WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 11, 2015
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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", a guide to thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, has been at www.deantudor.com since 1994. My LCBO 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. It is getting more difficult to endorse wines under $20 for the simple reason that the LCBO does not release many of them into the Vintages program, ones that can be deemed to be worthy of your consideration. So I will now just ADD some "under $25" suggestions, along with point values.
====?>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Maetierra Dominum Quatro Pagos Reserva 2007 Rioja, +246660, $19.95: an upstart of a wine, from older vines sourced in four vineyards, 16 months in French oak (no US), 14% ABV. Excellent price for an older Rioja. QPR: 91.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Flat Rock The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +1552, $24.95.QPR:90.
2.Norman Hardie Riesling 2013 VQA Ontario, +131169, $21. QPR: 90.
3.Strewn Terroir Sauvignon Blanc 2013 VQA NOTL, +343897, $19.95: from a single vineyard, weighing in at 12.9% ABV, twist top, good zesty character and balanced for an Ontario savvy. QPR: 88.
4.Williy Gisselbrecht Tradition Gewurztraminer 2012 Alsace, +928390, $17.95: while it lacks the typical bitter finish, this gewurz is loaded with spices in the length. 13% ABV, does not taste at (M) level. QPR: 88.
5.Pierre-Luc Bouchaud Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2013,+82461, $14.95: a dignified crisp and lemony value, good with oysters or first course seafood apps. Cork enclosure. 12% ABV. QPR: 88.
6.Alpha Extate Axia Malagouzia 2014 Florina Greece, +371666, $16.95: youthful aromas with some citric tones, another seafood/fish first course white wine. 12.5% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.
7.Pansa Blanca 2014 Catalunya Privat, +417949, $14.95: good value engaging white, good for either patio or apps with its supple apple-citric orchard fruit tones. 12% ABV. QPR: 88.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Henry of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir 2012 VQA Ontario, +461699, $24.95. QPR: 90.
2.Bremerton Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Langhorne Creek, +410761, $21.95. QPR: 89.
3.Nugan Estate McLaren Parish Vineyard Shiraz 2013 McLaren Vale, +72602, $24.95. QPR: 89.
4.Bodegas Ochoa Reserva 2007 Navarra, +418178, $24.95. QPR: 91.
5.Tarapaca Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2013 Leyda Valley, +404210, $17.95: amazing value for a pinot noir, 14.5% ABV, excellent packaging and cork closure. Balance of red-black-spice fruit plus an old world feel. QPR: 89.
6.Barbi Brusco dei Barbi 2013 Toscana, +673160, $15.95: another reasonable price for an entry level to the tasting spectrum of "Brunello", same sangiovese grape. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
7.Falesco Vitiano 2013 Umbria, +950204, $15.95: delicious blend, almost superUmbrian, or superTuscan, 13%. QPR: 88
8.Finca Nueva Crianza 2009 Rioja, +292763, $16.95: impressive for its age, 13.5% ABV, MVC Rioja all the way. QPR: 88.
9.Heretat Mont-Rubi Durona Tinto 2004 Vino de Mesa, +143255, $19.95: for something that's really old, richly aged, at 13.5% ABV, with lots of French oak, try this number. QPR: 88.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $25 RETAIL
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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.Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Russian River Valley, +283705, $59 retail.
2.Champy Vieilles Vignes Gevrey-Chambertin 2011, +264507, $59.95.
3.Chaston Domaine de Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012, +169771, $44.95.
4.La Velona Brunello di Montalcino 2009, +181321, $39.95.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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", a guide to thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, has been at www.deantudor.com since 1994. My LCBO 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. It is getting more difficult to endorse wines under $20 for the simple reason that the LCBO does not release many of them into the Vintages program, ones that can be deemed to be worthy of your consideration. So I will now just ADD some "under $25" suggestions, along with point values.
====?>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Maetierra Dominum Quatro Pagos Reserva 2007 Rioja, +246660, $19.95: an upstart of a wine, from older vines sourced in four vineyards, 16 months in French oak (no US), 14% ABV. Excellent price for an older Rioja. QPR: 91.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Flat Rock The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, +1552, $24.95.QPR:90.
2.Norman Hardie Riesling 2013 VQA Ontario, +131169, $21. QPR: 90.
3.Strewn Terroir Sauvignon Blanc 2013 VQA NOTL, +343897, $19.95: from a single vineyard, weighing in at 12.9% ABV, twist top, good zesty character and balanced for an Ontario savvy. QPR: 88.
4.Williy Gisselbrecht Tradition Gewurztraminer 2012 Alsace, +928390, $17.95: while it lacks the typical bitter finish, this gewurz is loaded with spices in the length. 13% ABV, does not taste at (M) level. QPR: 88.
5.Pierre-Luc Bouchaud Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2013,+82461, $14.95: a dignified crisp and lemony value, good with oysters or first course seafood apps. Cork enclosure. 12% ABV. QPR: 88.
6.Alpha Extate Axia Malagouzia 2014 Florina Greece, +371666, $16.95: youthful aromas with some citric tones, another seafood/fish first course white wine. 12.5% ABV, cork closure. QPR: 88.
7.Pansa Blanca 2014 Catalunya Privat, +417949, $14.95: good value engaging white, good for either patio or apps with its supple apple-citric orchard fruit tones. 12% ABV. QPR: 88.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.Henry of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir 2012 VQA Ontario, +461699, $24.95. QPR: 90.
2.Bremerton Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Langhorne Creek, +410761, $21.95. QPR: 89.
3.Nugan Estate McLaren Parish Vineyard Shiraz 2013 McLaren Vale, +72602, $24.95. QPR: 89.
4.Bodegas Ochoa Reserva 2007 Navarra, +418178, $24.95. QPR: 91.
5.Tarapaca Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2013 Leyda Valley, +404210, $17.95: amazing value for a pinot noir, 14.5% ABV, excellent packaging and cork closure. Balance of red-black-spice fruit plus an old world feel. QPR: 89.
6.Barbi Brusco dei Barbi 2013 Toscana, +673160, $15.95: another reasonable price for an entry level to the tasting spectrum of "Brunello", same sangiovese grape. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.
7.Falesco Vitiano 2013 Umbria, +950204, $15.95: delicious blend, almost superUmbrian, or superTuscan, 13%. QPR: 88
8.Finca Nueva Crianza 2009 Rioja, +292763, $16.95: impressive for its age, 13.5% ABV, MVC Rioja all the way. QPR: 88.
9.Heretat Mont-Rubi Durona Tinto 2004 Vino de Mesa, +143255, $19.95: for something that's really old, richly aged, at 13.5% ABV, with lots of French oak, try this number. QPR: 88.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $25 RETAIL
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Russian River Valley, +283705, $59 retail.
2.Champy Vieilles Vignes Gevrey-Chambertin 2011, +264507, $59.95.
3.Chaston Domaine de Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012, +169771, $44.95.
4.La Velona Brunello di Montalcino 2009, +181321, $39.95.
Dean Tudor, Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada, www.deantudor.com
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