WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for JUNE 22, 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 WORLD WINE WATCH NEWSLETTER ONLINE No winery can buy their way into – or out of – my publication.
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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: Availability Online or the 16 Flagship stores. No printed catalogue for the June 22 release....see page 28-32 of the June 8 printed New Release Collection...
Only one wine is listed for under $20: +669531 Domaine Gassier Embruns de Viognier 2023 IGP Pays d'Oc Languedoc $19.95. In this context it's rated as a "best buy".
Recommended Wines Over $20 [my basic standard is MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)]
======================
FIZZ+32668 PIERRE JOURDAN BLANC DE BLANCS CAP CLASSIQUE 2017 FRANSCHHOEK TRADITIONAL METHOD $41 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+37581 VICENTE GRANDIA CERAMIC CRIADO EN TINAJA MONASTRELL 2020 VALENCIA
$24.95
R+974006 CALCINAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 TUSCANY $32.95
R+439737 ITALO CESCON PINOT NOIR 2021 IGT VENETO $28.95
R+36457 RUBINELLI VAJOL VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2021 $24.95
W+37732 RADFORD DALE CHARDONNAY 2021 STELLENBOSCH SOUTH AFRICA $29.95
W+37379 KLEIN KONSTANTIA KC SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 WESTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA $25.95
JUNE 2024 LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale through Sunday June 23....better hurry....
Fortified+32503 Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino, now $30.50, save $3.00
Fizz+991562 Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne, now $21.95, save $3
W+373373 Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer, now $17.95, save $2
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
R+22199 Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Shiraz Australia, now $17, save $3
R+149237 The Conspiracy Ripasso Style (Foreign Affairs VQA), now 18.95, save $3
R+155051 Masi Campofiorin IGT Veneto, now $21.90, save $3
R+251876 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon Australia, now $14.95, save $3
R+426718 Cesari Amarone Classico DOC Veneto, now $38.95, save $6
R+506519 Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC Veneto, now $16.95, save $4
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON THE BENVENUTO BRUNELLO TOUR 2023....
The Date and Time: November 28, 2023 9:30A - 2:30P
The Event: a tasting of the 2019 Brunello di Montalcinos (plus a few other Brunello wines) from Tuscany, sponsored by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino.
The Venue: Aria Ristorante, York Street
The Target Audience: wine trade, wine media, sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: quite a few of the wines are available right now through the LCBO and local agents. Michael Godel provided a brisk commentary on the region, and this was followed by a "wine list" of the 70 or so wines we were to taste. The region produces three distinct types of wines: Brunello from the sangiovese grosso grape, a white moscadello, and a "Rosso di Montalcino" for current drinking.
The Quote/Background: There are 208 producing wineries in the region (we tasted wines from about 35 different wineries); 25% of them are organic or biodynamic. From a variety of sources -- "Brunello di Montalcino has an aroma of cherries, strawberries, florals, tar, truffles, violets and spices. They are supple, generous, elegant, refined, polished, succulent and rich in texture and depth. All are well-balanced with silky smooth mouthfeel, integrated tannins with a long aftertaste." Of course, all of these have to develop through long cellaring, about 3 - 10 years at least. The 2019 vintage has been rated 5/5, the 2018 is 4/5 and the 2016 is 5/5. The 130+ attendees tasted the wines in lots of four, which was a decent pace.
The Wines: I managed to taste most of the wines...about 55 of them were from the release of the 2019 vintage. The rest were 2018 (and at the Riserva level) and even 2016 (my fave). Older is better with Brunello.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Argiano Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 154609 $59.95
-Argiano Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Vigna Del Suolo 2019 $275.00
-Castello Di Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $59.95
-Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggio Alle Mura Vigna Marrucheto 2019
-Castello Di Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggio Alle Mura 2019
-Tommasi Casisano Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 483800 $49.95
-Celestino Pecci Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggio Al Carro 2019
-Col D'orcia Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 306852 $54.95
-Col D'orcia Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva Docg 2016 Poggio al Vento (my fave)
-Corte Dei Venti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $44.95
-Cortonesi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg La Mannella 2019 $89.41
-Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Progetto Prime Donne 2019 $115.00
-Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $64.95
-Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva Docg 2018
-Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $67.00
-Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Vallocchio 2019 $89.95
-La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $65.00
-La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Fiore Di NO 2019
-La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Riserva 2018
-Le Gode Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Montosoli 2019 $150.00
-La Serena Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 14963 $94.00
-Ridolfi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 644963 $59.95
-Ruffino Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Greppone Mazzi 2019 $72.26
-Salicutti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $199.95
-San Polo Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Vignvecchia 2019 $160.00
-Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggio Doria 2019
-Val Di Suga Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Vigna Del Lago 2019 $95.00
-Val Di Suga Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggio Al Granchio 2019 $95.00
-Val Di Suga Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Vigna Spuntali 2018
-Poggio Di Sotto Brunello Di Montalcino 2018, D.O.C.G. LCBO# 337774 $243.95
-San Polino Brunello Di Montalcino 2018, D.O.C.G. LCBO# 14813 $87.00
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Armilla Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $69.95
-Carpineto Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 515486 $64.95
-Caprili Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $60.00
-Collemattoni Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $61.99
-Corte Pavone Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $57.95
-Corte Pavone Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Campo Di Marzo 2019
-Cortonesi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Poggiarelli 2019 $95.95
-Elia Palazzesi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019
-Franco Pacenti Brunello Di Montalcinio Docg 2019 $73.00
-Franco Pacenti Brunello Di Montalcinio Docg Rosildo 2019
-La Casaccia Di Franceschi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019
-Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2019
-La Fornace Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $65.00
-La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $49.95
-San Polo Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 650812 $79.00
-San Polo Brunello Di Montalcino Podernovi Docg 2019 $160.00
-San Polo Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Riserva 2018
-Talenti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $76.00
-Talenti Brunello Di Montalcino Docg Piero 2019 $215.00
-Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 922054 $56.95
-Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $134.99
-Val Di Suga Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 LCBO# 713719 $59.95
-Voliero Brunello Di Montalcino Docg 2019 $119.99
The Food: there was bread followed by a box lunch of four paninos - pulled chicken, prosciutto, tomato caprese and grilled veggies.
The Downside: we needed bigger spit buckets (at least one had spilled all over a section of our table).
The Upside: a chance to taste some really incredible wines.
The Contact Person: b.marassi@ice.it
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91.