WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 25, 2015

 

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 24, 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

 

Henri de Villamont Prestige Bourgogne Chardonnay 2007, +416123, $19.95: creaminess and caramel suggests both age and barrel-fermentation. 13% ABV. Drink up within an hour after opening, may collapse in the glass after that. Excellent value for that first hour. QPR: 92.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

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1.Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2012 VQA Short Hills Bench, +557165, $17.95: deliciously off-dry, perfect for summer patios or spicy dishes. Twist top. QPR: 89.

2.Pietro Marini Torrontes 2013 Salta, +408443, $12.95: christened "the wine of Toronto during PanAm games", arrives one release too late. 13.2% ABV, fruity florals but with a cork closure. QPR: 88.

3.Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Wairau Valley Marlborough, +919514, $19.95: top rated kiwi savvy, green pepper and lemon zestiness, still under $20 in Ontario. QPR:89.

4.Protheau Domaine Saint Paul Viognier 2013 IGP Pats d'Oc, +414490, $13.95: very good persistence of peach and orange tones, subtle acid, best as  sipper or first course wine. 13% ABV. Cork closure. QPR: 89.

5.Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus Riesling Kabinett 2013 Rheingau, +735241, $17.95: at 9.5% ABV, this medium 0ff-dry quaffer will reward you with plenty of orchard fruit riesling. Twist top. QPR: 88.

6.Tommasi Adorato Appassionato Bianco 2014 Veneto, +320721, $15.95: a "double love" wine showing good concentration of garganega flavours at a favourable price. Twist top, 13% ABV, Highly extractive and viscous. QPR: 90.

7.Beronia Fermentado en Barrica Viura 2014 Rioja, +422055, $18.95: a youngster in time, needs further development. BF gives it a slight creaminess but it all needs to be resolved. Maybe next year. 13% ABV. QPR: 88.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

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1.Coyote's Run Cabernet/Merlot 2012 VQA Niagara, +26757, $19.95: quality first rate job, twist top, 13% ABV. Bordeaux in style. QPR: 88.

2.Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec 2012 Barrancas Vineyards Mendoza, +183897, $19.95: quality Malbec at below $25. Long length, good wood tones, 14% ABV. QPR: 88.

3.Casa Silva Los Lingues Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Colchagua Valley, +640870, $15.95: value-priced at a GR level, mocha tones dominate. 14$ ABV. Cork closure. QPR: 89.

4.Delas Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage 2012, +701359, $24.95. QPR: 90.

5.Plaimont 1907 Madiran 2010, +417550, $18.95: deep, dark and delicious, but needs time. 14% ABV. QPR: 88.

6.Dom. Lafage Tessellae Vieilles Vignes Carignan 2013 IGP Cotes Catalanes, +343509, $17.95: from 70-year-old vines, expect dark fruit tones and some mocha. One to lay down or savour now. 14% ABV. Cork closure. QPR: 90.

7.F. Falcao Pegos Claros 2010 Palmela Portugal, +385252, $15.95: value priced with good aging, worth a shot for its older vines and concentration. 14% ABV. QPR: 88.

8.Bod. Altanza Lealtanza Reserva 2009 Rioja, +208223, $19.95: lots of new wood, mainly French, very toasty and warm. QPR: 89.

10.Lopez de Haro Crianza 2008 Rioja, +377481, $14.95: another value-driven Spanish beauty, now almost 7 years old. If it indeed has 18 months in oak (according to the review re-published in the Vintages catalogue), then it has more oaking than a Reserva has! Crianza USED to refer to six months in wood plus time in bottle. Now it has a minimum 12 months in oak. Nevertheless, price is the main consideration. And do drink up. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

 

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.Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Chardonnay 2013 Sonoma Coast, +235945, $32.95 retail.

2.Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 Marlborough, +238568, $42.95.

3.Roux Pere & Fils Les Chaumes Chassagne-Montrachet 23013, +208512, $64.95

4.Jean-Max Roger Cuvee Les Cailottes Sancerre 2013, +65573, $26.95.

5.Les Halos of Jupiter Adrastee Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011, $64,95.

6.Capezzana Carmignano 2010, +344762, $32.95.

7.Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 IGT Toscana, +996553, $27.95.

 

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com