WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for OCTOBER 2, 2021
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).
Currently, the wine media have no access to the tasting samples usually provided to us in the LCBO lab on a fortnightly basis. This will go on or some time. HOWEVER, the wine media will still have access to the advance spreadsheet of the wines to be released. So I know what is to be released and when. SOME (but not many) of these 100 or so biweekly released wines I have recently tasted since January 2020 or so, and I can comfortably recommend them based on this prior sampling.
Some New Wines Tasted Over the Past Fortnight ---
The Date and Time: Friday September 10, 2021 Noon – 2:30 PM
The Event: A tasting of Vignobles de Larose wines along with a discussion on the new Classification of Crus Bourgeois.
The Venue: Boehmer, Ossington Avenue.
The Availability/Catalogue: Marchands des Ameriques is the agency (see below). Differing vintages are currently available; others will come in periodically.
The Quote/Background: Franck Bijon, the General Manager and Chief Winemaker of Vignobles de la Rose made the presentation, commenting on the company's history. It's got three major Chateaux in the Haut-Medoc: Chateau LaRose Trintaudon (huge seller in the USA), Chateau LaRose Perganson, and Chateau Arnauld, plus Chateau Tour de Pez in St. Estephe, which they bought in 2019. Area is 255 hectares of vines, production is 1.3 million bottles a year, and exports are 30% of the company totals. The company began its first rehabilitation in 1963, followed by another in 2000 to get numerous environmental certifications (and again in 2020). Franck also discussed the details on applying for classification. Crus Bourgeois were classified in 2003 and then again in 2020. Re-validation is every five years (e.g., 2025, 2030, etc.). Eligibility is mostly by blind tasting. There are 247 chateaux with three levels. The first is a basic entry, followed by "superior" and then "exceptional". He then went on to describe his own company's wines. LaRose's barrel program includes 3600 barrels (of which 900 are new) for the Trintaudon, 400 barrels (of which 140 are new) for the Perganson (superior), and 35 all-new barrels for the Arnauld (exceptional). M.Bijon then went on to taste and describe the wines he brought with him. Wines are mostly equal merlot and cabernet sauvignon, with some petit verdot. The St Estephe does have some cabernet franc, as most St Estephe wines do have.
The Wines: Kenneth Gunn of the Marchands des Vins agency has the Haut-Medoc wines for sale...but, on September 18 at Vintages, Chateau LaRose-Trintaudon Sustainable, Cru Bourgeois, AC Haut-Médoc 2014 $28.95 +297945 went on sale in Ontario (only 400 cases available).
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau LaRose Trintaudon 2014 [juicy and racy]
-Chateau LaRose Perganson 2008 [my fave of the day, nicely aged, longer finish]
-Chateau Arnauld 2012 [another fave, still young, very juicy] close to Margaux
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau LaRose Trintaudon 2018 [intense nose, very fresh]
-Chateau Arnauld 2018 [soft on the mid-palate]
A new wine of 6700 bottles has been introduced: L'Experience Sans Sulfites Ajoutes 2019, from sustainable old vines (70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot).
Other availability: Château Arnauld Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc 2015 – LCBO Vintages Classics #21928 $68.00 release date : December 02 2021 - 80 cases
Consignment (currently out of stock but available soon):
Château Larose Trintaudon 2011 - $30.00 (before tax and deposit)
Château Larose Perganson 2008 - $37.00 (before tax and deposit)
The Food at the tasting: Bordeaux friendly food, such as a selection of meats (beef and lamb) atop lentils de puy, and wild mushrooms on richly buttered crostini. The main dish was classic tournedos with a wine sauce, potato puree, and grilled asparagus.
The Contact Person: kenneth@marchandsdesameriques.com
I can recommend one red, one rose, one white and one fizz wine from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...some are good values (see below)...on sale through Sunday October 10:
[red] Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile, +322586, on sale to October 10, now $16.95, down from $19.95. Buy a case.
[rose] Cave Spring Dry Rose VQA Niagara, +295006, on sale to October 10, now $13.95, down from $15.95. Buy a case.
[white] Flat Rock Cellars Twisted White VQA Niagara Peninsula, +1578, on sale to October 10 , now $14.95, down from $17.95. Buy a case.
[fizz] Cono Sur Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose Chile, +365205, on sale to October 10, now $12.95, down from $14.95. Buy two cases.
Wines Under $20
=========
W+542746 SÁNCHEZ ROMATE FINO PERDIDO SHERRY DO, Spain
$18.95 MVC/QPR: 90
W+89011 FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC VQA Niagara
Peninsula 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+83287 MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY DO Valle
de Casablanca 2019 $19.95 MVC/QPR: 92.
R+642421 VALPANTENA TORRE DEL FALASCO VALPOLICELLA
RIPASSO DOC 2019 $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
Wines Over $20
=========
W+360297 JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE
MERITAGE VQA Niagara Peninsula 2020 $25.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+415901 CAVE SPRING INDIAN SUMMER SELECT LATE HARVEST RIESLING Estate grown, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario 2017 $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+268391 HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE PINOT NOIR Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2019 $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+356337 R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2009 $63.95
MVC/QPR: 89.
R+261784 PAPALE LINEA ORO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP 2016 $22.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+353201 RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE
CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016 $49.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+157347 ENRICO SERAFINO SANAVENTO BARBARESCO
DOCG 2017 $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+18593 POÇAS JUNIOR VINTAGE PORT DOP, Portugal
2017 $36.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
WASHINGTON + OREGON SPOTLIGHT [not tasted, not rated, just listed]
White Wine
17031 ERATH PINOT GRIS Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley
2019 $23.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
16996 WINES OF SUBSTANCE CHARDONNAY Columbia
Valley 2019 $23.95 AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS
Red Wine
546366 DEL RIO VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR Rogue Valley
2019 $24.95 NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
17686 CARDWELL HILL ESTATE BOTTLED PINOT NOIR
Sustainable, Willamette Valley 2016 $22.95 VINOLUNA
408864 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS MERLOT
Columbia Valley 2017 $26.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND
WINES LTD.
551473 DRUMHELLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON Columbia
Valley 2018 $18.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
20491 HEDGES CMS Columbia Valley 2018 $29.95
NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
You get old and you realize there are no answers -- just stories.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).
Currently, the wine media have no access to the tasting samples usually provided to us in the LCBO lab on a fortnightly basis. This will go on or some time. HOWEVER, the wine media will still have access to the advance spreadsheet of the wines to be released. So I know what is to be released and when. SOME (but not many) of these 100 or so biweekly released wines I have recently tasted since January 2020 or so, and I can comfortably recommend them based on this prior sampling.
Some New Wines Tasted Over the Past Fortnight ---
The Date and Time: Friday September 10, 2021 Noon – 2:30 PM
The Event: A tasting of Vignobles de Larose wines along with a discussion on the new Classification of Crus Bourgeois.
The Venue: Boehmer, Ossington Avenue.
The Availability/Catalogue: Marchands des Ameriques is the agency (see below). Differing vintages are currently available; others will come in periodically.
The Quote/Background: Franck Bijon, the General Manager and Chief Winemaker of Vignobles de la Rose made the presentation, commenting on the company's history. It's got three major Chateaux in the Haut-Medoc: Chateau LaRose Trintaudon (huge seller in the USA), Chateau LaRose Perganson, and Chateau Arnauld, plus Chateau Tour de Pez in St. Estephe, which they bought in 2019. Area is 255 hectares of vines, production is 1.3 million bottles a year, and exports are 30% of the company totals. The company began its first rehabilitation in 1963, followed by another in 2000 to get numerous environmental certifications (and again in 2020). Franck also discussed the details on applying for classification. Crus Bourgeois were classified in 2003 and then again in 2020. Re-validation is every five years (e.g., 2025, 2030, etc.). Eligibility is mostly by blind tasting. There are 247 chateaux with three levels. The first is a basic entry, followed by "superior" and then "exceptional". He then went on to describe his own company's wines. LaRose's barrel program includes 3600 barrels (of which 900 are new) for the Trintaudon, 400 barrels (of which 140 are new) for the Perganson (superior), and 35 all-new barrels for the Arnauld (exceptional). M.Bijon then went on to taste and describe the wines he brought with him. Wines are mostly equal merlot and cabernet sauvignon, with some petit verdot. The St Estephe does have some cabernet franc, as most St Estephe wines do have.
The Wines: Kenneth Gunn of the Marchands des Vins agency has the Haut-Medoc wines for sale...but, on September 18 at Vintages, Chateau LaRose-Trintaudon Sustainable, Cru Bourgeois, AC Haut-Médoc 2014 $28.95 +297945 went on sale in Ontario (only 400 cases available).
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau LaRose Trintaudon 2014 [juicy and racy]
-Chateau LaRose Perganson 2008 [my fave of the day, nicely aged, longer finish]
-Chateau Arnauld 2012 [another fave, still young, very juicy] close to Margaux
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau LaRose Trintaudon 2018 [intense nose, very fresh]
-Chateau Arnauld 2018 [soft on the mid-palate]
A new wine of 6700 bottles has been introduced: L'Experience Sans Sulfites Ajoutes 2019, from sustainable old vines (70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot).
Other availability: Château Arnauld Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc 2015 – LCBO Vintages Classics #21928 $68.00 release date : December 02 2021 - 80 cases
Consignment (currently out of stock but available soon):
Château Larose Trintaudon 2011 - $30.00 (before tax and deposit)
Château Larose Perganson 2008 - $37.00 (before tax and deposit)
The Food at the tasting: Bordeaux friendly food, such as a selection of meats (beef and lamb) atop lentils de puy, and wild mushrooms on richly buttered crostini. The main dish was classic tournedos with a wine sauce, potato puree, and grilled asparagus.
The Contact Person: kenneth@marchandsdesameriques.com
I can recommend one red, one rose, one white and one fizz wine from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...some are good values (see below)...on sale through Sunday October 10:
[red] Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile, +322586, on sale to October 10, now $16.95, down from $19.95. Buy a case.
[rose] Cave Spring Dry Rose VQA Niagara, +295006, on sale to October 10, now $13.95, down from $15.95. Buy a case.
[white] Flat Rock Cellars Twisted White VQA Niagara Peninsula, +1578, on sale to October 10 , now $14.95, down from $17.95. Buy a case.
[fizz] Cono Sur Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose Chile, +365205, on sale to October 10, now $12.95, down from $14.95. Buy two cases.
Wines Under $20
=========
W+542746 SÁNCHEZ ROMATE FINO PERDIDO SHERRY DO, Spain
$18.95 MVC/QPR: 90
W+89011 FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC VQA Niagara
Peninsula 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+83287 MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY DO Valle
de Casablanca 2019 $19.95 MVC/QPR: 92.
R+642421 VALPANTENA TORRE DEL FALASCO VALPOLICELLA
RIPASSO DOC 2019 $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
Wines Over $20
=========
W+360297 JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE
MERITAGE VQA Niagara Peninsula 2020 $25.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+415901 CAVE SPRING INDIAN SUMMER SELECT LATE HARVEST RIESLING Estate grown, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario 2017 $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+268391 HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE PINOT NOIR Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2019 $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+356337 R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2009 $63.95
MVC/QPR: 89.
R+261784 PAPALE LINEA ORO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP 2016 $22.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+353201 RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE
CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016 $49.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+157347 ENRICO SERAFINO SANAVENTO BARBARESCO
DOCG 2017 $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+18593 POÇAS JUNIOR VINTAGE PORT DOP, Portugal
2017 $36.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
WASHINGTON + OREGON SPOTLIGHT [not tasted, not rated, just listed]
White Wine
17031 ERATH PINOT GRIS Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley
2019 $23.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
16996 WINES OF SUBSTANCE CHARDONNAY Columbia
Valley 2019 $23.95 AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS
Red Wine
546366 DEL RIO VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR Rogue Valley
2019 $24.95 NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
17686 CARDWELL HILL ESTATE BOTTLED PINOT NOIR
Sustainable, Willamette Valley 2016 $22.95 VINOLUNA
408864 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS MERLOT
Columbia Valley 2017 $26.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND
WINES LTD.
551473 DRUMHELLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON Columbia
Valley 2018 $18.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
20491 HEDGES CMS Columbia Valley 2018 $29.95
NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
No comments:
Post a Comment