The Date and Time: Monday, January 19, 2015 6PM to midnight
The Event: the annual dinner of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada, celebrating it's 30th anniversary (1985+ )
The Venue: Barberian's Steak House, Wine Cellar
The Target Audience: WWCC members and their guests.
The Availability/Catalogue: everybody brought their own wine, one bottle a head. Many of these wines are no longer in the marketplace; they were drawn from members cellars.
The Quote/Background: Sheila Swerling Puritt, as she has for the past decade, organized the meal for us, doing the bargaining with Arron Barberian to provide us with no corkage and a lavish menu. We ate in the magnificent Wine Cellar (15-17 degrees Celsius) on a long table set for 30 of us, set among his thousands of bottles of wines. Truly a remarkable experience. This was my annual rib-eye and my wife's annual prime rib steak dinner. Even as hearty eaters, we could not finish and took a doggy bag. There were speeches honouring Tony Aspler and Konrad Ejbich as original founding members. Michael Pinkus, current President, handed out 30th anniversary pins. And for a change, the weather co-operated – while it was cold, it was clear and the roads were passable.
The Wines: I did not taste every wine, but I did manage to rate a few –
Dry Sack William and Humbert
BOTTEGA Prosecco Vino dei Poeti (2 bottles)
Soalheiro Alvarinho 2011 (2 bottles)
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
Hayman & Hill Reserve Selection Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2004
Two Sisters Winery Riesling 2013 VQA
Two Sisters Winery Cabernet franc 2010 VQA
Two Sisters Winery Merlot 2010 VQA
Two Sisters Winery Eleventh Post 2011 (Bordeaux blend) VQA
Punset Barbaresco 2008
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010
Domaine Raphael Chopin - La Ronze - Regnié 2009
Beaujolais Nouveau Chateau-Cambon 2014 [specially brought back from France]
Luis Canas Reserva 2009 Rioja
Vina Real Crianza 2010 Rioja
Molino di San Antimo Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Chenas 2013 Pascal Aufranc
A Geofroy Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy 2012
Stonefield's Puligny Montrachet, 2005, Remoissenet et Fils
Quantarelli Rosso Ca' del Merlo 2004
Megalomaniac Eccentric Savignin 2011 VQA
Chateau Villemaurine 1985 St. Emilion Magnum
Chateau Chasse-Spleen 2000 Magnum
Trius Red 2005 VQA
Trius Red 2007 VQA
Trius Red 2010 VQA
Lailey Chardonnay The Blend 2013 Wild ferment VQA
Domaine Baud Pere & Fils Vin Jaune, 2005, Chateau Chalon AC
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco 2006, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
Vidal Icewine, 2006, Pillitteri VQA
Merlot, 2013, Charles Shaw
Freisa de Langhe, 2012, G. Borgogno
Fikardos Maratheftiko, 2008, Pafos, Cyprus
Sangue del Diavolo Raboso del Piave, 2010, Ca di Rajo
Chateauneuf Du Pape, 2010, Beaurenard
Barbarseco, 2008, Pusset
Morgon Cote du Py, 2012, A Auceur
Of the wines I tasted....
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Soalheiro Alvarinho 2011 (2 bottles)
-Hayman & Hill Reserve Selection Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2004
-Molino di San Antimo Brunello di Montalcino 2007
-Chateau Villemaurine 1985 St. Emilion Magnum
-Chateau Chasse-Spleen 2000 Magnum
-Trius Red 2005 VQA
-Trius Red 2007 VQA
-Barbarseco, 2008, Pusset
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Two Sisters Winery Riesling 2013 VQA
-Two Sisters Winery Cabernet franc 2010 VQA
-Two Sisters Winery Merlot 2010 VQA
-Two Sisters Winery Eleventh Post 2011 (Bordeaux blend) VQA
-A Geofroy Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy 2012
-Lailey Chardonnay The Blend 2013 Wild ferment VQA
-Freisa de Langhe, 2012, G. Borgogno
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Megalomaniac Eccentric Savignin 2011 VQA
-Merlot, 2013, Charles Shaw
The Food: At the reception we had sparklers, sherry, and Alvarinho. This was followed by a choice from House Salad, Caesar Salad, Tomato Salad, or Split Pea Soup with Bacon – all delivered in heaping quantities, and with garlic breads. The Entrée (along with huge house pickles) was one of --
Rib Steak (16 oz) [I had this]
Filet Mignon Wrapped in Bacon (8oz)
Prime Rib of Beef [my wife had this]
Grilled Free Range Capon
Grilled Atlantic Salmon Steak
with Baked Potato, Rice Pilaf or French Fried Potatoes,
followed by dessert, a Selection of Cheese with Hot Apple Beignet.
The Downside: there was so little time! We could not chat with everybody, but I did try to welcome a few guests and talk up members as they poured their wines in friendship.
The Upside: we were able to sample and appreciate small portions of wines to accompany the food.
The Contact Person: Sheila SwPuritt <spuritt@sympatico.ca>
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 94.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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