The Date and Time: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 1PM to 3PM
The Event: a tasting of the Cuvee 2014 Winemakers selections.
The Venue: LCBO Summerhill Scrivener Square
The Target Audience: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada plus guests.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the winery and, in some cases, also through the LCBO.
The Quote/Background: WCO had stopped previewing Cuvee wines for the press, and in the transfer of Cuvee to Brock University, there was an opportunity for the WWCC to taste the wines as they came to market. Next year's tasting is expected to be in March.
The Wines: we tasted some 35 wines. I personally enjoyed the Wild Ferment savvy from Hillebrand and the Benchmark Red from Thirty Bench best of all. The Coyote's Run Meritage was the only red wine with a screw cap; about half of the whites had cork closures. There were no sparkling or ice wines submitted in Cuvee.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Bachelder, Niagara 2011 Chardonnay, Wismer Vineyard $44.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2010 Riesling CSV Estate Bottled $29.95
-Hillebrand Estates 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Clean Slate, Wild Ferment $32 (MY FAVE WHITE)
-Niagara College Teaching Winery Balance 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Lincoln Lakeshore $12.95
-Peller Estates 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Private Reserve $18.75
-Southbrook 2011 Winemakers' White "Whimsy" Chard / Sem / Muscat $35
-Strewn 2011 Chardonnay, French Oak $24.95
-Cornerstone Estate Winery 2010 Cabernet-Merlot $19
-G. Marquis 2010 Epic - Silver Line M / CS / CF $29.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate 2011 Baco Noir Reserve $24.95
-Inniskillin 2012 Merlot Reserve Series $24.95
-Rennie Estate Winery 2011 Assemblage "G" M / CS / CF $55 (16.9% ABV)
-Rockway Vineyards 2011 Small Lot, Block 11-140 Cabernet Franc $24.95
-Thirty Bench 2010 Benchmark Red, Small Lot Meritage Blend $60 (MY FAVE RED)
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate2012 White Meritage, Grand Reserve SB 80/Sem 20 $24.95
-Nyarai Cellars 2012 Viognier $21.95
-Peninsula Ridge 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Wismer Vineyard $19.95
-Big Head Wines 2012 Pinot Noir $48
-Chateau des Charmes 2012 Merlot, St. David's Vineyard $29.95
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyard 2012 Merlot Reserve $34.95
-Pillitteri Estates Winery 2010 Exclamation Winemakers's Red Reserve $45
-The Foreign Affair 2012 The Conspiracy Meritage Blend $19.95
-Stratus 2010 Red CS/M/PV/CF
-Coyote's Run Estate Winery 2010 Meritage $39.95 (the only red with a twist top)
-Hidden Bench Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench $32.75
-Kacaba 2011 Syrah, Terrace Vineyard $24.95
-Le Clos Jordanne 2011 Pinot Noir, Village Reserve $30
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Calamus Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $16.95
-Pelee Island Winery 2012 Singing Moon Pinot Blanc $14.95
-Reif Estate Winery 2012 Gewurztraminer Reserve $19.95
-Ridge Road Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Gris $16.95
-Thirteenth Street Wine Co. 2011 Essence Arôme White Blend $34.95
-Domaine Queylus 2011 Pinot Noir Reserve $45
-Magnotta 2010 Limited Edition Cabernet Franc $18.95
-Malivoire Wine Co. 2011 Courtney Gamay $24.95
-Vieni 2011 Aglianico Al Passo Aglianico $29.95
The Contact Person: btatarnic@brocku.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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