The Date and Time: Sunday June 11, 2017 1PM to 4PM
The Event: A tasting of some fine Ontario syrah.
The Venue: Writer Jason Solanki's abode at Chez Megz
The Target Audience: invited wine media guests
The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were available in the Ontario system, although some were from private cellars.
The Quote/Background: we were given a list of the 16 wines and invited to taste through them and rate them, or whatever.
The Wines: We had five Syrah from Kacaba, four from Creekside, and one each from seven others. Only the Jackson Triggs and the Legends were labeled Shiraz.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
(94) Kacaba Terraced Vineyard Syrah 2014 VQA Niagara Escarpment $29.95...perhaps atypical because of some brett tones and aging, but it was definitely a North Rhone syrah with 8% viognier co-fermentation...
(93) Creekside Broken Press Syrah 2008 Queenston Road Vineyard VQA St David's Bench Niagara +202127 $42.95 ...well-aged, Rhonish, best with food...
(92) Kacaba Silver Bridge Vineyard Syrah 2013 VQA Niagara Escarpment $29.95...delicious syrah intensity...
(91) Kacaba Reserve Syrah 2012 VQA Niagara Escarpment $44.95..tight and still developing...
(91) Creekside UNBroken Press Syrah 2012 Queenston Road Vineyard VQA St David's Bench Niagara +202127 $42.95 ...delicious Rhonish complexity...
(91) Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Block 12-140 Syrah 2013 VQA Twenty Mile Bench Niagara +498675 $24.95...packs a wallop in specialized intensity...
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
(90) Kacaba Founder's Select Syrah 2015 VQA Niagara Escarpment $44.95...way too young to consume, one for the cellar, try in 10 years...
(89) Kacaba Proprietor's Block Syrah 2013 VQA Niagara Escarpment $29.95...very tannic, still needs time...
(89) Creekside Syrah 2013 VQA +66654 $15.95...delicious delivery of fruity shiraz...twist top
(88) Creekside Iconclast Niagara Syrah 2014 VQA St Davids's Bench Niagara +471797 $22.95 twist top
(89) Legends Reserve Shiraz 2012 Lizak Vineyard VQA Lincoln Lakeshore Niagara $23.95...some brett tones, well-aged and developed wine...
(89) 13th Street Essence Syrah 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula $44.95...good hits of nicely made syrah...
(89) Southbrook Winery Whimsy! Syrah 2012 Organic and Biodynamic VQA Four Mile Creek N/A... produced from a single barrel, with 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot...
(88) Redstone Syrah RedstoneVineyard 2013 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore Niagara $39.95
(88) Fielding Syrah 2012 VQA Niagara Peninsula $39.95
(88) Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Shiraz 2013 VQA Niagara Peninsula +317941 $24.95...shiraz style of upfront fruit but finishes lean and green, takes time, needs food.
The Food: Hodge Podge and Matilda in the Buff cheeses from Monforte, breads.
The Downside: it was very summer-hot to get there and back, but the venue had good air circulation and was conducive to tasting.
The Upside: compatible crowd of tasters.
The Contact: http://vintagewinepicks.blogspot.com/
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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