WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 4, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 4, 2014

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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

 

San Jose de Aguaron Monasterio de la Vinas Reserva 2006 Carinena, +166579, $14.95: another Spanish garnacha (blended with tempanillo and carinena), aged in barrel for a year. Absolutely delicious with tons of spices. QPR: 90.

 

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

 

Chateau Vitallis Vieilles Vignes Pouilly Fuisse 2010, +360495, $27.95 retail.

 

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.

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1.Flat Rock Riesling 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +43281, $16.95: a good basic Ontario Riesling at an affordable price point, 11% ABV, twist top. Finishes dry. QPR: 89.

2.Casa del Bosque Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Casablanca Valley,+974717, $13.95: good MVC savvy intensity with herbs and greeness, 13.5% ABV, great price. QPR: 89.

3.Rabl Kittmansberg Gruner Veltliner 2011 Kamptal, +346007, $14.95: basic off-dry groovy, fruity palate, sip or food. 12.5% ABV. Another good price. QPR: 89.

4.Domaine Jacky Marteau Sauvignon Touraine 2012, +745349, $13.95: another good value savvy from the Loire region, typical MVC and certainly affordable. QPR: 89.

5.Torres Vina Esmeralda 2012 Catalunya, +113696: a personal fave of mine for about 40 years, now twist top, 11.5% ABV, 85muscat/15gewurztraminer and 100% delicious as a sipper. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.

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1.13th Street Merlot 2012 VQA Creek Shores, +270504, $17.95: a great little wine for food, a Merlot with some guts, not really for sipping. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.

2.Bodega el Esteco Don David Finca La Urquiza #8 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Cafayate Valley Salta, +357459, $15.95: [you could finish the wine before you finish reading the label]. Plush and lush, 14% ABV. QPR: 89.

3.Estampa Assemblage Reserve Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2010 Colchagua Valley, +350082, $14.95: another good value wine, 14.5% ABV, 82syrah/10cab/8merlot blend, in oak for 10 months. QPR: 89.

4.Santa Alicia Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Maipo, +350074, $14.95: black fruit of plums and blackberries, flavours touch all the bases, twist top, 14% ABV. Gold medalist. QPR: 89.

5.Chapoutier Domaine Tournon Mathilda Shiraz 2011 Victoria, +327395, $19.95: very Rhonish in style and tone, MVC for Syrah, 13% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

6.Chateau Pouyanne 2009 Graves, +349332, $19.95: delicious Bordeaux, ready now, 13% ABV. Gold Medalist. QPR: 89.

7.N. Potel Maison Roche de Bellene Cuvee Reserve Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011, +299859, $17.95: decent MVC burgundy from Pinot noir, light but has value. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.

8.Domaine des Fees Cotes du Rhone 2012, +272450, $15.95: this unfiltered organic wine has a lot going for it. Very intense flavours, 15% ABV, should age well, great price. QPR: 89.

9.Chateau Nozieres Cuvee Ambroise de l'her Malbec Cahors 2010, +276055, $16.95: dense blend of malbec with 10% Merlot added, 14.5% ABV, muscular as are most Cahors. QPR: 89.

10.Coppi Peucetico Primitivo 2007 Goia del Colle Puglia, +724674, $13.95: chocolate and black fruit all the way, gutsy, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

11.Tenute Piccini Valiano Chianti Classico 2008, +354019, $17: nicely aged now at five years, 13.5% ABV, long finish. QPR: 89.

12.Aguia Moura em Vinhas Reserva Tinto 2008 Douro, +354738, $16.95: black fruit, good aging for past five years, 14% ABV. QPR: 89.

13.Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell 2011 Jumilla, +163154, $13.95: powerhouse of black, dark fruits, some vanilla from oak, good acidic finish. QPR: 90.

14.Ilurce Rio Madre 2011 Rioja, +354753, $14.95: another affordable power wine at 14.5% ABV, ready to fuel another meal. 100% graciano, aged in French oak. 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.Geografico Montegiachi Chianti Classico Riserva 2009, +962142, $24.95.

2.Domaine Bonnard Sancerre 2012, +140525, $22.95.

3.La Pieve Barolo 2009, +213132, $29.95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com