WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under $20 and over $20 for JUNE 8, 2019

 

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under $20 and over $20 for JUNE 8, 2019

 

By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "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 http://www.deantudor.com since 1994.

 

These notes for good wines available through  LCBO Vintages (on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at  http://www.deantudor.com

 

Scores are a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Southern Rhone would taste like a Southern Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace above or below its price).

 

NOTE: The first part is based on my sampling of the wines chosen by the LCBO from this release for tasting. That presentation is about 50+  different labels out of about 125 released every two weeks. Thus, my report will not be as voluminous as in the past and comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of the 50+ wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value.

 

NOTE: The second part (at the end) is a simple listing of  those wines that were NOT presented to the media, and are given here simply as a record of  what sampling I could not do. I have left in the name of the agency, in fairness to all.

 

PART ONE:  The "best" of a reduced tasting based on --

 

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --

 

Rose+552562     HENRY OF PELHAM  THREE OF HEARTS ROSÉ    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2018    $19.95     Rated: 90

Rose+333260    CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CUVÉE D'ANDRÉE ROSÉ     VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake    2018    $16.95    Rated: 89

Fizz+213983    CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING    Traditional method, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario        $29.95. Rated: 91

 

Under $20

=========

W+634162    J. BOOKWALTER READERS CHARDONNAY    Columbia Valley    2016    $19.95    13.9% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+635896    LANGLOIS-CHÂTEAU SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE    AP    2017    $17.95  12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+647388 TROUPIS FTERI MOSCHOFILERO PGI Arcadia 2017 $16.95 12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+246579    CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ    Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $17.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+302059    CAVE SPRING ESTATE GEWÜRZTRAMINER    Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $18.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+648899    ST. HUBERTUS PINOT BLANC    BC VQA Okanagan Valley    2016    $16.95    12.7% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+389726    BOYA SAUVIGNON BLANC    DO Leyda Valley    2017    $14.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

W+909283    PRODUTTORI VINI MANDURIA ZÌN FIANO    IGT Salento    2017    $13.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+635953    TANGUERO RESERVA MALBEC    Estate bottled, Mendoza    2016    $16.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+668822    CARMEN GRAN RESERVA CARIGNAN    El Secano Vineyard, Maule Valley    2016    $16.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+431098    IN SITU SIGNATURE WINES SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE/VIOGNIER    Aconcagua Valley    2016    $16.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+18721    VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Maipo Valley    2017    $17.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92

R+644468    MATHILDE CHAPOUTIER SÉLECTION    AP Languedoc    2017    $14.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+354191    DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE NICOLAS VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE NOIR    IGP Côtes Catalanes    2017    $19.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+900274    DONNAFUGATA SEDÀRA    DOC Sicilia    2016    $18.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+646117    ALTANO ORGANIC    DOP Douro    2017    $16.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+645036    GORU ORGANIC MONASTRELL    DO Jumilla    2017    $13.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92

R+276030    MURIEL FINCAS DE LA VILLA RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2014    $19.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+389254    MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Single vineyard, DO Maipo Valley    2015    $19.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+638338    MARZIANO ABBONA I DUE RICU    DOCG Langhe Rosso    2016    $19.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+557165    HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE RIESLING    VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2017    $19.95 11% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

 

Over $20

 

W+644583    TOLLGATE CHARDONNAY    VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016    $24.95    12.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+136382    RUTHERFORD RANCH CHARDONNAY    Napa Valley    2016    $25.95     MVC/QPR:89

R+668327    LOS CLOP RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza    2015    $23.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+633669    LES FIEFS DE LAGRANGE    Second wine of Château Lagrange, AP Saint-Julien    2010    $47.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+96792    BORGODANGELO TAURASI DOCG 2011 $25.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+62364    MONTES PURPLE ANGEL    DO Colchagua Valley    2015    $62.95    15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+541169    MIGUEL TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Maipo Valley    2015    $22.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+645044    ALVEAR PALACIO QUEMADO LA ZARCITA    Single estate vineyard, Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura    2016    $22.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+616433    HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CABERNET/MERLOT    VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2015    $39.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

 

PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] --

 

    398628    CREEKSIDE BACKYARD BUBBLY SAUVIGNON BLANC    VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario    2017    24.95    HOBBS & COMPANY

    515288    RIVAROSE BRUT    Salon de Provence, IGP Mediterranean, France        18.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    314757    SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT ROSÉ CAVA    Traditional method, DO, Spain        39.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.

    68015    FLAT ROCK UNPLUGGED CHARDONNAY    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2018    17.95    FLAT ROCK CELLARS

    446088    NOMAD SAUVIGNON BLANC    VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula    2017    16.95    STELLAR WINE & SPIRITS INC.

    713313    CALERA CHARDONNAY    Central Coast    2016    32.95    VINEXX

    385773    SEVEN FALLS CHARDONNAY    Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley    2016    21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    384339    SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED TORRONTÉS    Uco Valley    2017    19.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.

    331652    NAUTILUS CHARDONNAY    Marlborough, South Island    2017    27.95    BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE CANADA INC.

    919514    WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough, South Island    2018    19.95    VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.

    328559    CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY    WO Western Cape    2016    16.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    141226    ANNE DE LAWEISS COLLECTION GEWURZTRAMINER    AC Alsace    2017    21.95    RUBY WINES & SPIRITS

    991893    DOMAINE LAROCHE VIEILLES VIGNES LES VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU    AC    2017    39.95    SELECT WINE MERCHANTS INC.

    958801    CHATELAIN LES VIGNES DE SAINT-LAURENT L'ABBAYE POUILLY-FUMÉ    AC    2017    26.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    499509    FAMILLE PERRIN RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC    AC    2017    14.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    669531    MICHEL GASSIER LES PILIERS VIOGNIER    France    2018    18.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    380824    BEYRA VINHOS DE ALTITUDE    DOC Beira Interior    2017    12.95    VINYA

    543801    EL COTO BLANCO    DOCa Rioja    2018    14.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    617738    WAYNE GRETZKY WHISKY OAK AGED RED    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2017    19.95    ANDREW PELLER LIMITED

    56598    13TH STREET CABERNET/MERLOT    Lakeshore Farm Vineyard, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula    2017    19.95    THE THIRTEENTH STREET WINE CORP.

    652875    RIDGE THREE VALLEYS    Sonoma County    2016    49.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    711663    CAYMUS SPECIAL SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2015    199.95    ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY

    432211    NAPA CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2016    45.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    256735    MCMANIS ZINFANDEL    Certified Green, Lodi    2017    21.95    THE VINE AGENCY

    280107    CHATEAU SMITH CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Columbia Valley    2016    24.95    ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.

    29280    TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC    Mendoza    2016    19.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    635979    DON RODOLFO ART OF THE ANDES MALBEC    Mendoza    2017    16.95    LEXCELLENT WINES

    90324    PILLAR BOX RESERVE SHIRAZ    Padthaway, South Australia    2015    19.95    CHRISTOPHER STEWART WINE & SPIRITS

    66738    THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER    McLaren Vale/Padthaway, South Australia    2017    18.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.

    744235    WAKEFIELD CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Clare Valley, South Australia    2016    19.95    VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.

    490052    PERTARINGA OVER THE TOP SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2015    28.95    LOYAL IMPORTS

    707323    RUSTENBERG JOHN X MERRIMAN    WO Stellenbosch    2015    24.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    405688    CHÂTEAU DE PITRAY    AC Côtes de Castillon    2015    22.95    RARE EARTH WINES

    729962    DELAS SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE    AC    2016    17.95    UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.

    494690    DEMAZET RÉSERVE DES ARMOIRIES TRADITION CÔTES DU RHÔNE    AP    2016    14.95    GRAPE EXPECTATIONS WINE AGENCY

    419382    MARANI SAPERAVI    Kakheti    2017    15.95    GLOBAL CELLARS

    466458    SAPERAVI    Kindzmarauli, Kakheti    2016    12.95    THE DOCHAS COMPANY INC.

    496851    ASCHERI BAROLO    DOCG    2013    49.95    PREVEDELLO AND MATHEWS

    722470    ORNELLAIA    "La Tensione" label, DOC Bolgheri Superiore    2016    239.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS

    121905    LA LECCIAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2013    67.95    TWC IMPORTS

    475574    BOLLA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE    DOC    2016    19.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    134544    MONTE DEL FRÁ BARDOLINO    DOC    2017    15.95    SIGNATURE WINES & SPIRITS

    178459    ANTICHE TERRE VENETE RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA    DOC    2016    18.95    LIBERTY WINES INC.

    371518    BORSAO BEROLA    DO Campo de Borja    2015    18.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    236927    VIÑA HERMINIA RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2012    28.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED

    364679    ALFRED SCHLADERER SCHWARZENWALDER KIRSCHWASSER BLACK FOREST CHERRY BRANDY    Product of Germany        40.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS

    491712    LA COPA VERMOUTH    Jerez, Spain        22.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    71712    WILDASS ROSÉ    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2018    18.95    STRATUS VINEYARDS

    552497    PELEE ISLAND LOLA CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ    VQA South Islands, Lake Erie North Shore    2017    15.95    PELEE ISLAND WINERY

    53421    FIELDING ROSÉ    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2018    15.95    FIELDING ESTATE WINERY

    557595    CONUNDRUM ROSÉ    California    2018    21.95    ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY

    524967    LAPOSTOLLE LE ROSÉ    Apalta, Colchagua Valley    2018    19.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.

    319368    CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL    AC    2018    24.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    96727    ERNEST RAPENEAU LIMITED EDITION EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE    AC        54.95    THE CASE FOR WINE

    639666    GALERIE NAISSANCE SAUVIGNON BLANC    Napa Valley    2016    39.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    665935    ILLAHE VIOGNIER    Willamette Valley    2017    29.95    DB WINE & SPIRITS INC.

    282806    GREYWACKE WILD SAUVIGNON    Marlborough, South Island    2015    39.95    CONNEXION OENOPHILIA

    694083    LA CREMA FOG VEIL PINOT NOIR    Russian River Valley, Sonoma County    2015    69.95    B AND W WINES

    395566    POMUM SHYA RED CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Yakima Valley    2014    30.95    TRADESA CORP.

    688564    BALDUZZI B CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Maule Valley    2013    32.95    LOYAL IMPORTS

    668293    CUCHA CUCHA CINSAULT    Itata Valley    2017    18.95    WILSON GROUP WINES AND SPIRITS

    632695    BLEASDALE GENERATIONS MALBEC    Langhorne Creek, South Australia    2016    34.95    AZUREAU WINE AGENCY

    648345    MARCHAND-TAWSE MARSANNAY    AC    2014    41.95    BURGUNDY DIRECT LTD.

    499624    CHÂTEAU DE CHAMIREY MERCUREY    AC    2016    38.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    648535    MALDANT-PAUVELOT CLASSIQUE ALOXE-CORTON    AC    2015    68.95    ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY

    283499    BORGOGNO BAROLO    DOCG    2014    54.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.

    987586    SOLAIA    IGT Toscana    2015    316.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com