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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 8, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR JUNE 8, 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.
 
======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
 
Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 WO Coastal
Region: twist top, over the top, ripe, full, 14.5% ABV. You'll have fun
with this powerhouse. +146894, $16.95, QPR: 90.
 
TOP VALUE WHITE AND ROSE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 VQA Four Mile Creek:
nice developing flavours, almost in balance, give it six more months.
Terrific smoke here. +336115, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. Fielding Gewurztraminer 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula: very close to
Alsatian in style, nice long length, summer sipper. 12.5% ABV. +146753,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Susana Balbo Crios Torrontes 2012 Mendoza: some slight spritz,
lovely floral tones, summer engagement. Patio or deck. +1834, $13.95,
QPR: 89.
4. Louis Hauller Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: nicely laid out MVC tones
of lychee, honeyed spices, some citrus on the finish. Sip or first
course. 12.5% ABV. +141754, $19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Chateau Moulin de Vignolle 2011 Bordeaux Blanc: balance of zest,
lemons and honey. 13% ABV. Gold Medalist. +321364, $15.95, QPR: 89.
6. Donatien Bahuaud Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray 2012: off-dry chenin
blanc, great as sipper or first course white. 11% ABV. Refreshing stone
tones, including minerals and stone fruit. +140889, $15.95, QPR: 89.
7. Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011:
good balance of a variety of fruit, plus some depth and body not
usually seen in soaves at this price level. 13% ABV. +134551, $13.95,
QPR: 89.
8. Gassier Sables D'Azur Rose 2012 Cotes de Provence: pale colour,
affordable garrigue, sip or first course, but drink soonish. +33621,
$13.95, QPR: 89.
 
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Urraca Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Mendoza: a good tasting cabby, 14.8%
ABV, about a year in new oak. Typical black fruit tones, has aged well.
+271080, $19.95, QPR: 89.
2. J. Bouchon Las Mercedes Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Maule: with 13.5% ABV, the wine has some substance beyond the usual MVC
Chilean cabby. Chocolate, coffee, dusty, pepper. Priced to sell!
+208348, $15.95, QPR: 89.
3. Sileni The Triangle Merlot 2010 Hawkes Bay: at 14% ABV, this
charming merlot is ready to go. Twist top. Spicy plums, good
concentration for the patio/deck. +586081, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Monte del Fra Lena di Mezzo Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore
2009 Veneto: LCBO Ripasso of the Month. +165662, $17.95, QPR: 89.
5. Cru du Paradis Tradition Madiran 2009: excellent plums, 13% ABV, for
the BBQ food. +324871, $15.95, QPR: 89.
6. Estate Papaioannou Single Vineyard Agiorgitiko 2007 Nemea: another
wine bargain from Greece, red fruit with oak dustiness and vanilla.
Nicely aged. +47977, $19.95, QPR: 89.
7. Leone de Castris Riserva Salice Salentino 2009: a top rated Puglian
wine from Negroamaro and Malvasia near grapes, 13% ABV, at a bargain
price. Try it with "older" food such as aged cheeses or the stinkies or
the blues. +597534, $18.95, QPR: 89.
8. Villa Mora Montfalco Rosso 2006 Umbria: deep, dark, well-aged mainly
sangiovese and sagrantino (almost a field blend). 14.5% ABV. +331785,
$15.95, QPR: 89.
 
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.
 
1. Jean-Max Roger Cuvee G.C. Sancerre 2011, +189126, $24.95 retail.
2. Laurent Miquel Bardou Saint Chinian 2007, +328583, $24.95.
3. Paitin Sori Paitin Barbaresco 2008, +106591, $32.95.
4. Marchesi de Frescobaldi Vigneto Montesodi Riserva Chianti Rufina
2009, +304501, $49.95.
5. Casado Morales Seleccion Privada 2005 Rioja, +323857, $28.95.

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