WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
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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 Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. 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 normally available for a re-tasting.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20

 

Casa Castillo Monastrell 2010 DO Jumilla: dynamite power and length,
14% ABV. All kinds of chewable fruit and smoke, plus spices, for a
ridiculously low price. +165621, $13.95, QPR: 92.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20

 

Dinastia Vivanco Reserva 2005 Rioja, +293431, 24.95.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2010 Santa Barbara County:
concentrated MVC quality tones, with some baked fruits and coconut.
Long length. 13.8% ABV. +989152, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Aconcagua Valley: very herby, long
finish, with some citric acid. +510339, $16.95, QPR: 89.
3. Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough: =quality but
tame, with some tropicality minus the bizarre herb tones. 13% ABV. Sip
or food. +9142, $17.95, PR: 89.
4. Rudolf Rabl Loss Gruner Veltliner 2011 Kamptal: a great price for a
typical groovy wine, twist top, 12.5% ABV. +295709, $13.95, QPR: 89.
5. Champy Signature Chardonnay Bourgogne 2009: well-made and balanced,
some wood tones, MVC Burgundy all the way, more upscale than price
indicates, 13% ABV. With food. +43455, $18.95, QPR: 91.
6. Domaine de Fussiacus Macon-Fuisse 2009: decent French chardonnay
MVC, with some burgundian overtones, 13.5% ABV. +279000, $16.95, QPR:
89.
7. Perdriaux Domaine de Vaugondy Dry Vouvray 2010: made with older
vines, very good consistency, and a dynamic chenin finish. +189142,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
8. Markus Molitor Riesling 2011 Mosel: delightfully slightly off-dry,
peach complexity, MVC but with higher alcohol. 11% ABV. +295956,
$18.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Pelee Island Vinedressers [Red} 2010 VQA Ontario: fresh fruit and
berries (both black and red), but needs time to shed some acid. Lay
down, since it is affordable. 13% ABV. Good presentation. +299198,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2010 California: there are no
regulations for using "old vines", so some zinfandel producers are
using "ancient vines" to indicate 80 to 100 years or more. This is
value priced for 15% ABV and black cherries with mocha, and a long
balanced length. +719211, $19.95, QPR: 90.
3. First Press Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009 and 2010: I had the
opportunity through the LCBO Press Tasting Lab to try both vintages – I
thought the 2010 was better, if a bit more tannic, moving it into the
"food" arena. It might be interesting, if you were to have a
party/dinner, to sip the 2009 but pour the 2010 with food. 14.5% ABV
for each.  +188110 each, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Hogue Genesis Merlot 2008 Columbia Valley Washington State: great
value for US oak tones, menthol, black fruit and mocha. +349415,
$20.95, QPR: 89.
5. Luis Segundo Valle Las Acequias Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Mendoza:
how do they do this wine so inexpensively? Well-rounded and aged,
ready, oak, deep length, 3.5% ABV. +287516, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2009 Victoria: tasty aging, ripe fruit and some
leather-sandalwood, 14% ABV. +935890, $19.95, QPR: 89.
7. La Giraudiere Clos des Meuniers Saumur-Champigny 2010: top stuff for
cabernet franc, with its Euro complexity. Ignore the Bronze medal decal
(why did they bother?) – It's better than that. +290122, $16.95, QPR:
89.
8. Colli Ripani Castellano Rosso Piceno Superiore 2007: great blend of
montepulciano and sangiovese, long finish, definitely needs food, 14%
ABV. +174086, $16.95, QPR: 89.
9. Produttori Vini Manduria Riserva Salice Salentino 2008 IGT Puglia:
delicious, with underbrush, mushrooms, berry fruit, leather, 13.5% ABV.
10. Rocca Delle Macie Chinati Riserva 2008: good value MVC Chianti
wine, 13.5% ABV. +111641, $15.95, QPR: 89.
11. Triacca Spadino 2010 IGT Maremma: herby, food-driven wine, 13.5%
ABV. A sentimental fave. +288001, $15.95, QPR: 89.

 

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
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough, +677450, $21.95
retail.
2. Kim Crawford SP Moteo Vineyard Viognier 2008 Hawkes Bay, +191759,
$24.95.
3. Hoffmann-Simon Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese 2011
Mosel, +216499, $21.95.
4. Peninsula Ridge Reserve Meritage 2010 VQA Niagara, +299180, $22.95.
5. Polkura Syrah 2009 Marchigue Colchagua, +283978, $23.95.
6. Chateau St. Georges 2009 St. Georges St.Emilion, +960310, $34.95.
7. Domaine Chanson Beaune-Bastion 1er Cru 2009, +279067, $39.95.
8. Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvee Maximilien Cairanne 2010 Cotes du
Rhone Villages, +286336, $21.95.
9. Gianni Gagliardo Barolo 2006, +713602, $44.95.
10. Masi Brolo Campofiorin Appaxximento 2008 IGT Rosso del Veronese,
+976092, $24.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com