WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for MARCH 7,   2020
  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 No   winery can buy their way into – or out of – this publication.
  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 portion  is based on my sampling of the table 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. These   wines are basically those that fit the categories of  any of the Featured   Themes, Wines of the Month, Local Talent, and "new" -- wines that the LCBO has   ordered in sufficient quantities for the Ontario marketplace. Not put out for us   are the re-orders (even though they may be of a different vintage) , ISDs, or   the expensive wines.  Thus, my report comes from a restricted database. I   did not taste every one of these 50+ category wines, nor did I rate several of   the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good   value in terms of their price.
  NOTE: The second part (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" wines of a reduced tasting  --
  THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FIND -- 
  W+728352    LA CREMA SONOMA COAST   CHARDONNAY    Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County      2017    $16.95 for 375mL (half-bottle)
  Under $20
  =========
  W+246579    CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY   MUSQUÉ    Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara   Escarpment      $17.95            13.5%   ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  W+673806    SIMI CHARDONNAY    Sonoma   County    2018    $19.95       13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  W+10965    ABRAS TORRONTÉS    Cafayate   Valley, Salta    2017    $15.95      15.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  W+12116    KUENTZ BAS L'ALSACE MOSAIK    AC   Alsace    2016    $16.95    12.5%   ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
  W+12026    CHARLES MONTSERAT BOURGOGNE   ALIGOTÉ    AC    2018      $16.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
  W+12735    MASSO ANTICO FIANO DEL SALENTO      IGT    2018    $16.95    13.5% ABV,   MVC/QPR: 89
  R+12714    PENINSULA RIDGE ESTATES FALCON'S NEST PINOT   NOIR    VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara   Escarpment    2017      $19.95     12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  R+13186    SEBASTIANI CABERNET SAUVIGNON      California    2017      $16.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  R+13430    MARCHIGUE QUILINA GRAN RESERVA   CARMENÈRE    Estate bottled, Colchagua Valley      2018    $14.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+12629    BLACK COTTAGE PINOT NOIR      Certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island      2018    $19.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
  R+11901    CAVE DES VIGNERONS DE BUXY BUISSONNIER BOURGOGNE   PINOT NOIR    AC    2017      $19.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  R+13629    BOLLINA ZENAS PRIMITIVO    IGT   Puglia    2018    $17.00       14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+13453    CASTELLO DI GABBIANO CAVALIERE   D'ORO    IGT Toscana    2016      $18.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+13620    SANTA MARGHERITA LISON PRAMAGGIORE CABERNET   SAUVIGNON     DOC    2018      $19.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+12712    CAMPELO TERRAS DE VIRIATO   RESERVA    DO Dão    2014      $14.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  R+11150    QUINTA DAS CARVALHAS RED BLEND      DOC Douro    2015    $13.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR:   91
  R+13621    GORU GOLD MONASTRELL/CABERNET   SAUVIGNON/SYRAH    DOP Jumilla      2017    $16.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89   
  Over $20
  =========
  W+172338    SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC   CHARDONNAY    Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula      $24.95               13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
  W+11900    LA CHABLISIENNE VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER   CRU    AC    2016      $27.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92
  R+13818    MASTRONARDI ESTATE MERLOT    VQA   Lake Erie North Shore    2016    $24.95 13.6% ABV,   MVC/QPR: 88
  R+456723    RODNEY STRONG KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET   SAUVIGNON    Knights Valley, Sonoma County      2016    $39.95    14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+435099    STONESTREET CABERNET SAUVIGNON      Alexander Valley, Sonoma County    2016    $59.95   14.1% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
  R+12090    CHÂTEAU SIMARD    AC Saint-Émilion   Grand Cru      2015      $49.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+11328    TERRASSON CUVÉE PREVENCHE    AC   Côtes de Bordeaux - Castillon    2016    $24.95   14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
  R+967208    DI MAJO NORANTE CONTADO RISERVA AGLIANICO DEL   MOLISE    DOC    2014      $24.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  R+12295    RIOJA BORDÓN GRAN RESERVA    DOCa   Rioja    1999    $39.95       14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
  PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media]   with agency name  -- 
  664680    TARLANT BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE      Disgorged Feb. 2, 2017, AC, France          $53.95    B AND W WINES    
  168948    CAVE DE BEBLENHEIM BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT   D'ALSACE    Traditional method, AC, Alsace,   France        $19.95    VIN   VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.    
  48801    LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D'IVOIRE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS   CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE    Traditional method, AC, Burgundy,   France        $19.95      CHARTON HOBBS INC    
  483016    FIORINI CORTE DEGLI ATTIMI LAMBRUSCO DI   SORBARA    DOC, Emilia-Romagna, Italy      2018    $20.95    TRADESA CORP.      
  548214    RECHSTEINER BRUT PROSECCO      Charmat method, DOC, Italy    2018      $12.95    WINE CELLARS INTERNATIONAL LTD.      
  356873    FLAT ROCK GOOD KHARMA CHARDONNAY      VQA Niagara Peninsula    2018      $16.95    FLAT ROCK CELLARS    
  392126    KEW OLD VINE RIESLING    VQA   Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2015      $15.95    KEW VINEYARDS ESTATE WINERY LTD      
  644583    STRATUS TOLLGATE CHARDONNAY    VQA   Niagara-on-the-Lake    2018      $24.95    STRATUS VINEYARDS    
  609347    BURROWING OWL SAUVIGNON BLANC      Estate bottled, BC VQA Similkameen Valley      2018    $34.95    WYSE WINE   AGENCY    
  13429    SIEGEL SPECIAL RESERVE VIOGNIER      DO Colchagua Valley    2018      $17.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.      
  47621    SKUTTLEBUTT SAUVIGNON   BLANC/SEMILLON    Margaret River, Western   Australia    2018    $18.95      H.H.D. IMPORTS    
  411603    TWR SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough,   South Island    2018    $24.95      GARAGE WINE COMPANY    
  18705    STRANDVELD FIRST SIGHTING SAUVIGNON   BLANC    WO Cape South Coast      2019    $14.95    WINE GURU SELECTION   INC    
  377457    RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER      Certified sustainable, DAC Kamptal    2018      $16.95    THOMPSON VINTAGE TRADE LTD    
  168906    ANDRÉ BLANCK & FILS ALTENBOURG   GEWURZTRAMINER    AC Alsace      2018    $21.95    B.B. MARKETING      
  387787    CHÂTEAU LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE   BLANC    AC Bordeaux    2018      $16.95    RARE EARTH WINES    
  370098    PAUL MAS SINGLE VINEYARD COLLECTION RESERVE   VIOGNIER    Nicole Vineyard, IGP Pays d'Oc      2018    $13.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS   MERCHANTS    
  117093    JERMANN PINOT GRIGIO    DOC   Friuli    2018    $37.95    HALPERN   ENTERPRISES    
  12728    RIOLITE CASTEL DEL LAGO SOAVE      DOC    2018    $15.95    FRONTIER   WINE MERCHANTS    
  543785    HACIENDA LOPEZ DE HARO BLANCO      DOCa Rioja    2018    $14.95      WINEONLINE MARKETING COMPANY LTD    
  346742    CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ST. DAVID'S BENCH VINEYARD   GAMAY NOIR DROIT    VQA St. David's Bench,   Niagara-on-the-Lake    2017      $19.95    CHATEAU DES CHARMES    
  159970    CLOUDLINE PINOT NOIR    Willamette   Valley    2018    $26.95      PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.    
  402081    BURIED CANE CABERNET SAUVIGNON      Columbia Valley    2017      $19.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC    
  568907    EL ESTECO CABERNET SAUVIGNON      Calchaquí Valley    2016      $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.    
  50849    KAIKEN ULTRA LAS ROCAS MALBEC      Mendoza    2017    $19.95      TRAJECTORY BEVERAGE PARTNERS    
  275164    DURIGUTTI BONARDA      Mendoza    2017    $18.95    LOYAL   IMPORTS    
  213538    TABALÍ VETAS BLANCAS SYRAH      Viñedo Espinal, DO Limarí Valley    2016      $19.95    ALEGRIA FOOD AND DRINK INC.    
  541151    ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA PINOT   NOIR    DO Aconcagua Costa      2017    $24.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES   LTD.    
  453209    ROCKCLIFFE THIRD REEF SHIRAZ      Great Southern, Western Australia    2017      $19.95    JOHN GIBSON AGENCIES    
  142398    WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET   SAUVIGNON    Coonawarra & Clare Valley, South   Australia    2016    $24.95    VIN   VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.    
  327395    DOMAINE TOURNON MATHILDA CHAPOUTIER   SHIRAZ    Victoria    2017      $18.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.    
  186114    JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ/CABERNET      Padthaway, South Australia    2017      $16.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.    
  921239    WITS END LUNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON      McLaren Vale, South Australia    2017      $17.95    AZUREAU WINE AGENCY    
  296681    GUARDIAN PEAK SMG    WO Western   Cape    2016    $19.95    THOMPSON   VINTAGE TRADE LTD    
  967844    CHÂTEAU BEAU-SITE    AC   Saint-Estèphe    2014    $44.95      NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.    
  556480    DOMAINE DES ROSIERS   MOULIN-À-VENT    AP    2017      $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.    
  298620    VILLA SYMPOSIA L'EQUILIBRE    AP   Languedoc    2016    $17.95      NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC    
  286484    CHÂTEAU D'ANGLÈS CLASSIQUE LA CLAPE   SYRAH/GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE    AC      2017    $17.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS   LIMITED    
  526731    PAUL JABOULET AÎNÉ PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU   RHÔNE-VILLAGES    AC    2017      $23.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES    
  222596    LOUIS BERNARD GIGONDAS      AC    2016    $33.95    AUTHENTIC   WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS    
  12992    PIERRE-HENRI MOREL SIGNARGUES CÔTES DU   RHÔNE-VILLAGES    AC    2017      $19.95    ROUGE ET BLANC LTD    
  297317    XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE      AP    2018    $17.95    NOBLE   ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.    
  195107    SAINT-ROCH VIEILLES VIGNES   SYRAH/GRENACHE    AP Côtes du Roussillon      2017    $16.95    GLENCAIRN WINE   MERCHANTS    
  278150    NIRO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO      DOC    2016    $16.95    AUTHENTIC   WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS    
  475269    CAMPOMORO BARBERA PIEMONTE      DOC    2018    $16.95    BRAND NEW   DAY WINES & SPIRITS    
  576785    PASQUALE PELISSERO CASCINA CROSA   BARBARESCO    DOCG    2016      $32.95    WINEONLINE MARKETING COMPANY LTD      
  539379    ELVIO COGNO CASCINA NUOVA BAROLO      DOCG    2015    $54.95    BRAND NEW   DAY WINES & SPIRITS    
  270306    MASSERIE PISARI PRIMITIVO    IGT   Salento Rosso    2017    $13.95      LOGNOL FINE WINES & SPIRITS    
  388645    ORESTIADI LUDOVICO    IGT Rosso   Terre Siciliane    2012      $19.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC    
  440792    FEUDI DEL PISCIOTTO VERSACE NERO   D'AVOLA    IGT Terre Siciliane      2015    $29.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS   LTD.    
  681262    BANFI ROSSO DI MONTALCINO      DOC    2018    $23.95    AUTHENTIC   WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS    
  716266    SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI   CLASSICO    DOCG    2015      $29.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC    
  368910    CARPINETO VINO RISERVA NOBILE DI   MONTEPULCIANO    DOCG    2015      $34.95    UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.      
  399907    SAN VINCENTI CHIANTI CLASSICO      DOCG    2017    $19.95    DB WINE   & SPIRITS INC.    
  483446    GAJA PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO DI   MONTALCINO    DOP    2014      $100.95    STEM WINE GROUP    
  29850    TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO MONTI GARBI RIPASSO   VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE    DOC      2017    $20.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE &   SPIRITS    
  713669    SANTA SOFIA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA   CLASSICO    DOCG    2015      $53.95    LIBERTY WINES INC.    
  548560    ALICE VIEIRA DE SOUSA RESERVE   RED    DOC Douro    2017      $16.95    LAMPRECHT INTERNATIONAL    
  377481    HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO CRIANZA      DOCa Rioja    2016    $16.95      WINEONLINE MARKETING COMPANY LTD    
  538983    CROFT RESERVE TAWNY PORT    DOP,   Portugal        $18.95      SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.    
  542852    GUERRA ROJO VERMOUTH      Spain        $15.95    AZUREAU   WINE AGENCY    
  73452    CROFT ORIGINAL FINE PALE CREAM   SHERRY    DO, Spain          $15.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
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