The Date and Time: Saturday, April 22, 2017
The Event: The Wine Writers' Circle of Canada's fourth annual Rose tasting of imported and domestic rose wines for sale in Ontario – the only one of its kind in Ontario.
The Venue: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada's Toronto Head Offices.
The Target Audience: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada members.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are (or will be) available either year round or for the seasonal offering Spring/Summer 2017.
The Quote/Background: All wines submitted were tasted. What follows below are my tasting scores. This was NOT a competition since all wines were tasted with exposed labels and tech/sales sheets. The BEST wines scored 91 or more; the BETTER wines were in that narrow 88 – 90 range. My individual scores are given; those from other writers will vary. In fact, write-ups by other writers will also vary, as well as photos.
The Wines: It is important to realize that Ontario roses (both still and sparkling) are surely world-class, holding their own against those of France, Portugal and Spain. My fave Ontario rose sparkler was Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Rose Brut NV and fave Ontario still rose was Two Sisters Rose 2016, both just under $30. But Stratus Wildass Rose 2016 and The Foreign Affair Amarose 2016 were just a point or two less but half the price. Similarly, for imports, the best value rose sparkler continues to be the Cono Sur Pinot Noir Rose Brut NV at $13.95, and the best value still rose is Bacalhoa JP Azeitao Syrah 2016 at $8.60, both at the LCBO. Prices are generally RETAIL unless otherwise specified. The Wine Writers' Circle of Canada would very much like to thank both Drinks Ontario and Wine Marketing Association of Ontario for encouraging their members to participate.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
93 Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut NV $29.95 +217505 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Chardonnay 12%
93 Two Sisters Rosé 2016 $29 Niagara River Merlot 60/CS20/CF20 13%
92 Cono Sur Pinot Noir Rose Brut NV $13.95 +365205 Chile Pinot Noir 12%
92 Maison AIX AIX Rosé 2016 $22.95 +451906 Tautavel Grenache 12.5%
92 Matua Pinot Noir Rose 2016 $16.95 +484618 New Zealand Malborough PinotNoir 13%
92 Stratus Wildass Rose 2016 $14.25 Niagara +71712
92 The Foreign Affair Amarose 2016 $14.75 +388702
91 Bacalhoa JP Azeitao Syrah 2016 $8.60 +404566 Portugal Peninsula De Setubal Syrah, Moscatel Galego Roxo 12%
91 Featherstone Estate Winery Cuvee Joy Rose Sparkling 2015 $29.95 +450700 Featherstone Vineyard, Twenty Mile Bench Pinot Noir 12.5% Nov 2017
91 Flat Rock Cellars Pink Twisted 2016 $17.95 +39974 Niagara Peninsula 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Gewurztraminer, 10% Riesling 13% LCBO Only 22-Jul-17
91 Inniskillin Inniskillin Niagara Reserve Cabernet Franc Rose 2016 $19.95 Winery Only Niagara 100% Cabernet Franc 12.5%
91 Susana Balbo Signature Rose 2016 $19.95 +493130 Argentina Uco Valley 60% Malbec - 40% Pinot Noir 12.5 Vintages Aug 2017
91 Tawse Sketches Rose 2016 $17.35 +172643
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
90 Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir Rose 2016 $10.95 +318014 Chile Bio Bio Valley 13%
90 Coyote's Run Pinot Noir Rose 2016 $22.95 Winery Only
90 Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Rosé NV $21.95 +280172 New Zealand Marlborough/Hawkes Bay 20% Pinot Noir / 80% Chardonnay 12.5%s July 8th, 2017 90 Francois Dulac Cotes du Provence 2016 $16.00 +483040 Provence Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre 13%
90 Hidden Bench Estate Winery Locust Lane Rosé 2016 $21.75 +68833 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir/Viognier 13% VINTAGES June 24.2017
90 Kacaba Vineyards Rebecca Rose 2016 $17.95 +227025 Niagara Peninsula Cab Sauv/Cab Franc 12.8%
90 Le Cimate Saudade Rosato 2015 $27 Lic Montefalco Umbria Cons Cottonwood
90 Magnotta Winery G. Marquis Silver Line Ice Rosé Sparkling N/V $29.95 +274761 NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE PINOT NOIR. with CABFRANC icewine 13.4%
90 Tawse Growers Blend Rose2016 2016 $19.95
89 Calamus Estate 150 eh Rose 2015/16 $13.95 Niagara 63Gewurz/25Riesling/7Chard2016/5Merlot2016
89 Creekside Estate Winery Pinot Noir Rose 2016 $21.95 St. Davids Bench Pinot Noir 12% Winery Only
89 Fielding Estate Winery Rosé 2016 $15.95 +53421 Niagara Peninsula Gamay (80%) and Pinot Noir (20%) 12.3%
89 G. Bertrand Gris Blanc 2015 $16.95 +409870 Pays d'Oc VINTAGES
89 Garofano Girofle Rosato Negroamaro 2015 $23 Lic +255405 Italy Salento IGT Consign Cottonwood
89 Henry of Pelham Rosé 2016 $14.95 +613471 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Zweigelt 11.5%
89 Hidden Bench Estate Winery Nocturn Rosé 2016 $19.75 Niagara Region Merlot, CF, CS, Malbec 13%
89 Pure Provence Pink Gecko 2016 $14.95 +485946 AOP Coteaux Varois en Provence 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault 12.6%
89 Rustenberg Wines Petit Verdot Rosé 2016 $13.95 +451773 South Africa Stellenbosch 100% Petit Verdot 13.50% Vintages 27-May-17
89 Southbrook Vineyards Estate Cabernet Rosé 2016 $29.95 Four Mile Creek Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc 11.5% Vintages June 10
89 Stratus Rose 2016
89 Torres Vina Esmeralda Rosé 2016 $13.95 +490920 Catalunya Granacha Tinta 12.50%
89 Torrevento Primaronda Rose 2015 $14.95 Cons Puglia Bombino black 12%
Majestic Wine Cellars
89 Valdemar Conde de Valdemar Rose 2016 $13.95 +168278 Rioja Tempranillo 13% LCBO Vintages Oct-28
88 Bottega Bottega Vino dei Poeti Brut Rose NV $14.95 +277202 Veneto Blend of Pinot Noir and Raboso 11.5%
88 Codorniu Raventos Codorniu Seleccion Rose NV $16.95 +370080 Costers del Segre Pinot Noir, Xarel-lo, Parellada 12%
88 Creekside Estate Winery Cabernet Rose 2016 $14.95 +48819 Niagara Peninsula Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5%
88 DeMorgenzon DeMorgenzon Garden Vineyards Rose 2016 $11.95 +48581 South Africa Stellenbosch 54% Grenache/36% Syrah/10% Mourvédre 13.5%
88 Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2016 $13.95 +492934 Chile
88 Featherstone Estate Winery Rose 2016 $15.95 +117861 Twenty Mile Bench Gamay, Cab Sauvignon, Pinot Noir 13.5% Vintages August 2017
88 Fielding Estate Winery Long Weekend Rosé 2016 13.95 N/A Canada Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir (70%) and Gamay (30%) 11.8 Winery Only May-17
88 Izadi Izadi Larrosa Rose 2015 (2016 soon) $14.95 +490961 Rioja 100% Garnacha 13.5% Vintages 2017-05-13
88 JEAN-MAX ROGER Sancerre Rosé La Grange Dîmière 2016 $25.95 +490813 Loire/Sancerre Pinot Noir 13.5% 29-Apr-17
88 Piera Martellozzo S.P.A. Giovello Pink Rose 2016 $11.95 +445627 Friuli 12%
88 Southbrook Vineyards Seriously Cool Rosé 2016 $15.95 Ontario Pinot Noir/Vidal 11.5% LCBO July
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
87 Remy Pannier Rose D'Anjou 2016 LCBO +12641 $14.95
87 Filomusi Guelfi Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2014 $22 Lic +119585 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Consign Cottonwood
87 Jackson-Triggs Niagara Reserve Rose 2015 $14.95 32%Gamay/68%CabFranc 13% Winery
87 Masi Agricola Rosa dei Masi 2016 $15.95 +377267 Veneto Refosco 12.5% Vintages July 22 2017
87 Rosehall Run Pixie Sparkling NV $19.95 +492959 Ontario Riesling/Chard/PN 11% Winery/Online/LCBO
86 Bottega PINOT GRIGIO ROSÉ IGT DELLE VENEZIE 2015 (2016 soon) $14.95 +490938 Veneto Pinot Grigio 12%
86 Colio Estate Wines Girls' Night Out Rosé 2015 $13.95 +89862 Ontario Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc 13%
86 Oyster Bay Rosé 2016 $18.95 +493171 New Zealand Marlborough Pinot Noir 13% Vintages July 22nd, 2017
86 Harbour Estates Winery Sunset 2016 $15.95 Niagara Peninsula Riesling, Merlot, Sauvignon 10% Retail store only
86 King's Court Estate Winery Princess Rose 2016 $15.95 +491050 Niagara Cab-Franc, Ehrenfelser 11.5%
86 Pelee Island Winery Lola Sparkling Rose 2014 $14.95 +450981 Lake Erie North Shore 78% Vidal Blanc/22% Chambourcin 12%
86 Pelee Island Winery Pelee Pink-VQA 2015 $11.95 +529354 Lake Erie North Shore 100% Chambourcin 12%
86 Reif Estate Winery River Road Cabernet Rosé 2016 $12.75 +468223 Niagara River Cabernet 12.50%
86 Rosehall Run Just One Rose 2016 $17.95 Ontario Gamay/PN (5%) 13% Winery/Online 86 Sandbanks Rose Vidal 2016 $13.95 +244616 Ontario
85 Banrock Station Pink & White Grapefruit Rose $10.95 +170134 Australia
85 Banrock Station Pink Moscato 2016 Australia
85 Pillitteri Estates Winery Rose 2014 $13.50 Niagara Peninsula 100% Cabernet Franc 11.5% Winery
The Food: baguettes, water, California oven-roasted almonds, arbequina olives.
The Downside: it was a lot of wines with many monochromatic notes in a similar price range, but we took a lot of breaks for food, water, etc. Rince bouche with soda water helped.
The Upside: a chance to taste 70 wines, many of which were top notch.
The Contact Person: organizer – deantudor@deantudor.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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