WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 21, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 21, 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.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE MONTH *UNDER* $20

 

WHITE -- Chateau Brondelle Classic Sauvignon/Semillon 2010 Graves: some
of everything (vanilla from wood, MVC savvy character, Semillon fruit,
figs, great finish and length. Good appeal for North Americans.
+626507, $15.95, QPR: 90.

 

RED – Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Victoria: matured wine, full of
stuffing (old everything – meat, bacon, leather, dried fruit, game,
forest floor, mushrooms). Not for the faint of heart. Twist top, 12.7%
ABV. +280214, $19.95, QPR: 94.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE MONTH *OVER* $20

 

RED –- Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 2011 Victoria, +281055, $39.95.

 

WHITE -- De Loach OFS Chardonnay 2009 Russian River Valley Sonoma,
+729343, $37.95.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 WO Western Cape: refreshing,
with some body and style in the California vein. 13.5% ABV. +662718,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
2. Ken Forrester Reserve Chenin Blanc 2010 WO Stellenbosch: dry,
delicious MVC Chenin Blanc at an excellent price, 14.5% ABV. +231282,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Domaine de la Colline Sauvignon Touraine 2010: great savvy flavours
ands development, body and concentration. Not too zesty. +169656,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
4. Vincent Raimbault Les Terrages Dem-Sec Vouvray 2010: off-dry,
summery wine for sip or first course. 13% ABV. +271973, $17.95, QPR:
89.
5. Martin Codax Albarino 2010 DO Rias Baixas: aromatic, floral, some
tropicality, finishes dry. Sip or food.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. C.J.Pask Gimblett Road Cabernet/Merlot/Malbec 2008 Hawkes Bay New
Zealand: elements of forest floor, good Bordeaux-style, excellent with
food, ready now. +279869, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Chateau Perenne 2005 1er Cotes de Blaye: nicely made, ready-to-roll,
MVC Bordeaux, instantly recognizable. +283150, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Le Circque Carignan/Mourvedre/Syrah 2010 Vin de Pays des Cotes
Catalanes: full and generous, North American styled off-dry fruitiness,
14.5% ABV. +277079, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Pasquale Petrera Fatalone Primitivo 2006 Puglia: nicely aged,
organic wine, dryish finish, 15% ABV. +279729, $16.95.
5. Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2009: the
Ripasso of the month at the LCBO. +719294, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Terras de Alter Fado 2009 VR Alentejano: juicy, delicious tones from
six months in French oak. 13.5% ABV. +283135, $13.95, QPR: 89.
7. Conde de Valdemar Reserva 2005 Rioja: extremely good value at the
price, ready now, MVC Rioja. +947309, $19.95, QPR: 90.

 

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.

 

1. Fielding Viognier 2010 VQA Niagara, +142323, $25.95 retail.
2. Senorio De Laredo Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, +218347, $24.95.
3. Caledonia Australis Reserve Chardonnay 2008 Victoria, +284935,
$39.95.
4. Tahbilk Museum Release Marsanne 2007 Central Victoria, +276980,
$22.95.
5. Nobilo Icon Sauvignon Blanc 2011, +912337, $24.95.
6. Domaine Latour-Giraud Les Narvaux Meursault 2009, +12369, $45.95.
7. Bernard Reverdy & Fils Sancerre 2010, +200055, $22.95.
8. Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel 2009 Northern Sonoma, +363358,
$22.95.
9. Clos de los Siete 2009 Mendoza, +622571, $21.95.
10. Camelback Shiraz 2008 Victoria, +665125, $27.95
11, Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz 2009 Victoria, +243592, 35.95.
12. Chateau Lamothe-Cissac 2005 Haut Medoc, +206755, $23.95
12. Domaine de Viaud 2001 Lalande-de-Pomerol, +282475, $26.95

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com