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Thursday, May 23, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under $20 and over $20 for MAY 25, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under $20 and over $20 for MAY 25, 2019
 
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "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 http://www.deantudor.com since 1994.
 
These notes for good wines available through  LCBO Vintages (on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at  http://www.deantudor.com
 
Scores are a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Southern Rhone would taste like a Southern Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace above or below its price).
 
NOTE: The first report is based on my sampling of the wines chosen by the LCBO from this release for tasting. That presentation is about 50+  different labels out of about 125 released every two weeks. Thus, my report will not be as voluminous as in the past and comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of the 50+ wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value.
 
NOTE: The second report (at the end) is a simple listing of  those wines that were NOT presented to the media, and are given here simply as a record of  what sampling I could not do. I have left in the name of the agency, in fairness to all.
 
PART ONE:  The "best" of a reduced tasting based on 57 wines available to sample --
 
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --
 
Rose+409870    GÉRARD BERTRAND GRIS BLANC ROSÉ IGP Pays d'Oc  2018 $16.95  Rated: 90pt
Fruit+341024    SOUTHBROOK FRAMBOISE    Ontario    $19.95 375 mL    Rated: 92pts
Fizz+528752    BENAJMIN BRIDGE MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE BRUT NV Traditional method, Nova Scotia        $32.95     Rated: 93pts
 
 
Under $20
W+520627    CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SÉMILLON/SAUVIGNON BLANC    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2017    $22.95     12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+284588    WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE    WO Stellenbosch    2015    $19.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+918805    CATENA CHARDONNAY    Mendoza    2017    $19.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+429233    THE LANE VINEYARD BLOCK 1A CHARDONNAY    Adelaide Hills, South Australia    2017    $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+644518    MOULIN DE GASSAC CLASSIC    IGP Pays d'Hérault    2018    $12.95 11.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+644930    FEUDO ANTICO BIOLOGICO PECORINO    IGP Terre di Chieti    2017    $14.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+629824    CASA MONTE PÍO ALBARIÑO    DO Rías Baixas    2016    $18.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+645127    MURIEL FINCAS DE LA VILLA BLANCO    DOCa Rioja    2018    $14.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+367318    KEW SOLDIER'S GRANT    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2016    $19.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+632943    MONTGRAS LIMITED EDITION 25TH ANNIVERSARY RED    DO Colchagua Valley    2015    $17.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+91488    TYRRELL'S RUFUS STONE SHIRAZ    Heathcote, Victoria    2016    $19.95     14.9% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+403683    GÉRARD BERTRAND FITOU GRENACHE/CARIGNAN    AP    2016    $17.95
13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+247882    HENRY OF PELHAM FAMILY TREE RED VQA Ontario    2016    $18.95  13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+452789    CONFIDENCIAL RESERVA    Vinho Regional Lisboa    2014    $14.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+634014    CHÂTEAU GAUMARAN    AC Médoc    2014    $17.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90
R+647479    ZACHARIAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    PDO Peloponnese    2016    $15.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+631606    NATIV RUE DELL'INCHIOSTRO AGLIANICO    IGT Campania    2017    $19.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+644989    LORNANO RISERVA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI    DOCG    2016    $19.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+39925    CVNE CUNE CRIANZA    DOCa Rioja    2015    $16.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
 
Over $20
W+155382    MARCHESI DI BAROLO GAVI DEL COMUNE DI GAVI    DOCG    2017    $22.95 12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+650135    SOUTHBROOK HEATHER'S HOME VINEYARD RIESLING    VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula    2017    $22.95      MVC/QPR: 89
W+425322    WESTCOTT LILLIAS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY    VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula    2018    $21.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+ 416511    VASSE FELIX FILIUS CHARDONNAY    Margaret River, Western Australia    2018    $24.95        13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+ 374553    MARIE-PIERRE MANCIAT LES PETITES BRUYÈRES POUILLY-FUISSÉ    AC    2017    $34.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+635847    DOMAINE DE LA GAVERIE SEC VOUVRAY    AC    2017    $19.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+168179    MARCHESI DI BAROLO LA TRADIZIONE BAROLO    DOCG     $42.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+471797    CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH    VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016    $24.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.5
R+698142    COSENTINO CIGAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON Columbia Valley    2016    $24.95     14.2% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+665976    HEDGES THE BOURGEOISIE    Columbia Valley    2016    $24.95     13.2% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90
R+492413    CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC    Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza    2016  $22.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+638650    BEAUMIRAIL VACQUEYRAS    AP    2016    $21.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+559872    VASSE FELIX FILIUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Margaret River, Western Australia    2016    $24.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+651471    WATERKLOOF CIRCUMSTANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON    WO Stellenbosch    2015    $24.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+424804    STÉPHANE AVIRON VIEILLES VIGNES MORGON CÔTE DU PY    AC    2014    $23.95  13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+634055    L'ÉCLAT DE TOUR DE PEZ    AC Saint-Estèphe    2014    $35.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88
R+636746    PRIMO DU CHÂTEAU LA CLIDE    AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru    2010    $57.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+636688    MICHELE CHIARLO PALÁS BARBARESCO    DOCG    2014    $29.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+276584    MARZIANO ABBONA PRESSENDA BAROLO    DOCG    2012    $53.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89
R+995910    REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO    DOCG    2016    $42.95     15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+ 668491    CA' DE' ROCCHI MONTERÈ VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE    DOP    2015    $23.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+424390    CVNE IMPERIAL RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2014    $39.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
 
 
PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] --
 
    368415    LOUIS ROEDERER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE    AC    2013    $102.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
    302752    SANTA MARGHERITA BRUT ROSÉ    Italy        $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    519009    THE FOREIGN AFFAIR UNOAKED CHARDONNAY    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2017    $23.95    CORBY SPIRIT AND WINE LIMITED
    251223    KISTLER LES NOISETIERS CHARDONNAY    Sonoma Coast    2017    $99.95    THE VINE AGENCY
    181453    MCMANIS PINOT GRIGIO    River Junction, California    2018    $18.95    THE VINE AGENCY
    662775    D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2017    $17.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
    974527    VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough, South Island    2018    $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    734517    TRIMBACH RIESLING    AC Alsace    2016    $25.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
    366419    DOMAINE DU COLOMBIER CHABLIS    AC    2017    $28.95    C & E WORLDFINDS
    350124    BEAUVIGNAC PICPOUL DE PINET    AP    2018    $14.95    GRAPE EXPECTATIONS WINE AGENCY
    645168    BALTHASAR RESS HALLGARTEN TROCKEN RIESLING    Prädikatswein    2016    $18.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
    707158    ZENATO SAN BENEDETTO LUGANA    DOC    2018    $19.95    JOSEPH CIPELLI WINES & SPIRITS
    647487    H. KENDERMANN CUPO LA NOTTE TENTAZIONE    Romania    2018    $16.95    PMA CANADA LTD.
    12617    LAKEVIEW CABERNET SAUVIGNON    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2015    $29.95    TRAJECTORY BEVERAGE PARTNERS
    126763    MISSION HILL RESERVE SHIRAZ    BC VQA Okanagan Valley    2015    $29.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
    315002    CA' MOMI HEARTCRAFT CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2016    $34.95    KYLIX WINES
    633966    SKYFALL MERLOT    Columbia Valley    2016    $21.95    TRAJECTORY BEVERAGE PARTNERS
    687822    HOGUE GENESIS SYRAH    Columbia Valley    2015    $18.95    ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
    656363    WEINERT CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Mendoza    2008    $27.95    THE CASE FOR WINE
    260919    SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Uco Valley, Mendoza    2016    $19.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
    590380    THE BONSAI VINE GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2016    $29.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
    522235    PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ    Barossa, South Australia    2017    $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    327403    PAXTON MV SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2016    $19.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.
    660332    KATNOOK FOUNDER'S BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Coonawarra, South Australia    2015    $19.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
    632646    ROCKCLIFFE THIRD REEF PINOT NOIR    Great Southern, Western Australia    2017    $18.95    JOHN GIBSON AGENCIES
    682005    JIM JIM THE DOWN-UNDERDOG SHIRAZ    South Australia    2017    $16.95    VINEXX
    129353    THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK    WO Swartland    2017    $39.95    UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.
    419390    BULGARIANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Thracian Valley    2015    $15.95    BRAND NEW DAY WINES & SPIRITS
    10538    CHÂTEAU PEYRABON    AC Haut-Médoc    2015    $28.95    RARE EARTH WINES
        NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
    572230    CAVE DE TAIN GRAND CLASSIQUE CROZES-HERMITAGE    AC    2015    $24.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    566844    FAMILLE PERRIN LES CORNUDS VINSOBRES    AC    2016    $17.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC
    681668    CHÂTEAU CROZE DE PYS PRESTIGE MALBEC CAHORS    AP    2015    $19.95    H.H.D. IMPORTS
    120907    VESEVO BENEVENTANO AGLIANICO    IGT Beneventano    2015    $16.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
    5405    UMBERTO CESARI MOMA ROSSO    IGT Rubicone    2016    $15.95    UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.
    339937    CASTELLO DI ALBOLA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2015    $19.95    IMPRESE INC.
    378257    BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2013    $56.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
    91694    SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2015    $22.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    483818    LEONARDO ROSSO    IGT Toscana    2016    $14.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.
    470351    ODISSEIA RESERVA TINTO    DOC Douro    2015    $19.95    VINYA
    443804    PATA NEGRA RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2014    $18.95    CHRISTOPHER STEWART WINE & SPIRITS
    114306    CERRO AÑON RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2014    $20.95    MACDONALD AND COMPANY
    210872    TORRES CELESTE CRIANZA    DO Ribera del Duero    2015    $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    545939    MARQUÉS DE TORO FINCA LA MOURA    Single vineyard, DO Mencía    2012    $13.95    TERRA FINE WINES
    644906    W. & J. GRAHAM'S THE TAWNY MATURE RESERVE TAWNY PORT    DOP        $24.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
    547703    LAKEVIEW CELLARS GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE    VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario    2017    $34.95    TRAJECTORY BEVERAGE PARTNERS
    614842    PALATINE HILLS VIDAL ICEWINE    VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario    2012    $19.95    VINTAGES
    48819    CREEKSIDE ROSÉ    VQA Ontario    2018    $15.95    HOBBS & COMPANY
    468652    CHARLES SMITH VINO SANGIOVESE ROSÉ    Washington    2018    $17.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
    556233    CHÂTEAU VAL JOANIS CUVÉE JOSÉPHINE ROSÉ    AP Luberon    2018    $25.95    THE VINE AGENCY
    636787    JEEPER BRUT GRAND ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE    AC        $93.95    DBINO INC.
    409326    PIPER-HEIDSIECK BRUT CHAMPAGNE    AC    2006    $79.95    BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE CANADA INC.
    632034    TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SERIES SEMILLON    Hunter Valley, New South Wales    2017    $28.95    SELECT WINE MERCHANTS INC.
    557710    DENIS RACE MONTMAINS 1ER CRU CHABLIS    AC    2016    $38.95    THE CASE FOR WINE
    940809    REICHSGRAF VON KESSELSTATT KASELER NIES'CHEN RIESLING KABINETT    VDP Grosse Lage    2016    $27.95    H.H.D. IMPORTS
    992354    POGGIO ALLE GAZZE DELL'ORNELLAIA    IGT Toscana    2016    $69.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
    14217    CLIFF LEDE STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Stags Leap District, Napa Valley    2016    $119.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES
    379313    SAURUS BARREL FERMENTED MALBEC    Patagonia    2017    $34.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    630731    VIÑA LEYDA LOT 8 SYRAH    Leyda Valley    2013    $29.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    668681    SERAFINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2015    $29.95    LOYAL IMPORTS
    636233    CHÂTEAU CAMILLE GAUCHERAUD    AC Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye    2010    $20.95    AMV - WHIZ TRADING LRD
    109876    PLANETA BURDESE    IGT Sicilia    2013    $43.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
 
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