WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 7, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
======>>>> ** BEST VALUE WINE OF THE MONTH *UNDER* $20
WHITE: Bon Courage Prestige Cuvee Chardonnay 2011 WO Robertson South
Africa: ripe, ripe, toasty orchard fruit, brimming with character, good
balance and finish. Some tropicality. +278333, $15.95, QPR: 92.
Africa: ripe, ripe, toasty orchard fruit, brimming with character, good
balance and finish. Some tropicality. +278333, $15.95, QPR: 92.
RED: Quinta da Rigodeira Baga 2005 Bairrada: unfiltered, so a heavy-
heavy wine, chewy for BBQ, nicely aged at this price. 13.5% ABV.
+219121, $13.95, QPR: 90.
heavy wine, chewy for BBQ, nicely aged at this price. 13.5% ABV.
+219121, $13.95, QPR: 90.
======>>>> ** BEST VALUE WINE OF THE MONTH *OVER* $20
WHITE: Closson Chase S. Kocsis Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 VQA Beamsville,
+184291, $34.95.
+184291, $34.95.
RED: Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2005 Rioja, +209148,
$24.95.
$24.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Malivoire Musque Spritz 2011 VQA Beamsville Bench: good dry finish
to this MS fizzy wine, 9% ABV. Sip or first course food, perhaps even
dessert and cheese. +189670, $19.95, PR: 89.
2. Winery of Good Hope Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc 2010 WO Stellenbosch:
extremely rich, some marmalade finish, good structure, sip or food.
+739995, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Joseph Cattin Muscat 2010 Alsace: good value off-dry, grapey tones
MVC muscat all the way. Gold Medalist. +224634, 14.5, QPR: 89.
4. Alain Geoffroy Domaine Le Verger Chablis 2010: typical MVC for a
modest Chablis at a great price. Better than most simple Bourgogne or
unoaked chardonnays. 12.5% ABV. +18129, $18.5, QPR: 89.
5. Sella & Mosca Monteoro Vermentino di Gallura Superiore 2011
Sardinia: aromatic, slightly floral off-dry finish, sip or food. Not a
hot wine despite 14% ABV. More elegant vermentinos come from Liguria,
but this one will be good for summer BBQs. +203422, $15.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Malivoire Musque Spritz 2011 VQA Beamsville Bench: good dry finish
to this MS fizzy wine, 9% ABV. Sip or first course food, perhaps even
dessert and cheese. +189670, $19.95, PR: 89.
2. Winery of Good Hope Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc 2010 WO Stellenbosch:
extremely rich, some marmalade finish, good structure, sip or food.
+739995, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Joseph Cattin Muscat 2010 Alsace: good value off-dry, grapey tones
MVC muscat all the way. Gold Medalist. +224634, 14.5, QPR: 89.
4. Alain Geoffroy Domaine Le Verger Chablis 2010: typical MVC for a
modest Chablis at a great price. Better than most simple Bourgogne or
unoaked chardonnays. 12.5% ABV. +18129, $18.5, QPR: 89.
5. Sella & Mosca Monteoro Vermentino di Gallura Superiore 2011
Sardinia: aromatic, slightly floral off-dry finish, sip or food. Not a
hot wine despite 14% ABV. More elegant vermentinos come from Liguria,
but this one will be good for summer BBQs. +203422, $15.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Nashwauk Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale: very dense, French oak employed,
15% ABV but nicely aged. +221788, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009 Maipo:
typical Chilean red flavours evidenced at the start. Organic wine that
melts in your mouth. 14% ABV. +685792, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau du Donjon Grande Tradition Minervois 2009: plums and
cherries dominate, good oak, vanilla and spices on finish. 14.5% ABV.
+275578, $12.95, QPR: 90.
4. Cave de Rasteau La Domeliere Rasteau 2009: solid commercial Cotes du
Rhone, crowd pleaser, sip or food, 14.5% ABV. +222927, $15, QPR: 89.
5. Bucaro Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2010: black frit, vanilla, barrel
aged, finishing acid for food. Organic. 14% ABV. +277491, $14.95.
6. Real de Aragon Centenaria Garnacha 2008 DO Calatayud: another
Spanish bargain, black fruits, North American appeal, US oak. 14% ABV>
+281113, $14.85, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Nashwauk Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale: very dense, French oak employed,
15% ABV but nicely aged. +221788, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009 Maipo:
typical Chilean red flavours evidenced at the start. Organic wine that
melts in your mouth. 14% ABV. +685792, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau du Donjon Grande Tradition Minervois 2009: plums and
cherries dominate, good oak, vanilla and spices on finish. 14.5% ABV.
+275578, $12.95, QPR: 90.
4. Cave de Rasteau La Domeliere Rasteau 2009: solid commercial Cotes du
Rhone, crowd pleaser, sip or food, 14.5% ABV. +222927, $15, QPR: 89.
5. Bucaro Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2010: black frit, vanilla, barrel
aged, finishing acid for food. Organic. 14% ABV. +277491, $14.95.
6. Real de Aragon Centenaria Garnacha 2008 DO Calatayud: another
Spanish bargain, black fruits, North American appeal, US oak. 14% ABV>
+281113, $14.85, QPR: 89.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2009 VQA Vinemount Ridge,
+241182, $35.20 retail.
2. Domaine Gille Cotes de Nuits-Villages 2009, +210864, $28.95.
3. Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Russian River Valley Sonoma,
+283705, $47.95.
4. Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010 Sonoma, +27555, $24.95.
5. Sbragia Home Ranch Chardonnay 2009 Dry Creek Valley Sonoma, +52720,
$34.95.
6. Churton Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough, +159244, 23.95.
7. Sterhuis Barrel Selection Chardonnay 2009 WO Bottelary, +285213,
$25.95.
8. Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir 2008 New Zealand, +14548, $25.95.
+241182, $35.20 retail.
2. Domaine Gille Cotes de Nuits-Villages 2009, +210864, $28.95.
3. Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Russian River Valley Sonoma,
+283705, $47.95.
4. Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010 Sonoma, +27555, $24.95.
5. Sbragia Home Ranch Chardonnay 2009 Dry Creek Valley Sonoma, +52720,
$34.95.
6. Churton Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Marlborough, +159244, 23.95.
7. Sterhuis Barrel Selection Chardonnay 2009 WO Bottelary, +285213,
$25.95.
8. Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir 2008 New Zealand, +14548, $25.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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