The Event: Annual tasting of Fortified Wines for Christmas, plus 18 or so Domestic Ontario Sparkling Wines (plus a few Champagnes and other stragglers).

The Date and Time: Monday, October 5, 2015   10:30 AM to 2 PM

The Event: Annual tasting of Fortified Wines for Christmas, plus 18 or so Domestic Ontario Sparkling Wines (plus a few Champagnes and other stragglers).

The Venue: Quebec Avenue Meeting Place

The Target Audience: members of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada.

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the LCBO or by private order, as specified.

The Quote/Background: Once again we had a lot of wine but we all took our time. Our thanks to the agents and wineries for supplying us, and for filling in the spreadsheets. It gets better and better every year, although the listing of prices tended to be variable.

The Wines: What follows are my ratings; the wines are NOT ranked. While I organized the tasting for the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada, it was NOT a competition and my ratings are my own and form my own writings. Members write as they wish. and where they wish.

 

A: SPARKLING WINES (not in ranked order)

 

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

-Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery,2013,Fancy Farm Girl-Flirty Bubbles,$27.95 winery

-Colio Estate Wines,n/v,Lily Sparkling,$16.95,+418657 LCBO [riesling]

-Tawse Winery,2013,Spark Riesling,$19.95,+370361 Niagara,LCBO Vintages

-Compagnie Champenoise Ph-Ch,Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne NV $69.95 +36962

-Compagnie Champenoise Ph-Ch,Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne NV $54.95 +462432

-Comp Ph-Ch,Piper Heidsieck Rose Brut Champagne NV  Vintages

-Henry of Pelham ,Cuvee Catharine Brut,NV $29.95 +217521 Niagara -

 

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

-Arione,NV,Moscato Spumante,16.45,,Italy,Piedmonte PO w5vino.com

-Fresita,NV,,$13.95,+383901 LCBO Chile

-Featherstone,JOY,2011,$34.95,+310334 Vintages,

-Tawse Winery,2013,Spark (Blend),$24.95,+384966 Niagara,LCBO Vintages

-13th Street Winery,Cuvée Rosé Brut,NV,$24.95,+147504 Niagara Peninsula

-Konzelmann Cuve Close Rose,nv,,+184176 LCBO,

 

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

-John Howard Megalomaniac,Bubblehead Brut Rose $28.95 Niagara

-Konzelmann ,Cuve Close,nv

-Caldirola,NV,Pinot Nero Frizzante,$13.95,+931633,Italy,Pavia PO w5vino.com

-Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery,2013,Sparkling & SASSY Riesling,$27.95,+344622

-Pelee Island Winery 2013,SECCO,$13.75,+225948 Lake Erie North Shore LCBO

-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Blanc de Blanc,2010,$44.95,+315200 Short Hills Bench

-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Rose Brut,NV,$29.95,+217505 Niagara

-Jackson Triggs,Entourage GR Brut,2011 $22.95

-Niagara College Teaching Winery,Balance Brut

 

FORTIFIED WINES (these wines are not ranked)

 

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

-Fratelli Branca Antica Formula Vermouth,$47.95 Italy Consignment Majestic

-Graham,20 yr tawny 500 ml,$37.45,+620641

-Fonseca 2012,Guimaraens Vintage Port $81.95,+123695 Porto LCBO Vintages

 

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

-Monenvasia Winery,Velies Malvasia Laconia,2010,375mL   $80

-Graham,LBV,2009,$16.95,+191239

-Graham,10 yr Tawny,$28.95,+404012

-Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny,NV,$34.95,+121749,Duoro Sylvestre Wines & Spirits

-Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny,NV,$68.95,+149047 Duoro Sylvestre Wines & Spirits

-Generations Wine Co,Union Forte,2007,$16.95,+361758 Niagara Von Terra  Vintages

-Gonzalez Byass,NV,Tio Pepe Fino, $16.95 +231829 Jerez,LCBO,

-Bodegas Williams & Humbert,n/v,Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Sherry $13.35 +13565 -Gonzalez Byass,NV,Nutty Solera Oloroso, $15.25 +35204,Spain,Jerez,Vintages,31-Oct-15

-CAVINO S. A.,0,"DEUS Mavrodafne AOC Patras, Aigio, Peloponnese" $13.95 Greece,Aigio Peloponnese,LCBO,2016

-Fratelli Branca Carpano Classico Vermouth,$23.95,,Italy Consignment Majestic

-Carlo Pellegrino & C. Spa,2013,Moscato Di Panteleria,$21.45 Sicily Consignment

-Carlo Pellegrino & C. Spa,2014,Passito Di Panteleria $21.45 Sicily,Consignment

 

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

-Fratelli Branca Punt E Mes,$21.95 Italy,,Consignment Majestic

-Karlo Estate,Van Alstine Red  "port",2012, $29

-Black Prince,Solera's Cask Apera,"sherry"

-Karlo Estate,Van Alstine White  "port",2013,$29

-Gonzalez Byass,NV,Croft Original Pale Fine Cream, $15.95 +73452,Spain,Jerez,LCBO,

-Fonseca ,NV ,White Port $16.95,,Portugal ,Porto ,LCBO General List,

-Taylor Fladgate ,Fine White Port,NV,$15.95,+69856,Portugal,Duoro Vintages

-Kwv Sa (Pty) Ltd,n/v,Paarl Cape Ruby,$9.95,+28951,South Africa,Western Cape,LCBO

-De Sousa Wine Cellars Seasons Reserve Port,$39.95,LCBO VINTAGES +347302 Niagara -Senhora de Convento,Ruby Port,NV,$16.95,+398230,Portugal,Douro

-Manoel Pocas S.A.Pocas Ruby Port,$15.95,,Portugal,,LCBO Vintages

-Manoel Pocas S.A. Special Reserve Ruby,$19.95,,Portugal,,LCBO Vintages

-Senhora de Convento,Tawny Port,NV,$16.95,+398248,Portugal,Douro

-Fonseca Bin 27 $16.95,+325506,Portugal ,Porto ,LCBO General List,

-Ferreira,NV,Dona Antonia Reserve Port,$18.95,+157586,Portugal,Duoro,General List

-Croft,Late Bottled Vintage,2010,$18.95,+87601,Portugal,Duoro, Jan 23rd, 2016

-Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage,2010,$17.95,+46946,Portugal,Duoro

-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy Anniversary NV $19.95 VQA Niagara [fortified chardonnay]

 

The Food: bread and water

The Contact Person: deantudor@deantudor.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com