WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPT 19, 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 *OVER* $20
Bodegas Balbas Ardal Reserva 2006 Ribera del Duero, +167700, $21.95. QPR: 91.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Calamus Barrel Kissed Chardonnay 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +330613, $16.95: in French oak for 18 months, exhibits vanillins, apple, lemons, and some butter. QPR: 88.
2.Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2014 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +80234, $16.95: very riesling, very Mosel, off-dry, twist top, lowered alcohol. Excellent value. +80234, $16.95, QPR: 89.
3.Thirty Bench Riesling 2013 VQA Beamsville Bench, +24133, $18.95: very good quality, consistent over the years. 10.6% ABV, dryish mode, MVC riesling. Twist top. QPR: 89.
4.Tabali Rserva Viognier 2013 Limari, +406967, $13.95: exceptionally floral, value priced and value packed, good length for first course, otherwise a sipper. 13.5% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
5.Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, +734798, $18.95: a very lively savvy, zesty with lots of citric and green tones (herbs, grass, gooseberry, beans, typical low ripeness). Very much a Kiwi Savvy, best at lunch. 13% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
6.Pella the Vanilla Chenin Blanc 2013 WO Stellenbosch, +389619, $14.95: with its vanilla accents and cream (US oak BF dominates), this is the perfect match with coffee pinotage. Make your own latte...who needs food? 13% ABV. QPR: 88.
7.Argyros Atlantis Dry White 2014 PGI Cyclades Santorini, +371658, $17.95: very good value in the under $20 santorini market, 13% ABV. QPR: 88.
8.Dominio de Punctum Viento Aliseo Viognier 2014 La Mancha, +424713, $15.95: biodynamic Demeter certified, exceedingly floral and stone fruit tones. 13% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Strewn Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +426502, $24.95. QPR: 90.
2.Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Napa, +73817, $24.95. QPR: 89.
3.Astrolabe Valleys Pinot Noir 2013 Wairau Valley Marlborough, +374454, $23.95. QPR: 89.
4.Chateau Fleur La Mothe 2009 Medoc, +424614, $24.95. QPR: 89.
5.Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2011 Umbria, $20.95. QPR: 89.
6.Kent-He Voyageur Pinot Noir 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +373407, $19: elegant, typical MVC pinot earthiness tempered with dried red fruits. 12.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
7.Rockway Meritage 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench Niagara Peninsula, +388264, $19.95: very ripe but also a bit tight, from a hot vintage, 13.8% ABV. Useful bordeaux-styled wine. QPR: 88.
8.Bodega Paiman Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Valle de Chanarmuyo La Rioja Argentina, +423186, $19.95: impressive fruit, depth and length. 14.5% ABV powerhouse of blackness. QPR: 88.
9.Don Cristobal 1492 Barrel Selection Shiraz 2012 Mendoza, +236133, $15.95: definite Euro style in its syrah expression, black fruits and elegant long finish. 14% ABV, cork closure.
10.Basilica Cafaggio Chianti Classico 2010, +421107, $16.95: a nicely aged beauty, MVC chianti all the way, excellent price. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
11.Quinta dos Roques Vinho Tinto 2012 Dao, +986075, $18.95: another deep dark and delicious Portuguese wine, black fruits all the way. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
12.Coral Duero Rompesedas 2006 Toro, +425868, $19.95: here's value for 9 years aging, new oak for a year and a half. Lovely elegant wine, underpriced. 15% ABV. QPR: 89.
13.Valdemar Inspiracion Seleccion 2010 Rioja, +166512, $19.95: showing some raisins but toasty too, good Rioja value. 14% ABV. QPR: 88.
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.Westcott Estate Chardonnay 2013 VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara, +427484, $26 retail.
2.Alain Geoffroy Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2013, +744501, $29.95.
3.Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2013 VQA Prince Edward County, +125310, $39.
4.Paillere de Pied-Gu Gigondas 2012, +425413, $34.95.
5.Aurelio Settimo Rocche Dell'Annunziata Barolo 2010, +293761, $57.95.
6.Prinsi Gaia Principe Barbaresco 2007, +334516, $27.95.
7.Capanna Brunello di Montalcino 2009, +378513, $44.95.
8.Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2009, +368910, $29.95.
9.Castello Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2011, +719864, $34.95.
10.Masi Brolo Campofiorin Oro 2010 IGT Rosso del Veronese, +976092, $26.95.
11.Convento San Francisco Seleccion Especial 2005 Ribera del Duero, +185751, $32.95,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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 *OVER* $20
Bodegas Balbas Ardal Reserva 2006 Ribera del Duero, +167700, $21.95. QPR: 91.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Calamus Barrel Kissed Chardonnay 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +330613, $16.95: in French oak for 18 months, exhibits vanillins, apple, lemons, and some butter. QPR: 88.
2.Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2014 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +80234, $16.95: very riesling, very Mosel, off-dry, twist top, lowered alcohol. Excellent value. +80234, $16.95, QPR: 89.
3.Thirty Bench Riesling 2013 VQA Beamsville Bench, +24133, $18.95: very good quality, consistent over the years. 10.6% ABV, dryish mode, MVC riesling. Twist top. QPR: 89.
4.Tabali Rserva Viognier 2013 Limari, +406967, $13.95: exceptionally floral, value priced and value packed, good length for first course, otherwise a sipper. 13.5% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
5.Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, +734798, $18.95: a very lively savvy, zesty with lots of citric and green tones (herbs, grass, gooseberry, beans, typical low ripeness). Very much a Kiwi Savvy, best at lunch. 13% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
6.Pella the Vanilla Chenin Blanc 2013 WO Stellenbosch, +389619, $14.95: with its vanilla accents and cream (US oak BF dominates), this is the perfect match with coffee pinotage. Make your own latte...who needs food? 13% ABV. QPR: 88.
7.Argyros Atlantis Dry White 2014 PGI Cyclades Santorini, +371658, $17.95: very good value in the under $20 santorini market, 13% ABV. QPR: 88.
8.Dominio de Punctum Viento Aliseo Viognier 2014 La Mancha, +424713, $15.95: biodynamic Demeter certified, exceedingly floral and stone fruit tones. 13% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Strewn Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +426502, $24.95. QPR: 90.
2.Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Napa, +73817, $24.95. QPR: 89.
3.Astrolabe Valleys Pinot Noir 2013 Wairau Valley Marlborough, +374454, $23.95. QPR: 89.
4.Chateau Fleur La Mothe 2009 Medoc, +424614, $24.95. QPR: 89.
5.Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2011 Umbria, $20.95. QPR: 89.
6.Kent-He Voyageur Pinot Noir 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +373407, $19: elegant, typical MVC pinot earthiness tempered with dried red fruits. 12.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
7.Rockway Meritage 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench Niagara Peninsula, +388264, $19.95: very ripe but also a bit tight, from a hot vintage, 13.8% ABV. Useful bordeaux-styled wine. QPR: 88.
8.Bodega Paiman Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Valle de Chanarmuyo La Rioja Argentina, +423186, $19.95: impressive fruit, depth and length. 14.5% ABV powerhouse of blackness. QPR: 88.
9.Don Cristobal 1492 Barrel Selection Shiraz 2012 Mendoza, +236133, $15.95: definite Euro style in its syrah expression, black fruits and elegant long finish. 14% ABV, cork closure.
10.Basilica Cafaggio Chianti Classico 2010, +421107, $16.95: a nicely aged beauty, MVC chianti all the way, excellent price. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
11.Quinta dos Roques Vinho Tinto 2012 Dao, +986075, $18.95: another deep dark and delicious Portuguese wine, black fruits all the way. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
12.Coral Duero Rompesedas 2006 Toro, +425868, $19.95: here's value for 9 years aging, new oak for a year and a half. Lovely elegant wine, underpriced. 15% ABV. QPR: 89.
13.Valdemar Inspiracion Seleccion 2010 Rioja, +166512, $19.95: showing some raisins but toasty too, good Rioja value. 14% ABV. QPR: 88.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $25 RETAIL
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.Westcott Estate Chardonnay 2013 VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara, +427484, $26 retail.
2.Alain Geoffroy Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2013, +744501, $29.95.
3.Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2013 VQA Prince Edward County, +125310, $39.
4.Paillere de Pied-Gu Gigondas 2012, +425413, $34.95.
5.Aurelio Settimo Rocche Dell'Annunziata Barolo 2010, +293761, $57.95.
6.Prinsi Gaia Principe Barbaresco 2007, +334516, $27.95.
7.Capanna Brunello di Montalcino 2009, +378513, $44.95.
8.Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2009, +368910, $29.95.
9.Castello Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2011, +719864, $34.95.
10.Masi Brolo Campofiorin Oro 2010 IGT Rosso del Veronese, +976092, $26.95.
11.Convento San Francisco Seleccion Especial 2005 Ribera del Duero, +185751, $32.95,
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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