WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 6, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 6, 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.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20

 

**** Wildass White 2009 VQA Niagara: blend of savvy, Semillon,
gewurztraminer, riesling, ripe orchard fruit and oak tones of coconut,
thick body of concentration. Dee-licious. +85100, $19.95, QPR: 90.

 

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

 

**** Vina Olabarri Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, +329102, $24.95.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Strewn Terroir Sauvignon Blanc 2011 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake:
excellent savvy from Ontario, twist top, 12.9% ABV, best with food (not
a sipper), Minerals and herbs. +343897, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Philippe Portier Quincy 2011: good sipper with fruit or aperitif
wine, mineral spine, more aromatics on nose than on palate, 12.5% ABV.
From sauvignon blanc, although there could be some sauvignon gris as
well. +326876, $17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Catena Alamos Torrontes 2012 Salta: long finish with this dry white,
full body, aromatic with citric tones, 13.5% ABV, good value, appetizer
or first course, twist top. +81539, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Steve Bird Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough: an over-the-top kiwi
savvy, twist top, 13.5%. +178319, $18.95, QPR: 89.
5. Dopff & Irion Domaines du Chateau de Riquewihr Les Murailles
Riesling 2008 Alsace: definite petrol on the nose and the palate, long
finish, dry mode, 13$ ABV. Stones, fennel, citric embodiment. +933069,
$19.95, QPR: 89.
6. Joseph Cattin Muscat 2011 Alsace: gewurztraminer-like, thus
delicious. Dry mouthfeel (higher acid), 12.5% ABV, slight bitterness on
finish but otherwise a gracious wine at a gracious price. Gold
Medalist. +224634, $15.95, QPR: 89.

7. Le Cidre St. Nicolas Rose NV: a sparkling hard cider from Quebec that
has added strawberry and raspberry juices to creat a "rose" colour and
some berryish aromas. Old fashioned style apple cider tones, the way they
make them in France. Gold Medalist. 275362, $19.95, QPR: 90.

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. William Cole Winemaker's Special Reserve 2010 Casablanca: very good,
consistent, bordeaux-style blend at 13.9% ABV, cork finish, food wine.
+325431, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Vavasour Redwood Pass Pinot Noir 2011 Marlborough: tasty dry red
fruit, balanced, MVC pinot noir via textbook, twist top, but 14% ABV.
+326041, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Villiersdorp Slowine Red 2010 WO Western Cape: North Rhonish in
texture with a large syrah component (leather, black fruit, smoked
meat). 14.5% ABV. Take your time getting up from the chair. +96503,
$13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Marchesi di Barolo Maraia Barbera Monferrato 2011 Piedmont: dense,
fruity, worthy of your attention, well-made food wine, 13% ABV.
5. San Michele a Torri Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2011: North American
style wine, heavy on mocha/cherry/smoke, 14.5% ABV…but organic.
+900258, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Taluau & Foltzenlogel Passion Bourgueil 2010: loaded with Euro
herbal tangs, cabernet franc all the way, savoury wine, 13% ABV.
+326884, $14.95, QPR: 89.
7. Chateau de Jau 2011 Cotes de Roussillon Villages: fruity (red &
black), hottish finish at 13% ABV, but pretty good tastes overall. Cork
finish. Try with BBQ, cheeses, and the like. +955070, $14.95, QPR: 89.
8. CVA Pinyolet Garnacha 2011 Montsant Spain: LCBO's garnacha of the
month, +271791, $17.95, QPR: 89.

 

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. Hidden Bench Estate Riesling 2011 VQA Beamsville Bench, +183491,
$23.95 retail.
2. Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, +178319, $18.95
3. Jean-Max Roger Cuvee Les Caillottes Sancerre 2011, +65573, $24.95.
4. Chateau Moulinat Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009 Haut-Medoc, +198978,
$22.95.
5. Champy Signature Pinot Noir Bourgogne 2010, +1149, $23.95.
6. Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva 2008, +288530, $24.95.
7. Montepeloso A Quo 2010 IGT Toscana, +330886, $29.95.
8. Latium Morini Campo Leon Amarone Della Valpolicella 2008, +334300,
$46.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com