WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JANUARY 19, 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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
Jordin The Prospector Syrah 2008 WO Stellenbosch: [Jordan in South
Africa, but they cannot use that name in North America because of a
trademark] delicious syrah, well-aged and North Rhone-dominant. Twist
top. 14.5% ABV. +296673, $19.95, QPR: 92.
Africa, but they cannot use that name in North America because of a
trademark] delicious syrah, well-aged and North Rhone-dominant. Twist
top. 14.5% ABV. +296673, $19.95, QPR: 92.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2010 VQA Short Hills Bench Niagara:
good riesling intensity, and enough finishing acid so that it does not
taste M. 11% ABV. +557165, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Siete Fincas Chardonnay 2011 Mendoza: woody but balanced with
tropical tones and creamy vanilla. +222752, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Zonte's Footstep Excalibur Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Adelaide Hills South
Australia: done up in a Kiwi Savvy style, 13% ABV, twist top. +311456,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Anne Boecklin Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace: thick, unctuous, long
finish, reduced bitterness. Gold Medalist. 12.5% ABV. +141226, $18.95,
QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2010 VQA Short Hills Bench Niagara:
good riesling intensity, and enough finishing acid so that it does not
taste M. 11% ABV. +557165, $17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Siete Fincas Chardonnay 2011 Mendoza: woody but balanced with
tropical tones and creamy vanilla. +222752, $14.95, QPR: 89.
3. Zonte's Footstep Excalibur Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Adelaide Hills South
Australia: done up in a Kiwi Savvy style, 13% ABV, twist top. +311456,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Anne Boecklin Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace: thick, unctuous, long
finish, reduced bitterness. Gold Medalist. 12.5% ABV. +141226, $18.95,
QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel 2011 Lodi: full, plumy plush, chocolate
toast on the finish. Black fruit. Full bore at 14.5% ABV. +951889,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Lamadrid Single Vineyard Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Argentina:
excellent winemaking to nail down the cabby MVC, 14.8% ABV. +223206,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau de Puisseguin Curat 2010 Puisseguin St-Emilion: Gold
Medalist in Paris, 14.5% ABV from the ripe merlot. Fruit, wood tones,
spices, some vague smokiness. +307140, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Masserie Pisari Primitivo 2010 IGT Salento Ross Puglia: the LCBO
Primitivo of the month, 14% ABV, still a bit tannic. +270306, $14.95,
QPR: 89.
5. Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2011 Camo de Borja Spain: a Chat Pape
knockoff all the way, from old vines, made at 14.5%. Plums,
blackberries, strawberries, leather, vanilla. +273748, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Corral Don Jacobo Reserva 2004 Rioja: terrific expression of an
affordable reserve Rioja, drying out nicely but lively, long food
finish. 13.5% ABV. +313270, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Luzon Seleccion 12 Meses Crianza 2008 Jumilla: done up in French oak
(80%) and US oak (20%), all toasted. Smoke and density prevail.
+310219, $15.95, QPR: 89.
8. Solar de Sael Crianza Mencia 2007 Bierzo: black fruit and substance,
delicious intensity from the mencia grape. 14% ABV. +311902, $15.95,
QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel 2011 Lodi: full, plumy plush, chocolate
toast on the finish. Black fruit. Full bore at 14.5% ABV. +951889,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
2. Lamadrid Single Vineyard Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Argentina:
excellent winemaking to nail down the cabby MVC, 14.8% ABV. +223206,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau de Puisseguin Curat 2010 Puisseguin St-Emilion: Gold
Medalist in Paris, 14.5% ABV from the ripe merlot. Fruit, wood tones,
spices, some vague smokiness. +307140, $19.95, QPR: 89.
4. Masserie Pisari Primitivo 2010 IGT Salento Ross Puglia: the LCBO
Primitivo of the month, 14% ABV, still a bit tannic. +270306, $14.95,
QPR: 89.
5. Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2011 Camo de Borja Spain: a Chat Pape
knockoff all the way, from old vines, made at 14.5%. Plums,
blackberries, strawberries, leather, vanilla. +273748, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Corral Don Jacobo Reserva 2004 Rioja: terrific expression of an
affordable reserve Rioja, drying out nicely but lively, long food
finish. 13.5% ABV. +313270, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Luzon Seleccion 12 Meses Crianza 2008 Jumilla: done up in French oak
(80%) and US oak (20%), all toasted. Smoke and density prevail.
+310219, $15.95, QPR: 89.
8. Solar de Sael Crianza Mencia 2007 Bierzo: black fruit and substance,
delicious intensity from the mencia grape. 14% ABV. +311902, $15.95,
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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2011 VQA Okanagan, +377770, $20.95 retail.
2. Gann Chardonnay 2007 Russian River, +311571, $29.95.
3. C.H. Berres Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2010 Mosel,
+301952, $24.95.
4. Pascual Toso Alta Reserve Malbec 2009 Barrancas Vyd Mendoza,
+261958, $32.95.
5. Chain of Ponds The Ledge Shiraz 2008 Adelaide Hills South Australia,
+59899, $29.95.
6. Mount Langi Ghiran Kneebones Shiraz 2007, +295527, $21.95.
7. Fattoria de Piazzano Rio Camerata Chianti Riserva 2006, +301929,
$24.95.
2. Gann Chardonnay 2007 Russian River, +311571, $29.95.
3. C.H. Berres Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2010 Mosel,
+301952, $24.95.
4. Pascual Toso Alta Reserve Malbec 2009 Barrancas Vyd Mendoza,
+261958, $32.95.
5. Chain of Ponds The Ledge Shiraz 2008 Adelaide Hills South Australia,
+59899, $29.95.
6. Mount Langi Ghiran Kneebones Shiraz 2007, +295527, $21.95.
7. Fattoria de Piazzano Rio Camerata Chianti Riserva 2006, +301929,
$24.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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