Report on Somewhereness Ontario VQA wines, April 9 tasting

The Date and Time: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 11AM to 1PM
The Event: Somewhereness Trade Show (Media portion)
The Venue: St. James Cathedral Centre
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: everything is available from the winery, with a
few at the LCBO. The catalogue gave both licensee and retail prices; I will
quote retail.
The Quote/Background: There are now 12 wineries who are part of
Somewhereness, a terroir driven group of wine producers who strive for a
sense of place.
The Wines: I had to leave by before 12:45, so I did not taste every wine.
Needless to say, all the wines are VQA wines.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Hinterland Wine Company Limited - Rosé Method Traditional 2011, $37
-13th Street Winery Cuvee 13 Rose NV, $24.95 retail.
-13th Street Winery Pinot Gris 2012, $19.95
-13th Street Winery Reserve Syrah 2011, $21.95
-Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011, $29.95 [half-Wismer]
-Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011 Wismer Vineyard, $44.95
-Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011 Saunders Vineyard, $44.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Dolomite Brut NV, $24.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Gewurztraminer Estate Bottled, $17.95
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2012, $35.20
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2009
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2007
-Tawse Winery - Limestone Ridge "Spark" Riesling 2012, $20.15
-Tawse Winery - Quarry Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2011, $36.15
-Flat Rock Cellars - Chardonnay 2010, $17.15
-Stratus Vineyards - Tollgate Viognier 2011, licensee only $19.21
-Stratus Vineyards - Stratus White 2010, $44.20 Vintages
-Stratus Vineyards - Stratus Red 2010, $44.20
-Southbrook Vineyards - Triomphe Chardonnay 2012, $22.95
-Southbrook Vineyards - Whimsy! Winemaker's White 2012, $34.95
-Norman Hardie Winery - County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2012, $39.20
-Norman Hardie Winery - Riesling 2012, $21.20
-Hidden Bench Estate Terroir Cache 2010

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating
terms):
-Malivoire Wine Company - Mottiar Chardonnay 2011, $29.95
-Norman Hardie Winery - County Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2012, $39.20
-Norman Hardie Winery - County Cabernet Franc Unfiltered 2012, $25.20
-Stratus Vineyards - Stratus Cabernet Franc 2010, $38.20
-Stratus Vineyards - Tollgate Red 2011, $19.95
-Flat Rock Cellars - Nadja's Vineyard Riesling 2012, $20.15
-Flat Rock Cellars - Nadja's Vineyard Riesling 2013, $20.15
-Flat Rock Cellars - Riesling 2013, $17.15
-13th Street Winery Riesling 2012 Creek Shores, $23.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Dolomite Riesling 2012, $16.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Riesling CSV 2011, $29.95
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Ivan Vineyard Riesling 2013, $27.20
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2011
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2008
-Charles Baker Wines - Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2010, $35.20
+241182 Vintages
-Tawse Winery - Limestone Ridge Vineyard Riesling 2012, $22.15
-Tawse Winery - Frost Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2012, $20.15
-Tawse Winery - Grower's Blend Pinot Noir 2010, $27.15
-Flat Rock Cellars - Gravity Pinot Noir 2011, $30.15
-Hidden Bench Estate Riesling 2012, Vintages $23.75
-Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2012, Vintages $28.75
-Hidden Bench Estate Rose 2013, $19.75
-Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir 2010 Locust Lane
-Hinterland Wine Company Limited - Ancestral Method Ancestral 2013, $25
-Hinterland Wine Company Limited - Lacus Method Charmat 2012, $22


*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Flat Rock Cellars - Unplugged Chardonnay 2012, $17.15
-Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery - Felseck Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2011,
$28.20
-Hinterland Wine Company Limited - Whitecap Method Charmat 2013
-Malivoire Wine Company - Melon 2013, $19.95

The Food: some cheese was given to us by Monforte Dairy and the Upper Canada
Cheese company, and Fat Chance Hand Sliced Cold Smoked Salmon provided some
fish.
The Downside: I had to leave early, so unfortunately, I could not taste
everything.
The Upside: Schott Zwiesel glasses.
The Contact Person: somewhereness@gmail.com or jennifer@flatrockcellars.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com