WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for FEB 15, 2025 release.
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine 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)=basic recommendation MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
MAJOR THEME: Australia
Recommended Wines UNDER $20
=========================
W+42293 DOMAINE BOUSQUET ORGANIC RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2023 ARGENTINA $19.95
W+251470 TRIUS DISTINCTION BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY VQA 2023 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+40326 LES COSTIÈRES DE POMÉROLS LE JADE VIOGNIER 2023 LANGUEDOC $15.95
W+42392 DOMAINE FONT SARADE LE BLANC VIOGNIER RHONE 2023 $19.95
W+631622 COLLAVINI T FRIULANO 2022 $16.95
W+39380 PASQUA BLACK LABEL ITALIANO CHARDONNAY 2022 VENETO $17.95
W+41453 ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 SOUTH AFRICA $14.95
R+38491 LA BELLE MARGUERITE MALBEC 2021 ARGENTINA $17.85
R+41309 STONEHAVEN STEPPING STONE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 AUSTRALIA $16.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+33501 THORN-CLARKE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2022 AUSTRALIA $19.95
R+12990 CHÂTEAU CAMPLONG GRANDE RÉSERVE CORBIÈRES 2023 $13.95
R+39282 NESTORE BOSCO LINEA CLASSICA MONTELPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2020 $16.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+11152 COUTADA VELHA SIGNATURE RED 2022 PORTUGAL $14.95
Recommended Wines OVER $20
========================
W+632034 TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2023 AUSTRALIA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+135202 KAIKEN ULTRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 ARGENTINA $22.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+41310 SMALL VICTORIES EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2022 AUSTRALIA $24.95
R+33894 LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR VQA 2021 $30.00 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+389759 CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA SYRAH 2022 CHILE $22.95
R+534339 VAUCHER PÈRE & FILS FLEURIE 2022 BEAUJOLAIS $20.95
R+384271 CHÂTEAU MAGNOL 2021 BORDEAUX $27.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+42394 DOMAINE FONT SARADE LES HAUTS DE LA PONCHE VACQUEYRAS RHONE 2022 $28.95
R+39229 ARBÉTA BARBARESCO 2019 $39.95
R+39165 SAN BIAGIO COMMUNE DI LA MORRA BAROLO 2019 $48.95
R+39401 PIAN DELLE QUERCI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 $45.95
R+11228 SIGLO GRAN RESERVA 2015 SPAIN $24.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale from Feb 3 to March 2 -- and there is no HST through February 15...so you'll save more ...!!!
+35386 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand now $18.95, save $3
+926626 Famille Perrin Les Sinards Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone now $40.95, save $3
+322586 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile now $20.95, save $2
+595280 Porcupine Ridge Syrah South Africa $13.95, save $3
+145920 Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Tuscany now $21.95, save $3
+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara now $25.95, save $2
+48793 Louis Bouillot Perle d'Aurore Brut Rose Cremant de Bourgogne $24.95, save $2
More LTO deals at https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON INSTITUTO GRANDI MARCHI TORONTO OCTOBER 2024
The Date and Time: October 16, 2024, 11AM to 4:30PM
The Event: Wine tasting of Instituto Grandi Marchi in Toronto
The Venue: Arcadian Loft
The Target Audience: wine writers and sommeliers, wine trade agents
The Quote/Background: Grandi Marchi here means "wine family heritage" -- these are some of the oldest wineries in Italy. There are 18 members but only 14 were at the show.
The Wines: We tasted 54 wines that were available. The masterclass explained the nature of the families and wine samples augmented this.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ca" del Bosco Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta DOCG Riserva 2015
-Umani Ronchi Vecchie Vigne Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico Superiore 2022
-Vinchio Vaglio Moscato D'Asti
-Podere Casanova Settecento 2018
-Vinchio Vaglie Barbera d'Asti Vechie Vigne 2021
-Vinchio Vaglie Nizza Laudana 2020
-Castello di Selvole Chianti Gran Selezione 2019
-Castello di Melet Chianti Gran Selezione 2020
-Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Gran Selezione 2020
-Tasca d'Almerita Rosso del Conte Contea di Sciafani DOC 2018
-Tenuta San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT 2016
-Michele Chiaro Cerequio Barolo DOCG Riserva 2016
-Col d'Orcia Poggio al Vento Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2016
-Masi Costasera Riserva Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Riserva 2018
-Serego Alighieri Possessioni Veneto 2013
-Jermann Bianco Venetia IGT 2022 Where Dreams Have No End
-Michele Chiaro Barbaresco 2021
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Carpene Malvolti 1868 Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut
-Jermann Vintage Tunina Venezia Giulia IGT 2022
-Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenute Cabreo Il Borgo Toscana Chianti Region IGT 2021
-Lungarotti Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2020
-Mastroberardino Stilema Taurasi DOCG Riserva 2016
-Cantina Nativ Fiano d'Avellion 2023
-Cantina Nativ Greco di Tufo 2023
-Obiz Friulano 2023
-Cecci Chardonnay 2023
-Feudi di Romans Ribolla Gialla 2023
-Mezzacorona Rotari Prosecco
-Rivera Marese Bombino Bianco Castel del Monte DOC 2023
-San Leonardo Vette Sauvignon Blanc 2023
-Michele Chiarlo Gavi 2023
-Lungarotti Torre de Giano 2023
-Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo 2013
-Masterberardino Fiano de Avellino 2023
The Food: we had the cheese and charcuterie platters, Atlantic salmon salad sandwich, quinoa and eggplant wrap, crispy chicken ciabatta and tomatoes, beef flat iron pretzel sandwich -- all with smoked cheddar cheeses available as well as smoked jalapeno aioli. Catered by Oliver & Bonacini
The Downside: I missed tasting Donnafugata and Antinori wines (these families did not come to Toronto)
The Upside: the foods were a great match for the various wines.
The Contact Person: b.marassi@ice.it
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine 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)=basic recommendation MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
MAJOR THEME: Australia
Recommended Wines UNDER $20
=========================
W+42293 DOMAINE BOUSQUET ORGANIC RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2023 ARGENTINA $19.95
W+251470 TRIUS DISTINCTION BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY VQA 2023 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
W+40326 LES COSTIÈRES DE POMÉROLS LE JADE VIOGNIER 2023 LANGUEDOC $15.95
W+42392 DOMAINE FONT SARADE LE BLANC VIOGNIER RHONE 2023 $19.95
W+631622 COLLAVINI T FRIULANO 2022 $16.95
W+39380 PASQUA BLACK LABEL ITALIANO CHARDONNAY 2022 VENETO $17.95
W+41453 ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 SOUTH AFRICA $14.95
R+38491 LA BELLE MARGUERITE MALBEC 2021 ARGENTINA $17.85
R+41309 STONEHAVEN STEPPING STONE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 AUSTRALIA $16.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+33501 THORN-CLARKE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2022 AUSTRALIA $19.95
R+12990 CHÂTEAU CAMPLONG GRANDE RÉSERVE CORBIÈRES 2023 $13.95
R+39282 NESTORE BOSCO LINEA CLASSICA MONTELPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2020 $16.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+11152 COUTADA VELHA SIGNATURE RED 2022 PORTUGAL $14.95
Recommended Wines OVER $20
========================
W+632034 TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2023 AUSTRALIA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+135202 KAIKEN ULTRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 ARGENTINA $22.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+41310 SMALL VICTORIES EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2022 AUSTRALIA $24.95
R+33894 LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR VQA 2021 $30.00 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+389759 CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA SYRAH 2022 CHILE $22.95
R+534339 VAUCHER PÈRE & FILS FLEURIE 2022 BEAUJOLAIS $20.95
R+384271 CHÂTEAU MAGNOL 2021 BORDEAUX $27.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )
R+42394 DOMAINE FONT SARADE LES HAUTS DE LA PONCHE VACQUEYRAS RHONE 2022 $28.95
R+39229 ARBÉTA BARBARESCO 2019 $39.95
R+39165 SAN BIAGIO COMMUNE DI LA MORRA BAROLO 2019 $48.95
R+39401 PIAN DELLE QUERCI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 $45.95
R+11228 SIGLO GRAN RESERVA 2015 SPAIN $24.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...on sale from Feb 3 to March 2 -- and there is no HST through February 15...so you'll save more ...!!!
+35386 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand now $18.95, save $3
+926626 Famille Perrin Les Sinards Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone now $40.95, save $3
+322586 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile now $20.95, save $2
+595280 Porcupine Ridge Syrah South Africa $13.95, save $3
+145920 Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Tuscany now $21.95, save $3
+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara now $25.95, save $2
+48793 Louis Bouillot Perle d'Aurore Brut Rose Cremant de Bourgogne $24.95, save $2
More LTO deals at https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON INSTITUTO GRANDI MARCHI TORONTO OCTOBER 2024
The Date and Time: October 16, 2024, 11AM to 4:30PM
The Event: Wine tasting of Instituto Grandi Marchi in Toronto
The Venue: Arcadian Loft
The Target Audience: wine writers and sommeliers, wine trade agents
The Quote/Background: Grandi Marchi here means "wine family heritage" -- these are some of the oldest wineries in Italy. There are 18 members but only 14 were at the show.
The Wines: We tasted 54 wines that were available. The masterclass explained the nature of the families and wine samples augmented this.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ca" del Bosco Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta DOCG Riserva 2015
-Umani Ronchi Vecchie Vigne Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico Superiore 2022
-Vinchio Vaglio Moscato D'Asti
-Podere Casanova Settecento 2018
-Vinchio Vaglie Barbera d'Asti Vechie Vigne 2021
-Vinchio Vaglie Nizza Laudana 2020
-Castello di Selvole Chianti Gran Selezione 2019
-Castello di Melet Chianti Gran Selezione 2020
-Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Gran Selezione 2020
-Tasca d'Almerita Rosso del Conte Contea di Sciafani DOC 2018
-Tenuta San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT 2016
-Michele Chiaro Cerequio Barolo DOCG Riserva 2016
-Col d'Orcia Poggio al Vento Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2016
-Masi Costasera Riserva Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Riserva 2018
-Serego Alighieri Possessioni Veneto 2013
-Jermann Bianco Venetia IGT 2022 Where Dreams Have No End
-Michele Chiaro Barbaresco 2021
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Carpene Malvolti 1868 Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut
-Jermann Vintage Tunina Venezia Giulia IGT 2022
-Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenute Cabreo Il Borgo Toscana Chianti Region IGT 2021
-Lungarotti Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2020
-Mastroberardino Stilema Taurasi DOCG Riserva 2016
-Cantina Nativ Fiano d'Avellion 2023
-Cantina Nativ Greco di Tufo 2023
-Obiz Friulano 2023
-Cecci Chardonnay 2023
-Feudi di Romans Ribolla Gialla 2023
-Mezzacorona Rotari Prosecco
-Rivera Marese Bombino Bianco Castel del Monte DOC 2023
-San Leonardo Vette Sauvignon Blanc 2023
-Michele Chiarlo Gavi 2023
-Lungarotti Torre de Giano 2023
-Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo 2013
-Masterberardino Fiano de Avellino 2023
The Food: we had the cheese and charcuterie platters, Atlantic salmon salad sandwich, quinoa and eggplant wrap, crispy chicken ciabatta and tomatoes, beef flat iron pretzel sandwich -- all with smoked cheddar cheeses available as well as smoked jalapeno aioli. Catered by Oliver & Bonacini
The Downside: I missed tasting Donnafugata and Antinori wines (these families did not come to Toronto)
The Upside: the foods were a great match for the various wines.
The Contact Person: b.marassi@ice.it
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90
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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