WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for DECEMBER 16, 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 better or best 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 by overuse and "inflated numbers", 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 the GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and the BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will 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+ )
MAJOR THEME: Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles!
Wines Under $20
=========
W+311456 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP EXCALIBUR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 AUSTRALIA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+251470 TRIUS DISTINCTION BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2021 VQA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+389726 BOYA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 CHILE $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+573683 FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2022 $18.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+919514 WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+20970 LE BONHEUR CHARDONNAY 2022 SOUTH AFRICA $18.25 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+261867 FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2021 ARGENTINA $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+34606 SANTA EMA 60/40 BARREL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON/CARMENÈRE $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+224915 DOMAINES ANDRÉ AUBERT VISAN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+908079 BENI DI BATASIOLO NEBBIOLO 2020 $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
Wines Over $20
=========
Rose+493171 OYSTER BAY ROSÉ 2022 NZ $20.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+360297 JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE MERITAGE 2021 $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+685222 LA CHABLISIENNE GRANDE CUVÉE CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 $54.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+82255 ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE 2022 $39.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+485854 CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT WHITE 2021 Rhone $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+594002 JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE 2020 VQA $32.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+35464 LOUIS AINE & FILS MORGON 2022 BEAUJOLAIS $22.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+13438 CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2018 Rhone $32.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+16210 CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 $62.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+994095 ALTESINO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 $64.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+574251 FANTI POGGIO TORTO ROSSO 2020 Tuscany $23.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
FIZZ -- recommended (but not rated) bubbles from the December 16 release...
+105353 CA' DEL BOSCO CUVÉE PRESTIGE EXTRA BRUT FRANCIACORTA $46.95
+113035 PELLER ESTATES SIGNATURE SERIES ICE CUVÉE ROSÉ SPARKLING VQA $36.95
+14421 FLAT ROCK TWISTED SPARKLING 2021 VQA $19.95
+520411 VIENI SPARKLING RIESLING VQA $19.95
+284547 PELLER ESTATES SIGNATURE SERIES CLASSIC ICE CUVÉE SPARKLING VQA $35.95
+183624 CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE $22.95
+32269 MONTGERMONT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT $28.95
+178137 LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE RARE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE 2018 $22.95
+32270 PITARS EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2021 $25.95
+302752 SANTA MARGHERITA BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING $21.95
+16836 GRAN BARÓN BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2020 $18.95
LTO -- LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale 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+38117 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
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON TASTING OF WINES FROM CHATEAU D'AIGUEVILLE COTES DU RHONE AND HENRI DE VILLAMONT BEAUNE BURGUNDY
The Date and Time: July 27, 12:30 - 3PM
The Event: Chateau d'Aigueville and Henri de Villamont wine tasting.
The Venue: National Club
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: the wines will mostly be available at LCBO/Vintages over the next little while, before Christmas in most cases.
The Quote/Background: Domain Henri de Villamont (Savigny-les-Beaune) is one of the oldest producers in the region, with ten hectares in the Cote de Beaune (Savigny) and Cote de Nuits (Chambolle-Musigny). A wide range of appellations are matured in 4,000 barrels in their cellars. We sampled six different wines. From the organic certified Chateau d'Aigueville in the Southern Rhone (soon to be biodynamic with the 2023 harvest), we sampled six more wines. Both wineries are owned by the Schenk family wine merchants of Switzerland (in all, Schenk harvests 3500 hectares of vineyards world-wide).
The Wines: Prices are estimated retail...
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau d'Aigueville Vin de France La Source Blanc 2021 (mostly clairette)
-Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Chardonnay Prestige 2021 ($24)
-Henri de Villamont Macon-Villages 2018 ($29)
-Henri de Villamont Pouilly-Fuisse Grumes d'Or 2020 ($53)
-Henri de Villamont Santenay Les Champs-Claude 2017 ($43)
-Henri de Villamont Savigny-Les-Beaune Le Village 2019 ($59)
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Massif d'Uchaux 2020
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Pinot Noir Prestige 2021 ($24)
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2021
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2022
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Villages 2019
-Chateau d'Aigueville Vin de France La Rosee Rouge 2022 (all syrah)
The Food: iced heritage tomato caprese salad, followed by a large chicken supreme with veggies, and with fresh berries and ice cream for dessert.
The Downside: I had to leave early due to a prior engagement.
The Upside: it was hot outside but nicely chilled inside.
The Contact Person: Tom Noitsis-- sales@eurovintage.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91
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 better or best 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 by overuse and "inflated numbers", 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 the GOOD wines. Just the BETTER (86-89) and the BEST (90+ ) wines. This spread of points will 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+ )
MAJOR THEME: Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles!
Wines Under $20
=========
W+311456 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP EXCALIBUR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 AUSTRALIA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+251470 TRIUS DISTINCTION BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2021 VQA $19.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+389726 BOYA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 CHILE $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+573683 FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2022 $18.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+919514 WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 NZ $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+20970 LE BONHEUR CHARDONNAY 2022 SOUTH AFRICA $18.25 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+261867 FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2021 ARGENTINA $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+34606 SANTA EMA 60/40 BARREL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON/CARMENÈRE $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+224915 DOMAINES ANDRÉ AUBERT VISAN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+908079 BENI DI BATASIOLO NEBBIOLO 2020 $19.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
Wines Over $20
=========
Rose+493171 OYSTER BAY ROSÉ 2022 NZ $20.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+360297 JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA GRAND RESERVE WHITE MERITAGE 2021 $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
W+685222 LA CHABLISIENNE GRANDE CUVÉE CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 $54.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+82255 ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE 2022 $39.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
W+485854 CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT WHITE 2021 Rhone $29.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+594002 JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE MERITAGE 2020 VQA $32.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+35464 LOUIS AINE & FILS MORGON 2022 BEAUJOLAIS $22.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+13438 CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2018 Rhone $32.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+16210 CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 $62.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
R+994095 ALTESINO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 $64.95 MVC/QPR: BEST (90+ )
R+574251 FANTI POGGIO TORTO ROSSO 2020 Tuscany $23.95 MVC/QPR: BETTER (86-89)
FIZZ -- recommended (but not rated) bubbles from the December 16 release...
+105353 CA' DEL BOSCO CUVÉE PRESTIGE EXTRA BRUT FRANCIACORTA $46.95
+113035 PELLER ESTATES SIGNATURE SERIES ICE CUVÉE ROSÉ SPARKLING VQA $36.95
+14421 FLAT ROCK TWISTED SPARKLING 2021 VQA $19.95
+520411 VIENI SPARKLING RIESLING VQA $19.95
+284547 PELLER ESTATES SIGNATURE SERIES CLASSIC ICE CUVÉE SPARKLING VQA $35.95
+183624 CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE $22.95
+32269 MONTGERMONT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT $28.95
+178137 LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE RARE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE 2018 $22.95
+32270 PITARS EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2021 $25.95
+302752 SANTA MARGHERITA BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING $21.95
+16836 GRAN BARÓN BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2020 $18.95
LTO -- LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offers selections...these are good value...on sale 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+38117 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
** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---
REPORT ON TASTING OF WINES FROM CHATEAU D'AIGUEVILLE COTES DU RHONE AND HENRI DE VILLAMONT BEAUNE BURGUNDY
The Date and Time: July 27, 12:30 - 3PM
The Event: Chateau d'Aigueville and Henri de Villamont wine tasting.
The Venue: National Club
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: the wines will mostly be available at LCBO/Vintages over the next little while, before Christmas in most cases.
The Quote/Background: Domain Henri de Villamont (Savigny-les-Beaune) is one of the oldest producers in the region, with ten hectares in the Cote de Beaune (Savigny) and Cote de Nuits (Chambolle-Musigny). A wide range of appellations are matured in 4,000 barrels in their cellars. We sampled six different wines. From the organic certified Chateau d'Aigueville in the Southern Rhone (soon to be biodynamic with the 2023 harvest), we sampled six more wines. Both wineries are owned by the Schenk family wine merchants of Switzerland (in all, Schenk harvests 3500 hectares of vineyards world-wide).
The Wines: Prices are estimated retail...
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau d'Aigueville Vin de France La Source Blanc 2021 (mostly clairette)
-Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Chardonnay Prestige 2021 ($24)
-Henri de Villamont Macon-Villages 2018 ($29)
-Henri de Villamont Pouilly-Fuisse Grumes d'Or 2020 ($53)
-Henri de Villamont Santenay Les Champs-Claude 2017 ($43)
-Henri de Villamont Savigny-Les-Beaune Le Village 2019 ($59)
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Massif d'Uchaux 2020
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Pinot Noir Prestige 2021 ($24)
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2021
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2022
-Chateau d'Aigueville Cotes du Rhone Villages 2019
-Chateau d'Aigueville Vin de France La Rosee Rouge 2022 (all syrah)
The Food: iced heritage tomato caprese salad, followed by a large chicken supreme with veggies, and with fresh berries and ice cream for dessert.
The Downside: I had to leave early due to a prior engagement.
The Upside: it was hot outside but nicely chilled inside.
The Contact Person: Tom Noitsis-- sales@eurovintage.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91
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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