The Date and Time: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
The Event: The Wine Writers' Circle of Canada's FIFTH annual Rose tasting of imported and domestic rose wines for sale in Ontario – the only tasting 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 2018.
The Quote/Background: All wines submitted were tasted. What follows below are my OWN tasting scores from my OWN notes. 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. This was NOT a competition since all wines were tasted with exposed labels and prices, plus tech/sales sheets.
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 ($29.95) and fave Ontario still rose was Two Sisters Vineyards Rosé 2017 at $35 (Bordeaux-style blend) – The Foreign Affair Amarose 2016 just a point less but about half the Two Sisters 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 Lorgeril L'Orangeraie Rosé 2017 $10.25 +279661 Pays d'Oc, 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. There were some 85 wines sent in, well over last year's 70 wines....It is getting bigger every year!! Thanks guys..
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut Non-vintage $29.95 217505 GL VQA Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Chardonnay 12%
-13th Street Winery 13th Street Cuvée Brut Rosé NV $27.95 147504 Niagara 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay 12.5% Vintage Essential
-Alliance Loire De Chanceny, Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut NV $19.65 211466 GL Cabernet Franc, Grolleau Noir 12.5%
-Megalomaniac Winery Bubblehead NV $29.95 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Chardonnay 13% Currently available at winery
-Chateau des Charmes Cuvee d'Andree Rose 2017 $15.95 333260 GL VQA NOTL 13%
-Taittinger Prestige Brut Rose Champagne NV $79.95 993113 Champagne PN/Chard/PM 12% LCBO May 26th
-Pares Balta Pares Balta Cava Pink NV $21.99 Penedes Garnatxa, Parellada, Macabeo 11.5% Consignment Available Now Noble Estates Wine & Spirits
-Chateau Gassier Esprit Gassier Rose 2017 $20.95 +490839 Cotes de Provence 13% Vintages
-Chateau Gassier Le Pas du Moine Saint-Victoire Rose 2017 $23.95 +450874 Cotes de Provence 13.5% Vintages
-Tawse Sketches of Niagara Rose 2017, $17.95, avail: LCBO, (85% Pinot Noir, 9% Pinot Gris, 3% Gamay, 3% Cabernet Franc). Also available in 20 litre kegs to licensees.
-Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir Rose 2017 Vinemount (Organic) $27.95 Retail shop (100% Pinot Noir)
-Cono Sur Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé NV $13.95 365205 GL Chile Pirque Pinot Noir 12.50%
-Gérard Bertrand Perles de Grenache Rosé 2017 $18.95 556209 IGP PAYS D'OC Grenache 12.5%
-Chateau de Berne Emotion 2016/2017 $16.95 556183 Cotes de Provence 60% Cinsault, 40% Grenache Noir 13%
-Chateau de Berne Terres de Berne Rose 2017 $17.95 278861 Cotes de Provence Grenache Noir, Cinsault 12.5
-Lacheteau Francois Dulac Cotes De Provence 2016 $16.00 483040 Cotes de Provence Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre 12.5%
-Lorgeril L'Orangeraie Rosé 2017 $10.25 279661 Pays d'Oc Cinsault, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah 13%
-Martin Berdugo Rosado 2016 $17.45 388909 Spain Ribera del Duero Tempranillo 13.5%
-Muga Rosé 2017 $14.95 603795 Spain Rioja Grenache, Viura, Tempranillo 13.5%
-Foreign Affair Winery Amarosé 2017 $18.95 388702 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir 85%& Chardonnay 15% 13%
-Three of Hearts Rosé 2017 $19.95 552562 VQA Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris 12%
-13th Street Winery 13th Street Burger Blend Rose 2017 $14.95 Niagara 13%
-13th Street Winery 13th Street Vin Gris Gamay 2017 $24.95 Niagara Gamay 12.5%
-Westcott Pinot Noir Rose 2017 $2.95 Niagara
-Featherstone Winery Rose 2017 $15.95 117861 Niagara Peninsula Gamay Noir, Cab Sauv 13.7%
-When Pigs Fly Pinot Noir Rose 2017 $19.95 sold out
-Creekside Estate Winery Rosé 2017 $15.95 vintages June Niagara Peninsula 100% Syrah 12.8%
-Queenston Mile Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 $30 St.David's Bench 100% Pinot Noir 12.5%
-Two Sisters Vineyards Rosé 2017 $35 Merlot 64%Cab Franc 19%Cab Sauv 17% 13%
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Oyster Bay Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Rosé NV $22.95 280172 New Zealand Marlborough / Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 20% / Chardonnay 80% 12.5%
-Konzelmann Estate Winery Methode Cuvé Close Rosé N/V $18.95 Niagara Peninsula Merlot 12%
-Gérard Bertrand Côtes des Roses Rosé 2016 $18.95 373985 Midi, France Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah 13%
-Mas des Bressades Cuvée Tradition Rosé 2017 $15.95 950576 Costieres de Nimes Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault 13.5%
-Perrin La Vieille Ferme Rose 2017 $11.95 622134 Vin de France Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah 13%
-Brand Phoenix Cote Bleu 2017 $12.95 541276 Provence Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauv. Merlot 12.5%
-Chateau de Charelard Beaujolais Rosé d'Ete 2017 $14.95 119438 Beaujolais Gamay 12.5%
-LORNANO "ETEL" ROSATO TOSCANO 2017 N/A N/A TUSCANY 100% SANGIOVESE 13%
-Global Wines Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Rosé Dão DOC 2017 $13.95 30445 Dao Touriga Nacional & Alfrocheiro 12.5%
-Sogrape Gazela Vinho Verde Rose NV $8.95 404533 Portugal Vinhos Verdes Borracal, Espadeiro, Amaral, Vinhao 9.5%
-Sogrape Mateus Rose NV $10.45 +166 Portugal Baga, Rufete, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca 11%
-Susana Balbo Signature Rose 2017 $20.95 493130 Argentina Uco Valley 60% Malbec - 40% Pinot Noir 13%
-Cono Sur Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 $10.95 318014 Chile Pirque Pinot Noir 13%
-Wither Hills Pinot Noir Rose 2017 $18.95 552992 New Zealand Marlborough Pinot Noir Rose 12.5%
-Oyster Bay Rosé 2017 $19.95 671940 New Zealand Marlborough Pinot Noir 13.5%
-Kim Crawford Rose 2017 $17.95 VINTAGES# 650325 New Zealand Marlborough 99% Merlot, 1% Syrah 13%
-Kanonkop Wine Estate Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé 2017 $13.95 553073 South Africa Stellenbosch Pinotage 14%
-North 42 Degrees Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2017 VQA LENS Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5%
-Fielding Rosé 2017 $15.95 53421 Niagara Gamay Noir (80%) Pinot Noir (20%). 12.3%
-Fielding Long Weekend Rosé 2017 $13.95 576181 Niagara Cab Franc (80%) Cab Sauv (20%) 11.8%
-Henry of Pelham Rosé 2017 $14.95 613471 VQA Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Gamay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc 11.9%
-Sibling Rivalry Pink 2017 $13.95 171033 VQA Niagara Peninsula Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc 11.5%
-House Wine Co. Rosé 2017 $13.95 324558 VQA Niagara Peninsula Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Zweigelt 11.7%
-Malivoire Wines Malivoire Ladybug Rosé 2016 $16.95 559088 Niagara 60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay 12.5%
-Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose 2017 $19.75 Niagara Cab Franc ORGANIC 11.4%
-Southbrook Cabernet Rose 2016 $29.75 4 Mile Creek BIODYNAMIC 11.5%
-Westcott Delphine Rose 2017 $16.95 498527 Niagara
-Legends Estates Cabernet Rose 2017 $14 Niagara Cab Sauv 12%
-PondView Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Rosé 2017 $16.95 Niagara Peninsula Cabernet Franc 12.5%
-Kacaba Vineyards Rebecca Rose 2017 $17.95 Niagara Peninsula Gamay 13.5%
-Rockway Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose 2017 $17.95 Twenty-Mile Bench Pinot Noir 12.3%
-Rockway Vineyards Rose 2016 $15.95 Niagara Peninsula 95% PN 5% Riesling 11.5%
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rose 2017 $14.95 177840 Beamsville Bench Cabernet Franc 14%
-Flat Rock Cellars Pink Twisted 2017 $17.95 39974 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir 65%, Gewurztraminer 20%, Riesling 15% 12.5%
-Legends Estates Terroir Rose 2015 $14 Niagara Semillon/CabFr 12%
-Southbrook Syrah Rose 2017 $29.75 4 Mile Creek BIODYNAMIC 11.5%
-Open Rosé 2017 $12.95 175349 Canada Niagara Gamay/Pinot Noir 12%
-Jackson-Triggs Jackson-Triggs Reserve Rosé 2016 $14.95 Niagara Chardonnay/Merlot 13%
-Inniskillin Inniskillin Estate Series Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 $14.95 Niagara Pinot Noir 12.5%
-Megalomaniac Winery Pink Slip Rose 2017 $19.95 Vintages # 85126 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Musque, Riesling, Merlot, Gamay 11.9%
-Sandbanks Winery Rose 2017 $13.95 244616 VQAOntario 90% Vidal 12%
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Dry Rose 2016 $17.95 Canada LENS Merlot 10.5%
-Grange of Prince Edward 2017 Gamay Rosé 2017 $24.95 VQA PEC 100% Gamay 12%
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Rose -Sweet 2016 $15.95 296533 Canada LENS Pinot Noir,Merlot, Cab Franc, Pinot Gris 10%
-Pelee Island Winery Pelee Pink 2012 $12.45 529354
-Pelee Island Winery LOLA Cabernet Franc Rose 2017 15.95 552457
-CREW - Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Red Sky at Night 2017 $16.95 LENS 100% Merlot 13.5%
-King's Court Estate Winery Princess Rosé 2016 $16.95 491050 Niagara Cabernet Franc 11.5%
-13th Street Winery Pink Palette Rosé 2017 $15.95 275834 Niagara Cabernet Franc 13%
-Karlo Estates VQA Ontario 2016 Patio Reserve
-Bottega SpA Vino dei Poeti Brut Rose NV $14.95 277202 Italy Veneto Pinot Noir and Raboso 11.5%
-Boutinot Les Oliviers Rose 2016 $14.99 France Languedoc Grenache & Cinsault 12.5%
-Legends Estates Sparkling Rose NV $16 Niagara Chard/Merlot 12%
-Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 $35 VQA PEC 100% Pinot Noir 12%
-Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Rosé 2017 $24.95 284943 California Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir 12.8%
-Black Cottage Rosé 2017 $16.95 539320 New Zealand Marlborough Pinot 12.5%
-The Beach House Rose 2017 $10.95 164343 South Africa 12%
The Food: baguettes, biscuits, water, California oven-roasted almonds, arbequina and nicois 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 85 (!) 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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