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Thursday, September 10, 2009

LCBO VINTAGES: Tasting Notes for Sept 12/09 release

WORLD WINE WATCH (VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing <deantudor@deantudor.com>
Always at www.deantudor.com since 1995. Also visit my "Wines, Beers and
Spirits of the Net Compendium", a guide to thousands of news items and
RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits.
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. Also, some defective
or corked wines are not available for re-tasting.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Cave Spring Estate Gewurztraminer 2007 VQA Beamsville Bench Niagara:
delicious in a light Alsatian dry style. +302059, $15.95, QPR: 90.
2. Fielding Estate Chardonnay Musque 2007 VQA Niagara: bright floral
aromas, good body, almost off-dry in the finish. +129643, $13.95, QPR:
90.
3. Henry of Pelham Off-Dry Reserve Riesling 2007 VQA Short Hill Bench:
off-dry complexity, not sweet at all, fini9shes with great length.
11.5% ABV. +557165, $15.95, QPR: 90.
4. Huff Estates Chardonnay 2007 VQA Ontario: very good typicity, long
finish, winemaker wine. +129742, $14.95, QPR: 90.
5. Rosehall Run Cuvee County Chardonnay 2007 VQA Prince Edward County:
some musque was added, deftly made wine, balance of fruit-acid-wood.
+132928, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Fairview Viognier 2008 Paarl: good MVC, peach and lemon and some
toast, great length and finish, 14.5% ABV. Twist top. +906487, $19.95,
QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Quinta da Falorca Colheita Seleccionada 2005 Dao: interesting fruit
complexity, a bit young, needs time to open, value priced. +131854,
$12.95, QPR: 90.
2. Stoney Ridge Founder's Signature Collection Pinot Noir 2007 VQA
Ontario: cranberries, MVC for pinot noir, sour cherries, Burgundian
style but thinner, unfiltered. +588, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Stonehedge Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 California: easy to quaff, hits
all the right cabby buttons, finishes smokey. +135327, $14.95, QPR: 90.
4. Wits End The Procrastinator 2006 McLaren Vale: delivers the cabernet
minty hit and the shiraz chocolate texture, full, firm and fruity, 15%
ABV. +684100, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Domaine du Prieure Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2007: typical
burgundy albeit a bit thin, earthy, youthful, and priced to sell.
+1286787, $18.95, QPR: 90.
6. Chateau Pech-Redon La Clape L'Epervier 2004 Coteaux du Languedoc:
black fruit and garrigue, drying out nicely. +129965, $19.95, QPR: 90.
7. Memoria Primitivo di Manduria 2006 Puglia: pure California zinfandel
in style but thicker, North American appeal, ready soon. +687210,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
8. Navarrsotillo Noemus Joven 2007 Rioja: hard to beat this organic
wine at this price point. Light Rioja flavours, 13% ABV, great for many
winter nights. +131839, $14.95, QPR: 90.
 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are ready to enjoy right now. Consumers
could buy and bring to those restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2007 VQA Beamsville Bench, +68817,
$35.20 retail.
2. Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir 2007 VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Niagara, +1560, $29.95 retail.
3. St. Clement Chardonnay 2007 Carneros Napa, +128934, $24.95 retail.
4. Kangarilla Road Shiraz/Viognier 2006 McLaren Vale, +127548, $27.95.
5. Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough, +735043, $24.95.
6. Cotes Rocheuses 2005 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +125674, $32.95.
7. Schloss Reinhatshausen Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2003 QmP, +127571,
$23.95.
8. Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2003, +125070, $57.95.
9. Torrederos Tinto Crianza 2004 Ribera del Duero, +40808, $24.95.
10. Vallobera Reserva 2001 Rioja, +114314, $28.95.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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