The Date and Time: Saturday, September 25, 2016 10AM to 3PM
The Event: the Annual (14th) Sparkling Wine tasting by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada.
The Venue: WWCC Clubhouse
The Target Audience: members of the WWCC
The Availability/Catalogue: all of the 50+ wines are available in Ontario through the usual distribution channels, including "consignment" or "Ontario winery only". The intent is to showcase to our members what wines would be avaialble for the upcoming Holiday seasons.
The Quote/Background: The WWCC has been holding this tasting every fall in order to give its members a chance to taste what is in the marketplace for the upcoming Holiday Seasons (Thanksgiving through New Years and St. Valentines Day). About a dozen writers turn up over the course of a day. We the WWCC would like to thank our industry partners for the opportunity to sample these wines.
The Wines: Although ciders were also requested, we only received one: Thornbury Apple Cider $3 +333583 5.30% ABV, which was tasted at the end and rated by me at a good Four Stars (91 points), and highly recommended. What follows are grape-based wines; the ratings are MINE ALONE and not the group's. Each writer rates or writes separately, and there is no cumulative total or average rating.
**** BEST (rated by Dean Tudor, listed in no order) -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Tawse Winery Sparkling Brut 2014 $25.25 #384966 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris LCBO Direct delivery program, Winery
-Tawse Winery Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling 2014 $20.20 #370361 Riesling LCBO (releases), Restaurants
-Balbi Soprani Brachetto d"Acqui NV 15.95 +298570 Piedmont Vintages Wharton Fine Wines
-Colio Estate Wines Lily Sparkling N/V 16.95 418657 Riesling
-Westcott Brilliant Brut 2013 32.95 Niagara Winery
-Westcott Violette Brut NV 25.95 Niagara Winery
-Vieni Estates Rose Brut 2012 $19.95 Vinemount chardonnay, pinot noir Winery
-Cave Spring Cellars Blanc de Blancs NV 29.95 213983 Niagara Chardonnay
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Blanc de Blanc 'Carte Blanche' 2011 44.95 315200 Chardonnay LCBO, Retail
-Taittinger Brut Reserve NV 60.65 365312 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier
-Cave de Lugny Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs 21.95 460865 Chardonnay Vintages Dec 10 Trilogy
-Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace $18.95 39016 Alsace Pinot Noir
-Banshee Wines Mercat Brut Nature NV 21.95 465658 Penedes Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada
-Raventós i Blanc De Nit 2013 33.50 Spain Conca del Riu Anoia Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada, Monastrall Private Order Cru Wine Merchants
-Featherstone Winery 2012 Cuvee Joy $34.95 310334 Niagara Peninsula
-Flat Rock Cellars Riddled 2010 $29.95 383315 Twenty Mile Bench Chardonnay Winery Only.
-Loire Vins Domaine Chateau D'eternes Saumur Brut NV $15.15 429696 Chenin/Chardonnay
***1/2 BETTER (rated by Dean Tudor, listed in no order) -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vieni Estates Vidal Sparkling Icewine 2014 49.95 Vinemount Winery
-Vieni Estates Sparkling Cab Icewine 2013 69.95 Vinemount Cab Franc&Sauv Winery
-Pelee Island Winery Secco 2013 14.1%ABV 225946 Lake Erie North Shore 85% Pinot Blanc/ 15% Auxerrois
-Vieni Estates Bruce Trail Rose N/v 15.95 Vinemount Pinot Meunier (!!) Winery
-Vieni Estates Classic Brut 2013 22.95 Vinemount Chard,p.noir,p.meunier winery
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut NV 29.95 217521 Niagara Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut NV 29.95 217505 Niagara PinotNoir/Chard
-Jackson-Triggs Entourage Sparkling Brut 2012 $24.95 234161 Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
-Chateau de Montgueret Cremant de Loire NV 19.95 LCBO
-Pierre Sparr Cremant d' Alsace Brut Reserve $18.95 388603 Pinot Blanc/Pinot Auxerrois
-Raventós i Blanc L'Hereu 2013 28.00 Conca del Riu Anoia Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada Private Order Cru Wine Merchants
-Sorelle Bronca Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut NV 24.50 San Pietro di Feletto Glera Private Order Cru Wine Merchants
-Kim Crawford Small Parcels Fizz 2011 $29.95 381236 Marlborough Pinot Noir/Chardonnay
-Cono Sur Pinot Noir Rose Brut 13.95 LCBO
-Tawse Winery David's Bloc Brut 2011 Chardonnay Winery
-Juve y Camps Brut Rose Pinot Noir Cava $21.95 385088 Catlunya Pinot Noir
*** GOOD (rated by Dean Tudor, listed in no order) -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Pelee Island Winery LOLA Vidal 2014 12.95 450900 Lake Erie North Shore
-Pelee Island Winery LOLA Rose 2014 13.1 450981 Lake Erie NorthShore Vidal/ Chambourcin
-Rapscallion Wine Co. Frisky Beaver Bubbly Beaver NV 16.95 467183 Riesling
-Diamond Estates Wines&Spirits EastDell Cuvee Brut 2011 24.95 Niagara Pinot Noir/Chard
The Winery & online
-Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits FRESH Ideas Sparking Riesling 2013 15.95 441162
-Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits FRESH Possibilities Sparking Rose 2014 15.95 341347
-Grange Lot 4 Brut NV PEC
-Vieni Estates Momenti Rose 15.95 Canada Vinemount chard,p.noir,P.meun,riesling11.5
-Vieni Estates Momenti 13.95 vinemount p.Grigio,s.Blanc,Vidal,Gewurt 6.5 Winery
-Kacaba Winery Effervescence Brut 2015 29.95 Niagara Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling
-Fermi Bohigas Reserva Brut $18.95 401216 Penedes Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chard -Freixenet Carta Nevada $12.95 +216887 Spain Penedes 33% Parellada
-Freixenet Cordon Negro 1.5litres Magnum $25.45 180588 Penedes 40%Parellada
-Blue Nun Brut 22K Gold Edition
-Ruffino Prosecco NV $16.95 467811 Glera
-Fantinel Prosecco Brut One & Only $18.95 390617 Friuli Glera
-Piera Martellozzo S.p.A Blu Giovello Prosecco $15.05 85316 Friuli, Veneto Glera
The Food: bread and water, almonds.
The Contact Person: deantudor@yahoo.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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