+729947, $17.95, QPR: 89.
Trinquevedel Tavel Rose 2011, delicious flavours and FRESH like you
wouldn't believe (only 7 months old). Perfect colour, 13.5% ABV.
+729947, $17.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Cave Spring Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer 2010 VQA Beamsville Bench:
good MVC for the grape, but also with a perfumed finish. +302059,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
2. First Press Chardonnay 2010 Napa: standard but well developed
California Napa Chardonnay, 14.5% ABV. +199810, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Zuccardi Serie A Chardonnay/Viognier 2010 Mendoza: a sipper, off-dry
fruity chardonnay, apples, peaches and lemons dominate. +262097,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Auntsfield Long Cow Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough: delicious,
with plenty of MVC zest skewed to the green green grass of home.
+663286, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Roquetaillade La Grange Blanc 2010 Graves: youthful and
useful, sip or food, good body, fab price. +240374, $14.95, QPR: 89
6. Velenosi Villa Angela Pecorino 2010 Offida Marche: good orchard
fruit in tone, slight nuttiness, long finish, body, 13% ABV, much
better than pinot grigio at this price level. +173252, 13.95, PR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Cave Spring Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer 2010 VQA Beamsville Bench:
good MVC for the grape, but also with a perfumed finish. +302059,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
2. First Press Chardonnay 2010 Napa: standard but well developed
California Napa Chardonnay, 14.5% ABV. +199810, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Zuccardi Serie A Chardonnay/Viognier 2010 Mendoza: a sipper, off-dry
fruity chardonnay, apples, peaches and lemons dominate. +262097,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Auntsfield Long Cow Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough: delicious,
with plenty of MVC zest skewed to the green green grass of home.
+663286, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Roquetaillade La Grange Blanc 2010 Graves: youthful and
useful, sip or food, good body, fab price. +240374, $14.95, QPR: 89
6. Velenosi Villa Angela Pecorino 2010 Offida Marche: good orchard
fruit in tone, slight nuttiness, long finish, body, 13% ABV, much
better than pinot grigio at this price level. +173252, 13.95, PR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Cosentino Cigarzin Zinfandel 2008 California: time for a stogy? This
is thick, juicy and ready, with good aging. 15.4% ABV, chocolate and
mocha overlays. +269340, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Rodney Strong Merlot 2008 Sonoma County: minty bacon-y, plumy, not
your typical merlot. +497933, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Shiraz 2009 Victoria: deep, ready now, much
like an Hermitage. +91488, $19.95, QP: 90.
4. Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 WO Western Cape: heavy-
heavy rap music, twist top, 15% ABV heat. Black fruit and eucalyptus.
+205245, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Fleur Terrien 2009 Lussac Saint-Emilion: easy drinking
merlot-based Bordeaux, affordable. +199059, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Gerard Bertrand Minervois Syrah/Grenache 2009: fresh, syrah
component dominates, black fruit throughout, finishes with some acid
for food. Gold Medalist. 14% ABV. +95284, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Taurino Riserva Salice Salentino 2008 Puglia: nicely aged, with some
earthiness and Italianate complexity, 14% ABV. +177527, $14.95, QPR:
89.
8. Albino Armani Egle Ripassso Valpolicella Superiore 2008: the Blue
Moon Armani-suited Ripasso of the Month. +247916, 5.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Cosentino Cigarzin Zinfandel 2008 California: time for a stogy? This
is thick, juicy and ready, with good aging. 15.4% ABV, chocolate and
mocha overlays. +269340, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Rodney Strong Merlot 2008 Sonoma County: minty bacon-y, plumy, not
your typical merlot. +497933, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Shiraz 2009 Victoria: deep, ready now, much
like an Hermitage. +91488, $19.95, QP: 90.
4. Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 WO Western Cape: heavy-
heavy rap music, twist top, 15% ABV heat. Black fruit and eucalyptus.
+205245, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Fleur Terrien 2009 Lussac Saint-Emilion: easy drinking
merlot-based Bordeaux, affordable. +199059, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Gerard Bertrand Minervois Syrah/Grenache 2009: fresh, syrah
component dominates, black fruit throughout, finishes with some acid
for food. Gold Medalist. 14% ABV. +95284, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Taurino Riserva Salice Salentino 2008 Puglia: nicely aged, with some
earthiness and Italianate complexity, 14% ABV. +177527, $14.95, QPR:
89.
8. Albino Armani Egle Ripassso Valpolicella Superiore 2008: the Blue
Moon Armani-suited Ripasso of the Month. +247916, 5.95, QPR: 89.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
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Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay 2009 Napa, +54585, $37.95
retail.
2. Amayna Chardonnay 2008 Leyda Chile, +76265, $25.95.
3. Yalumba Viognier 2010 Eden Valley, +954644, $24.95
4. Corte Riva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa/Sonoma, +89318, $39.95.
5. Sodaro Felicity Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa, +272641, $43.95.
6. The Paring Red 2007 California, +218909, $33.95.
7. Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian ells Merlot 2008 Columbia Valley,
+408864, $25.95.
8. Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion 200 Pessac Leognan, +264283, $48.95.
9. Guy Farge Terre de Granit St Joseph 2009, +270215, 26.95.
10. Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +208462, $35.95.
retail.
2. Amayna Chardonnay 2008 Leyda Chile, +76265, $25.95.
3. Yalumba Viognier 2010 Eden Valley, +954644, $24.95
4. Corte Riva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa/Sonoma, +89318, $39.95.
5. Sodaro Felicity Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa, +272641, $43.95.
6. The Paring Red 2007 California, +218909, $33.95.
7. Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian ells Merlot 2008 Columbia Valley,
+408864, $25.95.
8. Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion 200 Pessac Leognan, +264283, $48.95.
9. Guy Farge Terre de Granit St Joseph 2009, +270215, 26.95.
10. Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +208462, $35.95.
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com
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