WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 14, 2015

 

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  NOVEMBER 14, 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

 

Gerard Bertrand Fitou 2011, +403683, $16.95: a nice chewy wine, made all the more enjoyable by the lack of grenach paper-y taste. Juicy and dense. 14% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Dog point Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, +677450, $24.95. QPR: 91.

2.Reif Estate Reserve Gewurztraminer 2013 VQA Niagara River, +360255, $18.95: lovely gewurztraminer nose and flavours, longer finish, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

3.Thierry Delaunay Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2014, +391847, $14.95: the savvy of the month, they keep coming from the Touraine at this price level. QPR: 89.

4.Terredora Falanghina 2014 IGT Campania, +642074, $16.95: good fruit tones, dense concentration of flavours, try with petites fritures. 12.5% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Clare Valley/Coonawarra, +142398, $24.95. QPR: 92.

2.Il Molino di Grace Riserva Chianti Classico 2008, +382945, $23.95. QPR: 90.

3.Castello d'Alba Vinhas Velhas Grande Reserva 2012 Douro, +427880, $22.95. QPR: 89.

4.Alejandro Fernandez Dehesa La Granja 2008 Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon, +192476, $21.95. QPR: 89.

5.Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir 2013 Limari, +301424, $19.95: very Burgundian in style, with toasty oak tones, a lively finish, very food oriented. Cork closure. 13.5% ABV.  QPR: 88.

6.Koyle Royale Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Los Lingues Vineyard Colchagua, +255760, $24.95. QPR: 91.

7.Grand Vin de Glenelly Red 2009 WO Stellenbosch, +360339, $19.95: good syrah hit but blended well with the international bordeaux varieties, good depth, great as sipper or with food. 14.5% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.

8.Chateau Hauchat 2011 Fronsac, +123489, $15.95: well-made entry level Bordeaux, with some oak tones and some tannic finish over the fruit. 13$ ABV. QPR: 88.

9.Torres Altos Ibericos Crianza 2012 Rioja, +381046, $16.95: a better than expected Rioja venture for Torres, with sandal accents and spices from the tempranillo. Aged a year in oak. QPR: 88.

10.Chateau de Nages Vieilles Vignes Costieres de Nimes 2012, +40964, $19.95: good syrah component, and none of that grenache paper. Dark fruit, garrigue, 15% ABV. QPR: 89.

11.Boutari Grande Reserve Xinomavro 2008 PDO Naoussa, +140111, $18.95: good aging, slightly dried out fruit but nice oak component. 13.%% ABV, cork closure. 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.Bachelder Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 VQA Beamsville Bench, +324103, $44.95 retail.

2.Closson Chase CC Vineyard Chardonnay 2013 VQA Prince Edward County, +148866, $27.95.

3.Stratus White 2012 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, +660704, $44.20.

4.Versado Reserva Ancient Malbec 2011 Mendoza, +316984, $59.95.

5.Emiliana Coyam 2011 Colchagua Valley, +63891, $29.95.

6.Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Maipo Valley, +430728, $37.95 magnum 1500mL.

7.Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2013 Marlborough, +598813, $44.95.

8.Chateau Haut Corbin 2000 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +425439, $58.95.

9.B & G Chateau Magnol 2010 Haut Medoc, +424598, $47.95 magnum 1500mL

10.Poggio Verrano Dromos 2005 IGT Maremma Toscana, +107383, $39.95.

11.Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2011, +356220, $49.95.

12.Bodegas LAN Crianza 2011 Rioja, +424531, $29.95 magnum 1500mL

13.Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 2008 Rioja, +976670, $29.95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com