WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 16, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 16, 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.

 

NOTE: It is getting more difficult to endorse wines under $20 for the simple reason that the LCBO does not release many of them (in the Vintages program) that can be deemed to be worthy of your consideration. So I will now just ADD some "under $25" suggestions, along with point values.

 

 

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

Gerard Bertrand Saint Chinian Syrah/Mourvedre 2009, +370247, $17.95: this month;s candidate for a nicely aged syrah from the south of France. MVC all the way, with some movvie tones. 14.5% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 92.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Dr.Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese 2005 Mosel, +376368, $23.95. QPR: 92.

2.Tawse Redstone Limestone Vineyard South Riesling 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +381251, $18.95: off-dry and delicious, 9.5% ABV, twist top. Perfect for summer sipping, lovely fruity flavours. QPR: 89.

3.Vineland Estates Elevation St. Urban Vineyard Riesling 2012 VQA Niagara Escarpment, +38117, $19.95: one of the finest traditional-styled Rieslings in Ontario, distinguished, age-worthy, 9% ABV. Good Mosel character. QPR: 89.

4.Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2012 Casablanca, +390203, $19.95: well-priced treasure chest of chardonnay aromas and bouquets, balanced, toasty wood-finish, 14%, cork closure. QPR: 91.

5.Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Marlborough, +734798, $18.95: some good character, tamed grass, tropical fruit peeps out, long finish, twist top, 13% ABV. QPR: 89.

6.Excelsior Sauvignon Blanc 2013 WO Robertson South Africa, +382085, $12.95: nice price-point for a balanced savvy that is delicious and not overly zesty. QPR: 89.

7.Guillaume Aurele Viognier 2013 IGP Pay d'Oc, +380741, $13.95: layers of fruit, longish finish, good south of France MVC feel, affordable twist top. QPR: 89.

8.Durbacher Klingelberger Riesling Trocken 2012 Baden, +378331, $16.95: close to Alsace in style (it is made not far away, same climate), very good Riesling character, 11.5% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec 2011 Agrelo Mendoza, +247304, $22.95. QPR: 90.

2.Chateau de Lastours Grande Reserve Corbieres 2008, +383067, $22.95. QPR: 90.

3.Ninin de Antonio Izquierdo 2009 Ribera del Duero, +380766, $23.95. QPR: 91

4.Domaine Bousquet Reserve Malbec 2012 Uco Valley Mendoza, +55244, $15.95: very bright fruit driven wine, 15% ABV, organic grapes, malbec to a T. QPR: 89.

5.Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde Minervois 2011, +958629, $14.95: good blend of syrah and mourvedre, not at the level of Bertrand (above) but still very syrah-dominated. 13.5% ABV. Cork closure, QPR: 89.

6.Apollonio Copertino Rosso 2007 Puglia, +23226, $18.95: plummy, good depth to the aging (now seven years old), 14% ABV, a bargain. QPR: 89.

7.Zeni Marogne Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2011, +220830, $17.95: this month's LCBO ripasso. QPR: 89.

8.Lopez de Haro Crianza 2008 Rioja, +377481, $15.95: a nicely aged wine, 18 months in French and American oak – which is three times the norm for a Crianza. Expect tobacco and dried fruit tones, excellent for the next year. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $25

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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.Norman Hardie Niagara Unfiltered Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara, +184432, $39.20 retail

2.Chateau Les Cruzelle 2010 Lalande-de-Pomerol, +257907, $39.95

3.Patrizi Barolo 2008, +653527, $28.95

4.Villa Annaberta Amarone della Valpolicella 2010, +338921, $39.95

5.Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia 2011 Douro, +67538, $29.95

6.Bodegas Olarra Erudito Reserva Especial 2008 Rioja, +378885, $36.95

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com