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Wednesday, December 11, 2024

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for DECEMBER 14, 2024 release.

Subject: WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for DECEMBER 14, 2024 release.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for  DECEMBER 14, 2024 release.

By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine 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. I will be listing 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.

MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)=basic recommendation
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine

MAJOR THEME:  BUBBLES and Online/Flagship stores exclusives, ~131 wines in all

Recommended Wines UNDER $20  MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)=basic recommendation
=========================
FIZZ+40866 BOUVET LADUBAY BOUVET BRUT DE LOIRE SAUMUR BRUT  $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
FIZZ+39675 CASERE VIZINA MILLESIMATO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2023 $18.95
W+42201 ROSE HILL PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY VQA 2023 $19.95
W+734517 TRIMBACH RIESLING ALSACE 2022 $29.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
W+673236 LAURENT MIQUEL NORD SUD VIOGNIER LANGUEDOC 2022  $16.95
W+631051 MONTE DEL FRÀ LUGANA ITALY 2023 $23.95
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 $18.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
W+919514 WITHER HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2023 $19.95
W+445098 CASAL DE VENTOZELA LOUREIRO PORTUGAL 2022 $16.95
R+442459 VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC/TOURIGA NACIONAL 2022 $19.95
R+63537 CHÂTEAU HYOT BORDEAUX2020 $15.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+123489 CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT BORDEAUX 2020 $18.95
R+72975 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP LAKE DOCTOR SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA 2021 $19.95
R+37937 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2022 $17.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+397448 FONTANAFREDDA EBBIO NEBBIOLO PIEDMONT 2022 $17.95

Recommended Wines OVER $20 MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)=basic recommendation
========================
FIZZ+924654 GARDET TRADITION CUVÉE SAINT FLAVY BRUT CHAMPAGNE $59.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
FIZZ+438994 KEW BARREL AGED BLANC DE BLANC 2017 $32.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
FIZZ+380030 KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 $32.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
W+307694 DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER KESSLER GEWURZTRAMINER ALSACE 2021 $37.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
W+28618 E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2021 $68.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
W+36903 BABICH SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2022 $24.95
W+19762 STAETE LANDT DUCHESS WILD BARREL FERMENT SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND $31.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+79798 SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC ARGENTINA 2022  $23.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+85601 MARCHAND-TAWSE CÔTE D'OR BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR 2021 $23.95
R+38944 CHÂTEAU JAS DE BRESSY CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 $42.95
R+396382 ZACCAGNINI TRALCETTO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 $21.95
R+47118 CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 $31.95
R+368910 CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 $34.95
R+324137 MASI COSTASERA RISERVA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO $84.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine


LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these  have value...on sale through January 5, 2025----

There are 37 sparklers on sale in this month's Limited Time Offers promotion (unfortunately there
seems to be no champagnes this time around)...Here are the better sparklers, and the best ones (total of 20 better and best sparklers)...Available now at LCBO stores through January 5, 2025...

RATING: MVC/QPR=BEST 90+  There are 10 wines rated here at 90+ points

Trius Brut VQA MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$26.95Sale Price $26.95
$29.95Price Was $29.95
Save $3.00

13th Street Cuvée Brut Sparkling Rosé MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$26.95Sale Price $26.95
$29.95Price Was $29.95
Save $3.00

Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling VQA MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$27.95Sale Price $27.95
$32.95Price Was $32.95
Save $5.00

Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Brut Sparkling Riesling  VQA  MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$20.95Sale Price $20.95
$24.95Price Was $24.95
Save $4.00

Saintly The Good Sparkling VQA
750 ml bottle
$16.95Sale Price $16.95
$18.95Price Was $18.95
Save $2.00

Lily Sparkling Rosé VQA
750 ml bottle
$14.95Sale Price $14.95
$17.95Price Was $17.95
Save $3.00

Rosehall Run Pixie Sparkling Rosé VQA
750 ml bottle
$17.95Sale Price $17.95
$19.95Price Was $19.95
Save $2.00

Romeo Prosecco
750 ml bottle
$14.10Sale Price $14.10
$16.10Price Was $16.10
Save $2.00

Zonin Prosecco Brut 1821 DOC MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
3 x 200 ml bottle
$16.95Sale Price $16.95
$17.95Price Was $17.95
Save $1.00

Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$20.95Sale Price $20.95
$22.95Price Was $22.95
Save $2.00

Louis Bouillot Perle d'Aurore Brut Rosé Crémant de Bourgogne MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$24.95Sale Price $24.95
$26.95Price Was $26.95
Save $2.00

Mionetto Prestige Prosecco Brut DOC Treviso
750 ml bottle
$16.80Sale Price $16.80
$18.80Price Was $18.80
Save $2.00

Luc Belaire Rare Rosé Sparkling
750 ml bottle
$35.95Sale Price $35.95
$40.95Price Was $40.95
Save $5.00

La Marca Prosecco DOC
750 ml bottle
$19.85Sale Price $19.85
$21.85Price Was $21.85
Save $2.00

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$15.95Sale Price $15.95
$17.95Price Was $17.95
Save $2.00

Codorniu Brut Clasico MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$14.00Sale Price $14.00
$16.50Price Was $16.50
Save $2.50

Fiol Prosecco DOC
750 ml bottle
$16.75Sale Price $16.75
$18.75Price Was $18.75
Save $2.00

Blu Giovello Prosecco DOC
750 ml bottle
$15.95Sale Price $15.95
$17.95Price Was $17.95
Save $2.00

Nozeco Sparkling Rose Dealcoholized
750 ml bottle
$10.95Sale Price $10.95
$12.95Price Was $12.95
Save $2.00

Ruffino Prosecco Rose DOC MVC/QPR=BEST 90+
750 ml bottle
$17.50Sale Price $17.50
$19.50Price Was $19.50
Save $2.00

Jacob's Creek Moscato Rosé Sparkling
750 ml bottle
$13.45Sale Price $13.45
$15.95Price Was $15.95
Save $2.50

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

REPORT ON CHARTONHOBBS/AUTHENTIC WINE TASTING  September 2024

The Date and Time: Monday September 16, 2024  2P - 4:30P
The Event: Event for professionals: Family of Wines
The Venue: Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex
The Target Audience: wine trade, wine media, writers
The Availability/Catalogue: a selection of exceptional consignment wines available exclusively.
The Quote/Background: Family of Wines was an event with exclusive wines from Charton  Hobbs Group and from Authentic Wines & Spirits. In the evening there was a luxury show of the wines being poured for a paying audience, beginning at 6P.
The Wines: I could not taste all the wines, unfortunately, due to a lack of time, even if I was attending both the trade show and the walk around afterwards. I concentrated mainly on sparklers and white wines. With some notes and scores below, these were the 14 corporate wineries involved:

Ginestet - Bordeaux,
MASI - Veneto, Italy
Champagne Louis Roederer - Champagne, France
Batasiolo - Piedmont, Italy
Famille Perrin (Château de Beaucastel) - Côte du Rhône, France
Michele Chiarlo - Piedmont, Italy
Sogrape - Portugal
Cakebread Cellars - Napa Valley, United States
Foley Family Wines - California, United States
Joseph Phelps - Napa Valley, United States
Collemassari - Tuscany, Italy
Bourgeois Family - Loire Valley, France
Cecchi - Tuscany, Italy
Bodegas Riojanas - Rioja, Spain

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Henri Bourgeois Sancerre 2023
-Clos Henri Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
-Cakebread Chardonnay 2022
-Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2015 $129
-Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne 2015 $457
-Champagne Louis Roederer Rose 2016 $129
-Champagne Louis Roederer Collection 244
-Casa Canevel Prosecco Rose DOC Brut 2023
-Masi Serego Alighieri Belloville Vermentino Toscana 2022
-Michele Chiarlo Palas Gavi DOCG 2023
-Barolo Bussia Vigneto Bofani 2015 DOCG
-Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva 2017 Rioja
-Famille Perrin Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2009
-Masi Serego Alighieri Vaio Amarone DOCG 2016

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Bishop Pine Wood Chardonnay 2022 $17
-Collemassari Melacce Montecucco Vermentino 2023
-Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022
-Silverado Miller Ranch Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2023
-Provia Regia Quinta do Romeira White 2023 Arinto
-Casa Ferreirihna Planalto 2023
-Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Reserva Tempranillo Blanco 2022 Rioja

The Food: basic cheeses and meats platters with some sweetened walnuts, olive buns and breads.
The Downside: it was a smallish room, far away from the street
The Upside: there was a posh booklet which explained the participants and the showcased wines.
The Contact Person: contact.on@chartonhobbs.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.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

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