WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2014

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 8, 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

 

Chateau Fongaban 2008 Cotes de Castillon, +165720, $17.95: ready for that nice, ripe, matured Bordeaux with the typical MVC of cedar and cassis? This is it, at six years old, 14% ABV, medium finish. QPR: 92.

 

 

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

 

M.Chapoutier Domaine Tournon Shay's Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2012 Pyranees Victoria, +311480, $37.95.

 

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2013 VQA Niagara, +80234, $16.95: longer length, 9.5% ABV, great MVC. Vintage over vintage, this is one of the best Rieslings in Ontario at this price. QPR: 90.

2.Rene Mure Signature Gewurztraminer 2012 Alsace, +387563, $21.95. QPR: 90.

3.Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire Vieilles Vignes Chablis 2013, +329995, $24.95. QPR: 90.

4.La Casa Del Rey Alta Vista Premium Chardonnay 2013 Mendoza, +166504, $16.95: value priced, balanced MVC lemons, apples, old oak wood for mute tones. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

5.Garces Silva Boya Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Leyda Valley, +389726, $14.95: 12.5% ABV, twist top, fresh and almost startling, from an upcoming sauvignon blanc region in Chile. QPR: 89.

6.Boeckel Brandluft Riesling 2012 Alsace, +392928, $17.95: tropical fruits, good balance and heft, long food length, 13% ABV. QPR: 89.

7.G. Mardon Domaine Pre Baron Sauvignon Touraine 2013, +107128, $16.95: the parade of Touraine savvies continue. This month's release is a Gold Medal winner; it certainly delivers Sauvignon Blanc to your palate, fresh, 12% ABV. QPR: 89.

8.Lafage Novellum Chardonnay 2013 IGP Pays d'Oc, +390781, $17.95: I'm not sure if this is a IGP or VDP Cotes Catalanes. I suspect the appellation changed between lot bottlings, and so did the label. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable Oc chardonnay produced by a negociant-shipper-importer, and worthy of your attention for its density and rich character. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Emina Crianza Ribera del Duero, +993220, $24.95. QPR: 89

2.Mazzei Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2011, +977629, $24.95. QPR:89

3.Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte 2008 Puglia, +177295, $22.95. QPR: 90.

4.Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz/Mourvedre 2012 Barossa Valley, +468629, $21.95. QPR: 90.

5.Roger Champault Les Pierris Sancerre Rouge 2013, +392084, $23.95. QPR: 90

6.Cave Spring Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2012 VQA Niagara Escarpment, +391995, $19.95: shows red fruit but also muted savoury tones because of hot 2012.14% ABV. Value. QPR: 89.

7.Vidal-Fleury Domaine de Vieille Fontaine Cotes du Rhone Villages 2012, +393215, $17.95: a well-priced complex wine with forest floor, leather, back fruit, and long length. 14.5% ABV. QPR: 90.

8.Di Majo Norante Ramitello 2011 Biferno Rosso Molise, +973214, $17.95: another cuties with North American off-dry appeal on the mid-palate, plumminess, Cal-Ital derived flavours, even some forest floor. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

9.Orestiadi Ludovico 2008 IGT Rosso Sicilia, +388645, $19.95: a powerful smokey wine, some brett or animal tones, rough and ready but the power is there. Maybe lay down a year more? Already six years old, 14.5%. Packaged in a heavy bottle. QPR: 90.

10.

 

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.Hidden Bench Chardonnay 2012 VQA Beamsville Bench Niagara, +68817, $28.95 retail.

2.Louis Latour Caradeux Pernand Vergelesses 1er Cru 2011, +390500, $44.95.

3.Dr.Heidemanns-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2012, +391045, $25.95.

4.Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2009 BC VQA Okanagan Valley, +626325, $44.95/

5.Quails' Gate Pinot Noir 2012 BC VQA Okanagan Valley, +585760, $26.95.

6.Flat Rock Gravity Pinot Noir 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench Niagara, +1560, $29.95.

7.Ontanon Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +939736, $39.95.

8.Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2004, +986117, $96.95.

9.Domaine Michel Magnien Cote de Nuits Villages 2011, +392688, $36.95.

10.Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2009, +708826, $41.95.

11.Meerlust Pinot Noir 2012 WO Stellenbosch, +377226, $27.95.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com