WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 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

 

Stellenrust Wild Yeast Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2011 WO Stellenbosch, +382218, $17.95: wonderfully complex, better than many chardonnays at twice this price. 13% ABV, cork closure, oaky and nutty tones which follow through right on the mid-palate and the length. Could be aged two more years. QPR: 93.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Rosehall Run Cuvee County Chardonnay 2011 VQA PEC, +132928, $21.95. QPR: 90.

2.Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Southern Valleys Marlborough, +663286, $20.95, QPR: 89.

3.Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musque 2012 CSV VQA Beamsville Bench, +246579: vibrant, ripe and affordable, off-dry on the palate, in the peach mode of viognier-albarino-riesling, No oak, but dry finish. QPR: 89.

4.Flat Rock Riesling 2013 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +43281, $16.95: another succulent riesling from Ontario, twist top, 11% ABV, but dynamite bursts on the palate. Off-dry. QPR: 91.

5.Domaine Chevallier Chablis 2012, +112227, $19.95: this now seems to be the LCBO chablis of the month, particularly for under $20. Expect orchard fruit, minerals, stony finish and lemons. QPR: 89.

6.Mallory & Benjamin Talmard Macon-Uchizy 2012, +733956, $16.95: a good basic burgundy chardonnay, affordable. Green tones (apples, peppers, lemon finish). Gold Medalist. QPR: 89.

7.Michel Gassier Les Piliers Viognier 2013, +669531, $18.95: richly aromatic, ripe orchard fruit (peaches), citric finish, better with food, good price. QPR: 89.

8.Bischofliche Weinguter Trier Dom Riesling Kabinett 2011 Mosel, +378828, $18.95: off-dry Mosel Riesling wine with mounds of flavour, 9% ABV. QPR: 89.

 

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2012 VQA NOTL, +275958, $21.95. QPR: 90.

2.Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Walla Walla Valley Washington, +387027, $21.95. QPR: 89.

3.Cederberg Shiraz 2010 WO Cederberg South Africa, +374199, $24.95. QPR: 89.

4.Piccini Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, +134791, $20.95. QPR: 89.

5.Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2012 Anconcagua Coast Chile, +143214, $19.95: good quality pinot MVC in the New World style at an affordable price-- red fruit, mocha, some licorice, lovely finish. Cork closure. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.

6.Cantine Ferri Oblivio Nero di Troia 2008 IGT Puglia, +380600, $19.95: very good complexity for the price, red fruit and leather dominate, plus other signs of being aged. 14.5% QPR: 89.

7.Coppi Peucetico Primitivo 2007 DOC Gioia del Colle Puglia, +724674, $13.95: amazing value for a Euro Zinfandel, 13.5% ABV, and well-aged too. A real winner. QPR: 90.

8.Quinta de Pancas Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Vinho Regional Lisboa, +380568, $18.95: nicely developed and aged cabby, like Bordeaux, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

9.Luzon Seleccion 12 Meses Crianza 2008 DO Jumilla, +310219, $17.95: noteworthy blend of black fruit flavours from the monastrell, tempranillo, and cabby grapes. Full of the spirit and palates of Spain, tremendous value for the toastiness. QPR: 90,

 

 

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.Stratus Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2011 VQA Vinemount Ridge Niagara, +241182, $35.20 retail.

2.Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse 2012, +732917, $35.95.

3.Chateau des Charmes Merlot 2012 St David's Bench VQA St David's Bench, +453431, $29.95.

4.Lailey Vineyard Syrah 2012 VQA Niagara River, +184523, $27.20.

5.Seglas 2006 AC Margaux, +359810, $53.95.

6.Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2008, +368910, $29.95.

7.Quintarelli Primofiore 2009 IGT Veneto, +20867, $59.95.

8.La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2004 Rioja, +315531, $39.95.

9.Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Mencia 2009 DO Bierzo Spain, +379891, $29.95.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com