The Date and Time: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 3PM to 7PM
The Event: the Annual (18th) Sparkling Wine tasting by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada.
The Venue: WWCC Clubhouse
The Target Audience: members of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada.
The Availability/Catalogue: all of the 80 or so 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. Valentine's Day) and to write about them. Writers would turn up over the course of a day for the walk-around and taste at their own speed. We the WWCC would like to thank our industry partners (plus Drinks Ontario and WMAO) for the opportunity to sample these wines.
The Wines: What follows are grape-based wines; the ratings here are MINE ALONE and NOT those of the WWCC group. Each writer rates or writes separately, and there is no cumulative total or averaged rating. This is not a judging competition. My own system divides all wines into three categories: BEST (91+ points), BETTER (88-90) and GOOD (85-87), usually the ranking range of Gold, Silver and Bronze in various wine shows. The wines are then randomly listed within their categories. In general, where there is no LCBO CSPC, then the wine is at the winery and is available by private order.
The BEST VALUE wine (quality for money) is: Sieur D'Arques Sas Grande Cuvee 1531 De Aimery Cremant De Limoux NV $18.95 +428086 Roussillon (60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin, 10% Mauzac) 12.5%ABV.
**** BEST -- Four Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Producer Name Vintage Price LCBO# Region Grape Varieties ABV%
-Taittinger Brut Reserve N/V $61.95 365312 Champagne Chardonnay / Pinot Noir / Pinot Meunier 12.50%
-Laurent Perrier Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Brut Rosé Champagne NV $99.95 158550 Champagne 100% Pinot Noir 12.0%
-Sieur D'Arques Sas Grande Cuvee 1531 De Aimery Cremant De Limoux NV $18.95 428086 Roussillon 60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin, 10% Mauzac. 12.50%
-Trius Winery Brut Rose n/v 32.75 184309 Niagara Peninsula 70% Pinot Noir, 23% Chardonnay, 4% Pinot Meunier 12
-Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling 2011 $34.95 383315 Twenty Mile Bench Chardonnay 11.80
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Blanc de Blanc 'Carte Blanche' 2013 $44.95 315200 VQA Short Hills Banch Chardonnay 11.90%
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut N/V $29.95 217521 VQA Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay / Pinot Noir 12%
-Redstone Pinot Noir Sparkling Rose 2016 $29.95 Niagara Pinot Noir 13%
-Ravine Vineyard Brut NV $38.00 Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay 12.5%
-Thirty Bench Wine Makers Sparkling Riesling n/v 38.95 n/a Niagara Peninsula Riesling 12
-Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir Sparkling Rose 2016 $29.95 Niagara Pinot Noir 13%
-Tawse Cuddy Sparkling Riesling NV $24.95 546762 Niagara
-Dr. Loosen Dr. L Sparkling Riesling NV $14.95 296095 Mosel Riesling 10.5%
-Francois Martenot Chartron et Trebuchet Cremant de Bourgogne NV $20.95 571661 Burgundy Chardonnay/Pinot Noir 12%
-Featherstone Winery Cuvee Joy 2013 $34.95 310334 Twenty Mile bench Chardonnay 12.2
-Château des Charmes Blanc de Blancs 2014 34.95 423111 Niagara on the Lake Chardonnay 12.3
-Cono Sur Cono Sur Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé NV %13.95 365205 Chile Pinot Noir 12%
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut 2015 $29.95 234161 Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay & Pinot Noir 12.5%
-Tawse Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling 2016 $20.95 Niagara Riesling 12%
-Redstone Sparkling Brut 2016 $24.95 Niagara Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir 13%
-Cave de Lugny Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs NV $21.95 460865 Burgundy Chardonnay 11.5%
-Araex Villa Conchi NV $17.95 577148 Catalunya 30% Xarel.lo
30% Parellada 30% Macabeo 10% Chardonnay 11.50%
-Bottega Gold 2015 $27.95 621458 Glera 11
-Foss Marai Foss Marai Extra Dry Prosecco NV $19.95 729392 eneto Glera 11.5%
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Producer Name Vintage Price LCBO# Region Grape Varieties ABV%
-Featherstone Winery Cuvee Joy Rose 2016 $29.95 450700 Twenty Mile Bench Pinot Noir 12.5
-Westcott Vineyards Brilliant Sparkling 2013 $34.95 NA Vinemount Ridge/Ontario 2/3 Pinot Noir & 1/3 Chardonnay 12.9
-Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut 2017 $25.95 438200 Vinemount Ridge/Ontario 2/3 Pinot Noir & 1/3 Chardonnay 12.5
-Peller Estates Winery Ice Cuvee Classic n/v 34.75 284547 Niagara Peninsula 70% Chardonnay 30% Pinot Noir 12
-Peller Estates Winery Ice Cuvee Rose n/v 35.75 113035 Niagara Peninsula 70% Pinot Noir, 26.5% Chardonnay, 3.5% Gamay Noir 12
-Trius Winery Brut n/v 29.75 284539 Niagara Peninsula 70% Chardonnay 30% Pinot Noir 12
-Trapiche Trapiche Extra Brut Sparkling NV $13.90 262261 Mendoza Chardonnay (70%), Semillon (20%) Malbec (10%) 12%
-Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava NV 15.95 216960 50% Macabeo, 35% -Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo 12
-Freixenet S.A. Cordon Negro NV $15.00 261945 Spain Macabeo, Perellada, Xarello 11.5
-Pierre Sparr Cremant D'Alsace Brut Reserve NV 19.95 388603 Alsace 80% Pinot Blanc, 20% Pinot Auxerrois 12.5
-Pierre Sparr Cremant D'Alsace Brut Rose NV 19.95 39016 Alsace Pinot Noir 12.5
-Bellissima Prosecco Brut NV $24.96 548164 Veneto Glera 11.5
-Oyster Bay Wines New Zealand Ltd. Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Brut NV $22.95 163634 Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 12%
-Oyster Bay Wines New Zealand Ltd. Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Rose NV $22.95 280172 Hawke's Bay Chardonnay / Pinot Noir 12%
-Megalomaniac Bubblehead N/V $29.95 363655 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir 12.5%
-Les Grands Chais de France Chateau De Montgueret Cremant De Loire Brut NV $19.95 217760 Loire 12%
-Ruffino Prosecco NV $16.95 467811 Veneto Glera 11%
-Strewn Sparkler 2017 $24 Ontario Sauvignon Blanc 12.5 Winery
-Château des Charmes Brut Sparkling NV 25.95 224766 Niagara on the Lake Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 12.5
Château des Charmes Rose 2014 34.95 78055 Niagara on the Lake Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 12
-Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut N/V $29.95 217505 VQA Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir / Chardonnay 12%
-Ethica Wines Le Contesse Prosecco NV $17.95 516583 Veneto Glera 11
-Colio Lily Sparkling NV +418657 $17.95 LCBO
-Colio Lily CEV Sparkling Rose NV +618512 $17.95 Vintages
-Burning Kiln Winery Sparks 2017 $26.95 N/A South Coast Pinot Noir 13.1
-MGM Mondo Del Vino Acquesi Brachetto NV $13.50 375667 Piedmont Brachetto 6.5
-Vina Casal S.A. Fresita NV $14.95 216887 Chile Macabeo, Perellada, Xarello 11.5
*** GOOD -- Three Stars Rated by Dean Tudor (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Producer Name Vintage Price LCBO# Region Grape Varieties ABV%
-Schmitt Soehne RELAX Bubbles n/v $13.95 488593 Mosel Blend 11%
-Peninsula Ridge Estates Sparkling Riesling 2017$25.15 582072 Niagara Riesling 9%
-Ravine Vineyard Charmat NV $16.95 Niagara Peninsula Pinot Noir 12.5% Licensee
-Megalomaniac Sparkling Personality 2017 $23.95 469007 Niagara Peninsula Riesling 9.5%
-Diamond FRESH Sparkling Riesling NV $15.95 441162 Niagara Peninsula Riesling 11.5%
-Diamond FRESH Possibilities Sparkling Rose NV $15.95 341347 Niagara 60Riesling/40Gamay 12.5%
-Konzelmann Estate Winery Methode Cuve Close Riesling n/v 18.95 Niagara-on-the-Lake Riesling 11.5%
-Langguth-Erben Blue Nun 24K Gold Edition NV $14.95 518407 11%
-Arterra Wines Canada Andiamo NV $14.95 577130 Niagara Peninsula Italian Muscat & Riesling, Canadian Vidal 10.5%
-Jackson Triggs Reserve Method Cuve Close 2016 $15.95 217679 Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, & Riesling 12.5%
-Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $29.95 353078 Niagara Peninsula Sauvignon Blanc 12%
-Freixenet S.A. Carta Nevada NV $13.30 216887 Spain Macabeo, Perellada, Xarello 11.5
-La Marca La Marca Prosecco NV 17.95 487694 Veneto Glera 11.29
-Bottega Bottega Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco Doc 2017 $15.00 897702 Veneto Glera 11%
-Bottega Bottega Rose Vino Dei Poeti Sparkling 2017 $15.00 277202 Veneto Pinot Nero; Raboso 11.5%
-La Gioiosa DOC Treviso Brut N/V $14.95 N/A Treviso Prosecco 11%
-Sartori Prosecco Brut N/V $14.95 N/A Treviso Prosecco 11%
-Santa Margherita Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV $19.95 687582 Veneto Glera 11.50%
-FIOL FIOL Prosecco n/a 13.25 394577 Veneto Prosecco DOC Glera 11
-Villa Sandi Prosecco Il Fresco DOC, Treviso NV 15.95 394387 Treviso Glera 11
-Piera Martellozzo Blue Giovello NV $15.20 85316 Veneto Glera 11
-Casella Yellow Tail Bubbles NV $14.95 229039 South Australia. 74% Chardonnay, 14% Colombard, 11% Semillon 11.50%
-Casella Yellow Tail Bubbles Rosé NV $14.95 229047 South Australia Chardonnay 70%, Colombard 13%, Semillon 13%, Sauvignon Blanc 4% 11.50%
-Wagner Family of Wines Conundrum Blanc de Blanc 2016 24.95 497735 California Pinot Gris, Muscat, Viognier, Chenin Blanc 12.60%
-Pelee Island Winery Secco $14.95 225946 Ontario 11.5
-Pelee Island Winery Lola Sparkling Rose NV $14.95 450981 Ontario 11.5%
-Thirteenth Street Wine 13th Street Cuvée Brut Rosé NV $27.95 147504 Ontario 71% Pinot Noir; 29% Chardonnay 12.5%
-PondView Estate Winery Lot 74 Sparkling 2017 24.95 n/a VQA Ontario Vidal Blanc 12
-Konzelmann Estate Winery Methode Cuve Close Rosé n/v 18.95 Niagara-on-the-Lake Merlot 12
The Food: breads, biscuits and water, almonds, olives, cheese.
The Contact Person: deantudor@yahoo.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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