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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 4, 2012


WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 4, 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 RELEASE *UNDER* $20
 
Ciderie St-Nicolas Pom'Or Tradition Crackling Cider Quebec: once again
it is cider time in the blazing Ontario summer of 2012. Off-dry or off-
sweet (medium?) apple tones, with spritz. Sipper for BBQ, 7% ABV, and
affordable. +179473, $13.95, QPR: 91.
 

RED:  Domaine Les Yeuses Les Epices Syrah 2009 IGP Pays d'Oc: rich,
smoky, garrigue, blackberries, like a North Rhone but less expensive.
13.5% ABV. +177584, 13.95, QPR: 92.
 
======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
 
Burgo Viejo Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +190611, $21.95.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 VQA
Four Mile Creek: balanced components (buttery, apple-y, vanilla,
cloves) at 13.9% ABV. Gold Medalist at Ontario Wine Awards. +58647,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Edna Valley Paragon Chardonnay 2009 San Luis Obispo County: aromatic
tones with a longer, compelling finish, 14% ABV. +984153, $19.95, QPR:
89.
3. Waimea Estates Spinyback Pinot Gris 2010 Nelson NZ: tasty orchard
fruit, slightly off-dry in finish, 14% ABV, sip or food. +214569,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Tormentoso Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2011 WO Paarl: like a sauvignon
blanc without the kiwi component of excessive herbaceousness. Partial
Barrel Fermentation, 13.5% ABV. 30 year old vines. +278366, $14.95,
QPR: 90.
5. Steininger Gruner Veltliner 2010 Kamptal: exceptional summery
orchard fruit, 12.5%, nice price. +280842, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Andre Blanck Altenbourg Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: delicious off-
sweet dessert style, 13.5% ABV, god body, characteristic aftertaste.
+168906, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Schwarzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2006:
summery delight, off-dry, food or sip, 8% ABV. +282343, $7.95, QPR: 89.
8. Abad Dom Bueno Godello 2010 DO Bierzo Spain: another nice, pleasant
summery aromatic minerally wine, chill well, 12.5% ABV. +154302,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Ksana Malbec 2009 Mendoza: MVC plumminess, 1% ABV, BBQ all the way.
Old vines. +287441, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Bosman Family Adama Red 2009 WO Wellington SA: blend of syrah (81%),
mourvedre, primitivo, cinsault, viognier (2%). Heavy-heavy dense BBQ
wine with oak component. 14% AV. +279844, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau Lamothe de Haux 2009 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux: basic MVC,
affordable value. 13% ABV> +641555, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau D'Angles La Clape Classique Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre 2007
Languedoc: blend of 50% syrah, 30% grenache, 20% mourvedre (according
to the label), good aging and development. +286484, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Due Torri Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2009: LCBO Ripasso of the
Month, 13.5% ABV. +159400, $17.95, QPR: 89.
6. Aviva Filon Garnacha 2010 DO Calatayud Spain: delicious, done up
with North American appeal of oaky vanilla tones, fruit, and aging.
14.5% ABV. +280602, $14.95 QPR: 90.
 
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.
 
1. Jean-Marc Brocard Vaucopin Chablis 1er Cru 2010, +288019, $29.95
retail.
2. Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese 2009,
+284422, $21.95.
3. Sandhill Small Lots One 2008 VQA Okanagan Phantom Creek, +186536,
$36.95.
4. Barlow Barrouge Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa Unfiltered, +147603,
$47.95.
5. Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 2008 Napa, +50393, $34.95.
6. Markham Merlot 2009 Napa, +738740, $31.95.
7. Rocca delle Macie Riserva di Fizzano Chianti Classico Riserva 2007,
+699454, $26.95.

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