WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 18, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 18, 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

 

Zonte's Footstep Lake Doctor Shiraz 2009 Langhorne Creek: delicious
soft texture, brimming with fruit and spices, BBQ or sipper, gold
medalist, 14.5% ABV, twist top. +72975, $16.95, QPR: 90.

 

P. Cambie Les Halos De Jupiter Cotes du Rhone 2010: despite only 15%
content, syrah tones are overwhelmingly present (black fruit, smoke).
15% ABV helps the domination. Excellent, ready now, first class all the
way. +276956, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

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

 

Sbragia Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma, +291054,
$54.95.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Lakeview Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Roller Vyd VQA Lincoln
Lakeshore: a good Ontario savvy, fruity on the mid-palate with a longer
finish than most. 12% ABV. +226027, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Willy Gisselbrecht Tradition Pinot Gris 2010 Alsace: summery, gold
medalist, 13% ABV, more dry than sweet, longer finish. +641597, $16.95,
QPR: 89.
3. Domaine Chevallier Chablis 2009: well-rounded and developed, mature,
some encrusted flavours. +112227, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu 2010 Sur Lie: 12%
ABV, LCBO Muscadet of the month. +289363, $15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Guy Saget Sancerre Blanc 2010: decent savvy at this price level for
a Sancerre. 12.5% ABV. +287078, $19.95, QPR: 89.
6. Tedeschi Capitel Tenda Soave Classico 2011: honeydews, tasty, fruity
for summer, 12.5%. +730903, $13.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Horse Heaven Hills
Washington State: an always impressive, elegant cabby, with exceptional
cabernet sauvignon tones. 14.5% ABV. +210047, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Chakana Reserve Malbec 2010 Mendoza: gold medalist, MVC for Malbec,
denser than most, 14% ABV. +18671, $15.5, QPR: 89.
3. Bellingham Shiraz With a Dash of Viognier 2009 WO Coastal Region: NA
style and appeal, with a touch of Euro old world in the finish. 14%
ABV, good price. +278739, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau Clement St-Jean 2009 Haut-Medoc: delicious, MVC Bordeaux
with merlot dominating, 13.5% ABV. Ready now. +199208, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Roux Pere & Fils Cote de Nuits-Villages 2010: lightish pinot noir,
but MVC for tones and fruit, 13% ABV, won't be in stock long at this
price. +279075, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Chateau Lorgeril Collection D'Altitude 2009 Cabardes: gold medalist,
14% ABV, delicious black fruit flavours, forest floor complexity,
cedary. +286781, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Famille Perrin Les Cornuds Vinsobres 2010: deep, dark and delicious,
syrah overrides the grenache, 14.5% ABV, classy bottle presentation
too. +566844, $17.95, QPR: 89.
8. Caldora Colle Dei Venti Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009: dynamic
flavours, fulsome North American appeal, 13% ABV. +289629, $15.95, QPR:
89.
9. Di Majo Norante Contado Riserva Aglianico del Molise 2009: BBQ wine,
13.5% ABV, dense and heavy, smoke, rustic. +967208, $15.95, QPR: 89.
10. Renzo Masi Chianti Riserva 2008: good value for an aged simple no
region specified) chianti but done up at "Riserva" level. 13.5% ABV,
dynamic MVC tones. +969469, $15.95, QPR: 89.
11. Ribota 2009 Tierra da Castilla: North American broad sweetness,
oak, vanilla, soft and fruity, sip or food, 14.5% ABV. +280628, $15.95,
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. Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010 VQA Okanagan, +377770, $21.95 retail
2. Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2009 Santa Lucia Monterey,
+958975, $34.95.
3. Geyser Peak Block Collection Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Alexander Valley Sonoma, +161323, $28.95
4. Summers Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Knights Valley Sonoma, +279398,
$29.95.
5. Small Gully Mr. Black's Concoction Shiraz 2008 Barossa, +222059,
$24.95.
6. Gonnet Selection L'Olivia Gigondas 2010, +289306, $23.95
7. Terra da Vino La Casa in Collina Barbaresco 2008, +968974, $29.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com