WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 14, 2013
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. This time, there were ** 13 red wines and ** 13 white
wines missing. 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. This time, there were ** 13 red wines and ** 13 white
wines missing. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-
tasting.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Mas d'Auzieres Les Eclats 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc, +271742, $17.95:
smoke and tar like you wouldn't believe, some light brett too. Already
aged for you and ready to go at a decent price, 13.5% ABV. Time to snap
it all up…QPR: 93.
smoke and tar like you wouldn't believe, some light brett too. Already
aged for you and ready to go at a decent price, 13.5% ABV. Time to snap
it all up…QPR: 93.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Lan Gran Reserva 2005 Rioja, +928622, $27.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Flat Rock Riesling 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +43281, $16.95: good
MVC off-dry material, 11% ABV, ripe tones, twist top. QPR: 89.
2. Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris 2011 Alsace, +341883, $14.95: a steal at this
price, loaded with concentrated body much more than you would expect a
pinot gris at under $15. 13.5% ABV, twist top too. QPR: 90.
3. Domaine Raphael Sallet Macon Uchizy 2011, +130450, $15.95: hits all
the right chardonnay notes for an MVC regular burgundy, but with
dynamic price value and a cork finish for under $16. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. Ciu Ciu Merlettaie Pecorino Offida 2011, +245670, $16.95: well, if
this isn't a worthy label – choo choo cha boogie, people waiting under
a building that could be a choo choo train terminal. Good marketing for
North America. Off-dry on the mid-palate, good flavour but a heavy
bottle and an ambiguous label. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sue-Ann Staff Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara, +358416, $17.95: a "winemaker
of the year" at the Ontario Wine Awards, Sue-Ann has crafted a fruity
yet soft merlot in an Euro style. Needs more time, but ok right now.
QPR: 89.
2. Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2011 Uco Valley Mendoza, +167619, $15.95: a
serious wine at this price level, plumy complexity, long length, and a
big (but not hot) 14.5% ABV resonating on the finish. QPR: 89.
3. RockBare Mojo Shiraz 2011 Barossa Valley, +327767, $18.95: the
winemaker's mojo is working here, involving a good smoky syrah feel to
the shiraz name. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2011 Marlborough/Nelson, +60137, $19.95: very
well-made delicious pinot noir, intense burgundian style, twist top,
and 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Croix Saint-Pierre 2010 Cotes de Bordeaux, Blaye,
+336875, $15.95: decent price for a typical Bordeaux that displays the
MVC for the region, 14% ABV. Age it a bit. QPR: 89.
6. Clavesana Il Clou Dogliani Superiore 2010 Piedmont, +344747, $16.95:
great Italianate complexity at this price level, 13.5% ABV. As the
Vintages panel says, "spicy leather", "sour cherry", and pepper. QPR:
89.
7. Resta Squinzano Rosso 2009 Puglia, +338996, $15.95: a hot wine, tasty, well-aged and
well-priced for red jam and underbrush. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
8. Celler Lagravera Onra Negre 2009 Costers del Segre, +343079, $16.95:
organic wine, heavily laden with garnacha complexity, enough to make it
the LCBO's "garnacha of the month" wine. QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Flat Rock Riesling 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +43281, $16.95: good
MVC off-dry material, 11% ABV, ripe tones, twist top. QPR: 89.
2. Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris 2011 Alsace, +341883, $14.95: a steal at this
price, loaded with concentrated body much more than you would expect a
pinot gris at under $15. 13.5% ABV, twist top too. QPR: 90.
3. Domaine Raphael Sallet Macon Uchizy 2011, +130450, $15.95: hits all
the right chardonnay notes for an MVC regular burgundy, but with
dynamic price value and a cork finish for under $16. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. Ciu Ciu Merlettaie Pecorino Offida 2011, +245670, $16.95: well, if
this isn't a worthy label – choo choo cha boogie, people waiting under
a building that could be a choo choo train terminal. Good marketing for
North America. Off-dry on the mid-palate, good flavour but a heavy
bottle and an ambiguous label. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sue-Ann Staff Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara, +358416, $17.95: a "winemaker
of the year" at the Ontario Wine Awards, Sue-Ann has crafted a fruity
yet soft merlot in an Euro style. Needs more time, but ok right now.
QPR: 89.
2. Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2011 Uco Valley Mendoza, +167619, $15.95: a
serious wine at this price level, plumy complexity, long length, and a
big (but not hot) 14.5% ABV resonating on the finish. QPR: 89.
3. RockBare Mojo Shiraz 2011 Barossa Valley, +327767, $18.95: the
winemaker's mojo is working here, involving a good smoky syrah feel to
the shiraz name. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2011 Marlborough/Nelson, +60137, $19.95: very
well-made delicious pinot noir, intense burgundian style, twist top,
and 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
5. Chateau La Croix Saint-Pierre 2010 Cotes de Bordeaux, Blaye,
+336875, $15.95: decent price for a typical Bordeaux that displays the
MVC for the region, 14% ABV. Age it a bit. QPR: 89.
6. Clavesana Il Clou Dogliani Superiore 2010 Piedmont, +344747, $16.95:
great Italianate complexity at this price level, 13.5% ABV. As the
Vintages panel says, "spicy leather", "sour cherry", and pepper. QPR:
89.
7. Resta Squinzano Rosso 2009 Puglia, +338996, $15.95: a hot wine, tasty, well-aged and
well-priced for red jam and underbrush. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
8. Celler Lagravera Onra Negre 2009 Costers del Segre, +343079, $16.95:
organic wine, heavily laden with garnacha complexity, enough to make it
the LCBO's "garnacha of the month" wine. 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. Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011 VQA, +392083, $29.95 retail.
2. Cattail Creek Barrel Fermented Small Lot Chardonnay 2010 VQA Four
Mile Creek, +348987, $24.95.
3. Domaine Bernard Defaix Cote de Lechet Reserve Chablis 1er Cru 2010
Vieilles Vignes, +17541, $33.95.
4. Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 VQA Niagara,
+33894, $30.
5. Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Columbia
Valley, +209866, $44.95.
6. Chateau Clauzet 2009 Saint-Estephe, +192047, $29.95.
7. Chateau Preuillac 2009 Medoc, +713925, $32.95.
8. Maison Roche Bellene Savigny-Les-Beaune Vielles Vignes 2010 Unfined,
+344283, $22.95.
9. Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat 2011, +216291, $22.95.
10. Bodegas Vizcarra JC Vizcarra 2010 Ribera del Duero, +214650,
$28.95.
2. Cattail Creek Barrel Fermented Small Lot Chardonnay 2010 VQA Four
Mile Creek, +348987, $24.95.
3. Domaine Bernard Defaix Cote de Lechet Reserve Chablis 1er Cru 2010
Vieilles Vignes, +17541, $33.95.
4. Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 VQA Niagara,
+33894, $30.
5. Chateau Ste. Michelle Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Columbia
Valley, +209866, $44.95.
6. Chateau Clauzet 2009 Saint-Estephe, +192047, $29.95.
7. Chateau Preuillac 2009 Medoc, +713925, $32.95.
8. Maison Roche Bellene Savigny-Les-Beaune Vielles Vignes 2010 Unfined,
+344283, $22.95.
9. Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat 2011, +216291, $22.95.
10. Bodegas Vizcarra JC Vizcarra 2010 Ribera del Duero, +214650,
$28.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
No comments:
Post a Comment