Feb 9/11: Tasting Cuvee VQA winners semi-blind

The Time and Date: Wednesday February 9, 2011  10:30 to 2 PM
The Event: The annual media pre-Cuvee Ontario VQA wine tasting.
The Venue: BMO, 68th Floor.
The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available for sale, at the
winery. Some are at the LCBO.
The Quote/Background: This was to be a broad overview of the wines to
be poured at Cuvee (early March). These wines represent each
participating winery's top scoring wine from the Cuvee judging held in
January. The official winners for the top scoring wine in each category
will be announced on March 4.
The Wines: Because of my time constraints, I just evaluated red and
white table wines. Four wineries who participate in Cuvee did not send
in submissions to the media pre-Cuvee tasting. One winery's sample was
sub-standard (both bottles) and not listed here.
 

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Niagara Teaching College Dean's List Chardonnay 2009, $27.95.
-Nyarai Cellars Veritas Red 2007, $24.95
-Palantine Hills Estate Gewurztraminer 2008, $13.75
-Pelee Island Winery Alvar Semillon Sauvignon 2009, $12.95.
-Peninsula Ridge Fume Blanc 2008, $24.95
-Rosewood Estates Chardonnay Reserve 2007, $25
-Thirty Bench Winemakers Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2007, $40

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Calamus Estate Vinemount Ridge Riesling 2008, $16.20
-Cave Spring Cellars Riesling CSV 2008, $29.95
-Colaneri Estate Pinot Grigio Cavallone 2009, $25
-Dan Aykroyd Winery Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $39.95
-EastDell Estates Cabernet Franc Reserve 2007, $39.95
-Featherstone Estate Bottled Sauvignon Blanc 2010, $19.95
-Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $25
-Flat Rock Cellars Twisted 2009, $16.95
-Henry of Pelham Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2007, $24.95
-Kacaba Reserve Cabernet Franc 2007, $44.95
-Konzelmann Estate Merlot Barrel Aged 4th Generation 2007, $25
-Lakeview Cellars Kerner Reserve 2009, $17.95
-Megalomaniac John Howard Cellars of Distinction Sous Terre Cabernet
Merlot Reserve 2007, $44.95
-Mike Weir Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $14.95
-Peller Estates Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $38
-Pondview Estate Barrel Fermented and Aged Chardonnay 2009, $17
-Ridge Road Estate Gamay 2009, $15.95
-Riverview Cellars Gewurztraminer 2009, $16.95
-Rockway Glen Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2007, $19.95.
-Stoney Ridge Estate Excellence Pinot Noir 2009, no price provided
-Tawse Winery Cherry Avenue Pinot Noir 2008, $57.95
-Twenty Twenty-Seven Cellars Fox Croft Vineyard Riesling 2009, $24.95

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Alvento Winery Emilie 2007, $29.95
-Angels Gate Winery Angels III 2007, $35
-Casa Dea Reserve Chardonnay 2009, $24.95
-Cattail Creek Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2009, $35.20
-Colio Estate CEV Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $15.75
-Cornerstone Estate Riesling Reserve Barrel Aged 2009, $20
-Creekside Estate Queenston Road Vineyard Reserve Viognier 2009, $28.95
-D'Angelo Vineyards Estate Cabernet Franc 2007, $11.99
-Diamond Estates Birchwood FRESH Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay 2008,
$11.95
-Fielding Estate Riesling 2009, $15.95
-Good Earth Vineyard Medium Dry Riesling 2009, $20
-Hernder Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $14.95.
-Jackson Triggs Delaine Vineyard Syrah 2007, $29.95
-Ravine Vineyard Reserve Red 2007, $55
-Vineland Estates Cabernet Franc Reserve 2007, $40
-Wayne Gretzky Estate Series Gewurztraminer 2009, $18.95

 

The Food: I was given a box lunch to take with me, with wraps and
sandwiches, an apple, and biscotti. Coffee and juices were available,
but I did not have any food with the wines, except bread.
The Downside: I had a prior engagement at noon, so I had to leave
early.
The Upside: There were some terrific wines, but also some that
should/could have scored higher.
The Contact Person: erin@mitchellwestlake.com
The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 89.

 

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