WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 7, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  JUNE 7, 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 LCBO 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

 

Lanzerac Chardonnay 2011 WO Stellenbosch, +971929, $16.95: yummy BF chardonnay with 11 months French oak BA, cork finish, 14% ABV. Butterscotch and wood tones, naturally. QPT: 91+.

 

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

 

Chateau Roc St-Michel 2009 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe, +366639, $28.95

 

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.

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1.Torino Estate Don David Reserve Torrontes 2012 Cafayate, +727677, $13.95: good depth and long finish, 14% ABV, firm and fruity, the wine of Toronto! Gold Medalist, cork finish. QPR: 89.

2.Nugan King Valley Frasca's Lane Chardonnay 2012 Victoria, +288191, $19.95: personable wooded chardonnay for those who like concentrated flavours. Twist top. QPR: 89.

3.Pierre Lieubeau La Grille Single Estate Muscadet 2012, +377051, $15.95: good bracing acidity, try with oysters. 12% ABV, twist top. From a delimited area. QPR: 89.

4.E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2012, +290296, $18.95: people have lined up for this modestly-priced wine. 13.5%, cork finish, good value. 65% viognier, lotsa peaches and flowers, and succulence. QPR: 89.

5.La Cappuccina Soave 2013, +81489, $15.95: while some have said "you don't go to Italy for white wine", this one is surprisingly fresh with melons and citric tones. First course wine. 12% ABV, cork finish. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.

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1.Creekside Laura's Red 2010 VQA Niagara, +117960, $19.95: over the years, people have beaten a path to Creekside for this wine: a cab sauv/merlot/syrah/malbec blend. It is over-the-top dense, with concentrated jammy black fruit, mocha and toast (hmmm, sounds like breakfast). Twist top, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 90.

2.Palo Alto Winemaker's Selection 2010 Maule, +376236, $18.95: this tight tasting Chilean expression of wine is a good price for something to lay down a bit. Components are shiraz/cabsauv/carmenere/merlot/petite sirah, wrapped in 14.5% ABV with a cork finish. Good price. QPR: 89.

3.Chapoutier Domaine Tournon Mathilda Shiraz 2011 Victoria, +327395, $19.95: very syrah-like, Northern Rhone-ish, 13% ABV, and value-driven. Twist top. QPR: 90.

4.The Winner's Tank Shiraz 2012 Langhorne Creek, +374348, $17.95: another very intense syrah wine with MVC flavours of black fruit and spices. 14.8% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

5.Zonte's Footstep Lake Doctor Shiraz 2012 Langhorne Creek, +72975, $16.95: highly acclaimed medal winner, affordable value, some viognier added (small print on back label), twist top, 14.5% ABV. Ripe, rich, red juiciness. QPR: 89.

6.Boyer Domergue Carignanissime de Centeilles 2010 Minervois, +41913, $18.95: concentrated garrigue on the nose and palate, resolving on finish with toast. Very good wine with length, substance for sipping. 14.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

7.Feudi San Pio Valpolicella Classico Ripasso Superiore 2012, +181446, $17.95: the LCBO "ripasso of the month". QPR: 89.

8.Maria Manuela Quinta do Roncao Reserva 2011 Douro, +147942, $15.95: with soft and fruity tones, this high performance wine has strong North American appeal. Made from the Port grapes of T.franca, T.roriz and T.nacional, 14% ABV. QPR: 89.

9.Breca Old Vines Garnacha 2010 Catalayud, +329086, $19.95: vines are almost 90 years old. The LCBO "garnacha of the month". 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.Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, +366310, $29.95 retail.

2.Domaine Chenevieres Chablis 2012, +365031, $22.95.

3.Terredora di Paola Loggia della Serra Greco di Tufo 2012, +983197, $20.95.

4.Thirty Bench Red 2011 VQA Beamsville Bench, +320986, $24.

5.I Latina Syrah 2010 Cachapoal Valley Chile, +371120, $22.95.

6.Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Lieu di Malakoff Shiraz 2011 Pyrennes Victoria, +290874,$55.95.

7.Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre 2010 Barossa, +236257, $29.95.

8.Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, +84996, $27.95.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com