Lake Erie North Shore wines tasted by Wine Writers' Circle of Canada

The Date and Time: Monday, October 7, 2013  12:30 PM to 4:30 PM

The Event: a tasting of Lake Erie North Shore wines from 9 wineries.

The Venue: private meeting space in Toronto

The Target Audience: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada members

The Availability/Catalogue: wines are available at the winery, some also at the LCBO and some through Vintages. A spreadsheet was pre-sent to members.

The Quote/Background: Tom O'Brien (Cooper's Hawk Vineyards) and Steve Mitchell (Sprucewood Shores) asked the WWCC if they would like a tasting, and brought the wines into Toronto from southwestern Ontario.

The Wines: I tried to taste all the wines.

 

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

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards 2011 Gewurztraminer    $23.95 LENS

-Viewpointe Winery      2008  Ideal Pointe VQA  $24.95 +274712 LENS     

Barrel Fermented Chardonnay   15.00%

-Smith & Wilson Double Barrel Cabernet/Merlot 2008 LENS $13

-Smith & Wilson Two Cabs Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc 2008 LENS $16

 

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

-Oxley Estate     2012  Rose  $15.95      LENS 

-Pelee Island 2012 Sauvignon Blanc  $11.95 +511170 Ontario

-Pelee Island 2011 Meritage   $24.95 +317933 Ontario Cab Sauv/ Merlot / Cab Franc

-Colio Estate Wines 2012      CEV Sauvignon Blanc     $15.95 LENS

-Colio Estate Wines     N/V   Girls Night Out Sparkling Rose      $14.95

VQA Ontario Riesling, Shiraz, Pinot Noir

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards      2008  Cabernet Merlot Reserve $19.95 +328013

LENS  Cabernet Franc/Merlot

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards 2011 Merlot Cabernet $16.95 LCBO +341818 LENS

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards 2012 Talon $16.95 Canada LENS Cabernet Franc

Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

-Sprucewood Shores      2012  Chardonnay        LENS

-Sprucewood Shores      2012  Riesling    $13.95 +326249    LENS

-Sprucewood Shores 2010 Meritage LENS                            

-Colchester Ridge Estate      2010  Meritage    LENS

-Colchester Ridge Estate      2008  Cabernet Franc LENS

-Colchester Ridge Estate      2011  POSH Cuvee  LENS [white blend]

-Viewpointe Winery      2007  Cabernet Merlot VQA     $12.95 +220723     

LENS  Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc

-Viewpointe Winery      2007  Cabernet Franc VQA $12.95 +220715 LENS

-Viewpointe Winery      2008  Cabernet Franc VQA $18.95 +359299   LENS

-Viewpointe Winery      2011  Auxerrois VQA     $14.95 +327239 LENS

-North 42 Degrees Estate Winery     2012  Pinot Noir  $22.95 LENS

-Smith & Wilson Chardonnay 2012 LENS $12

-Smith & Wilson Pinot Noir 2009 LENS $14

                                         

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

-Oxley Estate     2011  Pinot Noir  $19.95 LENS

-Oxley Estate     2011  Cabernet Franc    $18.95      LENS

-Oxley Estate     2012  Auxerrois   $17.95      LENS

-Oxley Estate     2012  Riesling    $17.95      LENS

-Oxley Estate     2012  Chardonnay  $17.95 LENS

-Pelee Island 2012 Singing Moon Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois $14.95 Ontario

-Pelee Island 2012 Lighthouse Riesling $11.95 +145417 Ontario

-Pelee Island 2012 Lighthouse Cabernet Franc $11.95 +145441 Ontario

-Pelee Island 2010 Pinot Noir Vinedresser $16.95      Ontario

-Colio Estate Wines     2012  CEV Pinot Grigio  $15.95 LENS

-Colio Estate Wines     2012  Girls Night Out Cabernet Shiraz $12.95     

+134205 VQA Ontario Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz

-Colio Estate Wines     2012  Girls Night Out Merlot  $12.95 +89847

      VQA Ontario Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

-Colio Estate Wines     N/V   Girls Night Out Sparkling $14.95 +215632

      VQA Ontario Riesling

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards      2012  Chardonnay Musque $16.95 LENS

-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards      2010  Pinot Noir  $19.95      LENS

-Sprucewood Shores      2010  Cabernet Franc    LENS  7

-Sprucewood Shores      2011  Lady In Red $14.95 +266486    LENS

-Sprucewood Shores      2010  Cabernet Sauvignon LENS

-Colchester Ridge Estate      2012  Gewurztraminer LENS

-North 42 Degrees Estate Winery     2012  Sauvignon Blanc   $17.95 LENS

-North 42 Degrees Estate Winery     2012  Cabernet Franc    $20.95 LENS

-Smith & Wilson Franc Noir Cabernet Franc/Baco Noir 2009 Ontario

-Smith & Wilson Smith's Vidal 2012 Ontario $11

-Smith & Wilson Pearl Sparkling Blend 2011 [twist top] Ontario $16

 

The Food: cheese and cold cuts platter, biscuits, bread, water.

The Contact Person: steve@sprucewoodshores.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com