Feb 4/11: Tasting Seriously Cool Chardonnays with WWCC

The Time and Date: Friday, February 4, 2011   10:30 AM to 1:50 PM
The Event: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada monthly meeting, tasting
Serious Cool Chardonnays that are on their way to New York for a
tasting with American wine writers. This is a follow-up to the London
tasting of May 2010.
The Venue: LCBO Private Function Room, Scrivener Square.
The Target Audience: WWCC members.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the winery,
save for some "Library" wines. Some are also at the LCBO.
The Quote/Background: The wines had been winnowed down from about 100.
This year there were also wines from British Columbia.
The Wines: I tasted about 50 table wines, no sparklers nor icewine.
Some wines failed to achieve 85 points. All wines, of course, are 100%
chardonnay --

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Closson Chase Vineyards S.Kocsis Vineyard 2007, 13.8%, $44.95
-Flatrock Cellars Reserve 2007, 13%, $35
-Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery Tête de Cuvée 2008, 13.1%, $45
-Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery 2008, 13.1%, $32
-Hillebrand Winery Trius 2009, 13.5%, $18.95 – best value!
-Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2007, 13%, $21.95
-Quail's Gate Estate Winery Stewart Family Reserve 2006 Okanagan, 14%,
$29.99
-Rosewood Estates Reserve Renaceau Vineyard 2007, 14%, $25
-Southbrook Vineyards Poetica 2003, 13.8%, $62
-Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Vineyard 2008, 13.5%, $41.95

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 2008 Okanagan, 13.5%, $25
-Chateau des Charmes Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard 2007 St. David's, 13%,
$21.95
-Closson Chase Vineyards Closson Chase Vineyard 2008 PEC, $12.6%,
$34.95
-Coyote's Run Estate Winery Black Paw Vineyard 2007, 13.5%
-Coyote's Run Estate Winery Red Paw Vineyard 2009, 12.5%, $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Unoaked 2009, 12.6%, $12.95
-Hillebrand Winery Showcase Oliveria Vineyard Wild Ferment 2008, 13.6%,
$35
-Huff Estates South Bay Vineyards 2008, 12.5%, $29.95
-Lailey Vineyard Old Vines 2008, 13%, $40
-Lailey Vineyards 2009, 12.5%, $20
-Lakeview Cellars Reserve 2000, 14%, $24.95
-Malivoire Moira Vineyard 2008, 13%, $39.95
-Malivoire Mottiar 2008, 13%, $29.95
-Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series Kenny McLean 2009 Naramata BC,
13.5%, $35
-Norman Hardie Cuvée 'L' Unfiltered 2008, 11.9%, $49
-Norman Hardie Unfiltered 2008, 11.8%, $35
-Pillitteri Estates Winery Exclamation Cellar Series 2006, 12.5%, $23
-Quail's Gate Estate Winery 2008 Okanagan, 14%, $18.99
-Rosehall Run Cuvée County 2008 PEC, 13.5%, $21.95
-Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe 2009, 13.1%, $21.95
-Tawse Winery Beamsville Bench Reserve 2002, 14.1%, $47
-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Vineyard 2008, 13.5%, $34.95
-The Grange of Prince Edward County Victoria Block Barrel Fermented
2008, 14.2%, $35

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Angels Gate Winery Mountainview 2008, 13$, $18.95
-Cave Spring Cellars CSV 2007, 13.5%, $29.95
-Chateau des Charmes Musqué 2009, 12.5%, $16.95
-Colaneri Estate Winery 'Paese' 2008, 13.4%, $34.95
-Exultet Estates 2009 PEC, $13.5%, $35
-Flatrock Cellars 2008, 12.5%, $16.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace 2008, 13.5%, $40
-Le Clos Jordanne Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard 2008, $13.5%, $40
-Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Select Lot Collection 2005, 14%,
$29.95
-Pelee Island Winery Barrique 2005, 12.5%, $13.85
-Pondview Estate Winery Unoaked 2009, 14.3%, $17
-Ravine Vineyard Reserve 2009, 14.5%, $38
-Rosewood Estates Reserve 2008, 14%, $25
-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy! 2008, 12.2%, $29.95

 

The Contact Person: sdarby@rogers.com
The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 91.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com