WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 5, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  JANUARY 5, 2013
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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

 

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara:
good expressive use of wood to reflect cream and off-dry vanilla tones,
definitely Californian in style. +593996, $17.95, QPR: 92.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Rousanne 2010 Colchagua Valley:
off-dry honeyed fruit, some creaminess from barrel aging and sur lie.
14% ABV. Twist top. +309740, $16.95, QPR: 90.
2. Miguel Torres Santa Digna Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Curico: a
Fair Traded wine, MVC savvy in the New Zealand style, twist top, 13.5%
ABV. +177444, $13.95, QPR: 89.
3. Bellingham Chardonnay with Splash Viognier 2010 WO Wellington South
Africa: some barrel fermentation with lees contact, off-dry feel
contributed by viognier (5 – 10% added?), 14% ABV. +295345, $13.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Torres Vina Esmeralda 2011 Catalunya Spain: one of my fave aromatic
wines for over 30 years, made with muscat and gewurztraminer. But it is
a summer-y wine… 11.5% ABV. +113696, $13.95, QPR: 91.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Don Sebastiani and Sons Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 Sonoma County: a
good enough sausage wine, 14.9% ABV, good intensity. +291096, $18.95,
QPR: 89.
2. Tabali Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Maipo Valley: juicy ripe
fruit and long length, ready now with decanting. +58446, $14.95, QPR:
89.
3. Small Gully Mr. Black's Little Book Shiraz 2008 Barossa: delivers
off-dry complexity in a well-oaked mode, Christmas pudding tones. 15.2%
ABV. +287979, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Terres d'Avignon Reserve des Armoires 2010 Cotes du Rhone: smoked
meat complexity, slab fat, leather galore, 14% ABV. Grenache fruit and
paperiness. +194886, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Coppi Peucetico Primitivo 2007 Puglia: bright, juicy, North American
style and appeal, 13.5% ABV. +724674, $13.95, QPR: 89.
6. Terra d'Alter Arg Aragones 2009 VR Alentejano Portugal: good aged
compomnent of leather and tar, 14.5% ABV, red fruit tones. +292045,
$14.95, QPR: 89
7. El Molet Tinto 2009 Valencia: 14.5% ABV, black fruits dominate,
mocha tones. +305904, $14.95, 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. Domaine de Fussiacus Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2010, +276444,
$23.95 retail.
2. Roger & Didier Raimbault Sancerre 2011, +82255, $22.95.
3. Colchester Ridge CREW Cabernet Franc 2008 VQA Lake Erie North Shore,
+315945, $21.95.
4. MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2009 Central Coast, +303990, $21.95.
5. Chateau de Monturon 2010 St.Emilion Grand Cru, +171017, $23.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com