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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

July 23/11: LCBO Vintages Release: some tasting notes

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JULY 23, 2011
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. 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 available for re-
tasting.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc 2009: a fine tast9ing savvy, full of
grassy character, longer finish, 12.5% ABV. With food or as sipper.
+694737, $14.95, QPR: 90.
2. Kurt Darting Gewurztraminer Kabinett 2009 Durkheimer Nonnengarten
Pfalz: delicious summer sipper, very flavourful, only slight bitter
tang on finish. 11% ABV. +944181, $16.95, QPR: 90.
3. Vinea Garganega 2009 IGT Verona: golden colour, thickish body,
concentrated tasty and ripe flavours with some botrytis. +230656,
$12.95, QPR: 89.
4. Domaine Trotereau Quincy 2009: quality savvy, good balance, long
finish. +225185, $17.95, QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Columbia Winery Merlot 2007 Columbia Valley: a restaurant wine,
ready now with MVC plumy fruit and wood tones. +715870, $16.95, QPR:
90.
2. Tabali Reserva Especial Syrah 2008 Limari: very North Rhonish, 14.5%
ABV, spicy components. +213538, $19.95, QPR: 89.
3. Small Gully The Formula Robert's Shiraz 2006 Adelaide Plains: very
intense, good chocolate-mocha flavours, 15.9% ABV. +142935, $18.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Tokara Shiraz 2007 Stellenbosch: another quality North Rhone MVC
knock-off wine, 14.5% ABV. +240242, $16.95, QPR: 90.
5. Chateau Pindefleurs 2007 St. Emilion Grand Cru: excellent tones on
the mid-palate, intense and great soft flavours, ready now. +102764,
$20, QPR: 91.
6. Castello di Volpaia Prelius Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 IGT Maremma
Tuscany: a delicious food-driven cabby, 13.5% ABV. Ready now. +224022,
$17.95, 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
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
 
1. Coyote's Run Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 VQA Four Mile Creek,
$21.95 retail, +49775
2. Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2008 VQA Twenty Mile
Bench, $40, +56929
3. Macrostie Chardonnay 2008 Sonoma Coast, $30.95, +244467
4. Josef Chromy Chardonnay 2009 Tasmania, $29.95, +162982
5. Jean Fery et Fils Les Nosroyes Puligny-Montrachet 2008, $52.95,
+243568
6. La Chablisienne Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cry 2008, $28.95, +656835
7. La Crema Pinot Noir 2008 Los Carneros, $44.95, +58025
8. Mount Eden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Santa Cruz Mountains,
$49.95, +31831
9. Chateau Diane de Belgrave 2006 Haut-Medoc, $24.95, +226050
10. Franco Molino Barolo 2006, $29.95, +232967
11. Vignamaggio Gherardino Chianti Classico 2008, $23.95, +963512

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