WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 2, 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 WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Finca Nueva Reserva 2005 Rioja: great expression of aged Rioja, two
years in French oak, black fruit showing, longer finish. +268425,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
years in French oak, black fruit showing, longer finish. +268425,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja, +976670, $29.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Vina Robles White 4 2010 Paso Robles: aromatic blend of viognier,
vermentino, verdelho, and savvy (gotta keep that "v" going),
emphasizing stone fruit and citric tones. +313460, $18.95, QPR: 89.
2. Finca Agostino Inicio Torrontes 2011 Mendoza: another wine with
floral goodness, some marmalade in the finish. 13% ABV. +303669,
$14.95, QPT: 89.
3. Te Awa Chardonnay 2010 Hawkes Bay: very rich, buttery, but elegantly
expressed. Let's keep my note shorter than the LCBO's. 13.5% ABV.
+301135, $18.95, QPR: 89.
4. Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2011 WO Western Cape:
pumped up grassiness, overlayered with herbs. 13.5% ABV. +96255,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Fina Taif Zibibbo 2011 IGP Sicilia: affordable, muscat-like but dry
grapiness. +310102, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Jean Geiler Medaille Muscat d'Alsace 2011: rich, ripe, off-dry
mouthfeel but bone-dry finish. Great muscat. Gold Medalist. +315093,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Vina Robles White 4 2010 Paso Robles: aromatic blend of viognier,
vermentino, verdelho, and savvy (gotta keep that "v" going),
emphasizing stone fruit and citric tones. +313460, $18.95, QPR: 89.
2. Finca Agostino Inicio Torrontes 2011 Mendoza: another wine with
floral goodness, some marmalade in the finish. 13% ABV. +303669,
$14.95, QPT: 89.
3. Te Awa Chardonnay 2010 Hawkes Bay: very rich, buttery, but elegantly
expressed. Let's keep my note shorter than the LCBO's. 13.5% ABV.
+301135, $18.95, QPR: 89.
4. Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2011 WO Western Cape:
pumped up grassiness, overlayered with herbs. 13.5% ABV. +96255,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
5. Fina Taif Zibibbo 2011 IGP Sicilia: affordable, muscat-like but dry
grapiness. +310102, $16.95, QPR: 89.
6. Jean Geiler Medaille Muscat d'Alsace 2011: rich, ripe, off-dry
mouthfeel but bone-dry finish. Great muscat. Gold Medalist. +315093,
$16.95, QPR: 90.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sebastiani Merlot 2007 Sonoma County: classic wine often found in US
restaurants, cork finish, aged nicely – now over 5 years. 13.5% ABV.
+219162, $17, QPR: 89.
2. Nieto Senetiner Gran Reserva Malbec/Petit Verdot 2010 Mendoza: 60%
Malbec, 14.5% ABV, black fruit and terrific food finish. +295170,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Undurraga Sibaris Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Maipo:
well-made balanced blend of black fruit and oak, tempered with mocha
tones. Gold Medalist. 14% ABV. +301200, $15.95, QPR: 89.
4. Vina Chocalan Reserva Syrah 2010 Maipo: great syrah complexity,
14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +38513, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Moulin de la Roquille Cuvee Speciale L'Esperance 2010 Cotes
de Bordeaux: quickly maturing but all the right Bordeaux elements are
there now. 14% ABV. A better wine in six months. Gold Medalist.
+307249, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Cantina Tollo Aldiano Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2008: lots of
fruit in that North American style of appeal. 14% ABV. +51706, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
7. Vina Olabarri Bikani Crianza 2008 Rioja: delicious, above entry
level Rioja, with all the elements in place. Gold Medalist. 13.5% ABV.
+315689, $16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Tarima Monastrell 2010 Alicante: explosive long flavours follow an
aromatic nose, lots of red fruit and spices. +310151, $12.95, QPR: 89.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Sebastiani Merlot 2007 Sonoma County: classic wine often found in US
restaurants, cork finish, aged nicely – now over 5 years. 13.5% ABV.
+219162, $17, QPR: 89.
2. Nieto Senetiner Gran Reserva Malbec/Petit Verdot 2010 Mendoza: 60%
Malbec, 14.5% ABV, black fruit and terrific food finish. +295170,
$17.95, QPR: 89.
3. Undurraga Sibaris Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Maipo:
well-made balanced blend of black fruit and oak, tempered with mocha
tones. Gold Medalist. 14% ABV. +301200, $15.95, QPR: 89.
4. Vina Chocalan Reserva Syrah 2010 Maipo: great syrah complexity,
14.5% ABV. Gold Medalist. +38513, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Moulin de la Roquille Cuvee Speciale L'Esperance 2010 Cotes
de Bordeaux: quickly maturing but all the right Bordeaux elements are
there now. 14% ABV. A better wine in six months. Gold Medalist.
+307249, $19.95, QPR: 90.
6. Cantina Tollo Aldiano Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2008: lots of
fruit in that North American style of appeal. 14% ABV. +51706, $17.95,
QPR: 89.
7. Vina Olabarri Bikani Crianza 2008 Rioja: delicious, above entry
level Rioja, with all the elements in place. Gold Medalist. 13.5% ABV.
+315689, $16.95, QPR: 89.
8. Tarima Monastrell 2010 Alicante: explosive long flavours follow an
aromatic nose, lots of red fruit and spices. +310151, $12.95, QPR: 89.
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. Fielding Viognier 2011 VQA Niagara, +142323, $25.95 retail.
2. Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Chardonnay 2011 VQA NOTL, +172338,
$21.95.
3. Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2010 Monterey County Central Coast,
+80226, $29.95.
4. Pascal Renaud Cuvee Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2011, +303651,
$26.95.
5. Yangarra Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale, +911974, $22.95.
6. Château Siaurac 2006 Lalande de Pomerol, +309831, $24.95.
7. Carema Riserva 2007 Piedmont, +317289, $27.95.
8. San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +212431, $47.95.
9. Ca' del Monte Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2003, +314401,
$41.95.
2. Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Chardonnay 2011 VQA NOTL, +172338,
$21.95.
3. Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2010 Monterey County Central Coast,
+80226, $29.95.
4. Pascal Renaud Cuvee Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse 2011, +303651,
$26.95.
5. Yangarra Shiraz 2008 McLaren Vale, +911974, $22.95.
6. Château Siaurac 2006 Lalande de Pomerol, +309831, $24.95.
7. Carema Riserva 2007 Piedmont, +317289, $27.95.
8. San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +212431, $47.95.
9. Ca' del Monte Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2003, +314401,
$41.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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