WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for the MAY 25, 2024 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 better or best 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 – my 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 my scores in the early 1980s. 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 by overuse and "inflated numbers"; thus I have quit 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 the GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and the BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with GOOD being BRONZE. This also fits into my scheme for trade tastings.
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
MAJOR THEME: Online and Flagship Exclusives, available only on LCBO.com and in 16 Flagship stores. No print version, but see pages 25 - 30 in the May 11 Vintages release issue for total listings.
Recommended May 25 Wines Under $20 [my basic standard is MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)] for online and flagship exclusives:
======================
W+485334 Kew Vineyards Marsanne 2019 VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+37154 Mas Paillet Monts du Roi Chardonnay/Viognier 2021 IGP Coteaux d'Enserune Languedoc $17.95.
Recommended May 25 Wines Over $20 [my basic standard is MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)] for online and flagship exclusives:
======================
Fizz+37269 Cave du Roi Dagobert Prestige Brut Cremant d'Alsace $28.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+241182 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2021 VQA Vinemount Ridge $44.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+38056 Albert Bichot Pouilly-Fuisse 2020 Burgundy $42.95
W+33295 Land of Hope Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022 $27.95
R+37741 Dagaz Granito Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Colchagua Chile $29.95
R+38362 Bachelder Bator 20% whole Cluster Vieille Vignes Gamay Noir Cru 2021 VQA Four Mile Creek $29.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+714501 Jardin The Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Stellenbosch South Africa $27.95
R+38362 Taltarni Pyrenees Victoria Shiraz $32.95
R+12198 Chateau Fonreaud 2014 Listrac-Medoc $37.95
R+37914 Chateau Fonreaud 2019 Listrac-Medoc $32.95
R+36428 Marchesi di Barolo d'Alba Michet Nebbiolo 2020 Piedmont $31.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+
MAY 2024 LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through Sunday May 26...Time is running out for this series: [but SEE BELOW for May-June period]
W+43281 Flat Rock Riesling VQA Niagara, now $16.95, save $3.
W+958975 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay Monterey County, now $26.95, save $3.
W+24133 Thirty Bench Winemaker's Blend Riesling, now $19.95, save $3.
R+980482 Cambria Julia's Pinot Noir Santa Barbara, now $39.95 , save $5
R+59311 The Seven Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi, now $21.95, save $3
R+27516 J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot Paso Robles, now $22.95, save $3.
R+590414 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir South Island New Zealand, now $21.95, save $3.
R+177295 Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte, now $23.95, save $3.
MAY-JUNE 2024 LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale May 26 through Sunday June 23:
W+373373 Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer, now $17.95, save $2
Fizz+991562 Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne, now $21.95, save $3
W+32567 Cave de Buxy Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise 'Buissonnier' Chardonnay, now $20.15, save $3
W+215525 La Chablisienne Les Vénérables Vieilles Vignes Chablis, now $29.95, save $3
W+465146 Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc Pays D'Oc, now $14.95, save $2
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past While ---
REPORT ON DRINK CHILE, LATE 2023
The Date and Time: Monday November 20, 2023 1PM - 4:30PM
The Event: a trade walk around tasting of Wines of Chile and Prochile wines.
The Venue: Windsor Arms Hotel
The Target Audience: wine trade, wine media, sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: the booklet gave a good series of highlights. There were 120 wines from 17 wineries to taste, plus audio tours and tastings every 15 minutes for an overview of Chilean wine styles. There was material on the various wine regions and 18 wine valleys.
The Quote/Background: Chile has come a long way towards more diversity and higher quality over the years. Sustainability and innovation have led the way
The Wines: I did not taste every wine.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arboleda Brisa Aconcagua, 2021 $49.95 [5 grape varieties]
-Las Ninas Traditional Method Brut Chardonnay, 2022 $19.95 (April 2024)
-Las Ninas Traditional Method Rose Pinot Noir, 2022 $19.95 (April 2024)
-Luis Felipe Edwards LFE900 Red Blend, 2018 [5 varieties]
-Santa Rita Floresta Chardonnay, 2021 $27.95
-Sutil Acrux Red 2020 [6 varieties] $48
-Casa del Toqui Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 $24.95
-Errazuriz Don Maximiniano, 2018
-Vina Santa Carolina El Pacto Agreement No.2, Carmenere, 2021
-Emiliana Organic Vineyards Novas Stellar Selection, 2021 Red Blend $19.95
-Emiliana Organic Vineyards Coyam, 2020 $34.95
-Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvingon, 2021 $22.95
-Santa Ema Sparkling Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, $80.95
-Santa Ema Catalina Red, 2019 $111.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arboleda Chardonnay, 2022 $18.95
-Marea Grand Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 $ 17.95
-Santa Ema Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserve, 2023 $17.95
-Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Carmenere, 2022 $45
-Undurraga Sauvignon Terroir Hunter, 2021 $30
-Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Piedra Secca, 2021
-Santa Rita Pewen Carmenere, 2021 $60
-Montes Alpha Chardonnay, 2021 $22.95
-Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay, 2022 $14.45
-Terraustral Gold Grand Reserve Chardonnay, 2021 $18
-VSPT Wine Group Leyda Reserva 2022, $16.95
-Concha y Toro Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc, $17.95
-Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay, 2021 $14.95
The Food: for the trade, there were food platters of meats, cheeses, breads, biscuits.
The Downside: it got really crowded really fast.
The Upside: a chance to catch up with the latest from Chile.
The Contact Person: lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 80
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 better or best 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 – my 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 my scores in the early 1980s. 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 by overuse and "inflated numbers"; thus I have quit 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 the GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and the BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with GOOD being BRONZE. This also fits into my scheme for trade tastings.
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
MAJOR THEME: Online and Flagship Exclusives, available only on LCBO.com and in 16 Flagship stores. No print version, but see pages 25 - 30 in the May 11 Vintages release issue for total listings.
Recommended May 25 Wines Under $20 [my basic standard is MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)] for online and flagship exclusives:
======================
W+485334 Kew Vineyards Marsanne 2019 VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+37154 Mas Paillet Monts du Roi Chardonnay/Viognier 2021 IGP Coteaux d'Enserune Languedoc $17.95.
Recommended May 25 Wines Over $20 [my basic standard is MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)] for online and flagship exclusives:
======================
Fizz+37269 Cave du Roi Dagobert Prestige Brut Cremant d'Alsace $28.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+241182 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2021 VQA Vinemount Ridge $44.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+38056 Albert Bichot Pouilly-Fuisse 2020 Burgundy $42.95
W+33295 Land of Hope Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022 $27.95
R+37741 Dagaz Granito Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Colchagua Chile $29.95
R+38362 Bachelder Bator 20% whole Cluster Vieille Vignes Gamay Noir Cru 2021 VQA Four Mile Creek $29.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+714501 Jardin The Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Stellenbosch South Africa $27.95
R+38362 Taltarni Pyrenees Victoria Shiraz $32.95
R+12198 Chateau Fonreaud 2014 Listrac-Medoc $37.95
R+37914 Chateau Fonreaud 2019 Listrac-Medoc $32.95
R+36428 Marchesi di Barolo d'Alba Michet Nebbiolo 2020 Piedmont $31.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+
MAY 2024 LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through Sunday May 26...Time is running out for this series: [but SEE BELOW for May-June period]
W+43281 Flat Rock Riesling VQA Niagara, now $16.95, save $3.
W+958975 Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay Monterey County, now $26.95, save $3.
W+24133 Thirty Bench Winemaker's Blend Riesling, now $19.95, save $3.
R+980482 Cambria Julia's Pinot Noir Santa Barbara, now $39.95 , save $5
R+59311 The Seven Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi, now $21.95, save $3
R+27516 J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot Paso Robles, now $22.95, save $3.
R+590414 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir South Island New Zealand, now $21.95, save $3.
R+177295 Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte, now $23.95, save $3.
MAY-JUNE 2024 LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale May 26 through Sunday June 23:
W+373373 Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer, now $17.95, save $2
Fizz+991562 Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne, now $21.95, save $3
W+32567 Cave de Buxy Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise 'Buissonnier' Chardonnay, now $20.15, save $3
W+215525 La Chablisienne Les Vénérables Vieilles Vignes Chablis, now $29.95, save $3
W+465146 Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc Pays D'Oc, now $14.95, save $2
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past While ---
REPORT ON DRINK CHILE, LATE 2023
The Date and Time: Monday November 20, 2023 1PM - 4:30PM
The Event: a trade walk around tasting of Wines of Chile and Prochile wines.
The Venue: Windsor Arms Hotel
The Target Audience: wine trade, wine media, sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: the booklet gave a good series of highlights. There were 120 wines from 17 wineries to taste, plus audio tours and tastings every 15 minutes for an overview of Chilean wine styles. There was material on the various wine regions and 18 wine valleys.
The Quote/Background: Chile has come a long way towards more diversity and higher quality over the years. Sustainability and innovation have led the way
The Wines: I did not taste every wine.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arboleda Brisa Aconcagua, 2021 $49.95 [5 grape varieties]
-Las Ninas Traditional Method Brut Chardonnay, 2022 $19.95 (April 2024)
-Las Ninas Traditional Method Rose Pinot Noir, 2022 $19.95 (April 2024)
-Luis Felipe Edwards LFE900 Red Blend, 2018 [5 varieties]
-Santa Rita Floresta Chardonnay, 2021 $27.95
-Sutil Acrux Red 2020 [6 varieties] $48
-Casa del Toqui Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 $24.95
-Errazuriz Don Maximiniano, 2018
-Vina Santa Carolina El Pacto Agreement No.2, Carmenere, 2021
-Emiliana Organic Vineyards Novas Stellar Selection, 2021 Red Blend $19.95
-Emiliana Organic Vineyards Coyam, 2020 $34.95
-Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvingon, 2021 $22.95
-Santa Ema Sparkling Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, $80.95
-Santa Ema Catalina Red, 2019 $111.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Arboleda Chardonnay, 2022 $18.95
-Marea Grand Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 $ 17.95
-Santa Ema Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserve, 2023 $17.95
-Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Carmenere, 2022 $45
-Undurraga Sauvignon Terroir Hunter, 2021 $30
-Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Piedra Secca, 2021
-Santa Rita Pewen Carmenere, 2021 $60
-Montes Alpha Chardonnay, 2021 $22.95
-Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay, 2022 $14.45
-Terraustral Gold Grand Reserve Chardonnay, 2021 $18
-VSPT Wine Group Leyda Reserva 2022, $16.95
-Concha y Toro Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc, $17.95
-Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay, 2021 $14.95
The Food: for the trade, there were food platters of meats, cheeses, breads, biscuits.
The Downside: it got really crowded really fast.
The Upside: a chance to catch up with the latest from Chile.
The Contact Person: lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 80
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
No comments:
Post a Comment