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Wednesday, August 21, 2024

August 24th Vintages Release

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for  AUGUST 24, 2024 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 – my 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 my scores in the early 1980s. 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"; thus I have quit 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 GOOD being BRONZE.  This also fits into my scheme for trade tastings.


We are back -- sort of --

AUGUST 24th Vintages Release (~148 wines)

A: Recommended White Wines UNDER $20:

+357913 COLOMÉ TORRONTÉS 2023 Argentina $15.95
+295709 RABL LÖSS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2022 Austria $16.95
+25384 PFAFF CUVÉE JUPITER RIESLING 2023 Alsace $17.95
+519025 FEATHERSTONE PHOENIX 2023 VQA $18.95
+38193 CHÂTEAU DES PERLIGUES 2022 Bordeaux $14.95
+36914 LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 $16.95
+36686 CÀ MAIOL LUGANA 2023 $19.95
+111732 ATTEMS CUPRA RAMATO PINOT GRIGIO 2023 Emilia-Romagna $19.95
+919514 WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 New Zealand $19.95
+36663 PASSO DEL SUD LUNGOMARE VERMENTINO 2022 Puglia $16.95
+21107 ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE RANGE CHENIN BLANC 2023 South Africa $14.95
+12119 POMELADO ORANGE WINE 2022 Spain $18.95

B: Recommended White Wines OVER $20:

+39276 FEATHERSTONE FROSTBITE SELECT LATE HARVEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER VQA $29.95
+68825 HIDDEN BENCH ROSOMEL VINEYARD FUMÉ BLANC 2021 VQA $29.95
+523845 CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2022 VQA $24.95
+41780 SIMONNET-FEBVRE CHABLIS 2022 $33.95
+140889 DONATIEN BAHUAUD LES GRANDS MORTIERS VOUVRAY 2023 $22.95
+10421 ASTROLABE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 New Zealand $23.95
+311563 CANNONBALL CHARDONNAY 2022 California $22.95
+258145 A TO Z PINOT GRIS 2022 Oregon $22.95

C: Recommended Rose Wines:

+20359 13TH STREET EXPRESSION SERIES CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2023 VQA $17.95
+498535 MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2023 VQA $21.95
+37825 DOMAINE D'ESPEYRAN ELÉGANCE ROSÉ 2021 $17.95
+37679 SOLIS LUMEN ROSÉ 2023 Languedoc $14.95
+20012 LE BIJOU DE SOPHIE VALROSE ROSÉ Languedoc 2023 $17.95
+37680 DOMAINE TERRE DAVAU TAVEL ROSE 2023 $19.95

D: Recommended Sparkling Wines:

+39278 SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE SPARKLING ROSÉ VQA $29.95
+460832 WOLFBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE $21.95
+280172 OYSTER BAY ROSÉ SPARKLING CUVÉE $23.95

E: Recommended Red Wines UNDER $20:

+36315 TAPIZ MALBEC 2021 Argentina $14.95
+39275 FEATHERSTONE GAMAY NOIR 2020 VQA $18.95
+569673 VIU MANENT GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 Chile $17.95
+38258 FAMILLE DESCOMBE GRANITE BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES 2022 $18.95
+28727 CHÂTEAU CLOU DU PIN 2021 Bordeaux $18.95
+14391 DOMAINE LA DÉCELLE RÉSERVE VALRÉAS 2020 Rhone $15.95
+36661 MONNALISA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2022 $18.95
+320507 PIPOLI AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2020 Basilicata $16.95
+19590 RIVERA PRIMITIVO 2022 Puglia $17.95
+36535 SARTORI VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE RADOLE 2021 $16.95
+452730 JOSÉ MARIA DA FONSECA DOMINI 2019 Portugal $16.95
+276030 MURIEL RESERVA 2018 Spain $19.95
+37558 VIÑA CERRADA RESERVA 2018 Spain $18.95

F: Recommended Red Wines OVER $20:

+118067 VIÑA COBOS FELINO MALBEC 2022 Argentina $20.95
+38648 VIGNOBLES & COMPAGNIE LES ROCHES DES DENTELLES VACQUEYRAS $27.95
+17572 VITE COLTE SOGNI AL CAMPO NEBBIOLO 2021 Piedmont $24.95
+508655 PLANETA FRAPPATO 2022 Sicily $24.95
+438580 QUERCECCHIO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 $38.95
+3962 RICASOLI BROLIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 $23.95
+350454 RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 $34.95
+38814 BOREALIS PINOT NOIR 2020 Oregon $29.95
+421198 UNDERWOOD PINOT NOIR 2022 Oregon $22.95
+488635 ERATH RESPLENDENT PINOT NOIR 2019 Oregon $29.95

...and Limited Time Offers are also back. The current grouping is good until September 15. Some recommended wines are listed below, but you might also want to check the whole lot of 197 wines at

https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@ec_category=[Wine]&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale%5D%20]


-Flat Rock Twisted White VQA Sale Price $14.95 Save $3.00
-Luc Belaire Rare Rosé Sparkling Sale Price $39.95 Save $3.00
-Zonin Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore DOC Price $18.95 Save $3.00
-Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon Sale Price $14.95 Save $3.00
-Trius Rosé VQA Sale Price $16.95 Save $3.00
-Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio Sale Price $17.95 Save $3.00
-Barón de Ley Reserva 2019 Sale Price $19.95 Save $4.00
-Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Sale Price $64.95 Save $5.00
-Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon Sale Price $24.95 Save $5.00
-Moillard Chablis Les Coteaux D'Or Sale Price $29.35 Save $3.00
-Mitolo Jester Shiraz 5 stars Sale Price $19.95 Save $3.00
-Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Shiraz 5 stars Sale Price $17.00 Save $3.00
-J-Harden Cabernet Sauvignon Sale Price $16.95 Save $3.00
-A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir Sale Price $28.95 Save $3.00
-Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz Sale Price $16.00 Save $3.00
-Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon Sale Price $20.95 Save $3.00
-Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sale Price $25.95 Save $2.00
-Stoneleigh Latitude Sauvignon Blanc Sale Price $20.95 Save $3.00

** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season ---

A GETAWAY WITH THE WINES OF PORTUGAL TASTING EVENT OF MAY

The Date and Time: Wednesday May 1, 2024 2P - 5P
The Event: Getaway with the Wines of Portugal
The Venue: The Well, 8 Spadina
The Target Audience: Ontario wine trade, wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: spiral bound book with full details (contacts, regions, grapes, et al -- but no prices). Good background material on Portuguese wines. The quality continues to exceed every year.
The Quote/Background: it was a small list of importers (Sylvestre, Colio, P Dandurand, 351, The Vine, Charton Hobbs and Majestic) but I managed to sample my way through some of the wines that they represented. Most of these table wines were at the LCBO, or Vintages, or in Consignment, or "on the water".
The Wines: I did not taste every wine -- there must have been about 300 of them. As a grouping, I did admire the "Reserva" category, both for red and white wines. In general, the white wines were a bit more off-sweet than I am used to.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Sogevinus Veedha Red Douro 2021
-3 Rostos Flor de Linho Alvarinho 2023 Vinho Verde (351 Imports)
-Lua Cheia-Saven Maria Bonita Nostalgia 2022 Alvarinho Vinho Verde (The Vine Agency)
-J. Portugal Ramos Family Estates Loios 2023 Alentejo (Sylvestre)
-J. Portugal Ramos Family Estates Alvarinho 2023 Vinho Verde (Sylvestre)
-J. Portugal Ramos Family Estates Loureiro 2023 Vinho Verde (Sylvestre)
-J. Portugal Ramos Family Estates Marques de Borba Reserva 2019 Alentejo (Sylvestre)


-Casa Santos Lima Lab 2023 Lisboa [white] (Majestic)
-Casa Santos Lima Blend 2023 Lisboa [white] (Majestic)
-Sandeman Porto Tawny 20 Years Old Port Douro (Charton Hobbs) fortified
-Casa Santos Lima Colossal Reserva  2019 Lisboa [red] (Majestic)
-Casa Santos Lima Quinta Espirito Santo 2020 Lisboa [red] (Majestic)
-Bacalhoa Catarina Branco 2022 Peninsula de Setubal (Colio Estate Wines)
-Bacalhoa Quinta do Carmo Branco 2022 Alentejo (Colio Estate Wines)
-Bacalhoa JP Azeitao Rose 2013 Peninsula de Setubal Syrah (Colio Estate Wines)
-Quinta da Bacalhoa Tinto 2019 Peninsula de Setubal Cab Merlot (Colio Estate Wines) FAVE red
-Quinta da Bacalhoa Branco 2019 Peninsula de Setubal Semillon/SauvBl/Alvarinho  (Colio Estate Wines) FAVE white
-Vinihold Fonte Real 2022 [white, looking]
-Vinihold Fat Baron Reserva 2022 [white, looking]
-Casa das Hortas Vale do Gaio DOC Douro Grande Reserva Branco 2021  [looking]
-Casa das Hortas Vale do Gaio DOC Douro Reserva Tinto 2017  [looking]

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Casa Santos Lima Lab 2022 Lisboa [red] (Majestic)
-Casa Santos Lima Confidencial Reserva 2020 Lisboa [red] (Majestic)
-Casa Santos Lima Quid Pro Quo 2021 Alentejo [red] (Majestic)
-Casa Ferreirinha Planalto Branco Reserva 2022 Douro (Charton Hobbs)
-Casa de Amados Todos Bairrada Baga Reserva 2021
-Bacalhoa Quinta de Carmo Tinto 2019 Alentejo
-Aveleda Quinta Vale D Maria Vinas Velhas, 2020 Douro
-Alianca Vinho Verde 2023 (Colio Estate Wines)
-Bacalhoa Catarina Tinto 2021 (Colio Estate Wines)
-Aveleda Vinho Verde Solos de Granito 2022 White Alvarinho (P Dandurand)
-Aveleda Vinho Verde Solos de Xisto 2022 White Alvarinho (P Dandurand)
-Quinta da Lagoalva Reserva Branco 2022 (351 Imports)
-3 Rostos Flor de Linho Loureiro 2023 Vinho Verde (351 Imports)
-Lua Cheia-Saven Maria Papoila 2022 Alvarinho & Loureiro Vinho Verde (The Vine Agency)
-Vinihold ZOM DOC Douro Reserva 2019 [white, looking]
-Falua Duas Cartas Branco 2022
-Quinta do Baicao 2021 Europort Wines Lisboa
-Falua Quinta de Sao Jose Touriga Nacional 2019
-Herdade Paco do Conde Alicante Bouchet 2021 Alentejo
-Vinha de Souto 2019 Quinta do Fonte Santo A|lentejo
-Vinha des Arzilas 2011 Quinta de Vale Pios Douro
-Caves Velhas Garrafeira 2018 Enoporto Wines Dao
-Churchill's Estates Grafite Tinta 2019 Douro
-Caves Arcos do Dei Quinta de Sao Pedro 2016  Dao
-S. Escondidas 2019 Casa Ferreinha Douro

The Food: we were offered an "antipasto harvest table" put together by Oliver & Bonacini. This consisted of cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, and capicola; marinated veggies and olives; artisan breads and flatbreads; cheeses via 100km Foods which included Brigid's Brie, Celtic Blue, and Beemster XO.
The Downside: nothing really, except the general lack of price information.
The Upside: the main organizers were the seven importers who were on top of their wines with prices and availability in the province. The other wineries, about two dozen, made available what data they could since they were essentially looking for importers and had economic data in FOB and wholesale prices.
The Contact Person: mdiaz@sopexa.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92


Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

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