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Sunday, July 10, 2011

June 20/11: Henry of Pelham vertical tasting of Baco Noir Reserve.

The Time and Date: June 20, 2011  10:30 AM to 1:30 PM

The Event: a vertical tasting of Henry of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir, 9 wines in all, sponsored by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada.

The Venue: LCBO Kitchen Event, Summerhill Store #10

The Target Audience: WWCC members

The Availability/Catalogue: most of these wines were drawn from HOP's cellars; only the latest vintages are available. The tank sample will be out in a few more years.

The Quote/Background: Paul Speck, one of the owners along with his brothers, led the tasting. He gave us vintage notes and approaches year by year. As well, Ron Giesbrecht (the winemaker at Henry of Pelham) gave his impressions. Henry of Pelham started making BN as a wine in 1988. They began with a Reserve in 1995 (oak treatment is always 100% US oak, of which 60% is new; the wine rests in oak for up to 18 months for the Reserve; sometimes 8-15% of Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc will be added). Only 1500 cases are made (12,000 are made of the regular BN), and this wine comes from their oldest block.

The Wines: The vintages tasted ranged from 1997 to 2009-2010 barrel samples, Missing were 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003 - 2006 (no Reserve was made in those years, and 2005 was sold out). In general, the older BN fell apart quickly, although and "aged" nose became quite tasty and toasty on the initial run through.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2002

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2007

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2010

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (8890 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 1997

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2000

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2008

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 2009

 

*** Three Stars (8587 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 1998

-Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Reserve VQA 1999

 

The Downside: we were a late in getting started. Also, I would have liked to have tasted some older vintages of the regular Baco Noir.

The Upside: The BN wines were followed by Henry of Pelham Family Tree White 2009 (Viognier, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay Musqué) a new entrant in the white blend field with spices and fruit tones at $17.95, 400 cases; Henry of Pelham Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2008, $18.95; and Henry of Pelham Family Tree Red 2009 (Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc), also $17.95. Because he had our attention, Paul shifted to his wine importer hat and showed off some Spanish wines. Tony Batet, who represents Torres wines in Canada, did a vertical of Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 1994, 1996, 1999, 2005 and 2007 (the latter due to arrive in Vintages in November). It was formerly known as Coronas Black Label. I pretty well liked them all, with the 1996 showing well and the 1994 showing least.

The Contact Person: ptspeck@henryofpelham.com

The Marketing Effectiveness/Execution of the Event(numerical grade): 91.

 
 

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