WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for MAY 10, 2025 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. 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.
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)=basic recommendation
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
MAJOR THEME: Fizz
Recommended Wines UNDER $20
=========================
Fizz+648188 MIMI GRANDE RÉSERVE BRUT ROSÉ PROVENCE $19.95
Fizz+43393 NORTON COSECHA ESPECIAL EXTRA BRUT SPARKLING ARGENTINA $18.95
Rose+408476 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SCARLET LADYBIRD AUSTRALIA ROSÉ 2024 $18.95
W+702845 D'ARENBERG THE OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY AUSTRALIA 2022 $17.95
W+71233 LENZ MOSER PRESTIGE GRÜNER VELTLINER AUSTRIA 2023 $18.95
W+413757 COUILLARD RÉSERVE DU CHIRON MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2023 $14.95
W+588814 ZACHARIAS ASSYRTIKO GREECE 2023 $17.95
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2023 $18.95
R+63537 CHÂTEAU HYOT BORDEAUX 2022 $15.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+336313 GUADALUPE RED PORTUGAL 2022 $13.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+574368 FINCA MONICA CRIANZA SPAIN 2019 $15.95
R+971689 D'ANGELO AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE BASILICATA 2020 $19.95
R+42756 ZUCCARDI BRAZOS DE LOS ANDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON ARGENTINA 2023 $17.95
R+478271 SISTER'S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON AUSTRALIA 2022 $18.95
R+131540 FEATHERSTONE RED TAIL MERLOT VQA 2021 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
Recommended Wines OVER $20
========================
Fizz+175588 GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT SOUTH AFRICA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
Fizz+405035 HUFF CUVÉE JANINE SPARKLING ROSÉ VQA 2021 $34.00
Fizz+383315 FLAT ROCK RIDDLED SPARKLING VQA 2021 $39.95
Fizz+19346 THE FOREIGN AFFAIR BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING VQA $24.95
Rose+498535 MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ VQA 2024 $21.95
W+660704 STRATUS WHITE VQA 2022 $49.20
W+733956 MALLORY & BENJAMIN TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2023 $21.95
R+157347 ENRICO SERAFINO SANAVENTO BARBARESCO PIEDMONT 2021 $37.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+23374 CAPRAIA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 $39.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+747030 LA VITE LUCENTE TUSCANY 2022 $32.95
R+412759 STRATUS CABERNET FRANC VQA 2021 $45.20
R+48884 COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 $32.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...Save on these wines from April 28 to May 25, 2025 --
BOTTEGA GOLD PROSECCO DOC Treviso, Veneto
+621458 (D – 14 g/L) 750 mL $30.95
NOW $29.45 Save $1.50
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES BRUT SPARKLING VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
traditional method
+224766 (D – 12 g/L) 750 mL $32.95
NOW $30.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD ROSÉ Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand
+650325 (XD – 7 g/L) 750 mL $20.95
NOW $18.95 Save $2.00
LAURENT-PERRIER CUVÉE BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE
+158550 (D – 11 g/L) 750 mL $119.95
NOW $109.95 Save $10.00
W H I T E W I N ES
CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING VQA Beamsville Bench,
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, sustainable
+286377 (XD – 7 g/L) 750 mL $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC Awatere Valley, Marlborough New Zealand
+225557 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 mL $19.95
NOW $18.95 Save $1.00
FLAT ROCK RIESLING VQA Niagara Peninsula
+43281 (M – 19 g/L) 750 mL $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD ILLUMINATE SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough New Zealand
+18947 (D – 16 g/L) 750 mL $20.95
NOW $18.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 50 bonus points
STONELEIGH LATITUDE SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough New Zealand
+40137 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 mL REG. $23.95
NOW $20.95 Save $3.00
TAWSE QUARRY ROAD ORGANIC RIESLING VQA Vinemount Ridge Niagara
+198853 (M – 24 g/L) 750 mL $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
R E D W I N ES
CATENA MALBEC Mendoza, Argentina
+478727 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 mL $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 75 bonus points
CHÂTEAU PIPEAU SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU Bordeaux
+302018 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 mL $44.95
NOW $40.95 Save $4.00
MAN FAMILY WINES SKAAPVELD SHIRAZ
WO Cape Coast, South Africa
+71332 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 mL $14.95
NOW $12.95 Save $2.00
MONTE ANTICO IGT Tuscany
+69377 (D – 8 g/L) 750 mL $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 30 bonus points
OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR Marlborough New Zealand
+590414 (XD – 5 g/L) 750 mL $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00
RIVERA IL FALCONE RISERVA CASTEL DEL MONTE DOCG Puglia, Italy
+177295 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 mL $26.95
NOW $23.95 Save $3.00
DUCA DI SARAGNANO ALCHYMIA PRIMITIVO IGT Puglia, Italy
+636613 (D – 18 g/L) 750 mL REG. $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00
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. 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.
MVC/QPR=BETTER (86-89)=basic recommendation
MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
MAJOR THEME: Fizz
Recommended Wines UNDER $20
=========================
Fizz+648188 MIMI GRANDE RÉSERVE BRUT ROSÉ PROVENCE $19.95
Fizz+43393 NORTON COSECHA ESPECIAL EXTRA BRUT SPARKLING ARGENTINA $18.95
Rose+408476 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SCARLET LADYBIRD AUSTRALIA ROSÉ 2024 $18.95
W+702845 D'ARENBERG THE OLIVE GROVE CHARDONNAY AUSTRALIA 2022 $17.95
W+71233 LENZ MOSER PRESTIGE GRÜNER VELTLINER AUSTRIA 2023 $18.95
W+413757 COUILLARD RÉSERVE DU CHIRON MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2023 $14.95
W+588814 ZACHARIAS ASSYRTIKO GREECE 2023 $17.95
W+734798 THORNBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2023 $18.95
R+63537 CHÂTEAU HYOT BORDEAUX 2022 $15.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+336313 GUADALUPE RED PORTUGAL 2022 $13.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+574368 FINCA MONICA CRIANZA SPAIN 2019 $15.95
R+971689 D'ANGELO AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE BASILICATA 2020 $19.95
R+42756 ZUCCARDI BRAZOS DE LOS ANDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON ARGENTINA 2023 $17.95
R+478271 SISTER'S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON AUSTRALIA 2022 $18.95
R+131540 FEATHERSTONE RED TAIL MERLOT VQA 2021 $19.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
Recommended Wines OVER $20
========================
Fizz+175588 GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT PINOT SOUTH AFRICA $24.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
Fizz+405035 HUFF CUVÉE JANINE SPARKLING ROSÉ VQA 2021 $34.00
Fizz+383315 FLAT ROCK RIDDLED SPARKLING VQA 2021 $39.95
Fizz+19346 THE FOREIGN AFFAIR BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING VQA $24.95
Rose+498535 MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ VQA 2024 $21.95
W+660704 STRATUS WHITE VQA 2022 $49.20
W+733956 MALLORY & BENJAMIN TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2023 $21.95
R+157347 ENRICO SERAFINO SANAVENTO BARBARESCO PIEDMONT 2021 $37.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+23374 CAPRAIA RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 $39.95 MVC/QPR=BEST (90+ )=superior wine
R+747030 LA VITE LUCENTE TUSCANY 2022 $32.95
R+412759 STRATUS CABERNET FRANC VQA 2021 $45.20
R+48884 COUDOULET DE BEAUCASTEL CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 $32.95
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these are "better" value...Save on these wines from April 28 to May 25, 2025 --
BOTTEGA GOLD PROSECCO DOC Treviso, Veneto
+621458 (D – 14 g/L) 750 mL $30.95
NOW $29.45 Save $1.50
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES BRUT SPARKLING VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
traditional method
+224766 (D – 12 g/L) 750 mL $32.95
NOW $30.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD ROSÉ Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand
+650325 (XD – 7 g/L) 750 mL $20.95
NOW $18.95 Save $2.00
LAURENT-PERRIER CUVÉE BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE
+158550 (D – 11 g/L) 750 mL $119.95
NOW $109.95 Save $10.00
W H I T E W I N ES
CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING VQA Beamsville Bench,
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, sustainable
+286377 (XD – 7 g/L) 750 mL $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00
ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC Awatere Valley, Marlborough New Zealand
+225557 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 mL $19.95
NOW $18.95 Save $1.00
FLAT ROCK RIESLING VQA Niagara Peninsula
+43281 (M – 19 g/L) 750 mL $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00
KIM CRAWFORD ILLUMINATE SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough New Zealand
+18947 (D – 16 g/L) 750 mL $20.95
NOW $18.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 50 bonus points
STONELEIGH LATITUDE SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough New Zealand
+40137 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 mL REG. $23.95
NOW $20.95 Save $3.00
TAWSE QUARRY ROAD ORGANIC RIESLING VQA Vinemount Ridge Niagara
+198853 (M – 24 g/L) 750 mL $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00
R E D W I N ES
CATENA MALBEC Mendoza, Argentina
+478727 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 mL $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 75 bonus points
CHÂTEAU PIPEAU SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU Bordeaux
+302018 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 mL $44.95
NOW $40.95 Save $4.00
MAN FAMILY WINES SKAAPVELD SHIRAZ
WO Cape Coast, South Africa
+71332 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 mL $14.95
NOW $12.95 Save $2.00
MONTE ANTICO IGT Tuscany
+69377 (D – 8 g/L) 750 mL $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00
+Earn 30 bonus points
OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR Marlborough New Zealand
+590414 (XD – 5 g/L) 750 mL $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00
RIVERA IL FALCONE RISERVA CASTEL DEL MONTE DOCG Puglia, Italy
+177295 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 mL $26.95
NOW $23.95 Save $3.00
DUCA DI SARAGNANO ALCHYMIA PRIMITIVO IGT Puglia, Italy
+636613 (D – 18 g/L) 750 mL REG. $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00
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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