WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 30, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR AUGUST 30, 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 into the

 

Vintages program, ones 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

 

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah/Viognier 2012 WO Swartland,

 

+79442, $16.95: smokey syrah with guts and fruit, twist top, 14% ABV,

 

great price. QPR: 92.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Blue Mountain Chardonnay 2012 Okanagan Valley, +350108, $23.95, QPR:

 

90.

2.Elk Cove Pinot Gris 2013 Willamette Valley, +955906, $24.95, QPR: 90.

3.Schloss Reinhartshausen Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett

 

2012 Rheingau, +114801, $20.95, QPR: 91.

4.Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +80234,

 

$16.95: typically Mosel-like, nicely soft but with stuffing for a

 

finish. 9.5% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

5.Chateau Ste.Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Columbia Valley, +385740,

 

$15.95: fruity west coast style, zestiness played down, good value, 13%

 

ABV, cork closure. QPR: 89.

6.Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2013 WO Stellenbosch, +981167, $13.95: good

 

alternative to savvy wine, lively fruit, longer finish with mid-palate

 

fruitiness and finishing acid, twist top, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

7.Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris 2012 Alsace, +196956, $16.95: lovely ripe

 

pear tones and stone fruit, great body, 13% ABV. Gold Medalist. QPR: 89.

8.Vieil Armand Medaille Riesling 2010 Alsace, +377754, $15.95: loaded

 

with minerality and orchard fruit, but lacks petrol character. Gold

 

Medalist. QPR: 89.

9.Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc 2013 IGP Vins de Pays

 

du Val de Loire, +672345, $15.95: a light tight savvy, along the lines

 

of Touraine, 12% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir 2012 Yarra Valley, +178897, $21.95, QPR:

 

90.

2.Longview Yakka Shiraz 2010 Adelaide Hills South Australia, +378539,

 

$22.95, QPR: 90.

3.Domaine des Amouriers Signature Vacqueyras 2011, +381038, $24.95, QPR:

 

89.

4.Brancaia Tre 2011 IGT Toscana, +164715, $23.95, QPR: 89.

5.Bodegas San Prudencio Depadre 2009 Rioja, +379917, $22.95, QPR: 90.

6.Chateau des Charmes Estate Bottled Old Vines Pinot Noir 2010 VQA NOTL,

 

+256834, $18.95: delightful aged character from older vines, some forest

 

floor to support the fruit. QPR: 89.

7.Domaine Jean Bousquet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Tupungato

 

Mendoza, +678813, $14.95: organic grapes, MVC for cabby savvy, black

 

fruit and black mushrooms, value priced, 15% (!) ABV. QPR: 89.

8.Maipe Reserve Malbec 2012 Mendoza, +247320, $14.95: aged a year in

 

French oak, showing dark plums and chocolate, value priced at 14.5% ABV.

 

QPR: 89.

9.Sister's Run Cow's Corner Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro 2011 Barossa,

 

+346510, $15.95: has BBQ written all over it, stamped on your palate.

 

14.5% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

10.Maison Sichel Chateau Argadens 2011 Bordeaux Superieur, +681643,

 

$17.95: reasonably-priced entry level Bordeaux, typical but instantly

 

recognizable as Bordeaux. QPR: 89.

11.San Marzano Falo Negroamaro 2012 IGT Salento Puglia, +380212, $14.95:

 

ripe, firm, fruity, North American soft tannins appeal, 13.5% ABV, good

 

price point. Gold Medalist. QPR: 89.

12.Quinto do Quetzal Guadalupe Red 2011 Vinho Regional Alentejano,

 

+336313, $13.95: lots of character, red fruit-driven, bright, longer

 

length through dryness. QPR: 89.

13.Barahonda Barrica Monastrell/Syrah 2011 DO Yecla, +378869, $17.95: in

 

French oak for six months, fruit from 45-year old vines, 15% ABV, very

 

good dark fruit and underbrush. QPR: 89.

14.Bodegas Campina Sabor Real Vinas Centenarias Tempranillo 2007 DO

 

Toro, +244772, $15.95: another nicely aged Spanish wonder, longer

 

length, some wood tones among the raisinated flavours. 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.Adelsheim Chardonnay 2013 Willamette Valley, +332833, $25.95 retail.

2.Bernard Reverdy & Fils Sancerre 2012, +200055, $25.95.

3.Sperling Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012 Okanagan Valley, +382283, $27.95.

4.Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa Valley, +642124, $79.95.

5.La Crema Pinot Noir 2012 Willamette Valley, +385757, $34.95.

6.Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2012 Coonawarra, +509919, $34.95.

10.Chateau Fourcas-Borie 2010 Listrac, +361048, $29.95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com