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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR DECEMBER 8, 2012

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR DECEMBER 8, 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 VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
 
Charles Wantz Excellence Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace: very good fruit
set, concentrated MVC tones, longish bitterish finish. 13% ABV.
+298539, $17.95, QPR: 91.
 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
 
Vincent Girardin Les Vieilles Vignes Puligny-Montrachet 2009, +300293,
$52.95.
 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Cave Spring Chenin Blanc 2009 VQA Beamsville: excellent
representation of chenin blanc, 12% ABV, tastes dry, good bottle aging.
+627315, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Lailey Unoaked Chardonnay 2011 VQA Ontario: classic unoaked MVC,
more like a Chablis, does not taste like an Ontario wine. +299776,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Mount Riley Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough: fresh herbs (cut just
yesterday), twist top, 13% MVC. Lovely food finish. +981670, $16.95,
QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Finca Flichman Expresiones Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Mendoza: 31 year old vines, 60% shiraz, 40% cab, 15% ABV. Good value
for all of its MVC. +17111, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir 2011 Limari: with 14
months in French oak barrels, this is a powerhouse wine with black and
red fruit tones. 14% ABV. +301424, $19.5, QPR: 89.
3. Ninquen Antu Chilean Mountain Vineyard Syrah 2010 Colchagua Valley:
dense and dark, quite a mouthful and mouthfeel of spices. Solid
packaging too, 14.5% ABV. +675371, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Terra Noble Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Colchagua: well-
aged, long length, lotsa mocha, 14% ABV. +46268, $16.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau L'Argenteyre 2010 Medoc: unassuming but developing well with
a Bordeaux MVC. Good price for the flavours. +306530, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Foncalieu Reserve du Crouzau St. Gervais Cotes du Rhone-Villages
2010: tight, needs a year, but 15% ABV will hold it well. Great price
for a Gold Medalist. +142943, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Chateau Eugenie Cuvee Reserve de L'Aieul Cahors 2008: not your
granpappy's cahors, but nicely done and aged in modern style with
Malbec grapes. 13.5% ABV. +295949, $19.95, QPR: 89.
8. Leone de Castris Maiana Salice Salentino 2009: god food wine, long
length, certainly Italianate, old vines, 13% ABV. +717959, $13.95, PR:
89.
9. Quinta das Camelias Reserva 2009 Dao: soft, evolving, mocha tones,
14% ABV. +305334, $13.5, QPR: 89.
10. Castell del Remei Gotim Bru 2009 DO Costers del Segre Spain: good
mix of tempranillo and garnacha, plus merlot and cabernet, forest floor
aromas, 14% ABV. +982736, $17.95, QPR: 89.
 

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. Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc 2009, +221887, $22.95 retail.
2. Herve Azo Vau Vey Chablis 1er Cru 2010, +240655, $26.95.
3. Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, +244715, 26.95.
4. Antinori Castello della Sala Cervaro Della Sala 2010 IGT Umbria,
+512376, $55.95.
5. Rosehall Run Rosehall Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 VQA Prince Edward
County, +149062, $37.95.
6. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, +84996, $24.95.
7. Louis Jadot Domaine Gagey Clos du Roi Marsannay 2009, +124826,
34.95.
8. Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du Pape 2009, +983650, $34.95.
9. E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2009, +704908, $24.95.
10. Pietranera Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +189761.

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