WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for the MARCH 30 release.
!!!!THIS IS THE BLUE MOON 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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).
I was one of the first to jump on the Robert Parker bandwagon, using numerical indications for scores. Why? Because with a database I could rate, rank and order wines in any fashion. It was just so convenient using databases. Unfortunately, the numerical system has been shown to be disgraced, so I am quitting any ranking by number. From now on, it will just be GOOD, BETTER and BEST, which will give me some wiggle room (e.g. is this wine an 87, 88, 89, or 90? Or all of them...depends on my mood and time of day). With the rigorous standards and lab testing by the LCBO, I can safely say that every single wine at the LCBO is at least GOOD, which I would numerically rank at 75-85 points. For reasons of time and space, I will NOT be listing GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will probably relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with BRONZE being "GOOD". Significantly, this also fits into my scheme for trade tastings (as noted below).
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
MAJOR THEME: Cabs Around the World
Recommended Wines Under $20
========================
W+662775 D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE AUSTRALIA 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
W+37971 VIENI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 VQA $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
W+391847 THIERRY DELAUNAY TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC LOIRE 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+465880 RAPAURA SPRINGS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NEW ZEALAND $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+25366 TRIUS DISTINCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON VQA 2021 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+27204 VISTAMAR GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+12281 CHÂTEAU DE RIBEBON 2019 BORDEAUX $17.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+328567 CATHEDRAL CELLAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON SOUTH AFRICA $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Rose+172643 TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA ROSÉ VQA 2022 $18.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Recommended Wines Over $20
======================
Sherry+542746 SÁNCHEZ ROMATE FINO PERDIDO SHERRY $21.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Fizz+646968 PONGRÁCZ CAP CLASSIQUE ROSÉ SOUTH AFRICA $22.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+149302 FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2022 VQA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+22138 ENRICO SERAFINO GRIFO DEL QUARTARO GAVI DEL COMMUNE DI GAVI ITALY $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+536201 VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2022 $20.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+36232 LUI ÚMILE MALBEC ARGENTINA 2021 $20.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+522235 PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA $21.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+323741 ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 AUSTRALIA $21.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR VQA 2020 $31.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+175604 CEDARCREEK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT BC-VQA 2020 $29.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+203364 ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2021 $22.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+172692 VINOSIA SANTANDREA TAURASI CAMPANIA 2017 $30.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+16448 CASTELLO DI RADDA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 490C 12 $22.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through Sunday March 31...only a few days remain as this newsletter goes out on March 27....
W+35386 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough NZ, now $17.95, save $3
W+33298 Paul Cluver Village Chardonnay WO Elgin South Africa, now $20.95, save $3
W+24133 Thirty Bench Winemaker's Blend Riesling VQA Beamsville Bench, now $19.95, save $3
R+650432 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany, now $49.95, save $5
R+337238 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile, now $21.95, save $3
R+63891 Emiliana Coyam Organic Red Blend Chile, now $29.95, save $5
R+394718 Erath Pinot Noir Oregon, now $23.95, save $3
R+168716 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon-Villages Midi France, now $14.95, save $3
R+425488 Sella & Mosca Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna Sardinia, now $16.95, save $3
R+149237 The Foreign Affair The Conspiracy VQA Niagara, now $16.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara, now $24.95, save $3
APRIL LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale Monday April 1 through Sunday April 28...
W+84988 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay, now $29.95, save $3
W+68817 Hidden Bench Estate Organic Chardonnay VQA Beamsville Bench Niagara, now $29.95, save $2
W+13311 Lone Birch Chardonnay Yakima Washington, now $19.95, save $3
R+30957 Concha Y Toro Winemaker's Lot 148 Carmenere La Pataguas Vineyard Rapel Chile, now $16.95, save $3
R+274753 Hidden Bench Estate Organic Pinot Noir VQA Beamsville Bench, now $34.94, save $3
R+626390 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir New Zealand, now $19.95, save $3
R+727636 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2020 IGT Toscana, now $31.95, save $3
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT FROM ROGERS & COMPANY PORTFOLIO TRADE TASTING OCTOBER 2023
The Event: Rogers & Company Portfolio Trade Tasting
The Venue: George, Queen Street
The Target Audience: wine trade, sommeliers, wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: a good paper catalogue with prices, regional descriptions, and space for notes.
The Quote/Background: many principals attended the tasting and did most of the pouring.
New this year was Arthur de Lencquesaing from Marques de Murrieta, this year's guest of honour.
The Wines: There were more than 135 wines to sample; I did not taste all of them. Prices are licensee only.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Blue Mountain Brut NV VQA Okanagan $32.99
-Tenuta Cocci Grifoni Tara Falerio Pecorino 2022 Le Marche $18.49
-Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa $105.99
-Marques de Murrieta Capellania 2018 [white, viura] $125.99
-Marques de Murrieta Dalmau Rioja 2019 $249.99
-Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2011 $299.99
-Lis Neris Jusosa Chardonnay 2019 Friuli $52.99
-Lis Neris Confini 2018 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Friuli $64.99
-Domaine "Luquet Le Pavillon" Macon-Villages 2021 $27.99
-Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2022 Loire $50.99
-Olivier Leflaive Freres Les Setilles 2020 Burgundy $47.99
-Chanson Pere et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches 2020 $139.99
-Champagne Bollinger PNC AY18 NV $141.99
-Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee NV $85.99
-Champagne Bollinger RD Extra Brut 2008 $389.99
-Peay Vineyards Estate Chardonnay West Sonoma Coast 2021 $96.99
-Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2022 $80.99 [my fave of the day]
-Shafer "One Point Five" Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Napa $159.99
-Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Napa $489.99
-WINC Porter & Plot Chardonnay 2020 Central Coast California $22.99
-Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2020 Napa $98.99
-Faust "The Pact" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $122.99
-Duckhorn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Napa $134.99
-Duckhorn "Three Palms" Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot 2020 $137.99
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-The Organized Crime Winery Limestone Block Chardonnay 2021 Beamsville Bench $19.71
-Pazo Senorans Albarino Rias Baixas Spain $32.99
-Domaine Henry Pelle Sancere "La Croix au Garde" 2022 Loire $33.99
-Domaine La Meuliere Chablis 2022 $33.99
-Olivier Leflaive Freres Montagny 1er cru Bonneveaux 2019 $76.99
-Champagne Bollinger Rose Brut NV $119.99
-Paul Hobbs CrossBarn Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2020 $39.99
-Flowers Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022 $54.99
-Vins Denuziere Cornas 2021 $63.99
-Share a Splash Wine Company Cannonball Chardonnay 2021 California $18.99
-Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien 2018 $81.99
The Food: there was a cheese platter with appropriate fromages ranging from runny through to hard, plus some blue cheese. I was there only for the first hour and a half, and sampled some of the four hot platters. There was a platter of George burger with a brioche bun slider, a shrimp tempura with white sauce, a mozzarella orancini/arancini, and a chicken satay skewer.
The Downside: as always, it got crowded really fast.
The Upside: a major opportunity to taste some really fine expensive wines.
The Contact Person: s.stoddart@rogcowines.com or j.clarke@rogcowines.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.
!!!!THIS IS THE BLUE MOON 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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).
I was one of the first to jump on the Robert Parker bandwagon, using numerical indications for scores. Why? Because with a database I could rate, rank and order wines in any fashion. It was just so convenient using databases. Unfortunately, the numerical system has been shown to be disgraced, so I am quitting any ranking by number. From now on, it will just be GOOD, BETTER and BEST, which will give me some wiggle room (e.g. is this wine an 87, 88, 89, or 90? Or all of them...depends on my mood and time of day). With the rigorous standards and lab testing by the LCBO, I can safely say that every single wine at the LCBO is at least GOOD, which I would numerically rank at 75-85 points. For reasons of time and space, I will NOT be listing GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will probably relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with BRONZE being "GOOD". Significantly, this also fits into my scheme for trade tastings (as noted below).
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
MAJOR THEME: Cabs Around the World
Recommended Wines Under $20
========================
W+662775 D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE AUSTRALIA 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
W+37971 VIENI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 VQA $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
W+391847 THIERRY DELAUNAY TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC LOIRE 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+465880 RAPAURA SPRINGS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NEW ZEALAND $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+25366 TRIUS DISTINCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON VQA 2021 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+27204 VISTAMAR GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+12281 CHÂTEAU DE RIBEBON 2019 BORDEAUX $17.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+328567 CATHEDRAL CELLAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON SOUTH AFRICA $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Rose+172643 TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA ROSÉ VQA 2022 $18.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Recommended Wines Over $20
======================
Sherry+542746 SÁNCHEZ ROMATE FINO PERDIDO SHERRY $21.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
Fizz+646968 PONGRÁCZ CAP CLASSIQUE ROSÉ SOUTH AFRICA $22.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+149302 FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2022 VQA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+22138 ENRICO SERAFINO GRIFO DEL QUARTARO GAVI DEL COMMUNE DI GAVI ITALY $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+536201 VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2022 $20.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+36232 LUI ÚMILE MALBEC ARGENTINA 2021 $20.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+522235 PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA $21.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+323741 ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 AUSTRALIA $21.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR VQA 2020 $31.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+175604 CEDARCREEK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT BC-VQA 2020 $29.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+203364 ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2021 $22.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
R+172692 VINOSIA SANTANDREA TAURASI CAMPANIA 2017 $30.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+16448 CASTELLO DI RADDA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 490C 12 $22.95 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through Sunday March 31...only a few days remain as this newsletter goes out on March 27....
W+35386 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough NZ, now $17.95, save $3
W+33298 Paul Cluver Village Chardonnay WO Elgin South Africa, now $20.95, save $3
W+24133 Thirty Bench Winemaker's Blend Riesling VQA Beamsville Bench, now $19.95, save $3
R+650432 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany, now $49.95, save $5
R+337238 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile, now $21.95, save $3
R+63891 Emiliana Coyam Organic Red Blend Chile, now $29.95, save $5
R+394718 Erath Pinot Noir Oregon, now $23.95, save $3
R+168716 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon-Villages Midi France, now $14.95, save $3
R+425488 Sella & Mosca Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna Sardinia, now $16.95, save $3
R+149237 The Foreign Affair The Conspiracy VQA Niagara, now $16.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara, now $24.95, save $3
APRIL LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale Monday April 1 through Sunday April 28...
W+84988 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay, now $29.95, save $3
W+68817 Hidden Bench Estate Organic Chardonnay VQA Beamsville Bench Niagara, now $29.95, save $2
W+13311 Lone Birch Chardonnay Yakima Washington, now $19.95, save $3
R+30957 Concha Y Toro Winemaker's Lot 148 Carmenere La Pataguas Vineyard Rapel Chile, now $16.95, save $3
R+274753 Hidden Bench Estate Organic Pinot Noir VQA Beamsville Bench, now $34.94, save $3
R+626390 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir New Zealand, now $19.95, save $3
R+727636 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2020 IGT Toscana, now $31.95, save $3
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT FROM ROGERS & COMPANY PORTFOLIO TRADE TASTING OCTOBER 2023
The Event: Rogers & Company Portfolio Trade Tasting
The Venue: George, Queen Street
The Target Audience: wine trade, sommeliers, wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: a good paper catalogue with prices, regional descriptions, and space for notes.
The Quote/Background: many principals attended the tasting and did most of the pouring.
New this year was Arthur de Lencquesaing from Marques de Murrieta, this year's guest of honour.
The Wines: There were more than 135 wines to sample; I did not taste all of them. Prices are licensee only.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Blue Mountain Brut NV VQA Okanagan $32.99
-Tenuta Cocci Grifoni Tara Falerio Pecorino 2022 Le Marche $18.49
-Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa $105.99
-Marques de Murrieta Capellania 2018 [white, viura] $125.99
-Marques de Murrieta Dalmau Rioja 2019 $249.99
-Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2011 $299.99
-Lis Neris Jusosa Chardonnay 2019 Friuli $52.99
-Lis Neris Confini 2018 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Friuli $64.99
-Domaine "Luquet Le Pavillon" Macon-Villages 2021 $27.99
-Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2022 Loire $50.99
-Olivier Leflaive Freres Les Setilles 2020 Burgundy $47.99
-Chanson Pere et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches 2020 $139.99
-Champagne Bollinger PNC AY18 NV $141.99
-Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee NV $85.99
-Champagne Bollinger RD Extra Brut 2008 $389.99
-Peay Vineyards Estate Chardonnay West Sonoma Coast 2021 $96.99
-Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2022 $80.99 [my fave of the day]
-Shafer "One Point Five" Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Napa $159.99
-Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Napa $489.99
-WINC Porter & Plot Chardonnay 2020 Central Coast California $22.99
-Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2020 Napa $98.99
-Faust "The Pact" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $122.99
-Duckhorn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Napa $134.99
-Duckhorn "Three Palms" Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot 2020 $137.99
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-The Organized Crime Winery Limestone Block Chardonnay 2021 Beamsville Bench $19.71
-Pazo Senorans Albarino Rias Baixas Spain $32.99
-Domaine Henry Pelle Sancere "La Croix au Garde" 2022 Loire $33.99
-Domaine La Meuliere Chablis 2022 $33.99
-Olivier Leflaive Freres Montagny 1er cru Bonneveaux 2019 $76.99
-Champagne Bollinger Rose Brut NV $119.99
-Paul Hobbs CrossBarn Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2020 $39.99
-Flowers Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022 $54.99
-Vins Denuziere Cornas 2021 $63.99
-Share a Splash Wine Company Cannonball Chardonnay 2021 California $18.99
-Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien 2018 $81.99
The Food: there was a cheese platter with appropriate fromages ranging from runny through to hard, plus some blue cheese. I was there only for the first hour and a half, and sampled some of the four hot platters. There was a platter of George burger with a brioche bun slider, a shrimp tempura with white sauce, a mozzarella orancini/arancini, and a chicken satay skewer.
The Downside: as always, it got crowded really fast.
The Upside: a major opportunity to taste some really fine expensive wines.
The Contact Person: s.stoddart@rogcowines.com or j.clarke@rogcowines.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.
Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.comhttp://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
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