WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 31, 2013
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THE "BLUE MOON" RELEASE!!
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THE "BLUE MOON" RELEASE!!
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.
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
Rivera Cappellaccio Riserva Aglianico 2006 Castel del Monte Puglia: top
notch aglianico at a fantastic price, still needs time. Depth and
character and age. Dark fruit tones all the way. 13.5% ABV. +305276,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
notch aglianico at a fantastic price, still needs time. Depth and
character and age. Dark fruit tones all the way. 13.5% ABV. +305276,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Zind Humbrecht Turkheim Riesling 2010 Alsace, +31039, $26.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Calamus Riesling 2011 VQA Vinemount Ridge Niagara: detailed riesling
as it should be, MVC flavours, twist top, 12% ABV. +158642, $16.95,
QPR: 89.
2. Creekside Laura's White 2011 VQA Niagara: quality blend of six
grapes (two kinds of chardonnays, savvy, grigio, gewurzt, and
viognier), 12% ABV, twist top. +121764, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Domaine de L'Echelette Macon Cruzille 2010: lightly and politely
close to burgundian character at an affordable price, 12.5% ABV,
excellent finish. +336982, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Finca La Emperatriz Viura 2011 Rioja Alta: slight fruity finish,
off-dry, patio sipper or first course wine with a spicy app. +342766,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Moncigale Mineral Rose Bandol 2012: possibly the finest rose I've
tasted this season. Colour checks out, taste and finish are evocative
of the garrigue and citrus-berries, 13.5% ABV. +226670, $18.85, QPR:
89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calamus Riesling 2011 VQA Vinemount Ridge Niagara: detailed riesling
as it should be, MVC flavours, twist top, 12% ABV. +158642, $16.95,
QPR: 89.
2. Creekside Laura's White 2011 VQA Niagara: quality blend of six
grapes (two kinds of chardonnays, savvy, grigio, gewurzt, and
viognier), 12% ABV, twist top. +121764, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Domaine de L'Echelette Macon Cruzille 2010: lightly and politely
close to burgundian character at an affordable price, 12.5% ABV,
excellent finish. +336982, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Finca La Emperatriz Viura 2011 Rioja Alta: slight fruity finish,
off-dry, patio sipper or first course wine with a spicy app. +342766,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Moncigale Mineral Rose Bandol 2012: possibly the finest rose I've
tasted this season. Colour checks out, taste and finish are evocative
of the garrigue and citrus-berries, 13.5% ABV. +226670, $18.85, QPR:
89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. 13th Street Red Palette 2011 VQA Niagara: interesting and affordable
red blend, patio and first course dishes. Low chocolate character.
12.5% ABV. +249458, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2011 Marlborough: intense burgundian style
character and taste on nose and mid-palate. 13.5% ABV, twist top.
+590414, $17, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau Hyot 2010 Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon: ripe and ready, gold
medalist, 13.5% ABV. Delicious at this price. +63537, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu 2011 Cotes du Rhone-Villages:
tasty but basic hot Rhone, affordable price, 15% ABV (but a soft
finish). Gold Medalist. +224592, $13.95, QPR: 89.
5. Casetta Rivere Nebbiolo d'Alba 2007: well-aged, complex enough to
pass off as a Barbaresco, 13%, keep another year. +344085, $19.95, QPR:
89.
6. Palazzo Maffei Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2010: the LCBO Ripasso
of the Month, 14.5% ABV. +338913, $17.95, QPR: 89.
7. Quinta do Quetzal Guadalupe Red 2010 Vinho Regional Alentejano: off-
dry mouth feel, black fruit from t5hree grapes (trincadeira, aragonez,
alfocheito). First course red or patio sipper. +336313, $13.95, QP: 89.
8. Barco de Piedra Tinto 2011 Ribera del Duero: quality Ribera at a low
price is difficult to find, but this is one of them. 13.5% ABV,
delicious combo of French and US used oak. +336289, $17, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas del Abad Dom Bueno Mencia 2008 Bierzo: more good wine from
an up and coming region in Spain – good depth, French and US oak,
nicely aged, value priced, 13.5% ABV. +291989, $15.95, QPR: 89.
10. Breca Old Vines Garnacha 2010 Calatayud: the LCBO Garnacha of the
Month, going head to head with the Ripasso (above). +329086, $19.95,
QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. 13th Street Red Palette 2011 VQA Niagara: interesting and affordable
red blend, patio and first course dishes. Low chocolate character.
12.5% ABV. +249458, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2011 Marlborough: intense burgundian style
character and taste on nose and mid-palate. 13.5% ABV, twist top.
+590414, $17, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau Hyot 2010 Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon: ripe and ready, gold
medalist, 13.5% ABV. Delicious at this price. +63537, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu 2011 Cotes du Rhone-Villages:
tasty but basic hot Rhone, affordable price, 15% ABV (but a soft
finish). Gold Medalist. +224592, $13.95, QPR: 89.
5. Casetta Rivere Nebbiolo d'Alba 2007: well-aged, complex enough to
pass off as a Barbaresco, 13%, keep another year. +344085, $19.95, QPR:
89.
6. Palazzo Maffei Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2010: the LCBO Ripasso
of the Month, 14.5% ABV. +338913, $17.95, QPR: 89.
7. Quinta do Quetzal Guadalupe Red 2010 Vinho Regional Alentejano: off-
dry mouth feel, black fruit from t5hree grapes (trincadeira, aragonez,
alfocheito). First course red or patio sipper. +336313, $13.95, QP: 89.
8. Barco de Piedra Tinto 2011 Ribera del Duero: quality Ribera at a low
price is difficult to find, but this is one of them. 13.5% ABV,
delicious combo of French and US used oak. +336289, $17, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas del Abad Dom Bueno Mencia 2008 Bierzo: more good wine from
an up and coming region in Spain – good depth, French and US oak,
nicely aged, value priced, 13.5% ABV. +291989, $15.95, QPR: 89.
10. Breca Old Vines Garnacha 2010 Calatayud: the LCBO Garnacha of the
Month, going head to head with the Ripasso (above). +329086, $19.95,
QPR: 89.
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. Cave Spring CSV Riesling 2009 VQA Beamsville Bench, +566026, $29.95
retail.
2. Luis Canas Reserva 2005 Rioja, +334094, $22.95.
3. Champy Pernand-Vergelesses en Caradeux 1er Cru 2010, +344143,
$49.95.
4. Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire Vieilles Vignes Chablis 2011,
+329995, $24.95.
5. Marnier-Lapostolle Chateau de Sancerre 2011, +340893, $23.95.
6. Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2009 VQA Short Hills Bench
Niagara, +268391, $24.95.
7. Terra Rossa Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva 2009, +344127, $20.95.
8. Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009, +995910, $35.95.
retail.
2. Luis Canas Reserva 2005 Rioja, +334094, $22.95.
3. Champy Pernand-Vergelesses en Caradeux 1er Cru 2010, +344143,
$49.95.
4. Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire Vieilles Vignes Chablis 2011,
+329995, $24.95.
5. Marnier-Lapostolle Chateau de Sancerre 2011, +340893, $23.95.
6. Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2009 VQA Short Hills Bench
Niagara, +268391, $24.95.
7. Terra Rossa Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva 2009, +344127, $20.95.
8. Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009, +995910, $35.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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