WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 3, 2010
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. 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. Irony Chardonnay 2008 Napa: good balance and depth, a restaurant
wine, consistent from year to year. +27409, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2008 WO Coastal Region: juicy, MVC
nettles and gooseberries, twist top, 13% ABV. +948620, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Andre Blanck Rosenbourg Pinot Blanc 2008 Alsace: delicate white
flowers, malic minerality at the finish. +626606, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Maison Francois Martenot Cuvee Prestige Bourgogne Chardonnay 2007:
well-rounded, some caramel, value-driven. +159095, $16.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Irony Chardonnay 2008 Napa: good balance and depth, a restaurant
wine, consistent from year to year. +27409, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2008 WO Coastal Region: juicy, MVC
nettles and gooseberries, twist top, 13% ABV. +948620, $13.95, QPR: 90.
3. Andre Blanck Rosenbourg Pinot Blanc 2008 Alsace: delicate white
flowers, malic minerality at the finish. +626606, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Maison Francois Martenot Cuvee Prestige Bourgogne Chardonnay 2007:
well-rounded, some caramel, value-driven. +159095, $16.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Lander-Jenkins Spirit Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California: good
balance of fruit and acid, longer finish, 13.5% ABV. +161398, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
2. Humberto Canale Caracter Patagonia Intimo Malbec 2008: fruity,
plumy, very heavy bottle, 13.5% ABV. +144725, $12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chilensis Reserva Carmenere 2008 Maule Valley: superb tamed
herbaceousness, lots of acidified fruit, long balanced finish. +657981,
$11.95, QPR: 91.
4. Seifried Estate Pinot Noir Nelson South Island: tasty, lightly sour,
good heft to MVC component. +70778, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Haut-Grelot Cuvee Tradition 2006 Premieres Cotes de Blaye:
very traditional, straightforward Bordeaux with wood, mocha,
underbrush. Great price. +165738, $15.95, QPR: 91.
6. Domaine Laurent Mabileau Bourgueil 2008: good cabernet franc
intensity, herby but fresh too. +699666, $13.95, QPR: 89.
7. Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2007:
good wash of syrah and depth to the finish. +155804, $16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Skouras Saint George 2007 Nemea: ripe and ready, red berries, mocha.
+162321, $16.95, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas Lan Reserva 2004 Rioja: excellent value for a Rioja Reserva,
13.5% ABV. Accessible now, aging gracefully. +42929, $19.95, QPR: 90.
10. Gladium Tempranillo Crianza 2006 La Mancha: dense, dark, delicious,
ready by Fall 2010. Fruit and acid almost in balance. +162677, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
11. Bod Bilbainas Vina Zaco Tempranillo 2006 Rioja: MVC classic style
of Rioja flavours, 14% ABV. +146209, $14.95, QPR: 89.
12. Vinedos Neo Vinos de Fabula Vivir, Vivir 2007 Ribera del Duero:
very soft but spicy, from older vines, affordable delicacy, 13% ABV.
+162693, $12.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Lander-Jenkins Spirit Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California: good
balance of fruit and acid, longer finish, 13.5% ABV. +161398, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
2. Humberto Canale Caracter Patagonia Intimo Malbec 2008: fruity,
plumy, very heavy bottle, 13.5% ABV. +144725, $12.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chilensis Reserva Carmenere 2008 Maule Valley: superb tamed
herbaceousness, lots of acidified fruit, long balanced finish. +657981,
$11.95, QPR: 91.
4. Seifried Estate Pinot Noir Nelson South Island: tasty, lightly sour,
good heft to MVC component. +70778, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Haut-Grelot Cuvee Tradition 2006 Premieres Cotes de Blaye:
very traditional, straightforward Bordeaux with wood, mocha,
underbrush. Great price. +165738, $15.95, QPR: 91.
6. Domaine Laurent Mabileau Bourgueil 2008: good cabernet franc
intensity, herby but fresh too. +699666, $13.95, QPR: 89.
7. Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2007:
good wash of syrah and depth to the finish. +155804, $16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Skouras Saint George 2007 Nemea: ripe and ready, red berries, mocha.
+162321, $16.95, QPR: 89.
9. Bodegas Lan Reserva 2004 Rioja: excellent value for a Rioja Reserva,
13.5% ABV. Accessible now, aging gracefully. +42929, $19.95, QPR: 90.
10. Gladium Tempranillo Crianza 2006 La Mancha: dense, dark, delicious,
ready by Fall 2010. Fruit and acid almost in balance. +162677, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
11. Bod Bilbainas Vina Zaco Tempranillo 2006 Rioja: MVC classic style
of Rioja flavours, 14% ABV. +146209, $14.95, QPR: 89.
12. Vinedos Neo Vinos de Fabula Vivir, Vivir 2007 Ribera del Duero:
very soft but spicy, from older vines, affordable delicacy, 13% ABV.
+162693, $12.95, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Stella Bella Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Margaret River, +108159, $21.95
retail.
2. Bouchard Pere et Fils Montagny 1er Cru 2007 Blanc, +653683, $27.95.
3. Domaine de la Tour Monts-Main Chablis 1er cru 2006, +159731, $32.95.
4. Beringer Third Century Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 North Coast, +47704,
$23.95.
5. Stella Bella Shiraz 2007 Margaret River, +48553, $24.95.
6. Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2003, +368910,
$27.95.
7. Leal Tanza Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +927913, $27.95.
retail.
2. Bouchard Pere et Fils Montagny 1er Cru 2007 Blanc, +653683, $27.95.
3. Domaine de la Tour Monts-Main Chablis 1er cru 2006, +159731, $32.95.
4. Beringer Third Century Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 North Coast, +47704,
$23.95.
5. Stella Bella Shiraz 2007 Margaret River, +48553, $24.95.
6. Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2003, +368910,
$27.95.
7. Leal Tanza Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +927913, $27.95.
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