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Sunday, October 8, 2017

The Event: the Annual (15th) Sparkling Wine tasting by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada, Mon Sept 25,2017

The Date and Time: Monday, September 25, 2017  3Pm to 7PM
The Event: the Annual (15th) 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 55+ 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 available 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 wine that was apple based: Pelee Island Winery Crèmant de Pomme 2016 Lake Erie North Shore (sample with no label) available at the winery only, which was tasted at the end and rated by me at a good Three and One Half Stars (89 points), and recommended. What follows are grape-based wines; the ratings are MINE ALONE and not those of the group. Each writer rates or writes separately, and there is no cumulative total or average rating. The wines are randomly listed within their categories:
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Flat Rock Cellars    Riddled Sparkling    2010    $34.95    383315    Twenty Mile Bench    Chardonnay    12%  ** MY FAVE OF THE DAY  **
-Monmarthe Champagne     Secret de Famille Brut    NV    $51.50 Champagne    Pinot Noir,   Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay    12%        Cru Wine Merchants
-Henry of Pelham Estate Winery    Cuvée Catharine Blanc de Blanc 'Carte Blanche'    2012    $44.95    315200 Vintages VQA Niagara Peninsula 100% Chardonnay    12.5
-Gloria Ferrer     Blanc de Blancs    n/v    $34.95    223792    Sonoma    Chardonnay    12.5
-Chateau des Charmes    Brut Sparkling MT    NV    $24.95    224766    NOTL    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay    12
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Cuvée Catharine Brut    N/V    29.95    217521    VQA Niagara Peninsula    75% Chardonnay; 25% Pinot Noir     12
-Tawse Winery    Laundry Vineyard Blanc De Noir Sparkling    2011    $29.95     Niagara    Pinot Noir    12.5
-Tawse Winery    Brut    N/V    $    384966    Niagara    Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir    12
-Tawse Winery    Limestone Ridge Spark Riesling    2015    $20.95     370361    Niagara    Riesling    12
-Kew    Blanc de Blancs    2014    $29.95        Niagara    Barrel Aged    12%
-Kew    Tradition    2012    $29.95        Niagara        12.2
-Kew    Blanc de Noirs    2013    29.95        Niagara        12.5
-Cooper`s Hawk Vyds    North Block Sparkling    2016    $21.95    winery only    VQA Ontario    Chardonnay    12.5
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut    N/V    29.95    217505    VQA Niagara Peninsula    75% Pinot Noir; 25%  Chardonnay    12
-Bejot    Laboure Gontard Cremant de Bourgogne Rose    $19.95 460816    Burgundy    Pinot Noir    12%
-Jackson-Triggs    Entourage Grand Reserve Sparkling Brut    2014    $29.95 +538363    Niagara    Chardonnay, Pinot Noir    12.50%
-Yvon Mau Henri Abele Brut Traditional    NV    $54.99     940436    Champagne    Chardonnay,Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier    12
-Piper-Heidsieck    Brut Sparkling MT    NV    $59.95    462432    Champagne        12
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Racentós i Blanc    De Nit Rosé Brut     2013    $34.99        Spain    Conca del Riu Anoia    Macabeu, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Monastrell    12%        Cru Wine Merchants
-Raventós i Blanc    L'Hereu Blanc de Blanc Brut    2013    $28.95        Spain    Conca del Riu Anoia    Macabeu, Xarel-lo, Parellada    12.10%        Cru Wine Merchants -Gonzalez Byass    Vilarnau Cava    N/A    $14.95     515254    Penedés    50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada 15% Xarello    11.50%
-Chateau des Charmes    Blanc de Blancs MT    2014    $32.95    423111    NOTL    Chardonnay    12.5
-Konzelmann Estate Winery    Methode Cuvee Close Riesling    2015    17.95        Niagara     Riesling    11
-Flat Rock Cellars    Crowned Sparkling Brut    2009    $45.00    N/A    Twenty Mile Bench    Chardonnay    12%
-Jackson-Triggs    Reserve Sparkling Moscato    2016    $19.95     N/A    Niagara    Muscat    12%
-Piera Martellozzo S.P.A.     BLU GIOVELLO PROSECCO     0    14.95    85316        11%
-Pierre Sparr    Cremant Brut Reserve    NV    19.95    388603    Alsace        12.5
-Segura Viudas     Segura Viudas Brut Reserva NV    $15.50     216960    Penedes, DO Cava    50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo    12
-Chateau des Charmes    Rose Sparkling MT    2014    $29.95    78055    NOTL    Pinot Noir    12
-Kew    Rosalie    2010    29.95        Niagara        12.5
-Tawse Winery    Quarry Road Pinot Noir Sparkling Rose    2015    $29.95         Niagara    Pinot Noir    12
-Redstone    Pinot Noir Sparkling Rose    2015    $29.95     Niagara    Pinot Noir    12.5
-13th Street Winery    Cuvee Rose    NV    27.95    147504    Niagara Peninsula    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay    12.5
-Schmitt Soehne    RELAX BUBBLES NV        $13.95    488593    Mosel    Cuvee    12%
-Colio Estate Wines     Lily Sparkling Rose    NV    16.95    536565    Lake Erie North Shore     90% Riesling, 10% Cabernet Franc    12
-Colio Estate Wines     Lily Sparkling     NV    17.95    418657    Lake Erie North Shore     Riesling     12
-Cono Sur Vineyards    Sparkling Brut Rose    NV    $14.15     365205    Bio Bio Valley    Pinot Noir    12
-460 Casina Bric di Viberti Gianluca Barolo    Casina Bric Brut Rose Collezione N8    NV    $29.99     941376    Piedmont    Nebbiolo    12
-Pierre Sparr    Cremant Brut Rose    NV    19.95    39016    Alsace    100% Pinot Noir    12.5
-Pelee Island Winery    Secco    2013    14.95    225946    Lake Erie North Shore    85% Pinot Blanc/15% Auxerrois    12
-Rosehall Run    Indigo Sparkling    2016    24.95    winery only    VQA Ontario    Riesling, etc.    12.2
-Calamus Estate Winery    Starstruck    2014    $28.95    Ontario    85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay    11.5
-Creekside Estate Winery    Backyard Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc    2016    $25    398628    Niagara Peninsula    Sauvignon Blanc    13.20%
-Chateau de Montgueret    Chateau de Montgueret Cremant de Loire    NV    $19.95     217760    Loire    Chenin, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc    11.50%
-Bejot    Laboure Gontard AOC Cremant de Bourgogne Brut     $20.95    401018    Burgundy    Chard/Pinot Noir    12%
-Sorelle Bronca    Brut Superiore Prosecco    NV    $24.50 Valdobiadene    Glera    11%        Cru Wine Merchants
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Trapiche    Extra Brut    2015    13.45    262261        Chard/Sem/Mal    12
-Rosehall Run    Ceremony Blanc de Blancs        ??    ??    PEC    ??    12.2
-Bottega    Petalo Il Vino dell' Amore Moscato        $13.95    588780    Veneto    Moscato    6.5
-Megalomaniac     Bubblehead Rose    NV    $23.75 363655    Niagara    Pinot Noir    13
-Konzelmann Estate Winery    Methode Cuvee Close Rosé    2016    17.95        Niagara      Merlot    12.5
-Rosehall Run    Pixie    NV    19.95    492959    PEC    Vidal    11.7
-Pelee Island Winery    Lola Rose    2016    14.95    450981    Lake Erie North Shore    85% Vidal/!5% Chambourcin    12
-Pelee Island Winery    Lola Vidal    2016    13.95    484998    Lake Erie North Shore    100% Vidal    12
-Calamus Estate Winery    Crackle    2016    18.95    NTP only    Ontario    75% Vidal /12.5% Chardonnay / 12.5% Pinot Gris    11
-Jackson-Triggs    Reserve Sparkling Cuve Close    2015    $15.95     217679    Niagara    Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir     12.50%
-Ruffino    Prosecco    NV    $16.75     467811    Friuli & Veneto    Glera    11%
 
The Food: bread and water, almonds, olives.
The Contact Person: deantudor@yahoo.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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