May 8 - Somewhereness Ontario Wines in Toronto

The Date and Time: Tuesday, May 8, 2012   1 – 4 PM

The Event: Somewhereness: old soils, new wines [trade show component]

The Venue: MaRS Discovery District

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are at the winery, some at LCBO, some are licensee only.

The Quote/Background: "Hey, it is great to be back where it all started in MaRS".

The Wines:  I did not taste every wine.

 

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

 

13th Street 2010 Essence Syrah, $49.95

Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Riesling CSV Beamsville Bench, $16.95

Flat Rock Cellars 2010 The Rusty Shed Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench, $24.95

Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir Twenty Mile Bench, $45

Hidden Bench Vineyards 2008 Terroir Cache Red Meritage Beamsville Bench, $35

Hidden Bench Vineyards 2009 Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir Beamsville bench, $48.

Norman Hardie Wines 2009 Chardonnay Niagara, $35.

Stratus Vineyards 2008 Tollgate White NOTL, $19.95.

Tawse Winery Echos Riesling 2010 Niagara, licensee only, $13.42

Tawse Winery 2009 Growers Blend Cabernet Franc Niagara, $26.95

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

 

13th Street 2011 13 White, $15.95

13th Street 2011 13 Sauvignon Blanc, $18.95

13th Street 2010 Chardonnay Sandstone Reserve Four Mile Creek, $34.95

Cave Spring Cellars 2004 Blanc de Blanc Brut CV Beamsville, $39.95.

Cave Spring Cellars 2010 Riesling Dolomite Niagara Escarpment, $16.95

Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir Dolomite Niagara Escarpment, $21.75

Cave Spring Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir Estate Beamsville Bench, $39.95

Flat Rock Cellars 2010 Nadja's Vineyard Riesling Twenty Mile Bench, $19.95

Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Riddled Sparkling Twenty Mile Bench, $29.95

Hidden Bench Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir 2009 Beamsville Bench, $38

Malivoire Wine Company 2010 M2 mall Lot Chardonnay Niagara, $19.95

Malivoire Wine Company 2010 Wismer Cabernet Franc Twenty Mile Bench, $24.95

Norman Hardie Wines 2009 Pinot Noir Niagara, $39

Norman Hardie Wines 2010 County Chardonnay PEC, $35

Norman Hardie Wines 2010 County Pinot Noir PEC, $35

Southbrook 2010 Whimsy! Chardonnay Four Mile Creek Biodynamic, $34.95

Southbrook 2010 Whimsy! Uncloaked Merlot Four Mile Creek Biodynamic, $34.95

Stratus Vineyards 2008 White NOTL, $44

Stratus Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Franc NOTL, $38

Stratus Vineyards 2008 Red NOTL, $44

Charles Baker Wines 2011 Riesling Ivan Vineyard Twenty Mile Bench, $35

Tawse Winery 2010 Echos Chardonnay Niagara, licensee only $16.84

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

 

Malivoire Wine Company 2011 Melon Beamsville Bench, $11.95 half-bottle

Malivoire Wine Company 2008 Moira Chardonnay Beamsville Bench, $39.95

Southbrook 2010 Whimsy! "Who You Calling Petit?" Petit Verdot Four Mile Creek Biodynamic, $34.95

Stratus Vineyards 2008 Tollgate Red NOTL, $19.95

Stratus Vineyards 2009 Semillon NOTL, $38

Charles Baker Wines 2010 Riesling Picone Vineyard Vinemount Ridge, $35

Tawse Winery 2010 Quarry Road Chardonnay Vinemount Ridge, $34.95

 

The Food: food came from Best Baa Dairy (Eweda, Ramembert), Cheese Boutique (Ontario 5- and 10-year old cheddars), Glengarry Cheesemaking (Lankaaster Dutch, Celtic Blue),  Monforte (goat tome, Little Prince), Upper Canada Cheese (Niagara Gold).

The Downside: it should really have been better attended.

The Upside: there was a media room where most of the wines had been set aside for private tasting. And, of course, the winemakers themselves were here.

The Contact Person: somewhereness@gmail.com or www.somewhereness.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com