WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 13, 2015

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 13, 2015

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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", a guide to thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, has been 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. 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

 

Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Block 150-183 Riesling 2013 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +424176, $19.95: easily outshines many Australian rieslings that were $50 a pop. 10% ABV, twist top. Look for succulence and lushness, not quite the (M) the catalogue says. QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Flat Rock Chardonnay 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +286278, $18.95: tasty, from older vines, with some new wood. Twist top. 13% ABV, nicely aged. QPR: 89.

2.Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Chardonnay 2012, +942482, $23.95. QPR: 89.

3.Les Anges Sauvignon Blanc 2013 IGP Val de Loire, +408203, $13.95: value driven for its grassiness. 11.5% ABV, first course wine. QPR: 89.

4.Famille Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2014, +499509, $14.95: another nifty sipper wine from the south of France, with lots of flavour from white grenache. Flowers and citrus. QPR: 89.

5.St.Urbans-Hof Riesling 2013 Old Vines Mosel, +995746, $19.95: very good, long length, 9.5% ABV, sipper or first course white. QPR: 88.

6.Villanova Traminer Aromatico 2014 Fruili Isonza, +411314, $13.95: enough acid to make it off-dry, certainly more dry than the (M) given to it. QPR: 88.

7.Finca Nueva Blanco 2013 Rioja, +280560, $16.95: barrel-fermentation gives creamy wood tones without the spiciness. 13% ABV. Solid wine, mixing citric tastes with cream. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Ste. Michelle Snoqualmie Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Columbia Valley Washington, +414771, $16.95: Strong cabernet sauvignon nose and MVC taste, 14% ABV, delivering good value for an American wine not from California. QPR: 89.

2.Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Maipo Valley, +18721, $17.95: 14.5% ABV feels hot on the finish but lush-plus cabby tones dominate, long length. QPR: 89.

3.Ballast Stone Windjammer Shiraz 2012 McLaren Vale, +167064, $21.95. QPR: 90.

4.Stella Bella Isca Cabernet/Merlot 2010 Margaret River, +47639, $22.95. QPR: 90.

5.Casetta Barbaresco 2009, +412247, $22.95. QPR: 90.

6.Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino 2011, +333575, $19.95: a baby brunello, one of the better ones, still a tannic finish so needs more time in the cellar or a double decant. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

7.Quercia al Poggio Chianti Classico 2009, +83998, $21.95. QPR: 89.

8.Catapereiro Escholha 2012 Tejo Portugal, +380808, $15.95: from a single vineyard, a tasty North American approach to wine, 14% ABV. Touriga nacional and Syrah blend. Cork closure. QPR: 89.

9.Quinta da Fronteira Seleccao do Enologo 2011 Douro, +408088, $22.95. QPR: 89.

10.Heredad de Baroja Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, +276113, $24.05. QPR: 90.

11.Langa Tradicion Centenaria Garnacha 2012 Calatayud, +194795, $14.95: the Garnacha of the Month is back, after too long an absence. Layered tones of fruit and smoke. QPR: 89.

 

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

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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.Bachey-Legros et Fils Les Grands Charrons Meursault 2011, +410647, $51.95 retail.

2.Sergio Zenato Riserva Lugana 2012 Veneto, +928218, $30.95.

3.Burning Kiln M-1 Merlot 2013 VQA Ontario, +406470, $34.95.

4.Perrin Coudoulet De Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone 2012, +48884, $29.95.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com