WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 MARCH 21, 2020
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.
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 --
Under $20
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W+147975 GÉRARD BERTRAND RÉSERVE SPÉCIALE VIOGNIER IGP Pays d'Oc 2018 $14.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+471284 CURVOS LOUREIRO DOC Vinho Verde 2019 $12.95 12 % ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+11236 ADAMO FOXCROFT RIESLING VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2017 $19.95 10% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+536219 MOHUA SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough, South Island 2018 $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89
W+10632 LACHETEAU HAUT POITOU SAUVIGNON BLANC AP 2018 $15.95 12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92
W+14186 MEGA SPILEO CUVÉE III WHITE PGI Achaia 2018 $17.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+46268 TERRA NOBLE GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON Colchagua Valley 2016 $18.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+12993 DOMAINE DE LA BAUME LES THERMES CABERNET SAUVIGNON IGP Vin de Pays d'Oc 2017 $15.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+200030 DOMAINE AUTRAND CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES AC 2017 $15.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+12987 XAVIER VIEILLES VIGNES CÔTES DU RHÔNE AC 2016 $19.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+11151 GUARDA RIOS SIGNATURE RED Vinho Regional Alentejano 2017 $14.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+13624 EL VIVERO DE USALDÓN COLECCIÓN ORIGEN GARNACHA Finca Casa Balaguer, DO Alicante 2018 $15.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+403683 GÉRARD BERTRAND FITOU GRENACHE/CARIGNAN AP 2018 $17.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
Over $20
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W+ 360297 JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE WHITE MERITAGE VQA Niagara Peninsula 2018 $25.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+10955 MONTEMAJOR GRECO DI TUFO DOCG 2018 $23.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+10871 Z. ALEXANDER BROWN UNCAGED CHARDONNAY Santa Lucia Highlands 2017 $21.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+10722 RUHLMANN COTEAU DU BLETTIG VIEILLES VIGNES RIESLING AC Alsace 2016 $21.95 12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+112227 CHEVALLIER CHABLIS AP 2018 $25.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+10626 GUY SAGET SANCERRE AC 2018 $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89
R+85183 BALBÁS RESERVA DO Ribera del Duero 2006 $23.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+11670 GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO DOC Sicilia 2018 $15.95 11% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+11961 FOGOLAR PICONE VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula 2015 $43.95 13.6% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+12688 ERASMUS SHIRAZ WO Swartland 2017 $32.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+585737 BURROWING OWL MERLOT BC VQA Okanagan Valley 2016 $39.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+626325 OSOYOOS LAROSE LE GRAND VIN BC VQA Okanagan Valley 2016 $52.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+550327 CHÂTEAU LE TEMPLE AC Médoc 2015 $26.95 RARE EARTH WINES 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+11831 CHÂTEAU VIEUX CHAIGNEAU AC Lalande-de-Pomerol 2015 $34.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+12288 LES DEMOISELLES TATIN LA COMMANDERIE Certified sustainable, AC Reuilly 2017 $21.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+12125 MUSTILLI CESCO DI NECE AGLIANICO DOC Sannio Sant'Agata dei Goti 2015 $25.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+13744 REGIA MAESTÀ PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOC 2016 $28.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+12093 MARCHESI MAZZEI BELGUARDO TIRRENICO DOC Maremma Toscana Rosso 2016 $29.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+930966 ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016 $24.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+14146 TRECCIANO I CAMPACCI IGT Rosso Toscana 2016 $29.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+13627 VALDELACIERVA RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2014 $24.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] with agency name --
469478 THIRTY BENCH SPARKLING RIESLING Steel Post dosage, Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario $38.95 ANDREW PELLER LIMITED
483008 CHARME D'ALIENOR CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX Traditional method, AC, Bordeaux, France $17.95 CONNEXION OENOPHILIA
168559 CONDE DE HARO BRUT CAVA Traditional method, DO, Spain 2016 $19.95 VINEXX
515221 STARS BRUT NATURE RESERVA CAVA Traditional method, DO, Spain 2016 $16.95 HANNA NEAL WINE MERCHANTS INC
546812 CASA-DEA RESERVE CHARDONNAY VQA Prince Edward County 2016 $26.95 STELLAR WINE & SPIRITS INC.
707224 CAKEBREAD CELLARS SAUVIGNON BLANC Napa Valley 2018 $49.95 CHARTON HOBBS INC
171272 J. LOHR ARROYO VISTA CHARDONNAY Arroyo Seco, Monterey County 2017 $35.95 BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
311563 CANNONBALL CHARDONNAY California 2017 $19.95 ROGERS & COMPANY
32060 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC DO Leyda Valley 2018 $14.95 VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
711556 WAKEFIELD CLARE VALLEY ESTATE CHARDONNAY Clare Valley, South Australia 2018 $16.95 VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
677450 DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough, South Island 2018 $27.95 TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.
328559 CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY WO Western Cape 2016 $17.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
41780 SIMONNET-FEBVRE CHABLIS AC 2018 $32.95 MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
249466 KELLEREI BOZEN PINOT GRIGIO DOC Südtirol - Alto Adige 2018 $19.95 NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
73205 COTNARI GRASA DE COTNARI DOC Cotnari 2017 $13.95 CARTO ENTERPRISE
488973 ALBA VEGA ALBARIÑO DO Rias Baixas 2018 $15.95 VINOLUNA
646521 CREEKSIDE GAMAY VQA Niagara Peninsula 2017 $19.00 HOBBS & COMPANY
686584 J. LOHR HILLTOP CABERNET SAUVIGNON Paso Robles 2017 $49.95 BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
38059 RAYMOND RESERVE MERLOT Napa Valley 2015 $38.95 CHARTON HOBBS INC
951889 IRONSTONE OLD VINE ZINFANDEL Lodi 2017 $17.95 LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS
652883 BELLE GLOS CLARK & TELEPHONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County 2018 $59.95 ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY
936039 SILVER OAK NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON Napa Valley 2014 $207.95 HALPERN ENTERPRISES
421198 UNDERWOOD PINOT NOIR Oregon 2018 $22.95 ROGERS & COMPANY
209874 COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley 2016 $19.95 PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
114066 L.A. CETTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON Guadalupe Valley, Baja California 2017 $12.95 JOSEPH CIPELLI WINES & SPIRITS
183905 ZOLO MALBEC Mendoza 2017 $16.95 DB WINE & SPIRITS INC.
144014 CUVELIER LOS ANDES COLECCIÓN Uco Valley, Mendoza 2014 $32.95 MARCHANDS DES AMERIQUES INC
63891 EMILIANA COYAM Los Robles Estate, Colchagua Valley 2016 $29.95 PMA CANADA LTD.
143230 MONTES ALPHA CARMENÈRE Estate bottled, DO Colchagua Valley 2017 $19.95 VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
84996 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON Coonawarra, South Australia 2014 $44.95 MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
48470 TEUSNER THE RIEBKE SHIRAZ Barossa Valley, South Australia 2017 $23.95 ALTO VINO
280883 YALUMBA ORGANIC SHIRAZ South Australia 2018 $17.95 BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE CANADA INC.
675223 KILIKANOON KILLERMAN'S RUN CABERNET SAUVIGNON Clare Valley, South Australia 2017 $19.95 CHARTON HOBBS INC
178897 INNOCENT BYSTANDER PINOT NOIR Yarra Valley, Victoria 2018 $22.95 VON TERRA ENTERPRISES LTD.
489658 ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES GSM McLaren Vale, South Australia 2018 $19.95 EPIC WINES AND SPIRITS INC.
130278 PIRATHON BY KALLESKE SHIRAZ Barossa Valley, South Australia 2013 $29.95 ALTO VINO
590414 OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR Marlborough, South Island 2018 $20.95 DELEGAT CANADA LIMITED
68767 NEDERBURG THE MANOR HOUSE CABERNET SAUVIGNON WO Western Cape 2016 $16.95 PMA CANADA LTD.
455667 CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR POURRET AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012 $46.95 TASTEVIN SELECTIONS
343517 TESSELLAE OLD VINES GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE AP Côtes du Roussillon 2017 $19.95 GLENCAIRN WINE MERCHANTS
473678 DOMAINE DE PIGNAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE AC 2016 $42.95 TERROIR WINE IMPORTS
295618 CAVINO NEMEA GRANDE RESERVE PDO Nemea 2012 $18.95 VINETER
225086 UMBERTO CESARI LIANO SANGIOVESE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON IGT Rubicone 2016 $27.95 UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.
366955 MASSERIA ALTEMURA SASSEO PRIMITIVO IGT Salento 2017 $16.95 IMPRESE INC.
411389 SAN FABIANO CALCINAIA CELLOLE GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2015 $42.95 WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
650754 CASTELLO DI QUERCETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2015 $28.95 VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
515460 TENUTA DI BURCHINO IL BURCHINO IGT Toscana 2015 $24.95 RUBAIYAT WINE AND SPIRIT MERCH.
342394 VILLA MORA MONTEFALCO SAGRANTINO DOCG 2010 $26.95 DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.
976092 MASI BROLO CAMPOFIORIN ORO IGT Rosso Verona 2015 $26.95 AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
960427 CONDE DE VALDEMAR GRAN RESERVA DOCa Rioja 2010 $29.95 WINE GURU SELECTION INC
438713 VALDELACIERVA CRIANZA DOCa Rioja 2015 $16.95 VINOLUNA
540070 EL PEDROSAL CRIANZA DO Ribera del Duero 2014 $17.95 TRADESA CORP.
361758 UNION FORTÉ VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario 2012 $17.95 VON TERRA ENTERPRISES LTD.
203703 THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT CHARDONNAY VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2018 $34.95 ANDREW PELLER LIMITED
11926 SOUTHBROOK SAUNDER'S VINEYARD ORGANIC CHARDONNAY VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment 2017 $34.95 VINEXX
12117 GUSTAVE LORENTZ ÉVIDENCE GEWURZTRAMINER AC Alsace 2017 $27.95 AMETHYST WINE AGENCY INC.
12203 CHÂTEAU DERESZLA 5 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZÚ Tokaj-Hegyalja 2013 $48.95 ANGYAL AGENCY
15519 TERLATO PINOT GRIGIO DOC Colli Oriental del Friuli 2017 $29.95 GLAZER'S OF CANADA
11959 LOS HELECHOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Uco Valley, Mendoza 2014 $24.95 UNIQUE WINES & SPIRITS
545798 BOUCHARD PÈRE & FILS SAVIGNY-LÈS-BEAUNE AC 2017 $39.95 WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
78857 LA FERME DU MONT CÔTES CAPELAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Unfiltered, AP 2016 $97.95 EUROVINTAGE INTERNATIONAL INC
541383 TENUTA SAN LEONARDO TERRE DI SAN LEONARDO IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2015 $22.95 WINEWORLD IMPORTERS & EXPORTERS LTD
928721 PRUNOTTO BAROLO DOCG 2015 $45.95 HALPERN ENTERPRISES
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