WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for the DECEMBER 2, 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).
I was one of the first to jump on the Robert Parker bandwagon, using numerical indications for scores. Why? Because with a database I could rate, rank and order wines in any fashion. It was just so convenient using databases. Unfortunately, the numerical system has been shown to be disgraced, so I am quitting any ranking by number. From now on, it will just be GOOD, BETTER and BEST, which will give me some wiggle room (e.g. is this wine an 87, 88, 89, or 90? Or all of them...depends on my mood and time of day). With the rigorous standards and lab testing by the LCBO, I can safely say that every single wine at the LCBO is at least GOOD, which I would numerically rank at 75-85 points. For reasons of time and space, I will NOT be listing GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will probably relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with BRONZE being "GOOD". Significantly, this also fits into my scheme for trade tastings (as noted below).
MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
THEME: FINE WINES FOR FESTIVE ENTERTAINING
Wines Under $20
===============
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NZ $18.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+12679 MATAHIWI ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2022 NZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+23254 VIÑA MAYOR VERDEJO 2021 SPAIN $16.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+461327 BERONIA RUEDA VERDEJO 2022 SPAIN $15.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+23905 KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 OZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+131540 FEATHERSTONE RED TAIL MERLOT 2021 VQA NIAGARA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
Wines Over $20
==============
W+32570 PETER LEHMANN WIGAN EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2016 OZ $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+424507 WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2021 VQA NIAGARA $29.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+466144 J. MOREAU & FILS GLORIE DE CHABLIS 2022 $32.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+484303 CATENA APPELLATION AGRELO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 CHILE $23.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+50849 KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2020 ARGENTINA $22.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+84996 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON $47.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+10138 QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR 2017 VQA NIAGARA $40 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+312058 STRATUS RED 2020 VQA NIAGARA $55 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+26296 CHÂTEAU GEMEILLAN 2014 BORDEAUX $26.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+24755 E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2018 $68.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+261784 PAPALE LINEA ORO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2019 PUGLIA $26.80 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+747030 LA VITE LUCENTE 2021 TUSCANY $34.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
FIZZ -- recommended, but not rated
+967398 TALTARNI TACHÉ BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2015 OZ $27.55
+528752 BENJAMIN BRIDGE MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE BRUT SPARKLING NOVA SCOTIA $32.95
+234161 JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2017 VQA NIAGARA $34.95
+142679 13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE SPARKLING 2017 VQA NIAGARA $39.95
+163634 OYSTER BAY BRUT SPARKLING CUVÉE NZ $25.95
LTO -- LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale November 27 through Sunday December 31
W+250696 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi Piedmont now $18.95, save $3
W+350041 Paco & Lola Albarino Rias Baixas Spain now $21.95, save $3
W+038117 Vineland Estates Elevation St. Urban Vineyard Riesling VQA Niagara now $19.95, save $3
R+229781 A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Oregon now $26.95, save $3
R+337238 Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Chile now $21.95, save $3
R+259721 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone $21.95, save $3
R+177345 Muga Reserva Rioja now $24.95, save $4
R+590414 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough NZ now $19.95, save $3
R+741769 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Tuscany now $17.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara now $24.95, save $3
R+225086 Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon IGT Rubicone, Emilia-Romagna now $24.95, save $5
Fizz+147504 13th Street Cuvee Brut Sparkling Rose Trad. Method VQA Niagara now $28.95, save $3
[splurge]R+433417 Tedeschi Amarone Della Valpolicella Veneto now $46.95, save $3
REPORT ON THE 16th ANNUAL TASTIN' FRANCE trade show, July 2023...
The Date and Time: Monday July 10, 2023 11A - 4PM
The Event: Tastin' France: a B2B event with French wine producers seeking representation in Ontario, Quebec, and other provinces.
The Venue: Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, One Blue Jays Way
The Target Audience: wine professionals, buyers, LCBO, some media, etc.
The Availability/Catalogue: Ten producers showed their wines in Toronto, with a total of some 80 samples. The catalogue had a full listing of the products, including grapes and percentages. As well, there were names and addresses for each company, production numbers, and a good description of each winery.
The Quote/Background: This was the 16th annual trade tasting roadshow in three cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver. Previous Toronto hotel sites have included the Park Plaza Hyatt and the Hotel Ochoa.
The Wines: I did not taste every wine.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Champagne Esterlin Blanc de Blancs Brut Eclat Champagne
-Champagne Esterlin Cleo Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne 2010 [my fave of the day]
-Champagne Esterlin Brut Nature Champagne 2009
-Champagne Esterlin Brut Eclat Champagne
-Be Bio Chardonnay 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Domaine des Pierettes Eros Rose 2022 [gamay, chenin] Loire
-Cave de Ribeauville Cremant Brut Alsace NV [auxerrois, pinot blanc]
-Cave de Ribeauville Pinot Gris Collection 2022 Alsace
-Cave de Ribeauville Gewurztraminer Collection 2021 Alsace
-Claude Leblanc Pouilly-Fuisse 2020
-Claude Leblanc Pouilly-Fuisse 1er cru 2020
-Claude Leblanc Rully 1er cru blanc Les Marissous 2021
-Claude Leblanc Hautes-Cotes-de-Nuits 2020
-Claude Leblanc Santenay 2020
-Claude Leblanc Nuits-Saint-Georges 2019
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Village 2018
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Nuit-Saint-Georges Village 2020
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses Village 2018
-Fonoya Delta L'Homme Chardonnay 2022 IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert
-Le Cellier du Pic French Toast Rose 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Be Bio Grenache Rose 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Domaine du Vistre Mas du Vistre Blanc IGT Gard
-Vignobles Vellas Naughty Angel Viognier 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Les Silex Fumes Blanc 2022 IGP Saint Guilhem Le Desert
-Chateau Les Vergnes Blanc 2022 Bordeaux
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Champagne Esterlin Ex Solera Champagne NV
-Champagne Esterlin Pur Meunier Champagne NV
-Domaine des Pierettes Sen'S Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Touraine [organic]
-Vignoble Demois L'ane Blanc 2020 Chinon
-Vignoble Demois L'ane Rose 2020 Chinon
-Cave de Ribeauville Riesling Collection Alsace 2020
-Claude Leblanc Saint-Veran 2022
-Hesiode Le Bois Braud Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie 2021 Loire
-Hesiode Laudacious Brut Nature NV Montlouis-sur-Loire
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Auxey-Duresses Village 2016
-Domaine de Mayal Oplezir Rose 2022 Luberon
-Domaine de Mayal Cuvee Classique Blanc 2022 Luberon
-Domaine du Vistre Mas du Vistre Rose IGT Gard
-Vignobles Vellas Chai d'Oeuvre Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Mrs. Seafood 2021 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Poison Rose 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Naturellement Pur Orange Wine 2021 Languedoc
-Chateau Les Vergnes Rose 2022 Bordeaux
-Univitis Grand Theatre Blanc 2022 Bordeaux
-Univitis Grand Theatre Rose 2022 Bordeaux
The Food: we were given disposable "Bento" boxes of charcuterie, fromages, grapes, nuts, and crackers. Plus unlimited coffee and tea.
The Downside: the Marriott was a bit awkward to get to via TTC since it had a separate entrance to the Rogers Centre. Also, inside there was an enormous walk to the extra-spacious and extra-high ballroom where the tasting was held. I felt a lot like Alice.
The Upside: a great opportunity to taste some fabulous wines from France that are not currently being listed at the LCBO.
The Contact Person: romane.champion.int@businesfrance.fr; rodolphe.desobry@businessfrance.fr
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.
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).
I was one of the first to jump on the Robert Parker bandwagon, using numerical indications for scores. Why? Because with a database I could rate, rank and order wines in any fashion. It was just so convenient using databases. Unfortunately, the numerical system has been shown to be disgraced, so I am quitting any ranking by number. From now on, it will just be GOOD, BETTER and BEST, which will give me some wiggle room (e.g. is this wine an 87, 88, 89, or 90? Or all of them...depends on my mood and time of day). With the rigorous standards and lab testing by the LCBO, I can safely say that every single wine at the LCBO is at least GOOD, which I would numerically rank at 75-85 points. For reasons of time and space, I will NOT be listing GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will probably relate to SILVER and GOLD medals, with BRONZE being "GOOD". Significantly, this also fits into my scheme for trade tastings (as noted below).
MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
THEME: FINE WINES FOR FESTIVE ENTERTAINING
Wines Under $20
===============
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NZ $18.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+12679 MATAHIWI ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2022 NZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+23254 VIÑA MAYOR VERDEJO 2021 SPAIN $16.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+461327 BERONIA RUEDA VERDEJO 2022 SPAIN $15.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+23905 KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 OZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+131540 FEATHERSTONE RED TAIL MERLOT 2021 VQA NIAGARA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
Wines Over $20
==============
W+32570 PETER LEHMANN WIGAN EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2016 OZ $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+424507 WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2021 VQA NIAGARA $29.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+466144 J. MOREAU & FILS GLORIE DE CHABLIS 2022 $32.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+484303 CATENA APPELLATION AGRELO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 CHILE $23.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+50849 KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2020 ARGENTINA $22.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+84996 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON $47.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+10138 QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR 2017 VQA NIAGARA $40 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+312058 STRATUS RED 2020 VQA NIAGARA $55 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+26296 CHÂTEAU GEMEILLAN 2014 BORDEAUX $26.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+24755 E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2018 $68.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+261784 PAPALE LINEA ORO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2019 PUGLIA $26.80 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+747030 LA VITE LUCENTE 2021 TUSCANY $34.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
FIZZ -- recommended, but not rated
+967398 TALTARNI TACHÉ BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2015 OZ $27.55
+528752 BENJAMIN BRIDGE MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE BRUT SPARKLING NOVA SCOTIA $32.95
+234161 JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2017 VQA NIAGARA $34.95
+142679 13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE SPARKLING 2017 VQA NIAGARA $39.95
+163634 OYSTER BAY BRUT SPARKLING CUVÉE NZ $25.95
LTO -- LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale November 27 through Sunday December 31
W+250696 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi Piedmont now $18.95, save $3
W+350041 Paco & Lola Albarino Rias Baixas Spain now $21.95, save $3
W+038117 Vineland Estates Elevation St. Urban Vineyard Riesling VQA Niagara now $19.95, save $3
R+229781 A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Oregon now $26.95, save $3
R+337238 Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Chile now $21.95, save $3
R+259721 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone $21.95, save $3
R+177345 Muga Reserva Rioja now $24.95, save $4
R+590414 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough NZ now $19.95, save $3
R+741769 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Tuscany now $17.95, save $3
R+303800 Trius Red VQA Niagara now $24.95, save $3
R+225086 Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon IGT Rubicone, Emilia-Romagna now $24.95, save $5
Fizz+147504 13th Street Cuvee Brut Sparkling Rose Trad. Method VQA Niagara now $28.95, save $3
[splurge]R+433417 Tedeschi Amarone Della Valpolicella Veneto now $46.95, save $3
REPORT ON THE 16th ANNUAL TASTIN' FRANCE trade show, July 2023...
The Date and Time: Monday July 10, 2023 11A - 4PM
The Event: Tastin' France: a B2B event with French wine producers seeking representation in Ontario, Quebec, and other provinces.
The Venue: Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, One Blue Jays Way
The Target Audience: wine professionals, buyers, LCBO, some media, etc.
The Availability/Catalogue: Ten producers showed their wines in Toronto, with a total of some 80 samples. The catalogue had a full listing of the products, including grapes and percentages. As well, there were names and addresses for each company, production numbers, and a good description of each winery.
The Quote/Background: This was the 16th annual trade tasting roadshow in three cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver. Previous Toronto hotel sites have included the Park Plaza Hyatt and the Hotel Ochoa.
The Wines: I did not taste every wine.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Champagne Esterlin Blanc de Blancs Brut Eclat Champagne
-Champagne Esterlin Cleo Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne 2010 [my fave of the day]
-Champagne Esterlin Brut Nature Champagne 2009
-Champagne Esterlin Brut Eclat Champagne
-Be Bio Chardonnay 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Domaine des Pierettes Eros Rose 2022 [gamay, chenin] Loire
-Cave de Ribeauville Cremant Brut Alsace NV [auxerrois, pinot blanc]
-Cave de Ribeauville Pinot Gris Collection 2022 Alsace
-Cave de Ribeauville Gewurztraminer Collection 2021 Alsace
-Claude Leblanc Pouilly-Fuisse 2020
-Claude Leblanc Pouilly-Fuisse 1er cru 2020
-Claude Leblanc Rully 1er cru blanc Les Marissous 2021
-Claude Leblanc Hautes-Cotes-de-Nuits 2020
-Claude Leblanc Santenay 2020
-Claude Leblanc Nuits-Saint-Georges 2019
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Village 2018
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Nuit-Saint-Georges Village 2020
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses Village 2018
-Fonoya Delta L'Homme Chardonnay 2022 IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert
-Le Cellier du Pic French Toast Rose 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Be Bio Grenache Rose 2022 IGP Pays d'Oc
-Domaine du Vistre Mas du Vistre Blanc IGT Gard
-Vignobles Vellas Naughty Angel Viognier 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Les Silex Fumes Blanc 2022 IGP Saint Guilhem Le Desert
-Chateau Les Vergnes Blanc 2022 Bordeaux
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Champagne Esterlin Ex Solera Champagne NV
-Champagne Esterlin Pur Meunier Champagne NV
-Domaine des Pierettes Sen'S Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Touraine [organic]
-Vignoble Demois L'ane Blanc 2020 Chinon
-Vignoble Demois L'ane Rose 2020 Chinon
-Cave de Ribeauville Riesling Collection Alsace 2020
-Claude Leblanc Saint-Veran 2022
-Hesiode Le Bois Braud Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie 2021 Loire
-Hesiode Laudacious Brut Nature NV Montlouis-sur-Loire
-Hesiode Pierre Bourree et Fils Auxey-Duresses Village 2016
-Domaine de Mayal Oplezir Rose 2022 Luberon
-Domaine de Mayal Cuvee Classique Blanc 2022 Luberon
-Domaine du Vistre Mas du Vistre Rose IGT Gard
-Vignobles Vellas Chai d'Oeuvre Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Mrs. Seafood 2021 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Poison Rose 2022 Languedoc
-Vignobles Vellas Naturellement Pur Orange Wine 2021 Languedoc
-Chateau Les Vergnes Rose 2022 Bordeaux
-Univitis Grand Theatre Blanc 2022 Bordeaux
-Univitis Grand Theatre Rose 2022 Bordeaux
The Food: we were given disposable "Bento" boxes of charcuterie, fromages, grapes, nuts, and crackers. Plus unlimited coffee and tea.
The Downside: the Marriott was a bit awkward to get to via TTC since it had a separate entrance to the Rogers Centre. Also, inside there was an enormous walk to the extra-spacious and extra-high ballroom where the tasting was held. I felt a lot like Alice.
The Upside: a great opportunity to taste some fabulous wines from France that are not currently being listed at the LCBO.
The Contact Person: romane.champion.int@businesfrance.fr; rodolphe.desobry@businessfrance.fr
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment