WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
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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 
"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.
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1. Sumac Ridge Black Sage Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 VQA Okanagan: nicely 
aged and developed well, citric finish plus smoke. +393710, $14.95, 
QPR: 89.
2. Geyser Peak Chardonnay 2008 Alexander Valley: 13.5% ABV, nice as 
sipper or with food, lots of wood activity and smoke and vanilla, 
finishing with fruit. +343475, $16.95, QPR: 90.
3. Veramonte Reserva Chardonnay 2008 Casablanca Valley: creamy, luxury, 
best young (i.e., now), 13.5% sipper. +494443, $14.95, QPR: 89.
4. Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2008 South Africa: elegant blend of 
toast, vanilla, and fruit – to a lingering finish. +172601, $15.95, 
QPR: 90.
5. Kuhlmann-Platz Hunawihr Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: 13.5%, very good 
MVC, hits all the highlights for gewurztraminer, but less dry than 
others. +169474, $17.95, QPR: 90.
6. Luc Pirlet Les Barriques Viognier Reserve 2008 Vins de Pays d’Oc: 
delicious floral wine, sip mostly but also with first course, buy it at 
this price. +177675, $11.95, QPR: 91.
7. Perrin & Fils Reserve Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2009: light floral 
aromatics, useful as aperitif, sip or food, patio? +177675, $14.95, 
QPR: 90.

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
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1. Big Yellow Cab Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Mendocino: powerful fruit 
components, chocolate and coffee tones, smoke, vanilla, with some age 
behind it. +35014, $17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Alamos Syrah 2008 Mendoza: s strong syrah product, still needs time, 
may repay cellaring. +183848, $13.95, QPR: 89.
3. Carta Vieja Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Lonocomilla 
Chile: good complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon, MVC of black currant and 
spices. +169888, $13.95, QPR: 90
4. Mount Langri Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz 2005 Victoria: good aging 
shows with fruit now five years old, twist top, 14% ABV. +719575, 
$16.95, QPR: 90. 
5. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Cuvee 2007: basic and pleasant everyday 
sipper, 14% ABV. LCBO pre-release notes say it has Cabernet Franc but 
this grape variety was not on the label. +684357, $15.95, QPR: 89.
6. Les Vignerons de la Suzienne Cuve du Comte 2007 Southern Rhone: 
terrific syrah flavours at a bargain price, easily worth three times as 
much. 13.5% ABV, Please don’t buy all of this wine until Monday, so I 
can have Saturday to load up for myself… +178822, $15.95, QPR: 94.
7. Beronia Elaboracion Especial Tempranillo 2008 Rioja: smoky wine, not 
for the faint of heart, a keeper for the cellar but ready now. +723643, 
$15.95, QPR: 90.

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. Huff Estates South Bay Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 VQA PEC, +88955, 
$29.95 retail.
2. Bouchard Pere et Fils Domaine Les Clous Meursault 2007, +661322, 
$44.95.
3. F. Tinel-Blondelet L’Arret Buffatte Pouilly-Fume 2008, +169730, 
$21.95.
4. Bouchard Pere & Fils Domaine Teurons Beaune 1er Cru 2007, +169797, 
$49.95.
5. Domaine de Haut des Terres Blanches Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007, 
+177618, $36.95
6. Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico 2006, +942607, 
$54.95.
7. Antiche Terre Venete Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007, +177733, 
$32.95.