March 22/10: Wine Writers' Circle tasting of LCBO wine pre-releases.

The Time and Date: Monday, March 22, 2010 10:30 AM to 1 PM
The Event: March tasting (part 2) of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
The Venue: LCBO Scrivener Square at Summerhill
The Target Audience: WWCC members.
The Availability/Catalogue: this was a tasting of wine pre-releases.
The Wines: Sadie Darby had set up the 35 wines in advance.

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Inniskillin Chardonnay 2008 VQA Winemaker's Series Three Vineyards
13.5% alc $16.95 #130473 Vintages Release May 29,2010 Niagara Peninsula
-Flat Roof Manor Merlot 2008 14% alc #129874 $10.95 Stellenbosch S.
Africa
-Jackson-Triggs Cabernet/Merlot 2007 Delaine Vnyd VQA 13.7% alc $22.95
#989269

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 - 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Blend 13.5%alc $17.95 +606632
VintagesCalifornia
Bodegas Vilbainas Vina Zaco Tempranillo 2006 13.5% alc #146209 $14.95
Vintages April 3 Rioja
-Argento Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008 13.2% alc $12.95 #164764
General List July 2010 Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina
-Inniskillin Riesling 2008 VQA Winemaker's Series Two Vineyards 12%
alc $17.95 #105387 Vintages Release May 29, 2010 Niagara Peninsula
-Domaine Bassac Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 13.5% alc Certified Organic
#4001428 $12.95 Gen List Spring 2010 Cotes de Thongue France
-San Pedro 35 South Sauvignon Blanc 2009 13.5% alc LCBO # not yet
assigned $11.95 Avail early summer Chile

*** Three Stars (85 - 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Jackson-Triggs Merlot 2007 Proprietors' Grand Reserve VQA 14% alc
$19.95 #563197 Release May 15, 2010 Vintages Exclusive VQA Wine of the
Month Niagara Peninsula
-Blackstone Merlot 2007 Winemaker's Select 13.5% alc $15.95 #606327
Vintages Release March 20, 2010 California
-Sartori Valpolicella Superiore 2007 Ripasso Valdimezzo Veneto 13.5%
alc $16.95 #160374 Vintages Release April 17/10
-Farnese Negroamaro 2008 13.5% alc $8.95 #143735 Gen List Avail
10/13/09 Puglia
-Rutini Trumpeter Malbec 2007 13.5% alc $12.95 #139063 Gen List
Mendoza Argentina
-Angus The Bull Shiraz 2007 14.5% alc $18.95 #132936 Gen List Barossa
and Clare
-J.P. Chenet Sauvignon Blanc 2009 12% alc #161224 $9.95 Avail Feb
26/10 Cotes de Gascogne
-Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio 2009 13% alc $10.95 #27128
Stellenbosch S Africa
-Francois Lurton Les Hauts de Janeil Syrah-Grenache 2008 13% alc $12.95
#162214 Pays d'Oc
-Cusumano Neroo d'Avola 2008 14.5% alc $9.95 #143164 Avail Gen List
now. Sicily
-Vina San Pedro 35 South Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008 14% alc LCBO
# not yet assigned $11.95 Avail early Summer Chile
-Andre Lurton Entre-Deux-Mers Chateau Bonnet Sauvignon
Blanc-Semillon-Muscadelle 2008 12% alc $13.95 LCBO # not yet assigned
Avail Gen List late Spring 2010
-Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay 2009 13.5% alc $8.95 #129650 West
Cape, S. Africa

The Contact Person: sdarby@rogers.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 90.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

March 12/10 Tasting: Closson Chase and Pre-Released Wines in Ontario

The Time and Date: Friday March 12, 2010 10:30 AM to 2PM
The Event: March tasting of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
The Venue: LCBO Scrivener Square at Summerhill
The Target Audience: WWCC members.
The Availability/Catalogue: this was a tasting of pre-releases, plus (in a
double-header) a tasting of six Closson Chase wines, led by Keith Tyers.
The Quote/Background: Closson Chase has been making wines since before 2001.
Although making wine in Prince Edward County, they use both PEC and Niagara
fruit. Their impressive Chardonnay is derived from their own Aberdeen
vineyard and the Steve Kocsis vineyard - both in Niagara.
So - Closson Chase Chardonnay 2001 (mature, 13.8% ABV, not available
anymore; three stars), 2004 (definitely Burgundian in style, $75; three and
a half stars), 2005 (nutty tropicality, now drinking well, $48; four stars),
2006 (over-the-top caramel-orange, $42; four stars), and two treats from the
storied 2007 vintage - one from the Aberdeen Vineyard ($44.95, three and a
half stars), and one from the S. Kocsis Vineyard ($44.95, four stars because
of its longer finish). These Beamsville Chardonnay vines are now twenty
years old.

The Wines: Sadie had set up some 45 wines. Here were my scores --

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Taittinger 2004 Brut 2004 12.5% alc $79.95 #989905 Vintages March
20/10
- Ram's Leap Shiraz 2007 14% alc $14.95 # 165795 Release May 1/10
NSW Australia Palatine Hills Gewurztraminer Proprietors Reserve VQA
NOTL 2008 13% #101493 $13.95
- Palatine Hills Riesling Traminer VQA NOTL 2008 12.5% alc #58602
(Craft) $13.05

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 - 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Domaine de Vedilhan 2008 Viognier 13.5% alc $12.95 #162081 Pays d'Oc
France
- Vina Lomas de Cauquenes Las Lomas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 13.5%
alc Vintages June 26/10 $12.95 #917922 Maule Valley Chile
- St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 14% alc #58263 $34.95 April 21,
2010 Coonawarra
- Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Founder's Reserve Shiraz Tempranillo
Adelaide Hills 2007 13.5% alc #159830 $22.95 Avail May 5, 2010
- Palatine Hills Chardonnay VQA NOTL 2008 13% alc #168443 (1.5L)
$17.95
- Palatine Hills Cabernet Merlot VQA 2007 #168450 $19.95 1500ml NOTL
Ontario
- Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 13.5% #163248 $12.95 April 2010 Mendoza
Argentina
- San Polo Bodega & Vinedos Auka Malbec 2008 13.9% alc #68401
$11.95 July 2010 Mendoza Argentina
- Loron & Fils Bourgogne Blanc Montvallon 12.5% alc #167155 $13.95
Release March 2010
-Castellani Chianti Docg Riserva 2005 12.5% alc # 970707 Vintages
release May 1, 2010.

*** Three Stars (85 - 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
- Bodegas Callia Callia Alta 2008 Malbec 13.8% alc Valle De Tulum, San
Juan, Argentina.
- Rafale Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 13.5% alc # 159160 $8.90 Pays d'Oc
France
- Rafale Syrah 2008 13% alc LCBO #157891 $8.90 effective March 2,
2010 Pays d'Oc
- Tenuta di Burchino L'Antico di Burchino Chianti Docg 12% alc
Biodynamic Vintages Apr 17. 2010 #160457 $15.95
- Cantine Sardus Pater Kanai Carignano del Sulcis Riserva 2005 14%
Vintages July 10/10
- Graffigna Centenario Shiraz Reserve 2007 13.5% alc #164731 $12.95
Avail June, 2010 San Juan Argentina
- Wyndham Estate George Wyndham Founder's Reserve Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Limestone Coast 14.5% alc # 107912 $22.95 Barossa Australia
- Trivento Tribu 2008 Syrah 13% alc #145292 $8.95 Argentina
- Trivento Tribu Malbec 2008 14% alc #145284 $8.95 Argentina
- Pierre Andre au Chateau de Corton Andre Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2008
12.5% alc #168427 $15.95 Release April 2010
- Little Yering 2008 13% alc #145318 $14.95 Yarra Valley Australia
- Trivento Fair Trade Malbec 2008 13.5% alc #160994 $9.95 Argentina
- Tilia Malbec 2008 13.5% alc #160945 Mendoza Argentina

The Contact Person: sdarby@rogers.com, keith@clossonchase.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 90.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

Mar 20/10 LCBO Vintages Release: some tasting notes

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 20, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is guide to thousands
of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and
spirits, at www.deantudor.com (since 1995). Creator of Canada's leading wine
satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My tastings are based on MVC
(Modal Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio).
Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The
LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers
or product consultants. Corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Calamus Estate Riesling 2007 Niagara Vinemount Ridge: very Alsatian
in tone, long lingering finish, 11.5% ABV. +158642, $16.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cave Spring Estate Bottled CSV Gewurztraminer 2008 Beamsville Bench:
good bitterish finish, slightly smoothed out. +302059, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Viognier 2008 Mendoza: good stone fruit intensity,
best as sipper or with food. +507830, $13.95, QPR: 90.
4. Uby Colombard/Ugni Blanc 2009 Vins de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne:
excellent all round balanced fresh white that tastes like "wine" and
not apples, lemons, or other fruit. +151019, $11.95, QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 North Coast: a steady fave
resto wine, balanced, good with food. +181685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Lagarde Altas Cumbres Malbec 2008 Mendoza: MVC, vanilla tones and
fruit, long length. +146381, $12.95, QPR: 90.
3. D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale: delicious fruit,
New World driven of course, twist top, 14.5% ABV. +158238, $14.95, QPR:
90.
4. Kim Crawford Merlot 2007 Hawkes Bay: soft, 13.5% ABV, good merlot
intensity and length, a food wine. +680967, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. La Clape Chateau Rouquette Sur Mer Cuvee Amarante 2007 Coteaux du
Languedoc: very good syrah hit, quality made product, and please check
out the great UPC design under the back label. +156273, $17.95, QPR:
90.
6. Cantina Valpantena Terre di Verona Ripasso Valpolicella 2006: rich,
ripe, and voluptuous. +117127, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Hidden Bench Rosomel Vineyard Fume Blanc 2007 Beamsville Bench,
+68825, $30.20 retail.
2. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2007 Twenty Mile
Bench, +56929, $40 retail.
3. Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, +173377, $24 retail.
4. Ironstone Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Sierra Foothills, +158774, $26.95.
5. Domaine Serge Laloue Sancerre 2008, +744086, $22.95.
6. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Green Label Syrah-Shiraz 2007
California, +90068, $24.95.
7. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 California, +521021, $26.95.
8. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Alexander Valley, +50427,
$24.95.
9. 3 Rings Shiraz 2007 Barossa, +15495, $21.95.
10. Bouchard Pere & Fils Cote de Beaune-Villages 2006, +714998, $24.95.
11. Vignamaggio Gherardino Chianti Classico 2007, +963512, $23.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH: The Best Soups in the World

 THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD (John Wiley, 2010, 468 pages, ISBN 978-0-470-18052-5, $22.95 US soft covers) is by Clifford A. Wright, who is an award-winning author of 11 pre4vious cookbooks. He is best known for "A Mediterranean Feast", and he frequently writes for all the major American food magazines. It is a straight forward book at a sensible price, with a heavy emphasis on international classics. The book is arranged by type of soup, e.g., chunky, smooth, clear, minestrone-like, chowder, cheese, egg, and chilled. Most of the chilled soups are fruit-based. Each prep has some indication of its country of origin, and there is even a recipe index by region (with page references). There is also an internet food shopping guide. Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements, but there is no metric table of equivalents. He has a technique section on stock preparations and a nice discussion on canned stocks. There is even s short history of soups. As well, every recipe has a cook's note on context of the soup in its country's cuisine. You can get more details at www.cliffordawright.com

Audience and level of use: any chef

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: Georgian beef and apricot soup; mulligatawny soup; Slovak sauerkraut soup; almond and saffron soup; artichoke veloute; rasam; black kale soup; Algerian green wheat soup with meatballs.

The downside to this book: the type face for the ingredients is too light.

The upside to this book: no photos keep the price of the book down.

Quality/Price Rating: 90.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

Tasting: New Wines in February 2010

SOME NEW PRODUCTS TASTED THIS MONTH

 

1. Chateau des Charmes Riesling 2008 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, $12.45,
+61499 LCBO: done up in stainless, slight and light citrus tones, but
refreshing length. Good bones and flesh, dry style but also useful as a
sipper. 12.5% ABV.

 

2. Chateau des Charmes Riesling Late Harvest 2007 VQA Niagara-on-the-
Lake, $21.95 per 375 mL bottle, +432930 Vintages: about 1600 cases
made. A perpetual award winner (Ontario Wine Awards 2009 Gold). Expect
peaches, apples, some orange marmalade, and later some apricots kick
in. Great Riesling character, off-sweet. The winery suggests pairing it
with any kind of chocolate. 10.5% ABV.

 

3. Chateau des Charmes Cabernet Franc 2007 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake,
$13.95, +277236 LCBO (new listing): done in a warm vintage, just
crawling with over the top concentrated black fruit (blackberries,
black currants, black cherries) but not sweet. Nine months in all
French oak, crackling smoke and toast throughout. Nifty, and a steal at
the price. 13% ABV.

 

4. Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 2007 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, $50
retail, $40.61 licensee: the highest level at Southbrook (premium
reserve wines), taken from seven of their best barrels (60% new Vosges
and 40% used French barrels), aged for 19 months. Toasty butterscotch,
tastes more expensive than it is, rich, full and lush finish with a
memory. An excellent wine for BYOW by diners, or a licensee can
certainly sell it at a $20 markup and still make a profit.

 

5. Skouras St. George 2007 Nemea Greece, +162321, $16.95 Vintages on
April 3: from Agiorgitiko grapes, made in new clean style for appeal to
non-Greeks. 13.5% ABV. Delicious mocha tones with a juicy finish. 150
cases. Terrific pairing with a lamb-topped pizza with squash and potato
pie (with mint and sheep's cheese).

 

6. 2008 Muscat of Limnos Greece, +61119, $11.95 Vintages on April 17:
very much like Zibibbo and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, at about 15%
ABV. Expect orange, caramel, baked apple, raisins. Paired against a
lemon tart made with Red Fife wheat flour. Terrific value, won't hang
around the LCBO long at this price. Snap it up. 250 cases.

 

7. Kir Yianni Paranga 2008 Naoussa Greece, +62596, $13.95 Vintages on
May 1: 13.1% ABV, from Macedonian Xinomavro grapes, with some syrah and
merlot similar to a light pinot noir (shades of recent French Languedoc
scandal!!). Raspberries and light cherries dominate, and did well
against a lamb topped-pizza with squash and potato pie (with mint and
sheep's cheese). Last vintage available in Ontario was 2005. 200 cases.

 

8. Sigalas Santorini 2008 Greece, +74781, $22.95 Vintages on May 1:
14.2% ABV. 2009 Gold Medalist. Needs time to breathe, paired with an
"herb jam" with wild herbs, and roasted five-hour eggs. Excellent
matching, I thought, especially with some tangerine notes and
minerality. Could be cellared. Last vintage available in Ontario was
2006. 150 cases.

 

9. Charles Baker Riesling 2008 Picone Vineyard VQA Vinemount Ridge:
made at Stratus, this is by now the premier Riesling in Ontario. Fruit
has always been sourced from four acres on Chef Marc Picone's farm,
being 25-year old vines. This is the fourth vintage, $35 a bottle, with
(as Baker says) "just enough cases produced". Baker's vision is to
harmonize minerality, acidity and sweetness into balance. Expect a
delightful raciness, augmented by the green apple-lime complex of
flavours, great finishing tones. It is evocative of the best "sweet and
sour". A keeper, should get better with the acid and the sugar to keep
it all structurally alive through 2020. I promise to be here for that!

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

DRINK BOOK OF THE MONTH: South-West France; the wines...

1. SOUTH-WEST FRANCE; the wines and winemakers (University of California Pr., 2009, 376 pages, ISBN 978-0-520-25941-6, $45US hard covers) is by wine and food writer Paul Strang who specializes in south-west France. The book is based on earlier works stretching back to 1994, but has been entirely recast because of the newer technology and emerging markets. South-west France includes a range of locations, such as Gaillac, Cahors, Fronton, Bergerac, Monbazillac, Duras, Buzet, Gascony, Madiran, and Jurancon. And some that never seem to turn up in Canada, such as Irouleguy, Rosette, Marcillac, and Estaing. Overall, those areas closer to Bordeaux using the same grapes as Bordeaux tend to taste like regular Bordeaux (he addresses the problems of Bordeaux satellites); those areas further away are their own creatures, featuring obscure grapes such as Camaralet (Jurancon), Arrufiac (St. Mont), Segalin (Glanes) and Ondenc (Gaillac). The total area covered here is from Bordeaux south to the Pyrenees, east to the Massif Central, and covering the river valleys of the Lot and the Dordogne. Most of the wines have higher acid, and are ideal accompaniments to the rich and fatty foods of the region. Strang opens with a history of the region, showing connections to Anglo roots. His arrangement is by sub-region, with larger chapters on Cahors, Gaillac, the Dordogne, Gascony, Madiran, and the Pyrenees. Under each, there is identification of cantons and more local history, followed by listings of recommended independent growers (with full directory-type data plus a critique and rating of the wines) and some simple directory listings for "other good growers". His appendices are extremely useful: a table of grape varieties employed in the region, wine and food pairings (a chart), an English glossary of French terms, and a bibliography of both English and French titles. The latter shows a pathetic amount of older books about the region in both languages.

Audience and level of use: readers of wine materials, lovers of wines of South-West France, wine schools, hospitality schools.

Some interesting or unusual facts: "It is refreshing to know that other [grape] varieties, grown only in the South-West, produce wines which are like no other. The South-West is the opposite pole from globalization, which may explain why the big players in the wine business…have been reluctant to come to grips with it."

The downside to this book: while the layout is good (especially because of the leading), the book is larger than it should be. Such similar guides are normally smaller, and lower in price.

The upside to this book: some really new and fresh material about the region.

Quality/Price Rating: 90.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

March 6/10 LCBO VINTAGES Release Tasting Notes

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 6, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is guide to thousands
of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and
spirits, at www.deantudor.com (since 1995). Creator of Canada's leading wine
satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My tastings are based on MVC
(Modal Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio).
Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The
LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers
or product consultants. Corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Emiliana Novas Winemaker's Selection Chardonnay/Viognier/Marsanne
2007 Casablanca: from organic grapes, dynamite body and oaky finish, a
big dense wine with flowers on the approach. +63909, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Errazuriz Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Casablanca: good
balance with elegance, rewarding food wine, 13.5% ABV, twist top.
+143198, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Ingoldby Chardonnay 2008 McLaren Vale: balanced, tightly framed, low
oak. +47647, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Pfaffenheim Cuvee Bacchus Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: terrific
gewurztraminer tones, but drier than the MD indicated in the catalogue.
+996017, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine des Aspes Viognier 2008 Vins de Pays D'Oc: delicious value,
complexity of peaches and citrus fruit. 13.5% ABV, twist top. +712638,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Henri de Richemer Muscat Sec 2008 Vins de Pays des Cotes de Thau:
terrific floral and muscat complexity at this price level. +150169,
$12.95, QPR: 91.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma: deep, deep textures,
very cabby, best with food. 13.8% ABV. +226944, $19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Casa Lapostolle Merlot 2008 Rapel: delicious merlot intensity, but
with old world character. 14.5% ABV. +405712, $16.95, QPR: 90.
3. Emiliana Novas Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2007
Central Valley Chile: first rate Bordeaux-styled blend, organic grapes.
+685792, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Emiliana Novas Limited Selection Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Colchagua: earthy, but excellent blend and balanced with fruit.
Organic, of course. I think that this is the first time I've ever
recommended THREE wines from the same company in one release. +66746,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
5. Tabali Reserva Merlot 2006 Limari: good long food finish, lots of
black fruit and mocha and roasted vanilla. +93740, $14.95, QPR: 90.
6. Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Frankland River: delicious Euro
style, with black fruit and smoke sitting on top. +904227, $19.95, QPR:
90.
7. Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2005 WO Stellenbosch: excellent Bordeaux-
styled wine, with five classic grape varieties used. +922443, $20.95,
QPR: 90.
8. Chateau Fabre Cuvee des Jumelles 2008 Corbieres: basic quality red
for grilled meats and BBQ. +148783, $13.95, QPR: 90.
9. Aldo Marenco Pirun 2008 Dolcetto: plumy with raspberry component,
good tannins right to the finish, food. Organic. +161729, $17.95, QPR:
90.
10. Rivera Cappellaccio Riserva Aglianico 2004 Castel del Monte Puglia:
extremely Italianate, good aged complexity, jam and leather. +984120,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
11. Vignalta Rosso Riserva 2005 Veneto: a 60/40 blend of cabernet
sauvignon and merlot, 13.5% ABV, generous fruit. +52571, $19.95, QPR:
90.
12. Guelbenzu Azul 2006 Ribera del Queiles Spain: juicy, North American
style, modestly herby and black currant notes. +146225, $18.95, QPR:
90.
13. Heredad de Baroja Cautivo Crianza 2005 Rioja: woody tones, upfront
on the nose, along with tempranillo fruit. +148510, $13.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Beringer Sbragia Limited-Release Chardonnay 2007 Napa, +79178,
$54.95 retail.
2. Mulderbosch Chardonnay 2006 WO Stellenbosch, +717090, $21.95.
3. Domaine Marechal-Caillot Savigny-Les-Beaune 2006, +159707, $34.95.
4. Cennatoio Chianti Classico 2006, +121210, $24.95.
5. I Castei Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2005, +739979, $38.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

APVSA tasting (Association pour la promotion des vins), February 24, 2010

The Time and Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010   10 AM to 6 PM
The Event: APVSA tasting (Association pour la promotion des vins et
spiritueux en Amerique du Nord).
The Venue: Delta Chelsea Inn
The Target Audience: wine agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: no wines are currently available in
Ontario. The group is here to try to get some agents to agree to rep
the principal. Some of the wines are available in Quebec and Alberta.
Most of the wines were French, and there are often sales staff
available to comment on the prices and production. This road show also
visits New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Calgary and Montreal
The Wines: The problem I had with the wines, and one that must be
acknowledged, is that they were no better than the wines that we
already have here in Ontario. There really did not seem to be any price
advantages, either. These 60 or so wines could be made available
through Vintages or Consignment. In the past, many have been picked up
for sale in Ontario. Here were my faves, regardless of price (all
prices are ex-cellar Euros):

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Guy de Chassey Champagne Cuvee Antide, $27.90 E
-Domaine de la Renne Touraine Sauvignon 2009, 2.50 E
-Domaine Charles Allexant et Fils Rully Les Cailloux 2007, 7.90 E
-Chateau Haut Bernasse Cotes de Bergerac Rouge 2006, 3.70 E
-Chateau Haut Bernasse 2003 Monbazillac, 7.10 E for 500 mL

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-SCEV Clos du Porteau Sauvignon Blanc Le Courlis 2009, 2.84 E
-Domaine Millet Francois Sancerre Rouge 2007, 5.60 E
-Domaine Gardien St. Pourcain Blanc Nectar des Fees 2009, 3.10 E
-Domaine Gardien St. Pourcain Rouge Reserve des Grands Jours 2006 VDQS,
4.24 E
-Domaine Dyckerhoff Reuilly Blanc 2008 Loire, 4.35 E
-Vignerons de Tutiac Bordeaux Sauvignon 2008 Quintet, 2.70 E
-Vignobles Clissey Fermis Bordeaux Maynad 2005, 2.20 E
-Chateau Vari Reserve du Chateau 2005 Monbazillac, 5.60 E for 375 mL
-SARL La Cave Gourmande Chateau Belot Le Vignalet 2007 Saint Chinian,
2.50 E
-Domaine Plo Notre Dame Minervois Rouge 2007, 4.50 E
-Domaine du Mas Rous Muscat de Riversaltes 2008 VDN, 4.79 E
-Domaine Jean Gleizes Muscat Sec 2008 Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2.26 E
-Caves Cantalric Corbieres Chateau de Comigne Fut 2006, 3.50 E

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Domaine Millet Francois Sancerre Blanc 2008, 5.60 E
-Domaine Gardien St. Pourcain Rouge Cuvee du Terroir 2009, 3.10 E
-Domaine Gardien Methode Traditionnelle Blanc Perle de Chassignolles,
4.85 E
-Domaine de la Renne Touraine Rouge Cuvee Eminence 2008, 2.95 E
-Domaine Nebout St. Pourcain Tressaillier des Gravieres 2008
(Chardonnay), 3.70 E
-Domaine Charles Allexant et Fils Savigny-les-Beaunes 2007 Aux
Fourneaux , 7.85 E
-Vignobles Clissey Fermis Chateau Haut Terre Fort Bordeaux 2006, 2.30 E
-Chateau Vari 2005 Monbazillac, 3.20 E for 375 mL
-Auguste Bonlouis Chais du Soleil NV, 250 mL PET with 4 nipples for
resting on flat surfaces. Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah Rose available
for 0.80 E each.
-Domaine Jean Gleizes Merlot 2008 Vin de Pays d'Oc, 1.80 E
-Caves Cantalric Chardonnay Rendez-Vous 2008 Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2.25 E

 

The Food: none.
The Downside: selection is eclectic and bottles arrive haphazardly.
Some bottles never arrived at all, but we were not told this until we
got there.
The Upside: a chance to taste some engaging wines not available here.
There is a listing of wines with FOB prices in Euros.
The Contact Person: Pascal p.fernand@apvsa.ca
The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 85.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

THE REISSUES, THE REPRINTS, AND THE NEWER EDITIONS...

 

...all reflect a boom in the cookbook publishing business. A paperback
reprint will lower the cost to the purchaser, and also give a publisher
a chance to correct egregious errors or add a postscript. Some will
reissue a book in paper covers with a new layout or photos. Others will
rearrange existing material to present it as more informative text
while keeping the focus tight. Here are some recent "re-editions"...

 

15. LIQUID MEMORY; why wine matters (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009;
distr. D & M Publishers, 262 pages, ISBN 978-0-374-27257-9, $26 US hard
covers) is by Jonathan Nossiter, the director of the documentary
"Mondovino", which I felt was a terrific film. This is his first book,
originally published in French in 2007. Log rolling includes Bill
Buford and Neal Rosenthal (the latter appeared in the documentary and
has written "Reflections of a Wine Merchant"). For Nossiter, wine is an
essential art form, like movies, literature, music, and art. His book
is a mix of coverage. It is part memoir, part interview, part screed
(against snobs and fraudsters). Part I is about terroir, the sense of
place. Part II deals with power in the wine world, the motif of
"upmanship". Part III shows us his concern with Burgundy. And Part IV
is about authentic wines. It's a personal book, as all memoirs are, and
he does have a point of view. In fact, personal views do shape our
awareness of wine. His faves must be Burgundy followed by Bordeaux
since those have the most references in the book. And of course he has
a lot to say about Robert Parker, Jr. and Michel Rolland – both
strongly influential on changes to the Spanish wine industry, and not
for the better. I shouldn't be telling you these things, read it for
yourself. Quality/Price rating: 91.

 

 

 

16. RAISING STEAKS; the life and times of American beef (Mariner,
2009, 402 pages, ISBN 978-0-547-24769-4, $15.95 US soft covers) is by
Betty Fussell, a free lance writer who contributes to Gastronomica,
Food & Wine, Saveur, New Yorker, et al. She has also written ten
previous books, one most notably on corn. The book was originally
published in 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and this is a straight
reprint. This is a scholarly book, with copious endnotes, a
bibliography of trade journals and books and foodbooks, and index. The
21 or so recipes, all indexed under "recipes", come from a variety of
sources, all acknowledged. Her story of beef is one best told through a
series of historical clashes, from the British pastoralists vs. the
Spanish ranchers, through buffalo vs. cattle, cowboys vs. industrial
machines, up to and including natural vs. growth hormones. She covers
breeds (e.g. Angus), feed and anti-biotics, slaughtering and abattoirs,
packaging and distribution, with details on butcher shops, tanneries,
steakhouses, the role of Chicago, and buffalo meat (much better for you
than beef). There are lots of facts and figures, augmented by
reproductions of archival posters, paintings and photos. For us in
Canada, there are occasional references, with headings in the index
such as "mad cow disease" and beef imports. No websites are listed in
the resources section. Preparations have their ingredients listed in
avoirdupois measurements, but there is no metric table of equivalents.
Quality/Price Rating: 88.

 

 

 

17. A TASTE OF MY LIFE (Corgi Books, 2009, 463 pages, ISBN 978-0-55215-
731-5, $23.95 CAD paper covers) is by Raymond Blanc, a French chef who
opened Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons (in 1984) near Oxford England. This
is his 2008 autobiography, self-described as "one man's hunger for
perfection". It's in memoir form, with stories from his French
childhood and his early apprentice days. The BBC described the original
of this book as "a rattling good read". It is a thorough and
comprehensive read. Blanc was instrumental in teaching Marco Pierre
White and Heston Blumenthal. Read his takes on molecular gastronomy and
on sustainability, plus children and food, hand washing, the Slow Food
movement, and even crows and dancing. Typical preps that he is
associated with (and are here in this book) include braised oxtail,
iced pineapple parfait, exotic fruit gratin with coconut rice, and eel
in teriyaki jelly. Preparations have their ingredients listed in either
metric or avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of
equivalents given. An important read. Quality/Price rating: 87.

 

18. OLIVES & ORANGES; recipes & flavor secrets from Italy, Spain,
Cyprus & beyond (Houghton Mifflin, 2009 reprint, 372 pages, ISBN 978-0-
618-67764-1, $35 US hard covers) is by Sara Jenkins and Mindy Fox.
Jenkins, daughter of food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins, has cheffed
mostly in New York city; she just opened Porchetta in the East Village.
Mindy Fox is a focusing food writer, now food editor at La Cucina
Italiana. Log rolling includes pieces by Mario (Batali), Paula
(Wolfert), Adam (Gopnik), and Molly (O'Neill). The preps are
Mediterranean, but for family reasons there is a strong run of Italian
and Eastern Mediterranean dishes. Try Fattouche from Lebanon; Green
beans with shaved onion, fried almonds and parmesan; Red onions cooked
in orange juice; Pan-roasted Brussels sprouts, turnips, and beets with
farm faro; or North African spiced shrimp. She begins with a
description of her "flavor pantry" (oils, salts and salty products,
grains and legumes, broths, herbs and spices, and cheeses) and then
moves on to small plates, salad, soup, pasta-risotto-polenta, fish,
poultry, meats, and then sweets. There is a US sources list and all
weights and measures are in avoirdupois (with no metric conversion
tables). There are no wine recommendations. Quality/price rating: 86.

 

19. LIGHTEN UP (Quadrille Publishing, 2009, 224 pages, ISBN 978-1-
84400-701-1, $24.95 CAD soft covers) is by Jull Dupleix, who was the
Cook at The Times for six years. She has authored 14 other cookbooks.
This book was originally published in 2007, and in 2008 it was the
winner of the Guild of Food Writers (UK) Award for Work on Healthy
Eating. It is a basic book, taking classic regular preps and lightening
them up in terms of fat and calories and meats. She has sidebars to
cover bananas, raw food, breads, tofu, and umami. The book is arranged
by theme, so she gets you off to a good morning with a fully loaded
breakfast, followed by salads and soups, some spicy foods, some fast
food, some slow food, some easy food, some steamy food, and some
veggies and fruits. What I like about the book is the large typeface
and the ease of the instructions and the movement around the book. Try
her Thai beef with lemongrass, spring minestrone, spinach chana dal,
Japanese mushroom noodles, spaghetti alla puttanesca, or pineapple and
coconut soufflé. Preparations have their ingredients listed in
avoirdupois measurements, but there is a metric table of equivalents.
Quality/Price rating: 89.

 

 

 

20. FLAVORS OF TUSCANY; recipes from the heart of Italy (Ryland Peters
& Small, 2006, 2009; distr. T. Allen, 160 pages, ISBN 1-84597-889-1,
$21.95 soft covers) is by Maxine Clark, a well-traveled food writer and
teacher specializing in Italian cuisine. It was originally published in
2006. There are also photos of the Tuscan surrounding area, farms,
markets, restaurants, bars, museums, and the like. So it is like a
"week at a cooking school", with photo demos and classic dishes. The
selection of regional dishes is arranged in meal order (antipasti,
soups, pasta, secondi, sides, and dolci). She has short essays on local
ingredients such as olives and olive oil, meats of white cattle or
fennel salami or wild boar, sheep cheese (pecorino), beans, mushrooms,
and wine including Vin Santo. Many dishes can also be varied with
different sauces and pesto (recipes furnished). There is a resources
list and website URLs for Italian and US mail orders. While US volume
measurements are used for the recipe ingredients, there is a metric
conversion chart on p.157. Try anchovies marinated in lemon; pancetta
and fennel puffs; ribollita soup; chestnut and pancetta soup;
pandiramerino (rosemary, sultana, and olive oil bread); fennel sausage
risotto. Quality/Price Rating: 85.

 

 

 

21, THE NEW SAVORY WILD MUSHROOM (Greystone Books, 2009, 250 pages,
ISBN 978-1-55054-179-3, $28.95 CAD paper covers) is by Margaret
McKenny, who wrote the first edition in 1962. Since then it has been
revised in 1971 and 1987, and here it has been reissued. Over the
years, Daniel Stuntz and Joseph Ammirati have created the enlarged
editions. This classic now covers 199 fungi; it is a field guide to
picking and eating wild mushrooms, principally on the west coast.
Colour photos provide great identification, answering two important
queries: what is it? And can I eat it?. Full written descriptions give
identifications. Te book is arranged by species, beginning with
boletes, and then moving onto chanterelles, gilled mushrooms,
polyspores, spine funghi, coral funghi, jelly funghi, puffballs,
morels, and truffles. There is a chapter on mushroom poisons, and a
chapter on how to cook mushroom by Angelo Pellegrini. The book
concludes with a bibliography for advanced reading. Quality/Price
rating: 88.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

Tasting: Fosters Wine Estates, 75 wines, Feb 18/10

 The Time and Date:  Thursday, February 18, 2010  2PM to 5PM

The Event: Fosters' Wine Estates Presents 75 Estate Wines

The Venue: Fermenting Cellars, Distillery District

The Target Audience: sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine writers.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are currently available somewhere iin the LCBO distribution system, including Permanent Consignment, Current Consignment, and Upcoming Consignment.

The Quote/Background: There was a charity component in the evening. This has now become an annual event from Fosters, to display their California wines (Stags' Leap, Beringer, TAZ, St. Clement, et al) and their Australian wines (Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Greg Norman, et al).

The Wines: 18 wineries were presented, but I did not taste every wine.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +352583, $39.95 Vintages ESSENTIAL

-Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2005, not available

-Wolf Blass Black Label Cab Shiraz 2005, +960468, $75.00    LCBO

-TAZ Pinot Noir 2007 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Chardonnay 2008, +158600 $24.95

-Souverain  Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $49.95 cons

-St. Clement Orropas Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +655670, $64.95 Private

 

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium Red 2005, +393447, $49.95

-Beringer Napa Valley Merlot 2005, +919647, $29.95

-Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2005, $24.95 Consignment

-Matua Valley Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2008, +144634, $24.95

-Etude Pinot Gris 2008 Carneros, +142851, $29.00      LCBO

-Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +4994     $99.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +84996, $24.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2006, +32227, $23.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +48579, $23.95 cons

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Reserve Shiraz 2003, +585828, $49.95

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Cabernet Merlot 2007, +552075, $24.95 Vint ESSENTIAL

-Greg Norman California Estates North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 +8722     $24.95     

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, +606939, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2006, +390872, $34.95   LCBO

-Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2005, +564278, $107.60

-Penfolds Hyland Shiraz, +611210, $19.95  Vint essentials

-Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2006, +509919, $34.95  LCBO

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2006, +655399,  $44.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +996405, $49.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Viognier 2007, +263987, $29.95 Private Order

-TAZ Goat Rock Syrah 2006 Santa Maria Valley, +157339, $34.95

-Cellar No 8 Zinfandel 2007,  $16.95      consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Merlot 2006, $39.95  consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Dry Creek Single Vineyard Cab 2006, $49.95 cons

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Chardonnay 2007, +79178    $54.95 LCBO

-St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2008, +128934, $24.95

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium White 2007, +403188, $34.95

-Matua Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2008, +158873, $29.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet 2006. +466748, $69.95

-Rosemount Estate Show Reserve 'Traditional' 2005. +484097, $34.95

-Saltram No. 1 Shiraz Barossa,$49.95      consignment

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz Viognier 2006, +606301, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Barossa Shiraz 2007, +590273   $27.95      LCBO

-Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2006, +422782, $34.95

-Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2005, +510875, $75

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah, +590356, $44.95      consignment

-TAZ Pinot Gris 2008 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Merlot 2006, $29.95      Private Order

-St. Clement Napa Valley Merlot 2006, $39.95    Private Order

 

The Food: some serious cheeses (Manchego, goat Gouda, et al)

The Downside: dim lighting at Fermenting Cellars – this has always been a problem for serious wine tasting.

The Upside: it was a good chance to taste many of these wines since they don't appear to be exhibited elsewhere.

The Contact Person: Kelly.northey@am.fostersgroup.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 85.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

Feb 20/10 LCBO Vintages Releases: Tipsheet

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is guide to thousands
of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and
spirits, at www.deantudor.com (since 1995). Creator of Canada's leading wine
satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My tastings are based on MVC
(Modal Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio).
Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The
LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers
or product consultants. Corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Okanagan: delicious
creaminess, 14.5% ABV, overripe voluptuousness. +618298, $17.95, QPR:
90.
2. Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Monterey County: good fruit
complexity at this price level, sauvignon zest is slightly muted.
+586149, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Chardonnay 2008 Mendoza: hard to pass up at this
level, buttery-burnet toast, 13.5% ABV. French oak. +801571, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Domaine Wachau Terraces Gruner Veltliner 2008 Austria: softer and
more floral than in the past, longer finish, sip or with food. +155812,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Agnusdei Albarino 2008 Rias Baixas: highly and brightly aromatic,
light lemons on finish. +146241, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Van Ruiten Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 Lodi: off-dry, jammy, juicy,
party wine. +58685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cristobal 1492 Oak Reserve Merlot 2007 Mendoza: dynamite blowout of
rich and oaky tones, black fruit and black chocolate. At this price,
buy it all!! +663096, $12.95, QPR: 93.
3. Cono Sur Vision Syrah 2007 Colchagua: 13.5% ABV, dense, chunky, not
yet ready but delicious. Some tomato and olive tones. +24661, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Evans & Tate Cabernet/Merlot 2004 Margaret River: a Bordeaux-style
wine with snap, ready now, affordable. +721548, $14.95, QPR: 91.
5. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2008 Barossa: ripe plums, spicy,
cedar, 15% ABV, twist top. +595306, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. The Winery of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2008 Stellenbosch:
North American style, twist top, 13.5% ABV, nicely affordable. +8748,
$11.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Ferrer-Ribiere Tradition 2007 Cotes du Roussillon: delicious
raspberry complexity, longer length. Organic. +148627, $16.95, QPR: 90.
8. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition 2008 Costieres de Nimes: very
Rhonish, ready now, good syrah hit for under $15. +143099, $14.95, QPR:
91.
9. Terres d'Avignon Les Cardinalices Grande reserve Cotes du Rhone
2007: well-integrated, aging gracefully, terrific fruit, anise, and
length. 14% ABV. +155473, $14.95, QPR: 90.
10. Giordano Maestri Italiani Nebbiolo d'Alba 2007: a plush Barolo-like
hit. +159483, $16.95, QPR: 90.
11. Monte Antico Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 IGT Tuscany:
undersuperTuscan style, affordable. +69377, $15, QPR: 90.
12. Duque de Medina Gran Reserva 2000 Carinera Spain: aging well, with
leather and some snappy tartness that's enough for food accompaniment.
+148494, $19.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Wilm Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace, +156745, $26.95 retail (Kosher)
2. Domaine Chevallier Chablis 2007, +112227, $22.95.
3. Hugh Hamilton The Rascal Shiraz 2006 McLaren Vale, +595405, $26.95.
4. Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, +650754, $29.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com