2014 1st Half Summary - Whites+

Jesse on Bench

There were 71 Whites+ consisting of 56 whites, 6 rosés and 9 sparklings tasted from January 1st through June 30 this year. These are listed below sequenced by rating.  Shown in brackets is the month of tasting where the original notes can be found.  Of the whites there are thirteen wines rated 90 and above. These are considered not lacking in any aspect and are excellent to sip and to complement a meal. Another nineteen in the 85 to 89 range are increasingly enjoyable although to varying degrees lack fullness, varietal character or some other element. Twenty-four in the range 84 and below may be consumable but lack noticeably in more than one essential aspect. Click here for the 1st half REDS .


The value that is hyphenated to the rating indicates whether a wine is 'worth the price', one that I'd buy in 'multiples', or one I'd buy in 'quantity'.  See the side panel for more background.

Hope you'll find something useful. 

Note:
The LCBO has changed their search routine for finding wines and where they are in the Province. See side panel for more detail... I'm returning to use the Vintages and LCBO to avoid a LCBO Online Search graphic. 
...btw, a search for test labels 'Big Head' and '5 Vineyards' on any of the search sites produces meaningless results.


Cheers, Ww

Whites:

• Robert Oatley Signature Series Riesling 2012, 93-3  --  V, Western Australia, #357426 $17.95  (Feb)
• Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc+Viognier 2012, 92-2  --  V, Oakville, California, #673756 $21.95  (Jan)
• Monchhof Robert Eymael Riesling 2011, 92-2  --  V,  Mosel, Germany, #349431 $16.95  (Feb)
• Konrad Sauvignon Blanc 2012, 91-2  --  V, Renwick, New Zealand, #616243  $19.95  (Jun)
• Elephant Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009, 91-2  --  V,  Hawkes Bay, New Zealand,  #361238 $23.95  (Apr)
• Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Riesling 2012, 91-2  --  V, Clare Valley, South Australia,  #365635 $17.95  (Mar)
• Daniel Lenko Gewurztraminer 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 90-1  --  V, Beamsville, Ontario, #356832 $20.25  (Mar)
• The Foreign Affair Ex-Pat Riesling 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 90-2  --  V, Vineland Station, Ontario, #372326 $16.95  (Apr)
• Rolf Binder Highness Riesling Eden Valley 2012, 90-3  --  V, Tanunda, South Australia, #368266  $18.95  (May)
• Volcanes de Chile Pomerape Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2011,  90-2  --  V,  Leyda Valley, Chile, #371138  $14.95  (Jun)
• Donatien Bahaud Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray 2012, 90-2  --  V, St. Florent, France, #140889 $15.95  (Feb)
• Flat Rock Twisted 2012 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 90-2  --  V, Jordan, Ontario, #001578  $16.95  (Feb)
• Cave Spring Estate Bottled The Adam Steps Riesling 2012 VQA Beamsville Bench, 90-1 --  O, Jordan, Ontario  #Winery  $22.10  (May)
• Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio 2013, 89-1  --  V,  Alto Adige, Italy, #954024 $18.95  (Jun)
• Greenlane Estate Winery Old Vines Riesling 2011 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 89 --  V,  Beamsville, Ontario,  #351486 $22.95  (Jan)
• O Chardonnay by Gilles Louvet Organic 2012, 89-2 --  G,  Languedoc, France, #320432 $14.40  (May)
• Casa Do Valle Grande Escolha 2012, 89-2  --  V, Vinho Verde, Portugal, #276220 $15.95  (Mar)
• Maison Adrien Vacher les Adrets Altesse 'Roussette de Savoie' 2012, 89-2  --  V,  Savoie, France,  #365163 $16.95  (Mar)
• Willm Réserve Riesling 2012, 88-1  --  V,  Alsace, France, #011452 $15.95  (May)
• Firesteed Oregon Pinot Gris 2012, 88-1  --  G, Rickreall, Oregon, #323808 $17.80  (Apr)
• Hinterbrook Riesling 2012 VQA Niagara Lakeshore, 88-1  --  V, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, #270512 $17.95  (Apr)
• Cave du Haut-Poitou Vallee Loire Sauvignon Blanc 2012,  87-1  --  V, Loire, France,  #357293 $16.95  (Apr)
• Joffré Pasion 4 Torrontés 2013, 87-1 -- V, Mendoza, Argentina, #361063  $14.95  (May)
• Jip Jip Rocks Unoaked Chardonnay 2012, 87-1  --  V, Padthaway, Australia, #175752  $15.95  (May)
• Maison Adrien Vacher les Adrets Altesse Roussette de Savoie 2012, 87-1  --  V, Savoie, France, #365163 $16.95  (May)
• Zenato Lugana San Benedetto 2012, 87-1  --  V,  Veneto, Italy, #707158 $14.95  (Mar)
• Balestri Valda Soave Classico 2012, 87-1  --  V, Veneto, Italy,  #362939 $15.95  (Mar)
• Greenlane Estate Winery Old Vines Riesling 2010 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 86  --  V, Beamsville, Ontario, #283432 $22.75*   (Jan)
• Cave Spring Dolomite Riesling 2012 VQA Niagara Escarpment, 86 --  O, Jordan, Ontario  #Winery  $15.02  (May)
• Cave Spring Sauvignon Blanc 2011 VQA Niagara Escarpment, 86  --  G, Jordan, Ontario, #529933 $15.95  (Apr)
• Tommasi Viticoltori le Volpare Soave 2011, 85  --  V,  Veneto, Italy, #n/a  $10.25* (GS#132852  $33.20)  (Apr)
• Tollgate Fumé Blanc Stratus Vineyards 2009 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 85  --  V,  Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, #335711 $15.20*  (May)
•  
• 13th Street Detour Riesling/Chardonnay 2012,  84  --  G, St. Catharines, Ontario, #367573  $14.95*  (May)
• 13th Street White Palette 2011 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 84  --  V, St. Catharines, Ontario, #207340 $15.95  (May)
• San Silvestro Fossili Gavi di Gavi 2012, 84  --  V,  Piedmont, Italy, #368753 $16.95  (Jun)
• Moulin Camus Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2012, 84  --  V, Loire, France, #358630 $16.95 (Apr)
• Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2012, 84  --  V, Abruzzo, Italy,  #365478  $15.95  (Mar)
• William Fèvre Espino Chardonnay 2011, 84a  --  V, Maipo Valley, Chile, #350058 $13.95   (Feb)
• Greenlane Estate Winery Pinot Gris/Riesling 2010 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore,  84  --  V, Beamsville, Ontario, #283721 $12.75*   (Jan)
• Greenlane Estate Winery Riesling 2011 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, 84  --  V,  Beamsville, Ontario, #327247 $15.95  (Jan)
• Brokenwood Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2011, 84 --  V, Pokolbin NSW, Australia, #662627 $18.95  (Jan)
• Bastianich Friulano Adriatico 2011, 84  --  V, Friuli, Italy, #277467 $19.95  (Jan)
• Rockway Small Lot (365 Cases) White Assemblage 2012 VQA Niagara Peninsula, 83  --  V,  St. Catharines, Ontario, #359315 $16.95  (Apr)
• Hess Select Chardonnay Monterey County 2011,  83  --   G, Napa, California,  #270074  $15.95  (Jun)
• Finca Nueva Blanco 2012, 83  --  V,  Rioja, Spain, #280560  $16.95  (May)
• Hess Select Chardonnay Monterey County 2012, 82  --  G, Salinas Valley, California, #270074  $15.95  (Apr)
• Calamus Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2012 VQA Vinemount Ridge, 82  --  V, Jordan, Ontario, #349456 $13.95  (Jan)
• Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio & Verduzzo IGT 2012, 82  --  G, Italy, #620773 $15.00   (Feb)
• Cave Spring Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musqué 2011 VQA Beamsville Bench, 81  --  O, Jordan, Ontario  #Winery  $14.14  (May)
• Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris 2011, 81  --  V,  McMinnville, Oregon, #366294  $17.95
• J&F Lurton les Fumées Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2012,  81 -- G, France, #472555  $11.95*  (Mar)
• Palatine Hills Neufeld Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 VQA Niagara Lakeshore,  80  --  V, NotL, Ontario, #352344 $14.25*  (Mar)
• Mas des Bressades Cuvée Tradition Blanc 2012, 80  --  V, Rhône, France, #701094  $15.95  (Feb)
• Montevina Pinot Grigio NV,  78  --  G, Napa, California, #237750 $14.95  (Mar)
• Pillitteri Estate Winery Viognier 2011 VQA Niagara Peninsula, NR  --  V, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, #330894 $14.95  (May)
• Patio 9 White Vidal Spritz VQA Ontario, NR  --   V, St. Catharines, Ontario, #341693 $12.95  (Apr)

Rosés:

• Jean-Maurice Raffault Chinon Rosé 2013, 91-2  --  V, Loire, France, #119693 $16.95  (Jun)
• See Ya Later Ranch Nelly Rosé VQA Okanagan Valley 2011,  87-1 --  V,  Okanagan Falls, BC, #325936 $13.25  (Feb)
•  
• Remy Pannier Rosé d'Anjou 2012, 83  --  G, Loire, France, #012641  $12.95  (May)
• Zenato Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé 2013, 83  --  V, Veneto, Italy, #045203 $14.95  (May)
• Milbrandt Traditions Columbia Valley Rosé 2011, 83  --  V, Washington, USA, #278309  $14.65  (Feb)
• Domaine LaFond Roc-Épine Tavel Rosé 2012, 78  --  V, Rhône, France, #950709 $17.95  (Jan)

Sparkling:

• Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Riesling Sparkling Wine 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, 93-3  --  V, Vineland, Ontario, #370361 $19.95  (May)
• De Chanceny Excellence Brut Vouvray 2010, 90-2  --  V, Loire, France, #352237 $20.95  (Jan)
• Azahara Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, 88-1  --  V, Victoria, Australia, #357483 $17.95  (Feb)
• Perlage Canah Brut Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene 2012, 88-1 --  V, Veneto, Italy, #358390  $19.95  (May)
• Trapiche Extra Brut Sparkling Wine 2013, 86-1  --  G, Mendoza, Argentina, #262261 $10.95*  (May)
• Muga Conde de Haro Brut Cava 2010, 86  --  V,   Rioja, Spain, #168559  $19.95  (May)
• Domaine de Vaugondy Brut Vouvray, 86  --  V,  Loire, France, #154567 $15.95  (Apr)
•  
• Rotari Brut Trentodoc NV, 84 --  V,  Alto Adige/Trentino, Italy, #708495 $17.95  (Apr)
• Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso, 83 --  G, Veneto, Italy, V, #266023 $17.95  (Mar)