The Date and Time: Monday February 24. 2020 11AM to 4:30PM
The Event: Taste Ontario – Toronto trade show
The Venue: ROM
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was a model – wines and license contacts were listed by region with full data (vintage year, licensee and retail prices), with enough space for tasting notes.
The Quote/Background: the media writers were in the Glass Room on the 4th floor where we had advance time and some sit-down table space to write up our scores.
The Wines: About 213 wines were available from 55 wineries; I did not taste them all, preferring to concentrate on the chardonnays and the sparklers, and some syrah wines. ABVs are used. The first price is licensee. CSPCs are listed when the wine is available through the LCBO. The rated wines are listed RANDOMLY within each category of BEST, BETTER and GOOD.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Winery Wine VQA Appellation Vintage Volume/bottle Alc./Vol. LCBO # Licensee Price Retail Price
-13th Street Winery Gamay Blanc de Noir Creek Shores 2017 750ml 12.5% n/a $29.34 $34.95
-2027 Cellars Edgerock Vineyard Brut Rosé Twenty Mile Bench 2016 750ml 11.5% n/a $28.95 $34.95
-Alvento Winery Sparkling Rosé Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 12.5% N/A $21.06 $25.15
-Cave Spring Cellars Blanc de Blancs CSV Beamsville Bench 2013 750ml 12.0% n/a $37.78 $44.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Riesling CSV Beamsville Bench 2017 750ml 11.5% 566026 $25.12 $29.95
-Cave Spring Cellars Chardonnay CSV Beamsville Bench 2018 750ml 13.5% 529941 $25.12 $29.95
-Charles Baker Wines Charles Baker Riesling Vinemount Ridge 2017 750ml 11.0% n/a $31.24 $32.91
-Charles Baker Wines Charles Baker Riesling Vinemount Ridge 2016 1500ml 11.0% n/a $83.57 $99.00
-Keint-he Winery and Vineyards Portage Chardonnay Prince Edward County 2016 750ml 12.5% n/a $20.94 $25.00
-Cloudsley Cellars Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 13.5% n/a $20.74 $25.00
-Cloudsley Cellars Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench Twenty Mile Bench 2017 750ml 13.5% n/a $29.18 $35.00
-Closson Chase Vineyards Brock Chardonnay Niagara River 2017 750ml 13.0% n/a $19.88 $23.75
-Domaine Queylus Signature Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 13.0% n/a $20.89 $24.95
-Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Twenty Mile Bench 2017 750ml 12.0% 383315 $29.34 $34.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvée Catharine Brut Niagara Peninsula NV 750ml 12.0% 217521 $27.65 $32.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Chardonnay Estate Short Hills Bench 2018 750ml 13.0% 444268 $18.53 $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Three of Hearts Rosé Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 11.5% 552562 $16.67 $19.95
-Hidden Bench Estate Winery Estate Chardonnay Beamsville Bench 2017 750ml 13.0% 68817 $25.12 $29.95
-Hidden Bench Estate Winery Terroir Caché Beamsville Bench 2016 750ml 13.0% 505610 $37.78 $44.95
-Leaning Post Wines The Fifty Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 13.0% 578864 $18.57 $22.20
-Rockway Vineyards Wild Ferment Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench 2016 750ml 14.0% n/a $19.51 $25.00
-The Foreign Affair Winery Conspiracy Bianco Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 11.3% n/a $14.99 $17.95
-Westcott Vineyards Estate Chardonnay Vinemount Ridge 2018 750ml 12.5% n/a $23.43 $27.95
-Icellars Estate Winery Chardonnay Niagara-on-the-Lake 2017 750ml 13.2% n/a $33.60 $40.00
-Queenston Mile Vineyard Chardonnay St. David's Bench 2017 750ml 12.8% n/a $29.38 $35.00
-Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 13.0% 172338 $20.90 $24.95
-Southbrook Vineyards Laundry Vineyard Chardonnay Lincoln Lakeshore 2017 750ml 13.4% n/a $29.38 $35.00
-Trius Winery Trius Brut Niagara Peninsula NV 750ml 12.0% 284539 $25.12 $29.95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Winery Wine VQA Appellation Vintage Volume/bottle Alc./Vol. LCBO # Licensee Price Retail Price
-13th Street Winery Cabernet Franc Creek Shores 2018 750ml 13.0% n/a $20.90 $24.95
-Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut Vinemount Ridge 2014 750ml 9.5% n/a $21.74 $25.95
-Two Sisters Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 13.2% n/a $21.84 $39.00
-Colio Estate Wines Lily Sparkling Ontario NV 750ml 12.0% 418657 $14.99 $17.95
-Colio Estate Wines Bricklayer's Reward Riesling Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 10.5% 644765 $15.83 $18.95
-Stratus Vineyards Stratus White Niagara Lakeshore 2016 750ml 13.1% 660704 $32.91 $39.20
-Broken Stone Winery Exuberance Sparkling Riesling Ontario 2017 750ml 11.0% 627083 $20.89 $24.95
-Stratus Vineyards Tollgate Sauvignon / Semillon Niagara Lakeshore 2018 750ml 11.8% n/a $17.54 $20.95
-Trail Estate Winery Chardonnay Unfiltered Prince Edward County 2018 750ml 12.7% n/a $33.60 $40.00
-North 42 Degrees Estate Winery Chardonnay Ontario 2018 750ml 12.5% n/a $13.50 n/a
-Huff Estates Winery Cuvée Janine Prince Edward County 2017 750ml 12.0% n/a $23.90 $30.00
-Trius Winery Barrel Ferment Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 12.8% 251470 $16.67 $19.95
-Between The Lines Winery Gewürztraminer Four Mile Creek 2018 750ml 12.0% n/a $14.99 $17.95
-Pelee Island Winery LOLA Cabernet Franc Rose South Islands 2018 750ml 12.5% 552497 $13.30 $15.95
-Keint-he Winery and Vineyards Voyageur Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2016 750ml 12.7% n/a $16.29 $19.50
-Pelee Island Winery J.S. Hamilton Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive South Islands 2017 750ml 13.5% n/a $14.16 $16.95
-Pelee Island Winery Thaddeus Smith Red [syrah blend] South Islands 2017 750ml 13.4% n/a $21.74 $25.95
-2027 Cellars Wismer Vineyard FoxCroft Block Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench 2018 750ml 13.0% n/a $19.95 $24.95
-The Foreign Affair Winery Viognier Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 13.5% 11948 $20.05 $23.95
-The Organized Crime Winery Limestone Block Chardonnay Beamsville Bench 2017 750ml 13.1% n/a $17.73 $21.20
-Traynor Family Vineyard Chardonnay Skin Ferment White Prince Edward County 2016 750ml 12.4% n/a $16.39 $25.00
-Alvento Winery Riesling Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 9.5% n/a $20.22 $24.15
-Angels Gate Winery Mountainview Syrah Beamsville Bench 2016 750ml 13.0% $25.12 $29.95
-Calamus Estate Winery Barrel Kissed Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 12.0% n/a $14.14 $16.95
-Creekside Estate Winery Iconoclast Syrah St. David's Bench 2016 750ml 13.0% 471797 $20.94 $25.00
-Creekside Estate Winery Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 12.0% 520627 $19.25 $23.00
-Creekside Estate Winery Broken Press Syrah St. David's Bench 2016 750ml 13.5% n/a $46.26 $55.00
-Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir Twenty Mile Bench 2016 750ml 13.5% 1560 $29.34 $34.95
-Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench 2018 750ml 13.5% 286278 $16.68 $19.95
-Georgian Hills Vineyards Wild & Inspired Chardonnay Cuvée Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 13.0% n/a $25.16 $30.00
-Meldville Wines Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 13.0% n/a $16.71 $20.00
-Redstone Winery Limestone Ridge Vineyard Sparkling Twenty Mile Bench 2016 750ml 13.0% n/a $21.06 $25.15
-Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Elisha's Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula 2018 750ml 12.5% n/a $19.21 $22.95
-Tawse Winery Natural Quarry Road Chardonnay Vinemount Ridge 2018 750ml 13.0% n/a $31.19 $37.15
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Winery Wine VQA Appellation Vintage Volume/bottle Alc./Vol. LCBO # Licensee Price Retail Price
-Broken Stone Winery County Grown Chardonnay Prince Edward County 2018 750ml 13.4% 668269 $22.58 $26.95
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Lake Erie North Shore 2017 750ml 11.5% n/a $15.15 $18.15
-Reif Estate Winery 'Magician' Pinot Shiraz Niagara Peninsula 2017 750ml 13.5% 246413 $25.25 $30.15
-Creekside Estate Winery Backyard Sauvignon Blanc Bubbly Creek Shores 2018 750ml 13.5% 398628 $20.94 $25.00
-Between The Lines Winery Riesling Four Mile Creek 2018 750ml 11.5% n/a $14.99 $17.95
The Food: enormous sandwiches were provided to the media, along with a couple of salads plus a charcuterie/cheese board, with cookies and fruit for dessert, and coffee.
The Downside: overall, I found some of the wines very inviting (principally whites, roses, and sparklers), but most reds were too young – restaurants and private clients may want to store them awhile.
The Upside: the media room...THANK YOU WMAO!! For a comparison of wine quality and prices, look at my previous postings for VQA at the end of February going back several years.
The Contact Person: info@wmao.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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