WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 16, 2013
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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 WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Malivoire Riesling 2011 VQA Niagara Escarpment: Riesling as it should
be, including an affordable price. 10.5% ABV, +277483, $15.95, QPR: 91.
be, including an affordable price. 10.5% ABV, +277483, $15.95, QPR: 91.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Stoney Ridge Excellence Chardonnay 2010 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, +254243,
$24.95.
$24.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Vintage Ink Rite of Passage Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara: all the
oaky components are in place, 13.5% ABV, twist top, voluptuous.
+245712, $16.94, QPR: 89.
2. Babich Gimblett Gravels Gewurztraminer 2011 Hawkes Bay: delicious
MVC Alsatian style, with the bitterish finish. Some softness makes it
more a party wine than food wine. +309617, $16.95, QPR: 89.
3. Stellar Running Duck Fair-trade Organic Chardonnay 2012 WO Western
Cape: good overall balance between wood and fruit and finishing acid,
13.5% ABV, twist top. +149856, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Anne Boecklin Lieu-Dit Altenbourg Old Vines Pinot Gris 2010 Alsace:
off-sweet, gold medalist, 13% ABV. Yummy orchard fruit tones, balanced.
+315085, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Domaine Ehrhart Rosenberg Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: an over-the-
top organic sweetie, better as a late dinner course such as cheese and
pepper. 13.5% ABV. +315705, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Mas de Rey Oh de Muscat 2011 ISP Cotes Catalanes: dry, muscat
complexity of flowers, grapes and peaches. Finishes well with food.
12.5% ABV. +314377, $13.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Vintage Ink Rite of Passage Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara: all the
oaky components are in place, 13.5% ABV, twist top, voluptuous.
+245712, $16.94, QPR: 89.
2. Babich Gimblett Gravels Gewurztraminer 2011 Hawkes Bay: delicious
MVC Alsatian style, with the bitterish finish. Some softness makes it
more a party wine than food wine. +309617, $16.95, QPR: 89.
3. Stellar Running Duck Fair-trade Organic Chardonnay 2012 WO Western
Cape: good overall balance between wood and fruit and finishing acid,
13.5% ABV, twist top. +149856, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Anne Boecklin Lieu-Dit Altenbourg Old Vines Pinot Gris 2010 Alsace:
off-sweet, gold medalist, 13% ABV. Yummy orchard fruit tones, balanced.
+315085, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Domaine Ehrhart Rosenberg Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: an over-the-
top organic sweetie, better as a late dinner course such as cheese and
pepper. 13.5% ABV. +315705, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Mas de Rey Oh de Muscat 2011 ISP Cotes Catalanes: dry, muscat
complexity of flowers, grapes and peaches. Finishes well with food.
12.5% ABV. +314377, $13.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Red Assemblage 2010 VQA Niagara:
good blend of cabernet franc (38%), cabernet sauvignon and merlot (both
31%). Nicely done black fruit, close to Bordeaux. +321893, $16.95, QPR:
89.
2. Familia Mayol Malbec 2009 Mendoza: 15% ABV powerhouse, unfiltered,
time in new French oak – a huge, huge wine emphasizing the mocha side
of Malbec. +301234, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau La Gorce 2008 Medoc: overwhelming bargain in its value, good
Bordeaux consistency and MVC, gold medalist. +91397, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau Les Armes de Brandeau Cuvee de la Trilogie 2009 Castillon-
Cotes de Bordeaux: another fruity, affordable MVC Bordeaux, gold
medalist. +308445, $16.95, QPR: 89.
5. Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2010: ready,
affordable, smoke and black fruit. 14% ABV. +277038, $15.95, QPR: 89.
6. Torre Quarto Bottaccia Uva di Troia 2009 IGT Puglia: dense, tight,
licorice and red fruit (no, not "red licorice"), 13.5% ABV. +161737,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Valdemar Inspiracion Valdemar 2008 Rioja: meaty beaty big and
bouncy, 13.5% ABV. Smoke and spices, what more could you want? +166512,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Red Assemblage 2010 VQA Niagara:
good blend of cabernet franc (38%), cabernet sauvignon and merlot (both
31%). Nicely done black fruit, close to Bordeaux. +321893, $16.95, QPR:
89.
2. Familia Mayol Malbec 2009 Mendoza: 15% ABV powerhouse, unfiltered,
time in new French oak – a huge, huge wine emphasizing the mocha side
of Malbec. +301234, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau La Gorce 2008 Medoc: overwhelming bargain in its value, good
Bordeaux consistency and MVC, gold medalist. +91397, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau Les Armes de Brandeau Cuvee de la Trilogie 2009 Castillon-
Cotes de Bordeaux: another fruity, affordable MVC Bordeaux, gold
medalist. +308445, $16.95, QPR: 89.
5. Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2010: ready,
affordable, smoke and black fruit. 14% ABV. +277038, $15.95, QPR: 89.
6. Torre Quarto Bottaccia Uva di Troia 2009 IGT Puglia: dense, tight,
licorice and red fruit (no, not "red licorice"), 13.5% ABV. +161737,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Valdemar Inspiracion Valdemar 2008 Rioja: meaty beaty big and
bouncy, 13.5% ABV. Smoke and spices, what more could you want? +166512,
$19.95, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.Tendil & Lombardi Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne, +314096, $42.95
retail.
2. Tenuta di Ghizzano Veneroso 2009 IGT Toscana, +103218, $29.95.
3. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay 2009 Napa, +54585, $37.95.
4. F. Tinel-Blondelet L'Arret Buffatte Pouilly-Fume 2010, +169730,
$22.95.
5. Arlewood Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Margaret River, +313239, $34.95.
6. Chateau Pierre de Montignac 2009 Medoc, +307041, $21.95.
retail.
2. Tenuta di Ghizzano Veneroso 2009 IGT Toscana, +103218, $29.95.
3. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay 2009 Napa, +54585, $37.95.
4. F. Tinel-Blondelet L'Arret Buffatte Pouilly-Fume 2010, +169730,
$22.95.
5. Arlewood Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Margaret River, +313239, $34.95.
6. Chateau Pierre de Montignac 2009 Medoc, +307041, $21.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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