Southbrook Farms Winery: in-depth look at reserve levels cabernet/merlot, 1991 to today

The Date and Time: Friday, March 15, 2013  10:30 AM to 1:30 PM

The Event: an in-depth varietal/label tasting from Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Farms, Cabernet Merlot at different levels of "reserve".

The Venue: LCBO Private Event Room (Scrivener Square)

The Target Audience: WWCC members

The Availability/Catalogue: only the more recent wines are available for sale.

The Quote/Background:  There were 32 wines in all, mostly from the cab merlot labels. Wines were made by Derek Barnett (1991 - 2002), Colin Campbell and Steve Byfield (2002 – 2005), and currently, Ann Sperling (2006 - ). All wines made since the arrival of Ann Sperling were organic and then biodynamic, a crowning achievement for Ontario (also, the winemaking facilities were LEED certified).

The Wines: No wines at this level were made in 1996, 2003, and 2004.

 

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

-1997 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot [first use of Triomphe]

-1998 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot [wine of the year at Ontario Wine Awards]

-2001 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

-2002 Southbrook Triomphus Watson Vineyard Cabernet Franc

-2005 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

-2006 Southbrook Poetica Cabernet Merlot

-2008 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot [biodynamic certified]

-2009 Whimsy! Renewed Vows Cabernet Franc

-2010 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc

 

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

-1993 Southbrook Cabernet Sauvignon [reserve level]

-1995 Southbrook Lailey Merlot [reserve level]

-2002 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

-2002 Southbrook Poetica Cabernet Merlot

-2006 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot [winery now in Niagara]

-2007 Southbrook Poetica Cabernet Merlot

-2009 Southbrook Whimsy! Married Young Cabernet Merlot

-2009 Southbrook Whimsy! Cabernet Sauvignon

-2010 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon

-2010 Southbrook Poetica Red [cabernet merlot]

-2011 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc

 

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

-1991 Southbrook Cabernet Merlot Reif Vineyard [reserve level]

-1992 Southbrook Cabernet Sauvignon Reif Vineyard [reserve level]

-1994 Southbrook Lailey Cabernet Sauvignon [reserve level]

-1995 Southbrook Trillium Cabernet Merlot

-1999 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

-2000 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

-2007 Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot

 

Some current white wines were also poured:

 

-2010 Southbrook Whimsy! Chardonnay Lot 20  ****

-2010 Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay  *** 1/2

-2011 Southbrook Whimsy! "Damy" Chardonnay (named after a French barrel maker) ****

-2011 Southbrook Whimsy! "Sirugue" Chardonnay (named after a French barrel maker) *** 1/2

-2011 Southbrook Whimsy! Winemaker's White (58% Chardonnay, 27% Semillon, 15% Muscat) *** 1/2

 

The Food: none

The Contact Person: sdarby@rogers.com; bill@southbrook.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com