WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 13, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR APRIL 13, 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 *OVER* $20

 

La Velona Brunello de Montalcino 2007, +181321, $38.95 retail.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Greenlane Estate Riesling 2011 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore Niagara:
another new aromatic and outstanding Ontario riesling, showing citrus
plus orchard fruit plus some flowers. +327247, $15.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Chateau de Clotte 2010 Cotes de Bordeaux – Castillon: a straight-
forward affordable Bordeaux with a whopping 14.5% ABV. Good evidence of
climate change. +307215, $16.95, QPR: 89.
2. Chateau La Croix de Queynac 2009 Bordeaux Superieur: winner of a
Gold Medal in Bordeaux. Black fruit and MVC for the region, may need
some time to come around. +138636, $15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Le Circque Carignan/Mourvedre/Syrah 2011 Vin de Pays des Cotes
Catalanes: overflowing the rich ripe fruit along the black lines, and
herbes and short pepper notes. No oak. Twist top, 14.5% ABV. +277079,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
4. Resta Salice Salentino 2009 Puglia: very Italiante nose, deep
flavours, black fruit throughout, underbrush and forest floor, 13 %
ABV. +324731, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Cusumano Nova 2008 IGT Sicilia: another well-developed blockbuster
at 14.5%, again with black fruit driven by the one-third cabernet
sauvignon in the blend. +109512, $18.95, QPR: 89.
6. Adriano Ramos Pinto Duas Quintas 2010 Douro: dense and chunky, with
a blend of five grapes including Touriga nacional, t. franca, tinto
roriz and tinto da barca. 13.5%. Spicy. +359893, $16.95, QPR: 89.
7. Quinta do Portal Frontaria 2009 Douro: another heavy-heavy, but with
one-quarter aged in French oak. 13.5% ABV, made from tinto roriz,
Touriga nacional and t. franca. +324533, $13.95, QPR: 89.
8. Le Ragose Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2008: the LCBO's
"ripasso of the month". +991984, $19.95, QPR: 88.

 

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. Huff Estates South Bay Chardonnay 2009 VQA Ontario, +88955, $29.95
retail.
2. Rosehall Run Cuvee County Chardonnay 2010 VQA Prince Edward County,
+132928, $21.95.
3. Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, +84897, $47.95.
4. Rustenberg Chardonnay 2011 WO Stellenbosch, +598631, $24.95.
5. Bachelder Bourgogne Chardonnay 2010, +272005, $29.95.
6. Chateau Favray Pouilly-Fume 2011, +323642, $21.95.
7. Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2009 Sonoma Coast, +656850, $54.95
8. Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010, +320168, $35.95.
9. E. Guigal Gigondas 2009, +331900, $31.95.
10. Rocca delle Macie Ser Gioveto 2008 IGT Toscana, +974964, $39.95.
11. Marques de Caceres Tinto Reserva 2005 Rioja, +702761, $24.95.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com