SOME NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING –

SOME NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING THIS MONTH –

 

 

1.Luigi Bosca Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2017 Mendoza, +128629, $18.95 Vintages April: black fruit dominates this substantial wine. Made from older vines (some are 50 years old). Aging in French and US oak barrels for 14 months, still needs time to resolve despite 3 years of age. 13.8% ABV, a hefty thick wine that dominates. Best for carnivores? You decide. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

2.Henry of Pelham Chardonnay Speck Family Reserve 2018 VQA Short Hills Bench +616466, $29.95 Vintages April: Grapes come from their oldest estate vineyards (beginning 1988), hand-picked. Barrel fermented in French oak with a portion in 3000L foudres, and then barrel aged for 8 – 10 months in a mix of new and older barrels. This continues the tradition of Burgundian elegance. Expect some ripeness, balance of oaking and fruit, integrated style in place.  Wood integration produces some creaminess in the finish. 13% ABV, cork closure. Definitely needs another year – or more – in bottle in order to bring out the nuances. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

 

3.Henry of Pelham Riesling Estate 2018 VQA Short Hills Bench, +557165 Vintages, $19.95 Vintages April: intense riesling in a Rhine style of cool fermentation, with very off-dry palate but dry finish (good acid levels on the finish) – broad grapefruit and lemons on the mid-palate, sip (mainly) or food. 10.5% ABV, 17g/L RS, twist top, from HOP's oldest Estate riesling vineyards (planted 1984). Should also age well. Try with fish that live in water but die in wine. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

4.Chateau des Charmes Gamay Noir "Droit" 2017 St. David's Bench Vineyard VQA St. David's Bench, +582263 Vintages, $19.95: medium-full-bodied, suggestive of Beaujolais grand cru wines such as Morgon or Moulin a Vent in the Droit's capacity for aging. Dark cherry-berry flavours dominate, but there is added spicing and even some nuances of smokey earth and eucalyptus, although the wine is unoaked. Cork finish. Good with BBQ (soon, soon), cheese, or something substantial, but some tannic structure is present to carry through a whole meal. Chateau des Charmes is the only winery using this particular gamay clone. 13.7% ABV. Earlier vintages were gold medal winners in Canada. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

5.Chateau des Charmes Pinot Noir 2018 Cuvee Michele Estate Grown &  Bottled VQA NOTL, +454967, $16.95 LCBO: A lovely young wine, with some forest floor (mushrooms, earth) to complement the red fruit (strawberries are hinted by the winemaker). Estate grown and bottled. Good written notes on the back label are spot on. Just under subtle oaking, with a moderate intensity of medium flavours. Ready to drink now. Cork closure, 12.1% ABV. Try with lamb burgers. Dedicated to the late Michele Bosc. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

May we all have 2020 vision.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://winewriterscircle.ca
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.