WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for OCTOBER 21, 2023 release.
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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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).
MAJOR THEME: PREMIUM CALIFORNIA/GIFTING
Wines Under $20
=========
W+232694 SANTA JULIA ORGANIC TORRONTÉS 2022 Mendoza, Argentina $14.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
W+30556 JUNIPER CROSSING ORIGINAL WHITE 2021 Margaret River, Western Australia $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+11679 FOGOLAR CHARDONNAY 2018 VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+434472 ORGANIZED CRIME THE MISCHIEF 2021 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+485334 KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment $19.95 MVC/QPR: 93
W+289553 UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2022 Abruzzo IGT Terre di Chieti $17.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
W+31189 FIUZA VERDELHO 2019 Portugal Tejo Estate bottled $11.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+646067 AVELEDA LOUREIRO 2021 Douro Vegan, DOC Vinho Verde $14.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+232439 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2021Washington Columbia Valley $19.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
W+13338 RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2022 South Africa Vegan, WO Stellenbosch $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+224592 CHÂTEAU LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31976 LAS INVERNADAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Argentina DO San Juan $15.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+618348 NORTON D.O.C. MALBEC 2020 Argentina Mendoza Luján de Cuyo, $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31965 LUIS CORREAS GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2017 Estate bottled, Mendoza $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31694 LA ROSELIÈRE CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES LAUDUN 2020 $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+34070 SZÁSZI BIRTOK BALATON-FELVIDÉKI CABERNET FRANC 2019 Hungary $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+551473 DRUMHELLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Washington Columbia Valley $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+388645 ORESTIADI LUDOVICO RISERVA 2017 Sicily IGT Rosso Terre Siciliane $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+32534 PIETRAME EDIZIONE LIMITATA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2020 Abruzzo DOP Cantina Tollo $17.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+25257 GUARDA RIOS RED 2020 Portugal Alentejo Vinho Regional Alentejano Monte da Ravasqueira $12.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+574780 DEMUERTE 2020 Spain Yecla Vegan, DO $19.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
R+26329 CIMAL TEMPRANILLO 2019 DO La Mancha Bodegas Bastida $14.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+13633 OGV OLD GARNACHA VINES 2019 Spain Calatayud DO Calatayud Virgen de la Sierra $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
Wines Over $20
=========
R+32536 TEZZA VALPANTENA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2016 Veneto DOCG $48.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2019 VQA Niagara Escarpment $31.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+118695 CROSSBARN NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 Napa Valley Paul Hobbs Winery $84.95 MVC/QPR: 92.
R+21861 MARCHESI DI BAROLO TRADIZIONE BAROLO AND BARBARESCO 2018 Two bottles in wooden gift box, DOCG, Piedmont 1500ml $124.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+187369 REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2020 In wooden gift box, DOC, Veneto 1500ml $99.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+384578 REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA AND VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2020 Two bottles in wooden gift box, Veneto 1500ml $84.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+668707 MORANDE GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 Sustainable, single vineyard, DO Valle del Maipo $21.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+155408 MARCHESI DI BAROLO BARBARESCO 2019 Piedmont DOCG $39.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+213132 LA PIEVE BAROLO 2019 Piedmont DOCG $39.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+216309 CAVALIERE D'ORO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 Tuscany DOCG Castello di Gabbiano $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+14999 TENUTE FALEZZA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE 2019 Veneto DOC $22.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+903237 GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN ZINFANDEL 2018 Napa Valley $58.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
R+71407 GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Napa Valley $109.95
R+119081 PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2020 Sonoma County $95.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale through Sunday November 5:
Fizz+213983 Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling VQA Trad Method, now $29.95, save $3
Fizz+395384 Luc Belaire Rare Rose Sparkling France, now $37.95, save $3
W+31667 Alta-Yari Gran Torrontes Mendoza Arg, now $24.95, save $3
W+962886 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, now $32.95, save $3
R+352583 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, now $49.95, save $5
R+177295 Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte Puglia, now $23.95, save $3
R+652883 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir Santa Barbara, now $54.95, save $5
R+954834 Rodney Strong Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, now $26.95, save $3
R+353201 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, now $49.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara, now $24.95, save $3
R+225086 Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cab Sauvignon Emilia-Romagna, now $24.95, save $5
Fizz Splureg+25903 Gosset Grande Reserve Brut Champagne, now $76.80, save $9
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON THE VINI VALPOLICELLA RETURNS trade tasting, June 2023...
The Date and Time: Thursday June 15, 2023 1PM to 4PM
The Event: Vini Valpolicella Returns
The Venue: Chelsea Hotel
The Target Audience: wine trade and wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: as a small show, it was economical to produce a paper catalogue for 14 wineries and 70 wines.
The Quote/Background: Just about every producer here had three levels: superiore and/or classico; ripasso; and amarone and/or recioto. In the region there are 2251 grape growers, six co-ops, and 344 bottlers. 73.6 million bottles happened in 2021 (61% exported), with a quarter of them being Amarone and another half being Ripasso.
The Wines: I did not try every wine. I concentrated on Amarone and some Ripassos. I was feeling palate fatigue towards the end because many of these wines were very similar in their approaches.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2015 Brolo dei Giusti 14.5%ABV Majestic
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Valpantena 2019 Ritocco 13.5%ABV Majestic
-Casalforte Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2020 13.5%ABV Azureau
-Corte Figaretto Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Valpantena 2018 Brolo del Figaretto 16.5%ABV Colio Estate
-Corte Forte Amarone della Valpolicella DOPCG Classico 2016 Terre de San Zeno 15.5%ABV
-Costa Arente Amarone della Valpolicella DICG Valpantena 2017 17%ABV $107 consignment Independent Wine Company Wines
-Ilatium Morini Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2017 Prognai 15%ABV
-Ilatium Morini Amarone della Valpolicella 2018 DOCG Leon 16.5%ABV
-Massimago Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018 Conte Gastone 16%ABV The Living Vine
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016 Rocca Sveva 15%ABV
-Sartori di Verona Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 15%ABV Univins
-Sartori di Verona Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2015 15.5%ABV $69.95 LCBO
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 2018 Torre del Falasco 14%ABV
-Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 15%ABV $39.95 Azureau
-Monte Zovo Famiglia Cottini Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 Villa Annaberta 15%ABV $40 Dionysus
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 2017 Rocca Sveva 14%ABV
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 Cantina di Illasi 14.5%ABV
-Tinazzi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018 La Bastia Ca' de' Rocchi 15%ABV Vinoluna
-Valentina Cubi Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Classico Superiore 2018 Arusnatico 14%ABV
-Valentina Cubi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2013 Morar 16%ABV
The Food: cheese and biscuits, strawberries.
The Downside: it was a small room, and got crowded really fast.
The Upside: a chance to taste a range of Valpolicella in its different formats.
The Contact Person: judith@townhallbrands.com; lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89
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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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 https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor 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).
MAJOR THEME: PREMIUM CALIFORNIA/GIFTING
Wines Under $20
=========
W+232694 SANTA JULIA ORGANIC TORRONTÉS 2022 Mendoza, Argentina $14.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
W+30556 JUNIPER CROSSING ORIGINAL WHITE 2021 Margaret River, Western Australia $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+11679 FOGOLAR CHARDONNAY 2018 VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+434472 ORGANIZED CRIME THE MISCHIEF 2021 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+485334 KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment $19.95 MVC/QPR: 93
W+289553 UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2022 Abruzzo IGT Terre di Chieti $17.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
W+31189 FIUZA VERDELHO 2019 Portugal Tejo Estate bottled $11.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+646067 AVELEDA LOUREIRO 2021 Douro Vegan, DOC Vinho Verde $14.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
W+232439 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CHARDONNAY 2021Washington Columbia Valley $19.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
W+13338 RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2022 South Africa Vegan, WO Stellenbosch $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+224592 CHÂTEAU LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2020 $17.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31976 LAS INVERNADAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Argentina DO San Juan $15.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+618348 NORTON D.O.C. MALBEC 2020 Argentina Mendoza Luján de Cuyo, $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31965 LUIS CORREAS GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2017 Estate bottled, Mendoza $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+31694 LA ROSELIÈRE CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES LAUDUN 2020 $18.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+34070 SZÁSZI BIRTOK BALATON-FELVIDÉKI CABERNET FRANC 2019 Hungary $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+551473 DRUMHELLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Washington Columbia Valley $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+388645 ORESTIADI LUDOVICO RISERVA 2017 Sicily IGT Rosso Terre Siciliane $19.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+32534 PIETRAME EDIZIONE LIMITATA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2020 Abruzzo DOP Cantina Tollo $17.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+25257 GUARDA RIOS RED 2020 Portugal Alentejo Vinho Regional Alentejano Monte da Ravasqueira $12.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+574780 DEMUERTE 2020 Spain Yecla Vegan, DO $19.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
R+26329 CIMAL TEMPRANILLO 2019 DO La Mancha Bodegas Bastida $14.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+13633 OGV OLD GARNACHA VINES 2019 Spain Calatayud DO Calatayud Virgen de la Sierra $16.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
Wines Over $20
=========
R+32536 TEZZA VALPANTENA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2016 Veneto DOCG $48.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2019 VQA Niagara Escarpment $31.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+118695 CROSSBARN NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 Napa Valley Paul Hobbs Winery $84.95 MVC/QPR: 92.
R+21861 MARCHESI DI BAROLO TRADIZIONE BAROLO AND BARBARESCO 2018 Two bottles in wooden gift box, DOCG, Piedmont 1500ml $124.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+187369 REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2020 In wooden gift box, DOC, Veneto 1500ml $99.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+384578 REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA AND VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2020 Two bottles in wooden gift box, Veneto 1500ml $84.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+668707 MORANDE GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 Sustainable, single vineyard, DO Valle del Maipo $21.95 MVC/QPR: 90.
R+155408 MARCHESI DI BAROLO BARBARESCO 2019 Piedmont DOCG $39.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+213132 LA PIEVE BAROLO 2019 Piedmont DOCG $39.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+216309 CAVALIERE D'ORO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 Tuscany DOCG Castello di Gabbiano $24.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+14999 TENUTE FALEZZA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE 2019 Veneto DOC $22.95 MVC/QPR: 89.
R+903237 GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN ZINFANDEL 2018 Napa Valley $58.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
R+71407 GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 Napa Valley $109.95
R+119081 PAUL HOBBS RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2020 Sonoma County $95.95 MVC/QPR: 91.
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale through Sunday November 5:
Fizz+213983 Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling VQA Trad Method, now $29.95, save $3
Fizz+395384 Luc Belaire Rare Rose Sparkling France, now $37.95, save $3
W+31667 Alta-Yari Gran Torrontes Mendoza Arg, now $24.95, save $3
W+962886 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, now $32.95, save $3
R+352583 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, now $49.95, save $5
R+177295 Rivera Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte Puglia, now $23.95, save $3
R+652883 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir Santa Barbara, now $54.95, save $5
R+954834 Rodney Strong Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, now $26.95, save $3
R+353201 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, now $49.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara, now $24.95, save $3
R+225086 Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cab Sauvignon Emilia-Romagna, now $24.95, save $5
Fizz Splureg+25903 Gosset Grande Reserve Brut Champagne, now $76.80, save $9
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON THE VINI VALPOLICELLA RETURNS trade tasting, June 2023...
The Date and Time: Thursday June 15, 2023 1PM to 4PM
The Event: Vini Valpolicella Returns
The Venue: Chelsea Hotel
The Target Audience: wine trade and wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: as a small show, it was economical to produce a paper catalogue for 14 wineries and 70 wines.
The Quote/Background: Just about every producer here had three levels: superiore and/or classico; ripasso; and amarone and/or recioto. In the region there are 2251 grape growers, six co-ops, and 344 bottlers. 73.6 million bottles happened in 2021 (61% exported), with a quarter of them being Amarone and another half being Ripasso.
The Wines: I did not try every wine. I concentrated on Amarone and some Ripassos. I was feeling palate fatigue towards the end because many of these wines were very similar in their approaches.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2015 Brolo dei Giusti 14.5%ABV Majestic
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Valpantena 2019 Ritocco 13.5%ABV Majestic
-Casalforte Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2020 13.5%ABV Azureau
-Corte Figaretto Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Valpantena 2018 Brolo del Figaretto 16.5%ABV Colio Estate
-Corte Forte Amarone della Valpolicella DOPCG Classico 2016 Terre de San Zeno 15.5%ABV
-Costa Arente Amarone della Valpolicella DICG Valpantena 2017 17%ABV $107 consignment Independent Wine Company Wines
-Ilatium Morini Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2017 Prognai 15%ABV
-Ilatium Morini Amarone della Valpolicella 2018 DOCG Leon 16.5%ABV
-Massimago Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018 Conte Gastone 16%ABV The Living Vine
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016 Rocca Sveva 15%ABV
-Sartori di Verona Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 15%ABV Univins
-Sartori di Verona Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2015 15.5%ABV $69.95 LCBO
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cantine di Verona Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 2018 Torre del Falasco 14%ABV
-Casalforte Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 15%ABV $39.95 Azureau
-Monte Zovo Famiglia Cottini Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020 Villa Annaberta 15%ABV $40 Dionysus
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore 2017 Rocca Sveva 14%ABV
-Rocca Sveva Cadis 1898 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 Cantina di Illasi 14.5%ABV
-Tinazzi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018 La Bastia Ca' de' Rocchi 15%ABV Vinoluna
-Valentina Cubi Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Classico Superiore 2018 Arusnatico 14%ABV
-Valentina Cubi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2013 Morar 16%ABV
The Food: cheese and biscuits, strawberries.
The Downside: it was a small room, and got crowded really fast.
The Upside: a chance to taste a range of Valpolicella in its different formats.
The Contact Person: judith@townhallbrands.com; lisa@androscom.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89
Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.comhttp://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
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