WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR NOVEMBER 23, 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
Ruhlmann Vieilles Vignes Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace, +982082, $19.95:
complex concentration, another heavy in the current LCBO gewurztraminer
sweepstakes in the under $20 market (third in a row). 13% ABV, Gold
Medalist. QPR: 93.
complex concentration, another heavy in the current LCBO gewurztraminer
sweepstakes in the under $20 market (third in a row). 13% ABV, Gold
Medalist. QPR: 93.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Domaine de Viaud 2001 Lalande de Pomerol, +282475, $28.95
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Santa Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2010 Casablanca Valley,
+928580, $14.95: terrific value, concentrated French oak and toast
tones, almost 4 years old now, aged nicely, 14.5% ABV. QPR: 90.
2. Chateau Moncontour Demi-Sec Vouvray 2011, +16709, $17.95: off-dry
chenin blanc as it should be, 11.5% ABV, smokey, elegant with some
rancio and bitterness, twist top. Perfect as an aperitif wine. QPR: 89.
3. Pierre Luneau-Papin Clos des Allees Vieilles Vignes Muscadet Sevre
et Maine Sur Lie 2012, +357327, $18.95: normally light and crisp, but
here with some substance due to the vieilles vignes. Complex if you
ruminate on it. QPR: 89.
4. Ocone Giano Greco 2011 DOP Taburno Sannio Campania, +354449, $18.95:
another rare find from Italy, a bit jammy in the marmalade-peach area,
but mysterious enough in its complexity to reward thinking about it.
12.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
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1. Santa Carolina Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2010 Casablanca Valley,
+928580, $14.95: terrific value, concentrated French oak and toast
tones, almost 4 years old now, aged nicely, 14.5% ABV. QPR: 90.
2. Chateau Moncontour Demi-Sec Vouvray 2011, +16709, $17.95: off-dry
chenin blanc as it should be, 11.5% ABV, smokey, elegant with some
rancio and bitterness, twist top. Perfect as an aperitif wine. QPR: 89.
3. Pierre Luneau-Papin Clos des Allees Vieilles Vignes Muscadet Sevre
et Maine Sur Lie 2012, +357327, $18.95: normally light and crisp, but
here with some substance due to the vieilles vignes. Complex if you
ruminate on it. QPR: 89.
4. Ocone Giano Greco 2011 DOP Taburno Sannio Campania, +354449, $18.95:
another rare find from Italy, a bit jammy in the marmalade-peach area,
but mysterious enough in its complexity to reward thinking about it.
12.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir 2011 Casablanca, +274159,
$14.95: another full value wine packed with concentration in the old
style of Burgundy, cherry fruit, toast, and more dark fruit. 14% ABV,
twist top. QPR: 90.
2. Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2011 Maipo, +57513, $17.95:
some weediness puts it more into the Euro mode, but concentrated
flavours abound. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
3. Domaine Lafage Cuvee Nicolas Vieilles Vignes Grenache Noir 2010 IGP
Cotes Catalanes, +354191, $18.95: welcome to vieilles vignes month at
the LCBO. More concentrated and delicious flavours of the grenache
kind, minus the usual papery flavour. 14.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. A. Poderi Jerzu Chuerra Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna 2008, +270272,
$16.95: Italianate nose and entry, dense and chunky flavours, still
tight so you'll need to lay it down a bit (maybe two years?), great
price, 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir 2011 Casablanca, +274159,
$14.95: another full value wine packed with concentration in the old
style of Burgundy, cherry fruit, toast, and more dark fruit. 14% ABV,
twist top. QPR: 90.
2. Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2011 Maipo, +57513, $17.95:
some weediness puts it more into the Euro mode, but concentrated
flavours abound. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
3. Domaine Lafage Cuvee Nicolas Vieilles Vignes Grenache Noir 2010 IGP
Cotes Catalanes, +354191, $18.95: welcome to vieilles vignes month at
the LCBO. More concentrated and delicious flavours of the grenache
kind, minus the usual papery flavour. 14.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
4. A. Poderi Jerzu Chuerra Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna 2008, +270272,
$16.95: Italianate nose and entry, dense and chunky flavours, still
tight so you'll need to lay it down a bit (maybe two years?), great
price, 13.5% ABV. 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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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. Stratus White 2010 VQA NOTL, +660704, $44.20 retail.
2. Hauller Muenchberg Riesling 2011 Alsace Grand Cru, +360370, $21.95.
3. Domaine Rijckaert Puligny-Montrachet Les Champgains 1er Cru 2010,
+355909, $69.95
4. Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 VQA St. David's Bench
Niagara, +361816, $44.95.
5. Daniel Lenko Old Vines Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara, +75622, $34.95.
6. Versado Malbec 2012 Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza, +317008, $25.95.
7. Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 WO Stellenbosch, +68445, $24.95.
8. Domaine Cros de Romet Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2011, +42986,
$23.95.
9. Giacosa Fratelli Vigna Mandorlo Barolo 2006, +352088, $49.95
10. Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2010, +3962, $23.95
11. La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2004 Rioja, +315531,
$38.95.
12. Urbina Gran Reserva Especial 1994 Rioja, +355743, $46.95.
2. Hauller Muenchberg Riesling 2011 Alsace Grand Cru, +360370, $21.95.
3. Domaine Rijckaert Puligny-Montrachet Les Champgains 1er Cru 2010,
+355909, $69.95
4. Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 VQA St. David's Bench
Niagara, +361816, $44.95.
5. Daniel Lenko Old Vines Merlot 2010 VQA Niagara, +75622, $34.95.
6. Versado Malbec 2012 Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza, +317008, $25.95.
7. Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 WO Stellenbosch, +68445, $24.95.
8. Domaine Cros de Romet Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2011, +42986,
$23.95.
9. Giacosa Fratelli Vigna Mandorlo Barolo 2006, +352088, $49.95
10. Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2010, +3962, $23.95
11. La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial 2004 Rioja, +315531,
$38.95.
12. Urbina Gran Reserva Especial 1994 Rioja, +355743, $46.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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