WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 20, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 20, 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

 

**** Chateau des Charmes Chardonnay Musque 2010 VQA Niagara-on-the-
Lake: uses chardonnay clone 809 (16-year old vines), an almost in-your-
face aromatic honeysuckle with some "muscat" quality. Gold Medal at OWA
for Unoaked Chardonnays. 13.5%, useful for social sipping or with
lighter white meats. Twist top. +640516, $16.95, QPR: 91.

 

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

 

**** Fantino Cascina Dardi Bussia Barolo Riserva 2004, +268524, $39.95.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Angel's Gate Mountainview Chardonnay 2010 VQA Beamsville Bench:
excellent wood and toast, with alluring fruit, right through to the
finish. +116384, $18.95, QPR: 89.
2. Caliterra Tributo Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 Casablanca: very
charming chardonnay in a bottle – 13.5% ABV, twist top. Cream dominates
orchard fruit. +144709, $15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Southern Valleys
Marlborough: textbook kiwi savvy herbs, but assertive in style, in-
your-face aromatics. One of the real winners I found at the NZ trade
show in May (I had seconds). Twist top. +663286, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2012 WO Stellenbosch: a very pleasant (and
affordable) cross between chenin blanc and sauvignon blanc, 13.5% ABV.
Twist top. Gold Medalist. +981167, $12.95, QPR: 89.
5. Cave de Saumur Secrets de Chai Saumur Blanc 2011: all chenin, and
very close to savvy (as the Simonsig above), but more floral. Gold
Medalist. +322677, $13.95, QPR: 89.
6. La Ferme du Mont La Truffiere 2011 Cotes du Rhone: very rounded
blend of Rhone white grape fruit (grenache blanc, viognier, clairette),
good spine for first course foods. 13% ABV. +234716, $15.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Vizcarra Senda Del Oro Roble 2011 Ribera del Duero: textbook style
but early evolving wine of French and US oak tones (vanilla, coconut)
along with some berries. Organic. 14.5%, +331249, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Tamaya Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Limari: another textbook
example of Latin American cabernet sauvignon destined for the North
American market – rich dark black currants with milk chocolate
overtones. BBQ anyone? +292367, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Small Gully The Formula Robert's Shiraz 2008 South Australia: points
given for well-aging (five years old now) and a whopping 15.9% ABV.
Twist top. The wine? Overthetop shiraz ripeness to stand up to BBQ.
+142935, $18.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau de La Grave Caractere 2009 Cotes de Bourg: Graves character?
Close, but no gravel. Atypical Bordeaux. Rich and full as the Yanks
like it, 14% ABV. BBQ all the way. +224683, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Notre Dame Corbieres 2009: good price,
spices and black plumy fruits. Some smoke, 14% ABV. Another BBQ wine.
+269522, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Olarra Cerro Anon Reserva 2006 Rioja: good oaking, with coconut
tones, aged now almost 7 years (two in US oak). Bargain price. 14% ABV.
Excellent example of a wood-aged Rioja. +114306, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Monasterio de Las Vinas Gran Reserva 2005 Carinena: at 60% garnacha,
this is the LCBO's "Almost Garnacha of the Month". 13% ABV. +82024,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Vina Berceo Crianza 2008 Rioja: nicely aged mid-weight Rioja with
good oak tones of spicings and vanilla. 13.5% ABV. +672824, $16.95,
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. Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 VQA Twenty Mile Bench,
+345819, $44.95 retail.
2. Charles Baker Piccone Vineyard Riesling 2010 VQA Vinemount Ridge,
+241182, $35.20.
3. Tollgate Fume Blanc 2009 VQA Niagara, +335711, $24.95.
4. Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2011 WO Hemel-en-Aarde, +931006, $32.95
5. Chateau Genot-Boulanger Clos du Cromin Meursault 2010, +330043,
$49.95.
6. Gann Family Cellars Pinot Noir 2009 Russian River Valley Sonoma,
+327510, $44.95.
7. Domus Vitae Brunello di Montalcino 2007, +330746, $45.95.
8. Fontalpino Chianti Classico 2010, +275859, $23.95.
9. Castello di Bossi Renieri Invetro 2010 IFT Toscana, +330696, $20.95
10. Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2007, +204792,
$39.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com