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Sunday, May 7, 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 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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