WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for December 7, 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 No winery can buy their way into – or out of – this publication.
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 portion is based on my sampling of the table 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. These wines are basically those that fit the categories of any of the Featured Themes, Wines of the Month, Local Talent, and "new" -- wines that the LCBO has ordered in sufficient quantities for the Ontario marketplace. Not put out for us are the re-orders (even though they may be of a different vintage) , ISDs, or the expensive wines. Thus, my report comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of these 50+ category wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value in terms of their price.
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" wines of a reduced tasting --
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --
Fizz+53215 BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE DOCG, Veneto, Italy $19.95 QPR: 90
Fizz+315200 HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC Traditional method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario 2014 $49.95 QPR: 92
Under $20
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W+224428 JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC Certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island 2018 $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough, South Island 2018 $18.95
13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+231282 KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC WO Stellenbosch 2018 $17.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
R+617738 WAYNE GRETZKY WHISKY OAK AGED RED VQA Niagara Peninsula 2018 $19.95 13.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+10970 WAPISA CABERNET SAUVIGNON San Javier, Río Negro, Patagonia 2016 $18.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+66738 THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER South Australia 2017 $18.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+396481 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP CHOCOLATE FACTORY SHIRAZ McLaren Vale, South Australia 2017 $19.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92
R+273672 STORIA ANTICA SUPERIORE VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO DOC 2017 $17.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+421388 CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2015 $18.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+477075 I BALZI ROSSO IGT Veneto 2017 $15.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+10951 TENUTA SANTA MARIA ALLA PIEVE VERONA PRÀGAL IGT Veronese Rosso 2017 $18.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+11277 QUINTA DO CASAL MONTEIRO TOURIGA NACIONAL/MERLOT/SYRAH Estate bottled, DOC Tejo 2016 $14.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92
R+10700 BODEM LES MARGAS GARNACHA DO Cariñena 2017 $19.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+357335 HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2014 $19.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92
W+80374 MURALHAS DE MONÇÃO VINHO VERDE Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde 2018 $15.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+31534 DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER DAC Wachau 2018 $17.95 2.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
Over $20
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W+302083 BACHELDER NIAGARA CHARDONNAY VQA Niagara Peninsula 2017 $24.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
R+395855 HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2012 $24.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+67231 LA CREMA RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY Russian River Valley, Sonoma County 2017 $39.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+10539 THE LANE GATHERING SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON/SEMILLON Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2016 $24.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+478628 Z. ALEXANDER BROWN UNCAGED CABERNET SAUVIGNON California 2016 $21.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+55764 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Columbia Valley 2016 $26.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+12331 PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON Barossa Valley, South Australia 2018 $21.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+590414 OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR Marlborough, South Island 2017 $20.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+709303 MORGENSTER LOURENS RIVER VALLEY WO Stellenbosch 2011 $33.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 93
R+157347 ENRICO SERAFINO BARBARESCO DOCG 2015 $29.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+213132 LA PIEVE BAROLO DOCG 2015 $38.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+438572 CASALE DEL BOSCO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2014 $43.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+597237 BENZIGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON Certified sustainable, Sonoma County 2016 $27.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+196667 JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE AC 2018 $31.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+11835 CHÂTEAU TOUR COUTELIN AC Saint-Estèphe 2016 $27.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+204792 BOLLA LE ORIGINI RISERVA CLASSICO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG 2012 $51.95 16% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+453548 LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2010 $31.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+976662 FAUSTINO I GRAN RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2006 $31.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] with agency name --
148866 CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY VQA Prince Edward County 2017 $29.95 CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARDS INC.
85100 WILDASS WHITE VQA Niagara Peninsula 2017 $19.95 STRATUS VINEYARDS
421362 2027 CELLARS WISMER VINEYARD FOX CROFT BLOCK CHARDONNAY VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2017 $22.95 2027 CELLARS LTD.
1552 FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2018 $26.95 FLAT ROCK CELLARS
225375 J. LOHR OCTOBER NIGHT CHARDONNAY Arroyo Seco, Monterey County 2017 $34.95 BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
458810 TOM GORE CHARDONNAY California 2017 $19.95 ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
199810 FIRST PRESS NAPA CHARDONNAY Napa Valley 2017 $24.95 CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
508770 PAUMANOK DRY RIESLING North Fork of Long Island 2017 $24.95 BRAND NEW DAY WINES & SPIRITS
918805 CATENA CHARDONNAY Mendoza 2018 $19.95 TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.
928580 SANTA CAROLINA GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY Certified carbon neutral, DO Itata Valley 2017 $18.95 CHARTON HOBBS INC
609321 DOMAINE NATURALISTE DISCOVERY CHARDONNAY Margaret River, Western Australia 2018 $24.95 AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
518357 SIDEWOOD SAUVIGNON BLANC Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2018 $17.95 VINOLUNA
388363 HÃHÃ SAUVIGNON BLANC $19.95 HOBBS & COMPANY
747600 PIERRE SPARR GRANDE RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER AC Alsace 2017 $18.95 DU CHASSE WINES & SPIRITS
299867 MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY AC 2017 $22.95 NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
948182 LA GRIFFE BERNARD CHÉREAU MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE Sur lie, AP 2018 $17.95 H.H.D. IMPORTS
85134 MEGALOMANIAC SONOFABITCH PINOT NOIR VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2017 $27.95 JOHN HOWARD CELLARS
205021 MEGALOMANIAC FRANK CABERNET VQA Niagara Peninsula 2017 $29.95 JOHN HOWARD CELLARS
550608 VIENI PINOT NOIR VQA Vinemount Ridge 2017 $16.95 VIENI ESTATES INC.
396267 THE ORGANIZED CRIME BREAK-IN PINOT NOIR VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2017 $21.95 JAN TARASEWICZ
347377 CASA-DEA GAMAY VQA Prince Edward County 2017 $16.95 CASA-DEA
307686 TAWSE QUARRY ROAD PINOT NOIR VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula 2016 $35.95 TAWSE WINERY INC.
86363 WILDASS RED VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 2016 $21.95 STRATUS VINEYARDS
60152 SIGNORELLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON Unfiltered, Napa Valley 2015 $124.95 BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
362400 BERINGER QUANTUM Napa Valley 2015 $79.95 MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
632133 CAYMUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Napa Valley 2017 $54.95 ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY
213017 MICHAEL DAVID PETITE PETIT Lodi 2016 $28.95 CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
46300 PENDULUM RED Columbia Valley 2016 $24.95 GLAZER'S OF CANADA
622571 CLOS DE LOS SIETE Uco Valley, Mendoza 2015 $23.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
455774 ZUCCARDI CONCRETO MALBEC Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2017 $39.95 DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.
322800 ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2016 $16.95 E&J GALLO WINERY CANADA LTD.
205872 CASAS DEL BOSQUE RESERVA CARMENÈRE DO Rapel Valley 2017 $15.95 AZUREAU WINE AGENCY
10767 MONTGRAS ANTU LIMITED SYRAH DO Colchagua Valley 2013 $24.95 EPIC WINES AND SPIRITS INC.
12027 TARAPACÁ ETIQUETA NEGRA GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON DO Maipo Valley 2017 $26.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
59477 CASA SILVA GRAN TERROIR DE LOS ANDES LOS LINGUES CARMENÈRE Estate grown and bottled, Colchagua Valley 2017 $19.95 THE CASE FOR WINE
311720 MAQUIS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON Colchagua Valley 2015 $20.95 HALPERN ENTERPRISES
636407 TWO HANDS BELLA'S GARDEN SHIRAZ Barossa Valley, South Australia 2017 $59.95 B AND W WINES
135996 THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK WO Swartland 2017 $79.95 UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.
518977 TERRA TANGRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON/MERLOT/MAVRUD PGI Thracian Valley 2016 $14.95 RARE EARTH WINES
123489 CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT AC Fronsac 2016 $17.95 CONNEXION OENOPHILIA
276956 HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE AC 2017 $17.95 HALPERN ENTERPRISES
10513 CLOS ST. ANTONIN AC Côtes du Rhône 2016 $19.95 BRAND NEW DAY WINES & SPIRITS
286344 DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE PHILIPPINE SAINTE-CÉCILE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES AP 2017 $22.95 LIQUID ASSETS
366732 CASTORANI AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO DOC 2013 $24.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
216457 PIETRA PURA MANDUS PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP 2017 $18.95 VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
477190 PLANETA CONTRODANZA DOC Sicilia Noto 2016 $27.95 NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
353201 RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2014 $47.95 ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
113316 CASTELLO DI BOSSI BERARDO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2015 $38.95 CONNEXION OENOPHILIA
25601 ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO IGT Toscana 2016 $256.95 HALPERN ENTERPRISES
56671 STRATUS RIESLING ICEWINE VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 2017 $44.95 STRATUS VINEYARDS
337436 BARONE PIZZINI BRUT NATURE FRANCIACORTA $54.95 BONTA TRADING
568204 CULMINA DILEMMA CHARDONNAY Margaret's Bench, BC VQA Okanagan Valley 2015 $39.95 WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
629121 ARGOT SIMPATICO RANCH CHARDONNAY Bennett Valley, Sonoma County 2015 $69.95 GREAT NORTH IMPORTS
12489 MARIENBURG FAHRLAY RESERVE TROCKEN RIESLING Qualitätswein 2015 $87.95 THE LIVING VINE INC.
11876 HOLDVÖLGY ELOQUENCE TOKAJI SZAMORODNI PDO Tokaj 2007 $39.95 THE CASE FOR WINE
570788 SHAFER TD-9 $99.95 ROGERS & COMPANY
472159 SILVERADO MT. GEORGE VINEYARD MERLOT Coombsville, Napa Valley 2014 $54.95 KYLIX WINES
735654 TABLAS CREEK ESPRIT DE TABLAS Paso Robles 2016 $74.95 CHARTON HOBBS INC
46920 MASTROJANNI VIGNA SCHIENA D'ASINO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013 $193.95 MAJESTIC WINE CELLARS
499889 CAVE DI PRUN RISERVA CLASSICO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA $62.95 VINOLUNA
10604 LA NIT DE LES GARNATXES DO Montsant 2016 $24.95 TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.
161893 VIÑA ALBERDI RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2013 $33.95 JOHN HANNA & SONS
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