WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 26, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Tawse Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay 2007: one of the best Ontario
chardonnays at just under $20, capable of aging. Euro mode. +89037,
$19.95, QPR: 91.
2. Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2007 North Coast California: one of the
fighting varietals, a restaurant-ready wine, often on sale at US stores
for $9.99US plus taxes. +124867, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Irony Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley: 14.5% ABV, lots of fruit and
minerality, toast, better with food. +27409, $19.95, QPR: 90.
4. Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough: very crisp and
gooseberries, first course wine. +677450, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Sileni Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2009 Hawkes Bay: ripe and fresh,
one of the first of the 2009s to be tasted in Ontario, with some body
(useful quaffer) or first course. 12.5% ABV. +32292, $16.95, QPR: 90.
6. Domaine Saint-Remy Reserve Gewurztraminer 2007 Alsace: delicious,
off-dry complexity, reserve level bitterness on finish. Organic too.
+61150, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sevre & Maine 2007 Sur Lie: Gold
Medalist in France, yet value priced for Ontario, first course wine.
+608893, $11.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Tawse Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay 2007: one of the best Ontario
chardonnays at just under $20, capable of aging. Euro mode. +89037,
$19.95, QPR: 91.
2. Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2007 North Coast California: one of the
fighting varietals, a restaurant-ready wine, often on sale at US stores
for $9.99US plus taxes. +124867, $17.95, QPR: 90.
3. Irony Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley: 14.5% ABV, lots of fruit and
minerality, toast, better with food. +27409, $19.95, QPR: 90.
4. Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough: very crisp and
gooseberries, first course wine. +677450, $19.95, QPR: 90.
5. Sileni Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2009 Hawkes Bay: ripe and fresh,
one of the first of the 2009s to be tasted in Ontario, with some body
(useful quaffer) or first course. 12.5% ABV. +32292, $16.95, QPR: 90.
6. Domaine Saint-Remy Reserve Gewurztraminer 2007 Alsace: delicious,
off-dry complexity, reserve level bitterness on finish. Organic too.
+61150, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine des Quatre Routes Muscadet Sevre & Maine 2007 Sur Lie: Gold
Medalist in France, yet value priced for Ontario, first course wine.
+608893, $11.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Merlot 2006 Okanagan Valley: good
oak hit on the finish, MVC softness and chocolate, aged well. +593053,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Zuccardi Santa Julia Organica Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza:
delicious, soft berries, almost merlot-like, black fruit and some
mocha. Value priced. Organic. +68452, $12.95, QPR: 93.
3. Coriole Redstone Shiraz 2006 McLaren Vale: depth from aging, twist
top, 14.5%, ripe and soft. +59915, $17.95, QPR: 90.
4. Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 McLaren Vale:
minty, deep cabernet sauvignon tones, twist top, 14% ABV, creamy mocha.
+567917, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau Fongaban 2005 Cotes de Castillon: useful purchase for a
well-priced Bordeaux, better after another year. +138735, $17.95, QPR:
90.
6. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Excellence 2007 Costieres de Nimes: great
blend of flavours, chocolate and oak for the syrah. +708750, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
7. Beronia Elaboracion Especial Tempranillo 2007 Rioja: ripe with wood
tones, plumy, some anise, and mocha. Delightful. +723643, $16.95, QPR:
91.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Merlot 2006 Okanagan Valley: good
oak hit on the finish, MVC softness and chocolate, aged well. +593053,
$19.95, QPR: 90.
2. Zuccardi Santa Julia Organica Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza:
delicious, soft berries, almost merlot-like, black fruit and some
mocha. Value priced. Organic. +68452, $12.95, QPR: 93.
3. Coriole Redstone Shiraz 2006 McLaren Vale: depth from aging, twist
top, 14.5%, ripe and soft. +59915, $17.95, QPR: 90.
4. Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 McLaren Vale:
minty, deep cabernet sauvignon tones, twist top, 14% ABV, creamy mocha.
+567917, $18.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau Fongaban 2005 Cotes de Castillon: useful purchase for a
well-priced Bordeaux, better after another year. +138735, $17.95, QPR:
90.
6. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Excellence 2007 Costieres de Nimes: great
blend of flavours, chocolate and oak for the syrah. +708750, $18.95,
QPR: 90.
7. Beronia Elaboracion Especial Tempranillo 2007 Rioja: ripe with wood
tones, plumy, some anise, and mocha. Delightful. +723643, $16.95, QPR:
91.
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
could buy and bring to those restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Le Clos Jordanne Talon Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 VQAQ Niagara
Vinemount Ridge, +0143974, $37 retail.
2. Domaine Bernard Millot Les Petits Charrons Meursault 2006, +130922,
$49.95 retail.
3. Domaine La Soufrandise Clos Marie Pouilly-Fuisse 2007, +42622,
$29.95 retail.
4. Frog's Leap Merlot 2006 Rutherford Napa, +707489, $44.95 retail.
5. Stonehedge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +25122, $24.95.
6. Chateau Tour Marcillanet 2005 Haut-Medoc, +125880, $27.95.
7. Condado de Haza Crianza 2006 Ribera del Duero, +963348, $27.95.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Le Clos Jordanne Talon Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 VQAQ Niagara
Vinemount Ridge, +0143974, $37 retail.
2. Domaine Bernard Millot Les Petits Charrons Meursault 2006, +130922,
$49.95 retail.
3. Domaine La Soufrandise Clos Marie Pouilly-Fuisse 2007, +42622,
$29.95 retail.
4. Frog's Leap Merlot 2006 Rutherford Napa, +707489, $44.95 retail.
5. Stonehedge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa, +25122, $24.95.
6. Chateau Tour Marcillanet 2005 Haut-Medoc, +125880, $27.95.
7. Condado de Haza Crianza 2006 Ribera del Duero, +963348, $27.95.
HALF-BOTTLE ALERT: Rutherford Hill Merlot 2004 Napa, +948935, $13.95
375 mL
375 mL
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
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