WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for April 30, 2016.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for April 30, 2016.

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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.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.

 

Hey – it's the Blue Moon release – three Vintages releases in April!  The next Blue Moon release will be in October...

 

The BAD NEWS: Five wines presented to the wine media were corked!!! And there were  not that many wines with a cork  closure since just about everything is screwcap or twist top these days. FIVE wines – a record!! (I've been keeping tabs since 1987).  Only the astute will go down to the Product Consultants tasting on Tuesdays to catch up with the "non-corked" wines.

 

So many people have asked me for wine recommendations, with numbers only. The readers' most common response is that while they like what I say, they only relate to the score. The score is a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, where e.g. a Southern Rhone tastes like a Southern Rhone and not like a Northern Rhone) and Quality/Price Ratio. Let's take it for granted that, e.g., a Riesling tastes like a Riesling, and the wine has some value in the marketplace either above or below its selling price. This way too I can also cover more wines.

 

This restructured wine newsletter for the Ontario market, with wines available through the LCBO and Vintages on a bi-weekly basis can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca/ or at www.deantudor.com

 

20 under $20

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W- Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay 2013 Columbia Valley, +366542, $17.95,        MVC/QPR:  91.

R-Hogue Genesis Meritage 2012 Columbia Valley, +443135, $18.95, 13.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 90.

W-Puklus Pinceszet Szamorodni Sweet Tokaji 2009 Hungary, 500 mL, +179374, $18.95,  MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2015 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +80234, $16.95, 9.5% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Marisco Vineyards The King's Favour Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Waihopai Marlborough, +374165, $19.95, 12.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 90.

R-Chateau Les Tourelles 2011 Bordeaux, +426247, $16.95, 13% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Tommasi Poggio Al Tufo Rompicollo 2012 IGT Maremma Toscana, +13755, $17.95, 13% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 90.

R-Pata Negra Reserva 2010 Rioja, +443804, $17, 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90.

W-Joel Gott Riesling 2012 Columbia Valley, +443143, $19.95, MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Seven Falls Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley, +360222, $19.95, 14.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards Stonecap Syrah 2013 Columbia Valley, +443150, $16.95, 13.9% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Yalumba Organic Viognier 2015 South Australia, +288217, $17.95, 14.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Wildass Red 2012 VQA NOTL, +86363, $19.95, 13.1% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Souverain Chardonnay 2013 North Coast, +158600, $19.95, 13.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Ryder Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Central Coast [Cal.], +450528, $19.95, 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Montes Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Zapallar Aconcagua Valley, +389643, $19.95, 13# ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Juan Gil 4 Meses Monastrell 2014 Jumilla, +13656, $16.95, 14.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Errazuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, +203364, $19.95, 14% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Lamadrid Single Vineyard Reserva Malbec 2012 Agrelo Mendoza, +234492, $17, 14.5% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 88.

Rose – Gassier Sables d'Azur Rose 2015 Cotes de Provence, +33621, $15.95,  MVC/QPR: 88.

 

20 over $20

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W-Nk'mip Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2013 BC VQA Okanagan, 13.5 ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Cloudline Pinot Gris 2014 Willamette Valley, +159988, $24.95,  MVC/QPR: 88.

R-Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Clare Valley/Coonawara, +142398, $24.95, 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Chateau Rombeau Cuvee Elise 2011 Vieilles Vignes Cotes du Roussillon-Villages, +439695, $22.95, 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Lornano Chianti Classico Riserva 2009, +208447, $26.95, 14% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2011, +972695, $37.95, 14% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Rendola Brunello de Montalcino 2004, +181412, $39.95, 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90.

W-Quinta de Couselo O Rosal 2014 Rias Baixas, +440362, $23.95, 13% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

W-Norman Hardie Unfiltered Chardonnay 2014 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +184432, $39, 12.2% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Sugar Loaf Pinot Noir 2014 Marlborough, +447359, $24.95, 13.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Grillesino Ceccante Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Maremma Toscana, +440768, $24.95, 13.5% ABV,

MVC/QPR: 89.

R-Italo Cescon Pinot Noir 2014 Veneto, +439737, $21.95, 12% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 88.

R-Chateau de Gaudou Renaissance Cahors 2012 Cuvee Boisee, +364786, $25.95, 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.

R-Brumont Chateau Bouscasse Vieilles Vignes Madiran 2006, +132415, $38.95, 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.

R-Domaine Michel Caillot Beaune Les Avaux 1er Cru 2012, +446344, $49.95, 13% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 88.

R-Chateau Cap Leon Veyrin 2010 Listrac-Medoc, +351957, $31.95, 14% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 88.

W-Fielding Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2014 VQA Beamsville Bench, +355842, $21.95,  MVC/QPR:88.

R-Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 VQA Four Mile Creek, +116442, $32.95, 12.5% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 88.

W-Meiomi Chardonnay 2014 Monterey/Sonoma/Santa Barbara, +410712, $26.95,  MVC/QPR: 88.

W-Vignerons de Buxy Les Chaniots Montagny 1er Cru 2013, +159020, $24.95, 13% ABV,  MVC/QPR: 88.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com