WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for May 27, 2023 release.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for May 27, 2023 release.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for May 27, 2023 release.

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 for 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 I Tasted Over the Past Month or so ---

TASTE ONTARIO ! TORONTO

The Date and Time: Wednesday April 12, 2023 11A to 5PM
The Event: TASTE ONTARIO ! TORONTO
The Venue: Park Hyatt
The Target Audience: wine media, agents, and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: The paper catalogue was replete with data and info on each wine, plus an overview of the Ontario VQA wine industry. Prices listed were both for licensees and for retail sales. Contacts were listed for each winery.
The Quote/Background: 62 wineries participated from the Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County, and Emerging Regions. All of the 300+ wines featured are available to order.
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines; I was focused on chardonnays and sparklers. I divided my time between the media room (where I could sit down) and the trade show floor (where I could stand up). Prices are retail.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Chardonnay 2020 $47.15 [MY FAVE]
-Adamo Estate Winery Growers Series Oaked Chardonnay 2019 $19.95
-Colio Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Closson Chase Vineyards Churchside Chardonnay PEC 2019 $50
-Lighthall Vineyards Estate Chardonnay PEC 2020 $37.85
-2027 Cellars Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft Block Chardonnay 2020 $30
-Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Foxcroft "Nord" Chardonnay 2020
-Bachelder Les Villages Chardonnay 2021 $35
-Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2020 $34.95
-Domaine Queylus Chardonnay Signature 2018
-Flat Rock Cellars Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2020 $34.95
-Hidden Bench Bistro Chardonnay 2019
-Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2020 $54.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2020 $39.95
-Westcott Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2020 $29.99
-Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 $30.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020 $27.95
-Southbrook Organic Vineyard Triomphe Chardonnay 2019 $26.95

-Ravine Vineyard Estate Limited Edition Vintage Brut 2011 $135 [300 bottles] [MY FAVE]
-Drea's Wine Co. Small Batch Blanc de Blanc 2020 $59.50
-Stratus Blanc de Blanc 2015
-Charles Baker Wines Cuvee du Boulanger Blanc de Blancs 2020 $39.95
-Rockway Vineyards Limited Edition Brut Cuvee Sparkling NV $90
-Trius Sparkling Brut NV $29.95
-Trius Sparkling Brut Rose NV $29.95
-Trius Showcase Brut Nature Sparkling NV $54.95
-Lighthall Vineyards Culmination Blanc de Blancs Sparkling PEC 2019 $39.95
-13th Street Winery Blanc de Blanc NV $29.95
-Two Sisters Blanc de Franc 2019
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Blanc de Blanc 2017 $27.95
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut 2017 $49.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Cuvee Catherine Estate Blanc de Blanc Carte Blanche 2017 $49.95

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Adamo Estate Winery Sogno Unoaked Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Chardonnay 2019 $32
-Pelee Island Winery Vinedressers Chardonnay 2021 $19.95
-Broken Stone Winery Chardonnay PEC 2020
-Closson Chase Vineytard Chardonnay PEC 2020 $35
-Lighthall Vineyards Fondation Chardonnay PEC 2021 $24.95
-Norman Hardie Chardonnay PEC 2020 $59.20
-Rosehall JCR Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard PEC 2019 $36
-Bachelder Mineralite Chardonnay 2021 $25
-Calamus Estate Barrel Kissed Chardonnay 2021 $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Chardonnay 2020 $19.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2020 $29.95
-Leaning Post The Fifty Chardonnay 2020 $25.20
-Legends Estates Chardonnay Reserve 2017 $21
-Meldville Chardonnay 2019 $20
-Meldville Chardonnay Barrel Select 2019 $26
-Reif Chardonnay 2020 $19.15
-Two Sisters Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2019 $39

-Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut 2021 $29.99
-The Foreign Affair Winery Sparkling Rose Brut NV $24.95
-Bella Terra Vineyards Sparkling Brut $24.95

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-KIN Vineyards Carp Ridge Skin Fermented Chardonnay 2021 $26
-Bonnie Vivant Chardonnay 2021 $34.04
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2020 $15.15
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Unoaked Chardonnay PEC 2021 $20.95
-Trail Estate County Chardonnay Vintage 3 PEC 2019 $50
-Vineland Estates Winery Un-oaked Chardonnay 2021 $15.95

The Food: there were several charcuterie boards, with cheeses and meats and veggies and fruit, plus breads and dips.
The Downside: it was jam packed, which made it awkward to move about from table to table.
The Upside: I had a great opportunity to taste many chardonnays and sparklers. It was peaceful in the media room.
The Contact Person: lauren.garrard@wmao.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.




** Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale through Sunday June 18...

[red] Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja +976662, now $28.95, save $3.
[red] Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Riserva Chianti Classico, +943613, now $20.95, save $4.
[red] Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel de Monte Puglia, +177295, $23.95, save $3.
[red] The Foreign Affair The Conspiracy VQA +149237, now $16.95, save $3.
[white] Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi Piedmont +250696, now $16.95, save $3.
[white] Tawse Quarry Road Organic Riesling VQA +198853, now $21.95, save $3.
[fizz] Louis Bouillot Perle d'Aurore Brut Rose Cremant de Bourgogne, +48793, now $25.95, save $2.
[splurge] Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico +356220, now $44.95, save $5.
[splurge] Chamisal Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay Santa Barbara 2016 +16025, now $35.95, save $4.


MAJOR THEME: Rose – charming, light and fruity, simple vinosity with enough depth to accompany appetizers..Here are my choices from FRANCE [best] and ONTARIO [local] – and a few others that struck my fancy...all unrated...

French Roses --
+32074 DOM BRIAL LE POT ROSÉ 2022 $15.95
+667337 HAMPTON WATER ROSÉ 2022 $29.95
+556209 GÉRARD BERTRAND PERLES DE GRENACHE ROSÉ 2022 $19.95
+20012 LE BIJOU DE SOPHIE VALROSE ROSÉ 2022 $17.95
+491027 CAVES D'ESCLANS ROCK ANGEL ROSÉ 2021 $49.95
+701318 DOMAINE MABY LA FORCADIÈRE TAVEL ROSÉ 2022 $23.95
+719062 FAMILLE PERRIN RÉSERVE ROSÉ 2022 $17.95

Ontario Roses --
+177840 PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARD CABERNET ROSÉ VQA 2022 $16.95
+32902 DOMAINE QUEYLUS ROSÉ VQA 2021 $24.95
+649863 CREW RED SKY AT NIGHT ROSÉ VQA 2022 $17.95
+117861 FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ VQA 2022 $16.95
+16454 MARYNISSEN ESTATES ROSÉ VQA 2021 $16.95
+559088 MALIVOIRE LADYBUG ROSÉ 2021 $17.95
+552562 SPECK BROS. THREE OF HEARTS ROSÉ 2021 $19.95

Other roses --
+32026 SUSANA BALBO CRIOS ROSÉ OF MALBEC 2022 ARGENTINA $17.95
+19846 CONFIDENCIAL RESERVA ROSÉ 2022 PORTUGAL $16.95


Wines Under $20 [regular release]
====================
W+959361 PIERRE SPARR GRANDE RÉSERVE RIESLING 2020 ALSACE $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+196956 JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2021 ALSACE $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+484139 DOMAINE TARIQUET SAUVIGNON BLANC MIDI 2022 $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+30120 ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CAMPO MACCIONE VERMENTINO 2021 ITALY $17.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+31123 CAPE POINT VINEYARDS NOORDHOEK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 SOUTH AFRICA $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+12119 POMELADO ORANGE WINE 2021 SPAIN $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+30344 LANZADO ORGANIC ORANGE WINE 2021 SPAIN $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.

Wines Over $20 [regular release]
===================
W+417774 QUEYLUS TRADITION CHARDONNAY 2019 VQA $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+256552 CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2019 VQA $21.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
R+390872 WOLF BLASS GREY LABEL SHIRAZ 2018 AUSTRALIA $34.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+471797 CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH 2020 VQA $25 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+30145 SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC PINOT NOIR 2021 VQA $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+78725 CHÂTEAU PINERAIE CAHORS 2020 $22.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+29817 FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2016 $63.95 MVC/QPR: 89.


Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures