WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR OCTOBER 12, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR OCTOBER 12, 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

 

Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Vins de Pays du
Val de Loire, +672345, $14.95: tons of green notes here (grass, herbs,
gooseberries) plus lemons, 12.5% ABV, twist top. Great value. QPR: 91.

 

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

 

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, +677450, $22.95 retail.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Angels Gate Riesling 2010 VQA Beamsville Bench, +160523, $13.95:
stunningly good intensity at this price level, riesling MVC all the
way. QPR: 90.
2. Graham Beck The Game Reserve Chardonnay 2010 WO Robertson, +337592,
$16.95: very stylish with a bit of everything (sympathetic vanilla,
spices, fruit, length). 14% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
3. Pierre Sparr Reserve Muscat 2011 Alsace, +641654, $15.95: affordable
muscat with typical floral quality, 12.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. Grand Classique du Chateau de l'Orangerie 2011 Bordeaux Blanc,
+348276, $13.95: rarely seen colombard (for spine) is used in this
blend, along with muscadelle and sauvignon blanc. 12.5% ABV, QPR: 89.
5. Domaine Lafage Cuvee Centenaire 2011 Cotes du Roussillon, +343491,
$17.95: winner of "the longest tasting note ever reprinted in a
Vintages magazine" award. I can only add -- heavy dead leaf green
bottle, a punt, long finish, cork finish, 13.5% ABV, and Lot #
LA513169. QPR: 89.
6. Columna Albarino 2011 Rias Baixas, +339929, $18.95: one of the drier
albarinos to turn up in Ontario, good acid finish for first course and
more. 12.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Maipo, +685792,
$15.95: good quality at this price level, especially for an organic
wine. 14% ABV. Juicy. QPR: 89.
2. Chateau du Petit Thouars Reserve Cabernet Franc 2010 Touraine,
+350439, $14.95: good herbal character, still a lightweight from
Europe. 13.2% ABV. QPR: 89.
3. Domaine Lafage Tessellae Carignan Old Vines Cotes du Roussillon
2011, +343517, $18.95: still a weighty and lengthy Parker note, but
definitive North Rhone style from somewhere else, 14.5% ABV. 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. Domaine Tournon Shay's Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2011, +311480, $35.95
retail.
2. Schild Estate Shiraz 2010 Barossa, +66555, $24.95
3. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, +84996,
$27.95.
4. Chateau Haut Daugay 2006 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +348268, $22.95
[second label of Ch Tertre Daugay]
5. Giacosa Bussia Baroli 2008, +344721, $39.95.
6. San Lorenzo Bramante Brunello di Montalcino 2007, +350264, $47.95.
7. Felix Callejo Finca Valdelroble 2009 Ribera del Duero, +344291,
$20.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com