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Monday, November 10, 2014

The Event: Taste Ontario – Experience Ontario VQA Wines, annual tasting October 2014

The Date and Time: Thursday, October 2, 2014 10:30AM to 4PM
The Event: Taste Ontario – Experience Ontario VQA Wines, annual tasting
The Venue: ROM
The Target Audience: in the AM, the media; in the afternoon, the trade; in the evening, the consumers.
The Availability/Catalogue: everything is available, either at the LCBO or at the winery. Some items are only available to restaurants.
The Quote/Background:
The Wines: Some of us had just tasted a round of Ontario sparkling wines the Friday before. Rather than repeat, and to save my palate, I've reproduced those notes here. The first price listed is the licensee, the second price is retail. Thanks to WCO for the spreadsheet data!
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cave Spring Cellars    NV    Blanc de Blancs    VQA Niagara $29.95     213983 LCBO
-Huff Estate Cuvee Peter F. Huff Brut 2010 PEC, $39.95 (2007 is at Vintages)
-Henry of Pelham        Cuvee Catharine Brut     $29.95     217521 LCBO
-Henry of Pelham    2009    Cuvee Catharine Carte Blanche Blanc de Blanc    $44.95 315200
-Henry of Pelham        Cuvee Catharine Rose Brut    $29.95     217505 LCBO
-Tawse    2011    Spark Blend     $24.95     384966
-Chateau des Charmes n/v Brut $22.95 224766  LCBO
-ANGELS GATE WINERY    2011    HANDSOME BRUT    $24.95    395160 LCBO
-Lake Erie North Shore    Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Cabernet Merlot Reserve    2008    750 ml    13.7%    627843185653     $16.84      $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Bachelder    Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay    2011    750 ml    13.9%    302083     $26.50      $29.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Bachelder    Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2011    750 ml    13.9%    366120     $38.50      $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Bachelder    Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay    2011    750 ml    13.7%    324103     $38.50      $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Di Profio Wines Limited    Sauvignon Blanc    2013    750 ml    13.7%         $15.03      $17.80
-Niagara Escarpment     Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery    Wismer Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc    2013    750 ml    12.6%    809381011212     $16.83      $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Thirty Bench Winery    Winemaker's Red    2012    750 ml    13.8%    0 48162 01172 4     $20.27      $24.00
-Niagara Escarpment     Thirty Bench Winery    Triangle Riesling    2013    750 ml    10.9%    0-4816201128-1     $25.33      $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Château des Charmes    "Old Vines" Riesling, Estate Bottled    2012    750 ml    12.5%    277228     $14.14      $16.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Jackson-Triggs Winery    Delaine Vineyard Syrah    2011    750 ml    13.6%    80011991     $27.65      $32.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Jackson-Triggs Winery    Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2012    750 ml    13.5%    988055     $16.67      $19.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Le Clos Jordanne    Village Reserve Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13.7%    985879     $25.16      $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Le Clos Jordanne    Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard Pinot Noir    2011    750 ml    13.5%    985895     $33.60      $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Konzelmann Estate Winery    Chardonnay Family Reserve    2012    750 ml    14.5%    624654100222     $42.17      $50.15
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Lailey Vineyard Wines    Syrah    2012    750 ml    13%    833078000500     $22.79      $27.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery    Ravine Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay    2011    750 ml    13%     $33.54      $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay    2013    750 ml    13.1%    172338     $19.21      $22.75
-Prince Edward County    Closson Chase    Kocsis Chardonnay    2011    750 ml    13%         $29.33      $34.75
-Prince Edward County    Norman Hardie    Pinot Noir Unfiltered    2011    750 ml    12.3%    837654599532     $32.93      $39.00
-Prince Edward County    Norman Hardie    County Chardonnay Unfiltered    2012    750 ml    12.5%         $32.93      $39.00
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-ANGELS GATE WINERY    2011    ARCHANGEL CHARDONNAY Brut    $23.95    227009 LCBO
-ANGELS GATE WINERY    2009    PINOT NOIR ROSE Brut    $25    BEAMSVILLE BENCH
-Fielding Estate Winery    NV Brut $34.95 Winery
-Jackson-Triggs 2011 Grand Reserve Series Entourage Spark. Brut $22.95 234161 Vintages
-Featherstone Winery 2010 Joy Brut    $34.95     310334 Twenty Mile Bench Dec 6, 2014
-Flat Rock Riddled Sparking     2009    VQA $24.95 Vintages               
-Creekside Estate The Trad Reserve Brut 2011 Queenston Road Vineyard MT $28.75
-Tawse    2013    Spark Riesling    $19.95     VQA 370361
-Grange of Prince Edward     2010    Lot 2 Brut     $29.95 Prince Edward County
-Niagara Escarpment     13th Street Winery Sandstone Vineyard Chardonnay 2010    750 ml    13%         $25.12      $29.95
-Niagara Escarpment     13th Street Winery June's Vineyard Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13.5%         $16.68      $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Angels Gate Winery     Mountainview Chardonnay 2008    750 ml    13%    402492008234     $14.99      $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Bachelder    Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012    750 ml    13.5%    361816     $38.50      $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Cave Spring Cellars    Riesling The Adam Steps    2013    750 ml    10.5%         $20.90      $24.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Creekside Estate Winery    [Backyard Block] Sauvignon Blanc    2013    750 ml    12.5%    341792     $14.99      $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Creekside Estate Winery    Reserve Viognier    2012    750 ml    13.5%         $25.12      $29.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Fielding Estate Winery    Lot No. 17 Riesling    2013    750 ml    10%    876584001166     $23.60      $27.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Flat Rock Cellars    Nadja's Vineyard Riesling    2013    750 ml    10.5%    18860100235     $16.84      $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment     The Good Earth Winery and Vineyard    the good wine 2013 Betty's Blend 2013    750 ml    12%    2014     $14.99      $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Rennie Estate Winery    Christine    Chardonnay Unfiltered    2012    750 ml    14%         $29.38      $34.80
-Niagara Escarpment     Tawse Winery    Tawse Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    12.5%         $16.84      $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment     Thirty Bench Winery    Winemaker's Riesling    2013    750 ml    10.6%    0-4816201126-7     $15.83      $18.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Westcott Vineyards Westcott Estate Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13.5%    3755000004     $21.78      $26.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Cattail Creek Estate Winery Estate Series Riesling 2013 750 ml    12%    825020013010     $14.82      $16.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Château des Charmes    Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard    2010    750 ml    14%    319525     $33.60      $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Inniskillin Wines    Reserve Pinot Gris    2013    750 ml    14%    981415     $16.67      $19.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Lailey Vineyard Wines    Sauvignon Blanc    2013    750 ml    13%    833078000173     $16.88      $20.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Peller Estates    Private Reserve Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13.5%    48162005556     $15.83      $18.75
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery    Ravine Vineyard Riesling    2013    750 ml    8%    629114 00142 0     $25.12      $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Whimsy! "Richness" Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    14.3%    621605     $29.34      $34.75
-Prince Edward County    Norman Hardie    County Pinot Noir Unfiltered    2012    750 ml    11.5%    400001253106     $32.93      $39.00
-Prince Edward County    Norman Hardie    Calcaire    2013    750 ml    10.8%    837654599679     $19.42      $23.00
-Burning Kiln Winery    Cureman's Chard    2012    750 ml    13%    UPC824799039122     $18.37      $21.75
-Union Wines    Union White    2013    750 ml    12.5%    197145     $13.00      $13.95
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-ANGELS GATE WINERY    2011    SAUVIGNON BLANC Brut    $23.95 BEAMSVILLE BENCH
-Coyote's Run Winery    2011    Sparkling Chardonnay    $24.95    398388 LCBO Nov 22
-Coyote's Run Winery    2009    Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose    $29.95    359125 LCBO -Jackson-Triggs    2012    Reserve Series Cuvee Clos    $14.95    217679 LCBO
-John Howard Cellars of Distinction/Megalomaniac     2012    Bubblehead    $28.95     363655  LCBO
-Diamond Estates Winery    2012    FRESH Sparkling Rose    $13.95
-Lakeview Cellars    2008     GMR Sparkling    $19.95
-Diamond Estates Winery    2013    20 Bees Buzz & Bubbles    $13.95     332577 LCBO
-Jackson-Triggs    2010    Grand Reserve Series Entourage Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc    $29.95    353078 Vintages
-Jackson-Triggs    2010    Grand Reserve Series Entourage Sparkling Merlot    $29.95
-Sue-Ann Staff     2011    Sparkling & SASSY    $27.95     344622 Vintages
-Sue-Ann Staff     2011    Sparkling & Icy    $34.95     359703 Riesling Vintages Dec 4 -Colio Girls Night Out Sparkling $14.95
-PELEE ISLAND WINERY    2012    SECCO Sparkling    $15.75 LENS    225946    LCBO
-Grange of Prince Edward 2013    Sparkling Riesling $19.95 392746 Prince Edward C Vintages
-Palatine Hills    NV    Prestige Brut    VQA $20.00
-Redstone    2011    Sparkling    $24.95 at Tawse VQA
-Huff Estate Cuvee Janine Brut Rose 2012 PEC, $29.95 Winery
-Lake Erie North Shore    Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Talon White    2013    750 ml    13%    853698001138     $14.31      $16.95
-Lake Erie North Shore    Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Riesling    2013    750 ml    9%    853698001114     $14.31      $16.95
-Lake Erie North Shore    Sprucewood Shores Winery    Riesling 2012    2012    750 ml    12%    326249     $11.61      $13.75
-Niagara Escarpment     Domaine Queylus    Pinot Noir Réserve    2011    750 ml    12.5%    896131000213     $34.95      $45.00
-Niagara Escarpment     Di Profio Wines Limited    Riesling    2013    750 ml    11.2%         $14.86      $17.60
-Niagara Escarpment     Flat Rock Cellars    Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13%    881860300291     $14.31    
-Niagara Escarpment     Henry of Pelham    Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2013 750 ml    13.5%    268342     $16.67      $19.75
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Marynissen Estates    Unoaked Chardonnay    2013    750 ml    13%         $12.49      $14.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Marynissen Estates    Pinot Gris    2013    750 ml    13.2%         $14.18      $16.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Palatine Hills Estate Winery    Riesling    2012    750 ml    11%    38956001413     $10.98      $12.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Palatine Hills Estate Winery    Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay    2012    750 ml    13.5%    338956004163     $19.38      $22.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery    Ravine Vineyard Reserve Merlot    2010    750 ml    13.7%    629114 00072 2     $37.76      $45.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake    Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery    Ravine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon    2012    750 ml    13.5%         $29.33      $35.00
-Prince Edward County    Rosehall Run    Chardonnay Cuvee County    2011    750 ml    13%    834328002770     $17.98      $21.30
-Prince Edward County    Rosehall Run Hungry Point Unoaked Chardonnay    2013    750 ml    12.5%    834328002701     $16.67      $19.75
-Union Wines    Union Squared    2012    750 ml    13.5%    292359     $17.00      $17.95
                           
The Food: the media were fed huge gourmet sandwiches, green salad, salade composee, Nanaimo bars, coffees, etc.
The Downside: I had to race since I had a concert to attend.
The Upside: a great snapshot of the Ontario VQA wines.
The Contact Person: magdalena@winesofontario.org
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91.
 


Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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