PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY WINES IN REVIEW

REPORT ON DARE TO COMPARE TASTING OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY CHARDONNAYS AND PINOT NOIRS, plus a small trade show walkaround...June 2, 2025 1 - 5 PM 

The Date and Time: June 2, 2025  1 - 5 PM
The Event: a seminar on comparing PEC chardonnays and pinot noirs to non-Canadian PN&C wines.
The Venue: Peter Pan
The Target Audience: sommeliers, wine trade guests, wine media.
The Availability/Catalogue: some wines are at the LCBO, others are at the winery.
The Quote/Background: PEC has about 40 wineries producing a variety of wines from different grapes. But chardonnays and pinot noirs are the best varieties made into wines in PEC. The seminar/masterclass attracted  about 30; there were 10 wines poured, 5 chardonnays and 5 pinot noirs. Three of each were from PEC. The attempt was not to see which wine was best or better, but rather to compare the present status of PEC and non-PEC wines. Sommelier Jay Whiteley, who had moved to PEC in 2018, led the tasting which went on for about 2 hours and was well-presented. The Chardonnays came from Trail Estate, Rosehall Run, and Three Dog in PEC. The two outliers were La Chablisienne 2023 and Church Road Grand Reserve Hawkes Bay New Zealand 2021. The PEC Pinot Noirs came from Stanners, Broken Stone, and Keint-he. The comparison was made to Pech a Mama 2022 from Australia and Cape of Good Hope Sneeuwkans 2019 from South Africa. 
The Wines: The wine show had more than just chardonnays and pinot noirs; I did not taste everything - just the chards and pinots. I also decided to add the PEC wines I tasted from the  very recent Taste Ontario trade show within my ratings.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Broken Stone Winery    County Grown Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2023 13.5% ABV LCBO +668269  $29.95 
-Closson Chase Vineyards Churchside Pinot Noir Prince Edward County 2022    12.5% ABV  $50
-Closson Chase Vineyards South Clos Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2022    12.5% ABV $50
-Huff Estates Winery Cuveé Peter Huff    Prince EdwardCounty 2021    12.5%ABV  LCBO +198754     $40
-Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard County Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2021    11.5% ABV  LCBO+381715     $59.20 
-Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard Cuvée L Pinot Noir VQA Ontario 2022    12.5%    LCBO+36826     $99.20 
-Trail Estate Winery Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2023     $50
-Huff Estates Winery Catharine's Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2022    12.5%    LCBO+88955     $35
-Stanners Chardonnay PEC 2018 & 2019
-Keint-He Winery Portage Chardonnay PEC 2018  11.9% ABV $22.95


***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (86 – 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Broken Stone Winery    Pinot Noir "The One"    Prince Edward County    2023        12%     $39.95 
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Pecorino Prince Edward County 2023     12.7%  $34.95 
-Casa-Dea Estates Winery Sparkling Rose Prince Edward County 2023 13%     $24.95 
-Rosehall Run Vineyards Stardust Tradtional Method Prince Edward County    2014    12% $65
-Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Musqué    Prince Edward County    2024        12.5%  $26
-The Grange Of Prince Edward Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc Prince Edward County 2024 12.5%  $29.95 
-The Grange Of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Cabernet Franc Prince Edward County 2023 13%  $73.65 
-Trail Estate Winery Chardonnay    Prince Edward County (new oak)    2022    11.4% $48
-Huff Chardonnay Unoaked 2023
-Keint-He Little Creek Chardonnay Benway Block PEC 2021  $41.22 licensee
-Keint-He Greer Road Chardonnay PEC 2021 $36.95

The Food: none
The Downside: I was very late in arriving due to the slow TTC and street construction, but I got to taste the 10 wines in the seminar.
The Upside:a rare opportunity to taste PEC wines in Toronto.
The Contact Person: admin@pecwines.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88

Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism

Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: 20 wines under & over $20 for the December 6, 2025 release.

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  20 wines under & over $20 for the December 6, 2025 release.

By DEAN TUDOR, wine writer since 1968 and owner of Gothic Epicures Writing --- deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of wine news items and RSS feeds, plus references to individual wines, beers and spirits, has been at  https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor since 1994. These notes (below) for TOP wines available through the LCBO Vintages New Releases (on a bi-weekly basis) can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at https://pages.pathcom.com/~dtudor -- no winery can buy their way into – or out of – my publications. Not all wines are available in every LCBO store.

What is a TOP wine? Terrific-Occasional-Personal--- A TOP wine can be expressed as 88+ points, or Silver/Gold Medal, or described as BETTER/BEST, or 4/5 ****/***** Stars (out of?) and other such categories [in the 1950s such categories were titled "dandy, so-so, punk and lousy"]. My evaluations are a combined MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Rhone wine should taste like Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace, above or below its price). 

THEME • Premium wine for the holidays/Ribera del Duero

TOP Wines UNDER $20 [most are $19.95] for release.
=================

W+311456 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP EXCALIBUR SAUVIGNON BLANC AUSTRALIA 2024 $19.95
W+672345 HENRI BOURGEOIS PETIT BOURGEOIS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 $19.95
W+391847 THIERRY DELAUNAY TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC LOIRE 2024 $17.95
W+27182 DOMAINE HATZIMICHALIS ALEPOTRYPA VINEYARD ASSYRTIKO GREECE 2024 $19.95
W+40432 VIEIL ARMAND ORIGINE RIESLING ALSACE 2022 $18.95

R+462515 THE LANE SHIRAZ 2021 AUSTRALIA $19.95
R+276956 HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 $18.95
R+297317 XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 $19.95
R+47671 GARAGE OLD VINES CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2022 $19.95 
R+60244 SANTA ALICIA GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2022 $18.95
R+123489 CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT FRONSAC BORDEAUX 2022 $19.95
R+143099 MAS DES BRESSADES TRADITION RHONE 2023 $19.95
R+999946 FARINA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2022 $19.95
R+44665 VALPARAÍSO ROBLE 2023 $17.95

TOP Wines OVER $20 for release.
================

W+276980 TAHBILK MUSEUM RELEASE MARSANNE AUSTRALIA 2018 $24.95 
W+416321 TAWSE ROBYN'S BLOCK CHARDONNAY VQA 2022 $46.95
W+47156 MONTES OUTER LIMITS ALBARIÑO CHILE 2024 $24.95
W+45279 ALBERT BICHOT SECRET DE FAMILLE BOURGOGNE CÔTE D'OR $44.95
W+466144 J.MOREAU & FILS GLORIE DE CHABLIS 2024 $31.95
W+241117 DOMAINE LES VIEUX MURS POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2023
$45.95
W+22851 LOVEBLOCK SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2024 $24.95 
W+22850 SUNDAY SAIL SAUVIGNON BLANC NEW ZEALAND 2023 $20.95

R+316984 VERSADO RESERVA MALBEC 2020 ARGENTINA $69.95
R+79798 SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC ARGENINA 2023 $22.95
R+84996 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON AUSTRALIA 2022 $44.95
R+390872 WOLF BLASS GREY LABEL SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA 2023
$34.95
R+427500 WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR VQA 2021 $31.95 
R+48247 REDSTONE REDSTONE VINEYARD MERLOT VQA 2020 $40.95 
R+36167 PEREZ CRUZ PIEDRA SECA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2023 $22.95
R+57901 MONTGRAS INTRIGA CABERNET SAUVIGNON CHILE 2021 $23.95
R+268052 P. FERRAUD & FILS DOMAINE FERRAUD LES CHARMES MORGON 2022 $26.95
R+399725 MARCHESI DI BAROLO DEL COMUNE BAROLO 2019
$85.95
R+13644 SAN BIAGIO SORANO BAROLO 2016 $59.95
R+261784 PAPALE LINEA ORO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA PUGLIA 2021 $28.95
R+46057 VARVAGLIONE SUSUMANIELLO PUGLIA 2023 $23.95 
R+716266 SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 $29.95
R+13496 FRESCOBALDI TENUTA PERANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 $34.95
R+747030 LA VITE LUCENTE TUSCANY 2023 $32.95
R+47033 SANTA MARIA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2021 $23.95
R+940965 BERONIA GRAN RESERVA SPAIN 2018 $37.95

HOLIDAY SPARKLING WINES RELEASED ON DEC 6....

CHAMPAGNE
100503 BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE $149.95
45903 GONET SULCOVA CUVÉE GAÏA BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT GRAND CRU $106.95
45280 PHILIPPE GONET TER BLANC DE BLANCS EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE $123.95
46637 DOM PÉRIGNON MURAKAMI LIMITED EDITION CHAMPAGNE 2015 $382.95
507889 VEUVE CLICQUOT EXTRA BRUT EXTRA OLD 5 CHAMPAGNE $115.95

SPARKLING WINE [BUT NO CAVA OR SEKT]
AUSTRALIA
43328 ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP CUVÉE CHOCOLATE MOUSSEUX SHIRAZ SPARKLING $24.95
AUSTRIA
47078 MARKUS HUBER SPARKLING WHITE $19.95
BRITISH COLUMBIA
46590 BLACK HILLS BRUT SPARKLING BC-VQA $55
ONTARIO
237198 CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS CSV ESTATE GROWN NATURAL BRUT $49.95
47776 TRIUS SHOWCASE BLANC DE NOIRS SPARKLING 55A 6 $58
ALSACE
44207 WILLM BRUT RÉSERVE CRÉMANT D'ALSACE $19.95 
LOIRE
44208 JEAN-PAUL COUAMAIS VOUVRAY CUVÉE RÉSERVE BRUT SPARKLING $20.95
ITALY
47797 GIUSTI ASOLO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO SUPERIORE $21.95
FRIULI
16602 ALBINO ARMANI EXTRA DRY CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO $22.95
VENETO
46058 BOTTEGA IL VINO DEI POETI BRUT VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO $29.95
LUXEMBOURG
970970 BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L'ÉCUSSON BRUT SPARKLING$21.95
NEW ZEALAND
280172 OYSTER BAY ROSÉ SPARKLING CUVÉE $23.95

LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Some Recommended Wines from the LCBO's Limited Time Offer selections...these  are "better" value...on sale through January 4, 2026

LTO to JANUARY 4, 2026

R E D W I N ES

BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
378257 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $59.95
NOW $56.95 Save $3.00

BERONIA RESERVA
DOCa Rioja, Spain

CALVET RÉSERVE DES REMPARTS
SAINT-ÉMILION
AC, Bordeaux, France
31898 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

CASA DI LUIGI PINOT NOIR KPM
Valle de Central, Chile, vegan
16586 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $15.40
NOW $14.40 Save $1.00

CASTELGIOCONDO
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
650432 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $55.95
NOW $50.95 Save $5.00
CASTELLO DI NEIVE BARBARESCO
DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
160143 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $39.95
NOW $34.95 Save $5.00

CAVE SPRING PINOT NOIR 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario,
sustainable, vegan
417642 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA
CONCHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Puente Alto, Chile
337238 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00

CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER'S LOT 148
LAS PATAGUAS VINEYARD CARMENÈRE
Rapel Valley, Chile
30957 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $14.95 Save $3.00

E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE
AC, Rhône, France
259721 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $25.95
NOW $22.95 Save $3.00

FLAT ROCK PINOT NOIR 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, sustainable
1545 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

G. MARQUIS THE SILVER LINE
PINOT NOIR 
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
258673 (D – 8 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

KAIKEN ESTATE MALBEC
Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
58339 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00

KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR New Zealand
626390 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00

LA MASCOTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Mendoza, Argentina
292110 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $16.95
NOW $14.95 Save $2.00

LUIGI BOSCA MALBEC
Mendoza, Argentina
452672 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

MITOLO JESTER SHIRAZ
McLaren Vale, South Australia
659607 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

MONTE ANTICO
IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
69377 (D – 7 g/L) 750 ml $17.95
NOW $15.95 Save $2.00

MONTE ZOVO SA' SOLIN VALPOLICELLA
RIPASSO SUPERIORE
DOC, Veneto, Italy
650713 (D – 12 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

MUGA RESERVA
DOCa Rioja, Spain
177345 (D – 3 g/L) 750 ml $28.95
NOW $24.95 Save $4.00

W H I T E W I N ES

BANFI PRINCIPESSA GAVIA GAVI
DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
250696 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

BOLLINI PINOT GRIGIO
DOC Trentino, Italy
951319 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

CLOSSON CHASE
THE BROCK CHARDONNAY
VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
20899 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

FLAT ROCK TWISTED WHITE
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, sustainable
1578 (D – 15 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $15.95 Save $3.00

GARZÓN SINGLE VINEYARD ALBARIÑO
Maldonado, Uruguay
39017 (XD – 2 g/L) 750 ml $40.95
NOW $35.95 Save $5.00

KIM CRAWFORD MARLBOROUGH
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
35386 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00

MOUNT RILEY SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand,
sustainable
981670 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $18.00
NOW $16.00 Save $2.00

OYSTER BAY CHARDONNAY
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
326728 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00

OYSTER BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
316570 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00

THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S BLEND RIESLING
VQA Beamsville Bench,
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
24133 (D – 16 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00

VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION ST.
URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING 
VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario
38117 (M – 34 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $19.95 Save $3.00

R E D W I N ES – CO N T ' D
OYSTER BAY PINOT NOIR
Marlborough, New Zealand
590414 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $18.95 Save $3.00

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
741769 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.45 Save $2.50

SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO
DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
282996 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $21.95
NOW $19.95 Save $2.00

SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA DE FAMILIA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Maipo Valley, Chile
408658 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $17.95 Save $2.00

SELLA & MOSCA RISERVA
CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA
DOC, Sardinia, Italy
425488 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00

TEDESCHI AMARONE DELLA
VALPOLICELLA
DOCG, Veneto, Italy
433417 (D – 5 g/L) 750 ml $50.95
NOW $47.95 Save $3.00

TERRA VEGA CARMENÈRE KPM
Central Valley, Chile
354761 (D – 2 g/L) 750 ml $13.00
NOW $12.00 Save $1.00

THE FOREIGN AFFAIR THE CONSPIRACY 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
149237 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $16.95 Save $3.00

TOMMASI AMARONE DELLA
VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO
DOCG, Veneto, Italy
356220 (XD – 6 g/L) 750 ml $53.95
NOW $48.95 Save $5.00

TRIUS RED
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
303800 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $27.95
NOW $24.95 Save $3.00

UMBERTO CESARI LIANO
SANGIOVESE/CABERNET SAUVIGNON
IGT Rubicone, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
225086 (D – 11 g/L) 750 ml $29.95
NOW $23.95 Save $6.00

VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Valle del Maipo, Chile
18721 (XD – 4 g/L) 750 ml $18.95
NOW $16.95 Save $2.00

ZENATO AMARONE DELLA
VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO
DOCG, Veneto, Italy
413179 (XD – 6 g/L) 750 ml $54.95
NOW $49.95 Save $5.00

FIZZ

BERNARD FOUQUET YSANCE BRUT
VOUVRAY SPARKLING
AP, Loire, France, traditional method
42396 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $19.95
NOW $18.95 Save $1.00

LOUIS ROEDERER COLLECTION
BRUT PREMIER CHAMPAGNE
AC, Champagne, France
268771 (D – 9 g/L) 750 ml $99.95
NOW $94.95 Save $5.00

LUC BELAIRE RARE ROSÉ SPARKLING
France
395384 (M – 26 g/L) 750 ml $42.95
NOW $37.95 Save $5.00

CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS
BRUT SPARKLING 
VQA Niagara Escarpment, traditional method
213983 (XD – 3 g/L) 750 ml $32.95
NOW $27.95 Save $5.00

CHATEAU DES CHARMES
BRUT SPARKLING 
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, traditional method
224766 (D – 12 g/L) 750 ml $32.95
NOW $29.95 Save $3.00

SANTA MARGHERITA BRUT
VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE
Veneto, Italy
46053 (D – 11 g/L) 750 ml $22.95
NOW $20.95 Save $2.00

TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE
ORGANIC BRUT SPARKLING RIESLING 
VQA Twenty Mile Bench, traditional method
370361 (M – 19 g/L) 750 ml $24.95
NOW $21.95 Save $3.00



CHATEAU DES CHARMES
VIDAL ICEWINE 
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, estate bottled
413732 (S – 227 g/L) 375 ml $49.95
NOW $46.95 Save $3.00

INNISKILLIN VIDAL ICEWINE 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, with gift box
388306 (S – 233 g/L) 375 ml $54.95
NOW $46.95 Save $8.00

LAKEVIEW CELLARS VIDAL ICEWINE 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
522672 (S – 196 g/L) 200 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

MAGNOTTA VIDAL ICEWINE 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
587154 (S – 202 g/L) 375 ml $34.95
NOW $31.45 Save $3.50

REIF ESTATE VIDAL ICEWINE 
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
544791 (S – 254 g/L) 200 ml $24.95
NOW $22.95 Save $2.00

KIM CRAWFORD ROSÉ
Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand
650325 (XD – 7 g/L) 750 ml $20.95
NOW $17.95 Save $3.00


TAYLOR FLADGATE
10-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT
DOP, Portugal
121749 (S – 110 g/L) 750 ml $38.95
NOW $34.95 Save $4.00
December 20, 2025


FOR MORE LTO SELECTIONS, GO TO -- https://www.lcbo.com/en/products#t=clp-products&sort=relevancy&layout=card&f:@lcbo_current_offer=[On%20Sale]


** Some New Wines I Tasted Over the Past Season --- 

REPORT ON CHIANTI MASTERCLASS TORONTO 2025...

The Date and Time: Monday September 22 at 10AM to 1PM.
The Event: vertical tasting of Chianti's main production categories, styles and sub-regions, conducted by John Szabo, MS.
The Venue: Aria Ristorante
The Target Audience: sommeliers, media, agents
The Quote/Background: John Szabo spoke on the various styles, and then we tasted seven different Chianti wines. Different names have been attached for styles: Annata, Superiore, Reserva, all within DOCG standards. More Sangiovese is used in the "Superiore" style.

The Wines:
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chianti Montespertoli DOCG 2022: murky, organic, full flavoured.
-Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG Riserva 2022: dark, soft palate, off-dry.
-Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG Riserva 2022: dark, soft palate, dry dusty.
-Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva 2020: dark, great aging, best wine of the tasting.

***1/2  BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (86 – 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chianti Montalbano DOCG 2024 Annata: pale transparency, youthful, fruity, developing well.
-Chianti Superiore DOCG 2023 Colline Pisane: clear at rim, a definite food wine, plenty of tannins.
-Chianti Superiore DOCG  2022 Colli Aretini: similar to Isane, good aging but tannic.

The Food:  radicchio salad, chicken, salmon, new potatoes.
The Downside: I wanted more wines to sample
The Upside: a sterling, informative presentation
The Contact Person: b.marassi@ice.it
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88

Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism

Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures