TASTING: World Wine Watch May 2, 2009 Vintages Release

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  MAY 2, 2009
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing <deantudor@deantudor.com>
Always at www.deantudor.com since 1995. Also visit my "Wines, Beers and
Spirits of the Net Compendium", a guide to thousands of news items and
RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits.
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. Also, some defective
or corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Niagara College Teaching Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2006 VQA St.
David's Bench: crisp, Chablis-like with apple-pear-lemons. +40675,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
2. Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay 2006 VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake: packed
with flavours, well-rounded creamy, butterscotch. +117572, $21.95, QPR:
90.
3. Domaine des Aubuisieres Cuvee de Silex Vouvray 2008: off-dry chenin
blanc, will be a fab drink in two years. +57042, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Tenuta Il Corno Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2006: value priced, hits
all the right sangiovese notes, snap it up. +123752, $14.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere 2008 Colchagua: juicy, some
nice herbal fuzz from the carmenere, organic grapes. +56853, $13.95,
QPR: 93.
3. Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Frankland River: great Euro tastes
right from start of entry to finish of length. +904227, $17.95, QPR:
90.
4.Richard Hamilton Lot 148 Merlot 2006 McLaren Vale: lots of length
follows the cabernet-like fruit on the entry. +39461, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateu Le Bourdieu 2003 Medoc: MVC for the region, some tannins on
the finish, still a good buy. +85084, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Domaine Debray Bourgogne Hautes Cotes-de-Beaune 2006: affordable
pinot noir from Burgundy, with the usual cran-cherry nose, even some
oak. +112219, $21.95, QPR: 90.
7. Zenato Cormi Merlot/Corvina 2006 IGT Veneto: ripe, round and
attractive to New World palates. +108282, $19.95, QPR: 90.
8. Mana del Brujo 2006 Calatayud Spain: 14.5% ABV, not yet read, but
will reward patience in two years. Invite me over. +15073, $17.95, QPR:
90.
9. Marques de Valcarlos Gran Reserva 1999 Navarra: pruney and dried
fruit, but with redeeming oak tones. Great for food. Note the vintage
date. +687251, $21.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
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Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are ready to enjoy right now. Consumers
could buy and bring to those restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2005,
+943613, $24.95 retail.
2. Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino 2003, +121905, $48.95.
3. Acacia Chardonnay 2007 Carneros, +80556, $36.95.
4. La Crema Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma Coast, +962886, $29.95.
5. Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay 2006 Napa, +330233, $24.95.
6. Dominus Estate Napanook 2005 Napa, +63065, $53.95.
7. Rutherford Hill Merlot 2005 Napa, +959338, $34.95.
8. Loan Shiraz 2004 Barossa, +104661, $37.95 [organic]
9. Domaine Bernard Defaix Cote de Lechet Reserve Chablis 1er Cru 20-06,
+17541, $36.95.
10. Domaine Delorme et Fils Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2006,
+110261, $32.95.
11. Marchesi Fumanelli Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2004,
+105155, $59.95.
 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com