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Thursday, February 21, 2008

TASTING: Pre-Cuvee Tasting of Possible Winners, February 13, 2008

The Time and Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11AM to 2 PM

The Event: Cuvee Tasting of top scoring wines submitted to Cuvee from each
participating winery.

The Venue: BMO Strathcona Room, 68th Floor

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at the respective
winery. Some wines may be available through Vintages.

The Quote: "Corks still dominate as closures go, but it was gratifying to
see that there were very few corked wines."

The Wines: There were about 60 wines, three bottles of each. The tasting
also included seven wines from past award winners in celebration of the 20th
Anniversary of Cuvee. They had all aged very well. The best of these were
Cave Spring Off Dry Riesling 2003, Lakeview Cellars Chardonnay Reserve Vinc
Vineyard 2000, and the Pillitteri Estates Cabernet Franc Family Reserve 2002
(en magnum).

**** Four Stars (90 - 93 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Cave Spring Gewurztraminer 2006 $19.95

-Chateau des Charmes Equuleus (50%CS/25%CF/25%M) $40

-Creekside Estate Reserve Meritage 2004 (55%CS/45%M) $34

-Featherstone Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer 2007 $18.95

-Fielding Estate Meritage Reserve 2005 (58%CS/24%CF/18%M) $35

-Hillebrand Trius White 2006 (33%Ge/29%R/27%PG/11%Ch) $18.95

-Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2006 $18.30

-Niagara College Teaching Winery Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2006 $19.15
++V-A-L-U-E++

-Peninsula Ridge Fume Blanc 2006 $26.95

-Royal DeMaria Muscat Ottonel Icewine 2004 $279.95

-Stoney Ridge Estate Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Franc 2004 $49.95

-13th Street Funk Blanc de Noir 2000 [sparkler] $40

-30 Bench Benchmark Red 2005 (50%CS/30%M/20%CF) $60

*** Three Stars (86 - 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Alvento Winery Elige 2005 (72%CS/28%CF) $29.80

-Birchwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (85.5%CS/14.5%Zweigelt) $12.65

-Colio Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $15.95 ++VALUE++

-Flat Rock Cellars Nadja's Vineyard Riesling 2006 $19.95

-Henry of Pelham Reserve Riesling 2006 $14.95

-Hernder Estate Riesling 2006 $10.95 ++VALUE++

-Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Proprietor's Grand Reserve White Meritage
2006 (87%SB/13%Se) $24.55

-Lailey Vineyard Old Vine Chardonnay Niagara River 2006 $29.95

-Maleta Estate Meritage 2005 (60%CF/40%CS) $29.95

-Mike Weir Estate Cabernet Shiraz 2005 (75%CS/25%Sh) $17.95

-Mountain Road Unoaked Chardonnay 2005 $14.95 ++VALUE++

-Peller Estates Signature Series Ice Cuvee Rose NV [sparkler]
(55%Ch/35%PN/10%CF, with Vidal Icewine as dosage) $35

-Stonechurch Riesling Dry 2006 (90%R/8%Ge/2%Muscadet) $12.95

The Food: upscale sandwiches, salads, grilled veggies, cookies and tarts,
coffees.

The Downside: once again, I got lost finding the right bank of elevators.

The Upside: a great chance to taste some potentially award-winning Cuvee
wines and possible Ontario Wine Award winners.

The Contact Person: erin@mitchellwestlake.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

www.deantudor.com

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