WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for JULY 11, 2020

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for JULY 11, 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.

 

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).

 

Currently, the wine media have no access to the 50 or so tasting samples usually provided to us in the LCBO lab on a fortnightly basis. This will go on or some time. HOWEVER,  the wine media will still have access to the advance spreadsheet of the wines to be released. So I know what is to be released and when. SOME (but not many) of these wines I have recently tasted since January 2020 or so, and I can comfortably recommend them based on this prior sampling.

 

SOME NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING THIS MONTH –

 

1.Stel + Mar Premium Red California +14775 LCBO, $4.95 for 250 mL can: is actually a pretty decent 100% zinfandel from Lodi, vintage 2018 (not listed on the can), with cherry-berry all the way, accented with notes of mocha-vanillin tones. Typically California. The package holds about two glasses, perfect for one or two people on a picnic or back yard, and is the equivalent value of a 750mL bottle selling at $15. 13.7% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 87 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

2.Stel + Mar Premium White California +14776 LCBO, $4.95 for 250 mL can: is actually a very good 100% unoaked chardonnay from The North Coast, also 2018 vintage (not listed on the can). By making cuvees of the many chardonnay vineyards available, the winemaker was possible to get the most out of the wine. It shows some vanilla minerality with some lingering toffee tones, so it goes well with food. Typical ripe orchard fruit on the main palate. Chills really fast. 14.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

3.Stel + Mar Rose Tetra California, +15515 LCBO, 3 Litres (6 x 500mL in tetra, $45.95):

Simple, easy to drink Californian smooth rose, good with picnics of course. The size is right – two-thirds of a bottle, 17 ounces (four drinks). A good idea for a picnic. Pretty basic wine with proper (and quick) chilling. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

4.Stel + Mar Sparkling Rose California 250 mL can (not yet available at LCBO):  The Sparkling Rose (12.5% ABV) is off-dry, but the bubbles are an added attraction. Apparently it is their basic rose (see above, the Tetra) but with bubbles. Bubbles make it so much better. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

SPECIAL FINDS IN THE JULY 11, 2020 RELEASE --

 

Sparkling +571661    CHARTRON ET TRÉBUCHET BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY    Traditional method, AP, Burgundy, France     2017    $21.95     MVC/QPR: 92

Rose +15139    TROUPIS FTERI AGIORGITIKO/MOSCHOFILERO ROSÉ    IGP Peloponnese        2018    $16.95     MVC/QPR: 89

 

Under $20

 

W+542365    SANTA EMA GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY    Sustainable, DO Leyda Valley        2018    $19.95   MVC/QPR: 90

W+13926    MICHELE CHIARLO PALÁS MOSCATO D'ASTI    DOC, Piedmont, Italy        2018    $13.95 MVC/QPR: 89

W+117945    TAHBILK MARSANNE    Certified carbon neutral, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria        2019    $17.95      MVC/QPR: 90

W+377721    BARON DE HOEN RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER    AC Alsace        2018    $19.95     MVC/QPR: 91

W+15358    JESUITENHOF FUNDAMENT RIESLING TROCKEN    Qualitätswein        2018    $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89

R+15595    WATERKLOOF SERIOUSLY COOL CINSAULT    WO Stellenbosch    2018    $19.95    MVC/QPR: 89

R+698175    WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE RED    WO Stellenbosch    2017    $19.95     MVC/QPR: 89

R+995704    ZENATO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE    DOC     2017    $18.95    MVC/QPR: 89

 

 

Over $20

 

W+10380    MOILLARD COQUILLAGE CHABLIS    AP    François Martenot    2018    $25.95             MVC/QPR:  89

W+184549    LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2017    $44.95            MVC/QPR: 90

W+462093    LIGHTFOOT & WOLFVILLE ANCIENNE WILD FERMENTED CHARDONNAY    Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia        2017    $37.00            MVC/QPR: 89

W+958975    MER SOLEIL RESERVE CHARDONNAY     Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County        $29.95     MVC/QPR: 89

R+572305    LANGE TWINS ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Sustainable, Lodi        2016    $24.95     MVC/QPR: 89

R+638445    MORANDÉ ADVENTURE VIGNO VIGNADORES OLD VINES DRY-FARMED CARIGNAN    Maule Valley    2016    $26.95    MVC/QPR: 89

R+912956    RUFFINO MODUS    IGT Toscana    2017    $29.95     MVC/QPR: 89

R+47118    CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG     2015    $29.95 MVC/QPR: 89

 

 

May we all have 2020 vision.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com