WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR OCTOBER 26, 2013
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By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. My tastings are based on MVC (Modal
Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices
are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does
NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers or product
consultants. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-tasting.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. My tastings are based on MVC (Modal
Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio). Prices
are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The LCBO does
NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers or product
consultants. Corked wines are not normally available for a re-tasting.
======>>>> ** BEST WHITE WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Joseph Cattin Hatschbourg Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace Grand Cru,
+259770, $19.95: it is difficult to explain why the LCBO priced this
under $20, but what value!! 13% ABV, over-the-top MVC for
Gewurztraminer, lush tropicality with that zesty off-bitter finish.
Wow! But it all!! QPR: 93.
+259770, $19.95: it is difficult to explain why the LCBO priced this
under $20, but what value!! 13% ABV, over-the-top MVC for
Gewurztraminer, lush tropicality with that zesty off-bitter finish.
Wow! But it all!! QPR: 93.
======>>>> ** BEST RED WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Chateau de Maison Neuve 2010 Montaigne Saint-Emilion, +351965, $19.95:
best value of the under $20 2010 Bordeaux released today. Lots of
merlot softness and juiciness, noticeably wood-aged, 14.5% ABV, double-
decanting suggested. QPR: 91.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Mountadam Patriarch High Eden Shiraz 2009 Eden Valley South Australia,
+906255, $24.95 retail.
+906255, $24.95 retail.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Momo Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlborough, +9167, $17.95: herbaceous
green quality, lemony zest finish, first course wine, 13% ABV, twist
top, QPR: 89.
2. Morgenhof Estate Chardonnay 2012 WO Stellenbosch, +337519, $17.95:
wooded chardonnay lovers will enjoy this one, rounded and toasty, 14%
ABV, twist top. QPR: 90.
3. Domane Wachau Terraces Gruner Veltliner 2012 Wachau, +155812,
$17.95: lovely stone fruit and lemons flavours, twist top, 13% ABV.
QPR: 88.
4. Cleebourg Riesling 2010 Alsace, +341891, $19.95: slightly austere at
this point, should round out later. 12.5% ABV, Gold Medalist. QPR: 88.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Featherstone Red Tail Merlot 2011 VQA Niagara, +131540, $19.95:
full, ripe and juicy, small lot production (590 cases in all), 12.5%
ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
2. Bouchon Las Mercedes Ensamblaje 2009 Maule Chile, +325357, $20.95:
excellent blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and Malbec, expressive of
red fruit and mocha tones, great finish. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
3. Small Gully Mr. Black's Little Book Shiraz 2010 Barossa, +287979,
$17.95: ah, the power of smoked meat!! 15.2% ABV to sizzle the flames!
Twist top. QPR: 89.
4. Chateau Lacombe Noaillac 2010 Medoc, +199091, $18.95: a wine-to-
cellar recommendation, still tight but noticeably prominent in that all
the Medoc components are there. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Robin 2010 Lussac-Saint-Emilion, +171249, $17.95: mostly
merlot (70%) with balance cabernet franc. Approachable and ready now.
QPR: 89.
6. Domaine Montmartel Cotes du Rhone 2011, +355925, $15.95: organic,
14% ABV, grenache-syrah-carignan blend of a third each, nicely
developed spices, value priced. QPR: 88.
7. Monte Zovo Sa'Solin Ripasso Valpolicella 2011, +650713, $17.95: the
"Ripasso of the Month" from the LCBO. QPR: 88.
8. Coto de Imaz Reserva 2005 Rioja, +23762, $20.95: traditional styled
Rioja, 13.5% ABV, red fruit, US oak tones for MVC complexity. QPR: 89.
9. Vinos Sin Ley "M" Old Vine Monastrell 2011 Yecla Spain, +344226,
$18.95: organic mourvedre with North American taste appeal of ripeness
and 14.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Featherstone Red Tail Merlot 2011 VQA Niagara, +131540, $19.95:
full, ripe and juicy, small lot production (590 cases in all), 12.5%
ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.
2. Bouchon Las Mercedes Ensamblaje 2009 Maule Chile, +325357, $20.95:
excellent blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and Malbec, expressive of
red fruit and mocha tones, great finish. 14% ABV. QPR: 89.
3. Small Gully Mr. Black's Little Book Shiraz 2010 Barossa, +287979,
$17.95: ah, the power of smoked meat!! 15.2% ABV to sizzle the flames!
Twist top. QPR: 89.
4. Chateau Lacombe Noaillac 2010 Medoc, +199091, $18.95: a wine-to-
cellar recommendation, still tight but noticeably prominent in that all
the Medoc components are there. 13.5% ABV. QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Robin 2010 Lussac-Saint-Emilion, +171249, $17.95: mostly
merlot (70%) with balance cabernet franc. Approachable and ready now.
QPR: 89.
6. Domaine Montmartel Cotes du Rhone 2011, +355925, $15.95: organic,
14% ABV, grenache-syrah-carignan blend of a third each, nicely
developed spices, value priced. QPR: 88.
7. Monte Zovo Sa'Solin Ripasso Valpolicella 2011, +650713, $17.95: the
"Ripasso of the Month" from the LCBO. QPR: 88.
8. Coto de Imaz Reserva 2005 Rioja, +23762, $20.95: traditional styled
Rioja, 13.5% ABV, red fruit, US oak tones for MVC complexity. QPR: 89.
9. Vinos Sin Ley "M" Old Vine Monastrell 2011 Yecla Spain, +344226,
$18.95: organic mourvedre with North American taste appeal of ripeness
and 14.5% ABV. QPR: 88.
VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
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Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Domaine de Fussiacus Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2011, +276444,
$26.95 retail.
2. Jean-Marc Brocard Montmains Chablis 1er cru 2011, +983882, $29.95.
3. William Fevre Chablis 2011, +124578, $24.95.
4. Chateau Haut Barrail 2010 Medoc, +350876, $23.95.
5. La Fleur Chazal 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +348573, $28.95.
6. Domaine Cyrot-Buthiau Volnay 2011, +354332, $48.95.
7. Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010, +983650, $35.95.
8. Saint-Desirat Saint-Joseph 2010, +342980, $23.95.
9. Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2008, +685180, $27.95.
10. Remo Farina Le Pezze Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010,
+171587, $34.95.
$26.95 retail.
2. Jean-Marc Brocard Montmains Chablis 1er cru 2011, +983882, $29.95.
3. William Fevre Chablis 2011, +124578, $24.95.
4. Chateau Haut Barrail 2010 Medoc, +350876, $23.95.
5. La Fleur Chazal 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +348573, $28.95.
6. Domaine Cyrot-Buthiau Volnay 2011, +354332, $48.95.
7. Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010, +983650, $35.95.
8. Saint-Desirat Saint-Joseph 2010, +342980, $23.95.
9. Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2008, +685180, $27.95.
10. Remo Farina Le Pezze Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010,
+171587, $34.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
