The October 15 Event: Sustainable South Africa – Wines of South Africa (WOSA) trade show portion

The Date and Time: Tuesday, October 15, 2019  11:30AM - 4PM

The Event: Sustainable South Africa – Wines of South Africa (WOSA) trade show portion

The Venue: Steamwhistle Brewery, Roundhouse Hall

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: the show was in both Toronto and Montreal, and not all wines were at both places. The catalogue noted the wines and the vintages, but not all the wines had arrived. Prices (if available) had to be obtained at the tables.

The Quote/Background: The seminar at 11:30 was led by John Szabo, and was about the sustainability of the WOSA wineries. My ratings on these wines are folded into the notes below.

The Wines: There were 30 wineries, I did not taste them all nor all of the other wines. This time I tried mainly the whites, following on the lead of the seminar which had only two reds.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Asara The Terroir Series Granite Chenin 2018

-Asara The Terroir Series Viognier 2018

-Asara Speciality Range White Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

-Boekenhoutskloof Vinologist Chenin Blanc 2018  $12.95  Univins

-Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2016  Univins

-Whalehaven Conservation Coast Chardonnay 2016  $45

-Creation Reserve Chardonnay 2018  $49.95  Gradwell   Cons

-De Trafford Wines Sijnn White 2017  $35.95 Gradwell Cons

-Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2017  Dionysus

-Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2018 Vintages Essential  +367698  $15.95

-Kloovenburg Eight Feel 2017 White $25.95 Gradwell Cons

-Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 $18  Dec Vintages

-Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2007 Library

-Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc 2018  $24.95  Select

-Meerlust Rubicon 2016  $57.99  Lifford Cons

-Mullineux Wines Old Vines White 2018  $38  N Pearce

-Overhex Survivor Chenin Blanc 2018 $19.95  Trajectory Bev Co

-Pearce Predhomme Chenin Blanc 2018 $19.95  N Pearce

-Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017 $45  N Pearce  PO

-Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2010   Woodman

-Simonsig Chenin Avec Chene 2017  $34.95   Azureau  PO

-Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2017  $34.95  Sylvestre  PO

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2019  $15.95   Sylvestre

-Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018 $17.95  N Pearce

-Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc 2019  Univins

-Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2018 $24.95  Loyal Imports

-Overhex Survivor Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $19.95  Trajectory Bev Co

-Fairview Amos Sauvignon Blanc 2019  Noble

-Meerlust Chardonnay 2018 $39.95  Lifford PO

-Asara Pickled Fush Sauvignon Blanc 2018

-Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap White 2018  $14.95 LCBO

-Bottega SA Family Wines Idiom Viognier 2017  ~$35

-Bottega SA Family Wines Idiom Semillon 2016  ~$35

-Whalehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $20

-Bruce Jack Sauvignon Blanc 2018  $15.99 Lifford Cons

-Creation Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2019  $19.95  Gradwell   Cons

-Kloovenburg Unwooded Chardonnay 2019 $16.95  Gradwell  Cons

-L'Avenir Single Block Chenin Blanc 2018  Select

-Le Bonheur Chardonnay 2018  $14.95  Select

-Leeuwenkuil Reserve White 2017  Univins

-Leeuwenkuil Heritage Chenin Blanc 2017  Univins

-Mullineux Wines Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2018   N Pearce

-Waterford Estate Single-Vineyard Chardonnay 2016   Epic Wines & Spirits

 

The Food: Daniel et Daniel did the catering which featured the usual meat platter (duck breast, salumi, sausages, and boerewors), cheeses, breads. Veggies and dips.

The Downside: I had to miss the opening of the seminar.

The Upside: A chance to re-connect with many WOSA wines (it had been a long time since the last trade show).

The Contact Person: keenan@propellorpr.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89

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.

NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING –

NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING  –

 

1.Gerard Bertrand Terroir Languedoc Red 2015 +413237 October Vintages, $16.95: the last vintage here was 2013. This is a re-order of the 2015: it's a blend of syrah and grenache, promising both black fruit and red fruit tones at an affordable price. Local garrigue is apparent, complemented by some fennel. Part of the wine is transferred over to 225-litre oak barrels where it is aged for roughly 10 months. 14% ABV. Good price. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

2.Henry of Pelham Riesling Estate 2018 VQA Short Hills Bench, +557165 Vintages, $19.95: 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 vineyards (33+ year old riesling vines). 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.

 

3.Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir Speck Family Reserve 2017 VQA Short Hills Bench, +657874 Vintages November, $34.95: this is an LCBO re-order of a top of the line pinot noir from Ontario, fruit-forward with enough black/dark tones of cherry-berry capable of long cellar aging. The winery says Clones 667 on Block 100 were used for 250 cases. Tank fermentation with 10 months small European oak barrel aging, finishing as blended in an oak tank. Very, very food friendly. 13.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

4.Cantina Valpantena Veneto Chardonnay IGP 2017 $13.95 Consignment Majestic Wine Cellars:  It's a definite antipasto or pre-prandial wine since it was light lemons with lively acidity, some tart apples, 12% ABV, and a longer finish than I was expecting. Quite pleasant. Under composition cork. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

5.Albino Armani 1607 Chardonnay Capitel 2017 Trentino DOC, $19.95 consignment Majestic Wine Cellars. From the Adige Valley region, it's a mellow, rounder wine with less acid (sweet apples) but a long honeyed finish in the mouth. Composition cork, and it too had sweet apples, limes and citrus, and a bright freshness from the stainless steel. 12.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

6.Biscardo Oropasso Originale 2018 IGT Veneto $17.95 consignment from Majestic Wine Cellars: made from 60% garganega (basis of soave) and 40% chardonnay juice. No oak, just stainless steel for freshness. But a longer fermentation than usual, and five months on the lees. Results? An engaging floral, off-sweet bouquet leading to nuts and tropical fruits on the palate with citrus running in the background. A good seam of acidity through to the spicy finish. Best with food, but possible also as a sipper. A very nice riff on Soave. The company's series includes Rosapasso (pinot noir rose) and Neropasso (red), all trading off on the "oro-" gold usage. 13% ABV. Good value. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

7.Morgan Bay Cellars Chardonnay 2017 California appellation $17.95 Majestic Wine Cellars Consignment:  cork disc closure, well-rounded texture meant to appeal to the US palate. There were lemons and green apples, but also the softness and taste of a creamy caramel. But there is also enough finishing acid for a first course. Otherwise, sip away. 13% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

8.Rutherford Ranch Chardonnay 2016 Napa $25.95, Consignment from Majestic Wine Cellars: a soft wine full of orchard fruit (baked apple, pear), creamy, bright, some vanilla but a little toasted French oak (and lees) with spices. Aperitif or with seafood. 13.5% ABV. RS a meagre 0.1 g/L. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

10.Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Coonawarra Terra Rossa South Australia, $19.95 +677476 Vintages October: it's been awhile since I've had an affordable dense cabby from Oz (since the days of Hill Smith?). This one's loaded with juicy cassis and black cherry notes. Some Bordeaux-like tones come into play (leafy tobacco, cedar box, anise, some herbaceousness. Near the finish there is a softness that may seem out-of-place, but the wine is now almost four years old. Coonawarra produces only 1.5% of Australian wine; the exceptional Terra Rossa section is but a small part of this tiny percentage. A winner all round. 14.3% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

11&12.Chateau des Charmes Atelier White 2017 VQA NOTL $14.95 LCBO +688499, and

Chateau des Charmes Atelier Red 2017 VQA NOTL $14.95 LCBO +688523, both also at winery and online: these two wines represent the latest blended wines from Chateau des Charmes

as Generation Seven Red and White came a decade ago. The white is unusual in that it's an Ontario version of the Alsatian Edelzwicker, with its Riesling-Gewurztraminer-Auxerrois blend of noble varieties. 1800 cases of social wine (parties, pre-prandials, first course food accompaniments) in the mainly popular riesling-gewurz style favoured by a lot of wineries world-wide. The red, to continue a French analogy, is Burgundy meets Bordeaux, with five different grapes: Gamay noir-Pinot noir-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc. 4000 cases of social wine or first course food accompaniments. Both wines are produced from the Chateau's own estates, and are light-bodied (no oak) and fruity (floral in the white, berries in the red), to accompany friends or simple foods as a social wine. 12% ABV for both. Both are also part of the Limited Time Offers running from the Sept 16 through Oct 13 period, reducing the price to $13.95 apiece. Quality/Price rating of both is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

13&14.Toro Bravo Tempranillo Merlot 2018 Valencia, $7.95 LCBO +635755, and Toro Bravo Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc 2018 La Mancha, $7.95 LCBO +10711: these are not the cheapest wines at the LCBO but they do appear to be the most reasonable. The trend in lower-end pricing or entry wines has always been to the bi-varietal spectrum, such as most of the wines from Latin America, especially the ones in magnums. This works in Europe too. Here we have a Tempranillo and Merlot mix from Valencia, where the blend neatly plays down any shortcomings and plumps up the softness and rich readiness of the lowered tannin finish. Fruity, best suited to red wine drinkers on the patio who like just red wine without any food. Sip or quaff. 13% ABV. The white (Verdejo Sauvignon Blanc) to my mind tastes better: more citrus and orchard stone fruit. It is nicely blended and can serve as a patio wine or aperitif or first course wine with light food, showing off a light minerality. 11.5% ABV. Both have a twist top, of course, and both are value wines. Quality/Price rating of the red Toro Bravo is 87 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures. Quality/Price rating of the white Toro Bravo is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

Devour, Wolfville, NS

 

Devour, Wolfville, NS, by Ann Tudor 

We just arrived back in Toronto after spending a week in beautiful Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The occasion of the trip was Devour, the Food Film Festival, a five-day extravaganza of eighty films, plus three large dinners, prepared by chefs from Canada, the U.S., and Europe. Culinary workshops were taught by well-known chefs and there were also workshops on film-making, foraging, wine-tasting, and cheese-tasting—as well as trips to wineries and breweries.

 

My reason for writing about the festival here (aside from the hope that some of you might be inspired to attend Devour next year) is to tell you about a few of the movies that inspired me.

 

Two movies ("Dive" and "The Food Fighter") deal with the question of food waste, showcasing people who work tirelessly to inform us and to persuade (for example) large grocery chains to send their perfectly good packaged products to soup kitchens rather than to the dumpsters behind their stores. Very inspiring stories.

 

"Billion Dollar Bully" investigates the accusations that Yelp! is running a mob-like extortion scheme.

 

"The Game Changers" views plant-based eating not just as the best choice environmentally but as a way for athletes to achieve their best results. Fascinating and very persuasive.

 

Finally, "Maxima" and "Honeyland" are portraits of very strong women thriving in harrowing circumstances. Maxima lives in mountainous Peru, where her small piece of land is coveted by a giant gold-mining company. "Honeyland", set in rural Macedonia, follows the life of a woman who uses ancient traditions in the keeping of her bees.

 

All of these movies are well worth your time. "The Game Changers" is already on Netflix, so it's easy to find. I urge you to watch for the others during the next year, whether on-line or at your local theatre.

 

And do go to www.devourfest.com to learn more about the festival, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year.

 

The Event: A tasting of Fortified Wines as developed by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada (18th annual tasting)

The Date and Time: Tuesday October 8, 2019  3PM to 7PM

The Event: A tasting of Fortified Wines as developed by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada (18th annual tasting)

The Venue: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada's clubhouse.

The Target Audience: WWCC members exclusive.

The Availability/Catalogue: All these fortified wines are at the LCBO or by consignment, etc. They include ports, sherries, vermouths, and other beverages.

The Quote/Background: This was not a competition or a judging, but a tasting for writing purposes re: Holiday Wines and Gifts. The Wine Writers' Circle of Canada would like to thank each of the supplying agents for their contributions.

The Wines: My ratings do NOT include a ranking beyond GOOD, BETTER, and BEST. They are listed randomly within each category.

The Wines: Meanwhile, this just in: " Interest in sherry is drying up to the point of extinction despite concerted efforts at a revival, writes Don Kavanagh. Meanwhile, searches on Wine-Searcher for port increased 34.5% in the last five years, and searches for the most-popular port so far this year were conducted 46 times more frequently than searches for most-popular sherry, he writes."

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

Producer    Product Name    Vintage    Price    LCBO #     Country    Region    Grape Varieties    Alc. %     Availability Where      Availability When     Agent or Winery Info    Comments

-La Madre Vermouth    La Madre Premium    nv    $29.45    490978    Spain    Spain        15    E-Comm    Now    Majestic Wine Cellars   

-Sandeman    20 YO Tawny Port    n/a    $64.95    116178    Portugal    Douro    Touriga Franca, etc.    20% Vintages front line anytime (no release scheduled) Charton Hobbs   

-Tawse Winery    Orange Bitters        $12.95     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Tawse Winery    Lemon Bitters        $12.95     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Tawse Winery    Lavender Bitters        $12.95     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Tawse Winery    Wild Cherry Bark Bitters        $13     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Tawse Winery    Barrel-aged Bitters        $12.95     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Tawse Winery    Aromatics Bitters        $12.95     N/A    Canada    Niagara        50%    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-PADRÓ I FAMILIA SL    PADRÓ & CO. ROJO CLÁSICO VERMOUTH    NV    EST $24.75    835181    SPAIN    CATALUNYA    MACABEO    18.0    DESTINATION    Nov-19 DB WINE & SPIRITS 180 BTLS

-Taylor Fladgate    10 Year Old Tawny    NV    $35.95    121749    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    Vintage Essential    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Taylor Fladgate    20 Year Old Tawny    NV    $69.95    14907    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    Vintage Essential    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Taylor Fladgate    Vintage Port    2017    $159.95    12076    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO - V-mail    March 19th, 2020    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Croft    Vintage Port    2017    127.95    12082    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    March 19th, 2020    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Oscar 697    697 Rosso    0    $29.95    Consignment    Italy    Milano        16    Consignment/Ecom    Now    Majestic Wine Cellars   

-Oscar 697    697 Bianco    0    $29.95    Consignment    Italy    Milano        16    Consignment/Ecom    Now    Majestic Wine Cellars   

 

 

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

Producer    Product Name    Vintage    Price    LCBO #     Country    Region    Grape Varieties    Alc. %     Availability Where      Availability When     Agent or Winery Info    Comments

-Sandeman    10 YO Tawny Port    n/a    $34.95    n/a    Portugal    Douro    Touriga Franca, etc.    20    Private Order    anytime    Charton Hobbs   

-Sandeman    Late Bottled Vintage    2012    $13.40 sale    195974    Portugal    Douro    Touriga Franca, etc.    20.5    LCBO    GL    Charton Hobbs   

-Tawse Winery    Dry Vermouth        $23.13     N/A    Canada    Niagara    Riesling + 14 botanicals    18.5    Retail shop    Now    Daniel Lafleur   

-Sogrape Vinhos de Portugal    Ferreira Dona Antonia Tawny Reserve Port    NV    $19.95    157586    Portugal    Douro    30% Malvasia Fina, 20% Códega, 20% Viosinho, 20%   Rabigato, 10% Arinto    20    LCBO    All year    Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants   

-Alvear     Alvear Fino Montilla-Morilles         $14.05    112771    Spain    Montilla Morilles     Fino    15%    LCBO     General List     FWM Canada-

-La Madre Vermouth    La Madre Red    0    $21.5    491018    Spain    Spain        15    E-Comm    Now    Majestic Wine Cellars   

-Symington Family     Warre's Otima 10 y.o. Tawny    NV    $21.95     566174    Portugal    Oporto    Touriga Nacional, local varieties     20.00%    LCBO - General list    Year-round    Dionysus W&S Ltd   

 

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

Producer    Product Name    Vintage    Price    LCBO #     Country    Region    Grape Varieties    Alc. %     Availability Where      Availability When     Agent or Winery Info    Comments

-Sandeman    Fine Ruby Port    n/a    $15.95    23366    Portugal    Douro    Touriga Franca, etc.    19.5    LCBO    GL    Charton Hobbs   

-Williams & Humbert     Dry Sack Sherry    NV    $14.05    13565    Spain    Jerez - Xeres     Palomino, Pedro Ximénez    19.5    LCBO General List    All the time     Dandurand. 1660 Tech Ave Unit 2A mississauga ON L4W 5S7. 416-368-3344   

-Taylor Fladgate    Late Bottled Vintage    2014    $18.95    46946    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    GL    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Taylor Fladgate    First Estate    NV    $17.50    309401    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    GL    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Croft     Reserve Tawny Port    NV    $18.95    538983    Portugal    Douro        20    LCBO    March 7th, 2020    Sylvestre Wines & Spirits   

-Fonseca     Fonesca Bin No.27 Reserve Porto         $17    325506    Portugal     Cima Corga         20%    LCBO     General List     FWM Canada- info@fwmcanada.com   

-Fonseca     Fonseca White Port         $17    276816    Portugal     Douro Valley    Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Codega, Esgana Cao, Folgasao, Gouveio, Viosinho and Rabigato     20%    LCBO     General List     FWM Canada- info@fwmcanada.com   

info@fwmcanada.com   

-Alvear     Alvear Medium Dry         $14.05    112789    Spain    Montilla Morilles     Amontillado     17%    LCBO     General List     FWM Canada- info@fwmcanada.com   

 

The Food: baguette, unsalted roasted almonds, Nicoise olives, water

The Contact Person:  deantudor@yahoo.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 94

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

* DRINK BOOK OF THE MONTH! Whiskey; a tasting course, by Eddie Ludlow (DK Books)

  

1.WHISKEY; a tasting course (DK Books, 2019, 224 pages, ISBN 978-1-4654-8239-6, $25 USD hardbound) is by Eddie Ludlow, former Brand Ambassador for Glenmorangie and now co-owner with his wife of The Whiskey Lounge, an event-centered spot for all manner of things whiskey. They believe that the best way to find out about whiskey is by tasting it, similar to the approach by wine writers. So here there are 20 tailored tasting sessions of four samples each, structured to take you through the experience of aromas and flavours, ranging from the scents of Japanese oak through to the smoky tang of Islay peat. They've got some tasting tours and insider tips on smart buying. They cover the basics on how whiskey is produced and how to taste spirits, with stops for tasting vocabulary on aromatics, body, and finish, plus deep background. They begin of course with Scottish single malts, progressing to Irish, bourbon, rye, Japanese/Asian, and the like. There are suggestions for what bottles to buy, and if you have a group, then you can easily absorb the costs. Good, strong schematic diagrams.

Audience and level of use: whiskey lovers looking for new angles, millennials.

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: Scotch whisky was the unwitting beneficiary of the phylloxera grapevine-destroying parasite. As stocks of grape-based alcohol ran low, sales of Scotch whisky soared.

The downside to this book: too many small generic photos take away space from the instructions.

The upside to this book: whiskey and food (including chocolate) are covered, along with cocktails.

Quality/Price Rating: 93.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

 

The Event: Advanced Shiraz Masterclass with Nigel Westblade, chief winemaker of Peter Lehmann, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the winery.

The Date and Time:  Wednesday October 9, 2019  2PM - 4PM

The Event: Advanced Shiraz Masterclass with Nigel Westblade, chief winemaker of Peter Lehmann, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the winery.

The Venue: Independent Wine Education Guild, Toronto

The Target Audience: a full house of two dozen wine experts

The Availability/Catalogue:

The Quote/Background: Nigel spoke on the Barossa and the Shiraz grape, with reference to Peter Lehmann (repped in Ontario by Phillipe Dandurand). He describe the Barossa region (Barossa Valley and  Eden Valley) and its 17 sub-regions: the area is responsible for 43% of all Oz premium wine exports; the are has some of the oldest vines in Australia; 550 growers tend to 800 hand-picked vineyards (blocks are kept separate or blended later, depending on quality). Peter Lehmann makes dozens of different wines each year.

The Wines:  We tasted in order of price, from low to high. Only the first few are currently at the LCBO.

 

-Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz 2017 Barossa $21.95 Vintages +522235 – in French and US oak for a year, 14.5% ABV, RS 1 h/L. Mocha tones.

-Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz 2018 Barossa $21.95 Vintages TBD +522235 – in US oak, very appealing, 14.5% ABV.

-Peter Lehmann Portrait Shiraz Barossa $19.95 +572875 – 10% new French and US oak for a year, grapes from western side of Barossa. 14.5% ABV, RS 0.55g/L. Expressive lunch wine.

-Peter Lehmann Futures Shiraz 2016 Barossa - $~35+ new and old French oak for 15 months. 14.8% ABV, RS 3.1g/L. Full flavours and nicely aged. My fave of the tasting.

-Peter Lehmann Masters 8 Songs Shiraz Barossa (Barossa Valley and Eden Valley) - $~50+

60% new French oak for 15 months. 14.5% ABV, RS 0.67g/L opulent and chocolate-y.

-Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2013 Barossa – $~100+ French oak for 15 months, 14.5% ABV, RS 3 g/L. Very bright, close to Rhone syrah in tones.

-Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2010 Barossa – Library wine -  90% French oak and 10% US oak for 14 months, 14% ABV, RS 3.5 g/L. Very bright, close to Rhone syrah in tones.

-Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2003 Barossa – Library wine -  90% French oak and 10% US oak for 18 months, 14.5% ABV, RS 2.75 g/L. Very bright, close to Rhone syrah in tones. Aged beautifully, now 16+ years old.

-Peter Lehmann Masterson Shiraz 2015 Barossa – from the Moppa sub-region, organic 40 year old vines, 3 tonnes/hectare. Only made 1000 magnums, selling for $2000 AUD each. Price in Canada TBD. Lots of red and blue fruit, mocha and anise tones.

 

The Contact Person: dlenartowich@pdandurand.com; dshing@galleonwines.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 94

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

RE: * FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! Super Roots by Tanita de Rujit (Hardie Grant Books)

J Thank you!

 

All my best,

Danielle Johnson, Senior Publicist

Raincoast Books | 2440 Viking Way, Richmond, BC V6V 1N2  

Direct Line (604) 448-7163 | www.raincoast.com

 

 

From: Dean Tudor [mailto:dtudor@pathcom.com]
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2019 8:28 AM
To: blog1
Subject: * FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! Super Roots by Tanita de Rujit (Hardie Grant Books)

 

SUPER ROOTS: cooking with healing spices to boost your mood (Hardie Grant Books, 2019, 160 pages, ISBN 978-1-78488-241-9, $22.99 paperbound) is by Tanita de Ruijt, a Dutch chef at the Japanese udon-ya Koya Bar in London UK. A lot of the food here is Asiatic. There is preliminary material on “top 12 healing recipes to suit your mood”, notes on sweet and starchy, salty and umami, pungent and spicy, bitter, sour and “balanced”. There is a separate chapter on the pantry that needs to be maintained. Then it's all arranged by your mood of the moment: tired, hungover, bloated, and sick. The book could have been improved if it also used more metric in the recipes (and reduced the imperial), or at least had a metric conversion chart.

Audience and level of use: those needing a change in diets

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: kimchi hummus; gado gado with turmeric peanut sauce; Korean hangover soup; spring onions, herbs and turmeric pancakes; sunshine curry spinach; spice salsa verde;  urap urap coconut salad.

The downside to this book: needs more metric

The upside to this book: good idea for anybody to eat these preps.

Quality/Price Rating: 92

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! Super Roots by Tanita de Rujit (Hardie Grant Books)

SUPER ROOTS: cooking with healing spices to boost your mood (Hardie Grant Books, 2019, 160 pages, ISBN 978-1-78488-241-9, $22.99 paperbound) is by Tanita de Ruijt, a Dutch chef at the Japanese udon-ya Koya Bar in London UK. A lot of the food here is Asiatic. There is preliminary material on "top 12 healing recipes to suit your mood", notes on sweet and starchy, salty and umami, pungent and spicy, bitter, sour and "balanced". There is a separate chapter on the pantry that needs to be maintained. Then it's all arranged by your mood of the moment: tired, hungover, bloated, and sick. The book could have been improved if it also used more metric in the recipes (and reduced the imperial), or at least had a metric conversion chart.

Audience and level of use: those needing a change in diets

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: kimchi hummus; gado gado with turmeric peanut sauce; Korean hangover soup; spring onions, herbs and turmeric pancakes; sunshine curry spinach; spice salsa verde;  urap urap coconut salad.

The downside to this book: needs more metric

The upside to this book: good idea for anybody to eat these preps.

Quality/Price Rating: 92

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for OCTOBER 26, 2019

 

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for OCTOBER 26, 2019

 

By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net", a guide to thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, has been at http://www.deantudor.com since 1994.

 

These notes for good wines available through  LCBO Vintages (on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at  http://www.deantudor.com

 

Scores are a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Southern Rhone would taste like a Southern Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace above or below its price).

 

NOTE: The first portion  is based on my sampling of the table wines chosen by the LCBO from this release for tasting. That presentation is about 50+  different labels out of about 125 released every two weeks. These wines are basically those that fit the categories of  any of the Featured Themes, Wines of the Month, Local Talent, and "new" -- wines that the LCBO has ordered in sufficient quantities for the Ontario marketplace. Not put out for us are the re-orders (even though they may be of a different vintage) , ISDs, or the expensive wines.  Thus, my report comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of these 50+ category wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value in terms of their price.

 

NOTE: The second part (at the end) is a simple listing of  those wines that were NOT presented to the media, and are given here simply as a record of  what sampling I could not do. I have left in the name of the agency, in fairness to all.

 

PART ONE:  The "best" wines of a reduced tasting  --

 

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --

 

Fizz+48801    LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE D'IVOIRE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE Traditional method, AC, Burgundy, France $19.95

 

Under $20

=========

W+ 547877    THIRTY BENCH WINEMAKER'S BLEND CHARDONNAY    VQA Niagara Peninsula 2017    $19.95   13.1% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92

W+10770    NOVAS GRAN RESERVA PINOT GRIS    Bío Bío Valley    2018    $15.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

W+149328    RUSSIAN JACK SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough, South Island    2018    $19.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+667774    WILLM RÉSERVE PINOT BLANC    AC Alsace    2017    $17.95     12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+12009    DOMAINE LA BAZILLÈRE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE    AC    2018    $13.95  12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+391847    THIERRY DELAUNAY TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC    AP    2018    $16.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

W+570457    KELLEREI BOZEN BOLZANO CHARDONNAY    DOC Südtirol-Alto Adige    2018 $18.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+10945    BALBÁS VERDEJO    DO Rueda    2018    $15.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+648915    CHÂTEAU DUBRAUD    AP Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye    2015    $17.95     12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+10315    CHÂTEAU LAMARTINE PRESTIGE DU MALBEC    AP Cahors    2015    $17.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+10816    PARADISO DARIONE PODERE BELMANTELLO PRIMITIVO    IGP Puglia    2017    $17.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+10402    VELARINO SUSUMANIELLO SALENTO    IGT    2017    $16.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+10682    POTENTE    DO Montsant    2016    $18.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+297317    XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE    AP    2017    $16.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+10340    LA COURONNE DE PRINCE    AC Côtes du Rhône    2016    $19.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+247882    HENRY OF PELHAM FAMILY TREE RED VQA Ontario 2016    $18.95   13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+10688    LINAJES CRIANZA    DO Ribera del Duero    2014    $19.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

 

 

Over $20

=========

W+10338    ROPITEAU CHABLIS    AC    2017    $25.95     12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+231712    GIRARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2016    $44.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+330704    BENI DI BATASIOLO RISERVA BAROLO    DOCG    2010    $39.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+522235    PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ    Barossa Valley, South Australia    2017    $21.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+420760    ELOUAN PINOT NOIR    Oregon    2016    $29.95     13.6% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+10443    TINTO NEGRO FINCA LA ESCUELA LA PIEDRA MALBEC    Mendoza    2016    $24.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+11834    CHÂTEAU DE SAINT-PEY    AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru     2016    $34.95    14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+416735    CHÂTEAU LE DOYENNÉ    AC Côtes de Bordeaux    2014    $24.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+994608    CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2015    $22.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+438580    QUERCECCHIO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2014    $34.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+995910    REMO FARINA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO    DOCG    2016    $42.95     15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+10829    ÁLVAREZ DE TOLEDO COLECCIÓN DE FAMILIA MENCÍA    DO Bierzo    2015    $23.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+239277    MONTECILLO GRAN RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2009    $29.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+646075    CRASTO SUPERIOR    DOC Douro    2015    $24.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+671164    ST. FRANCIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Sonoma County    2016    $34.95 14.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+616433    HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CABERNET/MERLOT VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2015 $39.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+332858    CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES PAUL BOSC ESTATE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016 $39.95  13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

 

PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] with agents --

 

    274761    G. MARQUIS SILVER LINE BLANC DE NOIRS ICE ROSÉ SPARKLING    Traditional method, Icewine dosage, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario        $29.95    MAGNOTTA WINERY

    37499    JANSZ PREMIUM SPARKLING ROSÉ    Traditional method, Tasmania        $28.95    B AND W WINES

    558825    SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA    Traditional method, DO, Spain        $32.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.

    511428    REDSTONE CHARDONNAY    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2013    $25.70    TAWSE WINERY INC.

    431593    TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH ESTATE BOTTLED RIESLING    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $25.95    TAWSE WINERY INC.

    302059    CAVE SPRING ESTATE GEWÜRZTRAMINER    Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2017    $18.95    CAVE SPRING CELLARS LTD.,

    68015    FLAT ROCK UNPLUGGED CHARDONNAY    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2018    $17.95    FLAT ROCK CELLARS

    537076    MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT GRIS    BC VQA Okanagan Valley    2018    $22.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS

    317131    ST. FRANCIS CHARDONNAY    Sonoma County    2017    $22.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    541557    LAKE SONOMA CHARDONNAY    Russian River Valley, Sonoma County    2017    $26.95    HOBBS & COMPANY

    235945    CROSSBARN CHARDONNAY    Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County    2017    $34.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    713552    FROG'S LEAP CHARDONNAY    Napa Valley    2017    $44.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    232702    ZUCCARDI Q CHARDONNAY    Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza    2017    $19.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.

    332494    STAETE LANDT JOSEPHINE CHARDONNAY    Marlborough, South Island    2016    $27.95    LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS

    328559     CELLAR CHARDONNAY    WO Western Cape    2016    $17.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    732917    LOUIS JADOT POUILLY-FUISSÉ    AC    2017    $38.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    322628    HENRI BOURGEOIS LA CHAPELLE DES AUGUSTINS SANCERRE    AC    2016    $39.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    599274    LOOSEN BROS. DR. L RIESLING    Qualitätswein    2017    $14.95    SELECT WINE MERCHANTS INC.

    512376    CASTELLO DELLA SALA CERVARO DELLA SALA    IGT Umbria    2017    $74.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    707158    ZENATO SAN BENEDETTO LUGANA    DOC    2018    $19.95    JOSEPH CIPELLI WINES & SPIRITS

    408146    MARIA PAPOILA LOUREIRO/ALVARINHO    DOC Vinho Verde    2018    $16.95    THE VINE AGENCY

    427500    WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR    VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula    2015    $29.95    WESTCOTT VINEYARDS

    522938    CROSSBARN PINOT NOIR    Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County    2016    $49.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    590356    STAGS' LEAP WINERY PETITE SIRAH    Napa Valley    2016    $58.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS

    16915    J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Paso Robles    2016    $47.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.

    328377    EASTON ZINFANDEL    Amador County, Sierra Foothills    2015    $29.95    VINEXX

    260919    SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Uco Valley, Mendoza    2017    $20.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.

    118067    VIÑA COBOS FELINO MALBEC    Mendoza    2017    $19.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    712463    PRIMUS THE BLEND    DO Colchagua Valley    2015    $19.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    562918    CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Las Terrazas Block, Pirque Vineyard, DO Pirque, Maipo Valley    2016    $34.95    ESCALADE WINE & SPIRITS

    387910    VIÑA ERRAZURIZ SYRAH    Aconcagua Costa    2017    $21.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    59899    CHAIN OF PONDS THE LEDGE SHIRAZ    Single vineyard, Adelaide Hills, South Australia    2016    $24.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.

    219469    TWO HANDS SEXY BEAST CABERNET SAUVIGNON    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2018    $26.95    B AND W WINES

    478271    SISTER'S RUN OLD TESTAMENT CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Coonawarra, South Australia    2017    $17.95    NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC

    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    446609    SIDEWOOD MAPPINGA SHIRAZ    Adelaide Hills, South Australia    2015    $49.95    VINOLUNA

    327387    ROBERT OATLEY SIGNATURE SERIES SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia    2017    $19.95    EPIC WINES AND SPIRITS INC.

    520528    PEPPER TREE MERLOT    Estate grown, Wrattonbully, South Australia    2016    $22.95    AZUREAU WINE AGENCY

    90241    TURKEY FLAT BUTCHERS BLOCK SHIRAZ/GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE    Barossa Valley, South Australia    2016    $19.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.

    538918    ASTROLABE PROVINCE MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR    Marlborough, South Island    2015    $29.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    666586    BEL ORMEAU LES CLOS    AP Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye    2015    $16.95    TERRA FIRMA WINES

    534339    VAUCHER PÈRE & FILS FLEURIE    AC    2016    $16.95    VINOLUNA

    448464    LES DARONS    AP Languedoc    2017    $16.95    ROUGE ET BLANC LTD

    381020    DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT L'ESQUERDA    AC Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Lesquerde    2017    $27.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

    17400    PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE-MACHOTTE GIGONDAS    AC    2016    $28.95    MACDONALD AND COMPANY

    494674    LES CASSAGNES DE LA NERTHE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES    AP    2016    $24.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    354191    DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE NICOLAS VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE NOIR    IGP Côtes Catalanes    2017    $18.95    GLENCAIRN WINE MERCHANTS

    140111    BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE XINOMAVRO    PDO Naoussa    2013    $22.95    THE KOLONAKI GROUP INC

    216309    CASTELLO DI GABBIANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2015    $22.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS

    384552    ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2015    $49.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    480533    SASSICAIA    DOC Bolgheri-Sassicaia    2016    $229.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    747030    LA VITE LUCENTE    IGT Toscana    2017    $34.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS

    13755    TOMMASI POGGIO AL TUFO ROMPICOLLO    IGT Toscana    2016    $18.95    UNIVINS AND SPIRITS CANADA INC.

    147876    TENUTA SAN GUIDO LE DIFESE    IGT Toscana    2017    $35.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    72439    TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO    IGT Toscana    2017    $62.95    SYLVESTRE WINES & SPIRITS INC.

    995704    ZENATO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE    DOC    2016    $18.95    JOSEPH CIPELLI WINES & SPIRITS

    976092    MASI BROLO CAMPOFIORIN ORO    IGT Rosso Verona    2015    $26.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS

    440305    QUADRUS RED    DOC Douro    2014    $22.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    67843    BUIL & GINÉ GINÉ GINÉ    DOCa Priorat    2016    $29.95    ROGERS & COMPANY

    398925    ALCEÑO 12 MESES MONASTRELL    DO Jumilla    2014    $15.95    THE CASE FOR WINE

    533364    DOW'S LBV PORT    DOP    2012    $24.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.

    87577    GONZALEZ BYASS NECTAR PEDRO XIMÉNEZ DULCE SHERRY    DO        $24.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    515817    EMILIO LUSTAU ALMACENISTA FINO DEL PUERTO OBREGÓN SHERRY    DO        $24.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED

    347401    GEORGIAN HILLS BARTLETT FROZEN TO THE CORE    Blue Mountains, Ontario    2015    $21.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.

    987263    MONIACK MEAD    United Kingdom        $18.95    MARCHANDS DES AMERIQUES INC

    422584    DOM PÉRIGNON LUMINOUS BRUT CHAMPAGNE    AC    2008    $285.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    429365    DOM PÉRIGNON LUMINOUS ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE    AC    2006    $373.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC

    520403    BACHELDER WISMER VINEYARD #1 WINGFIELD BLOCK CHARDONNAY    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2015    $47.95    S. SCHIRALLI AGENCIES LTD.,

    10873    COPAIN DUPRATT CHARDONNAY    Anderson Valley, Mendocino    2016    $64.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES

    931006    HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY    WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Walker Bay    2018    $47.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.

    361816    BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD OLD VINES PINOT NOIR    VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016    $47.95    S. SCHIRALLI AGENCIES LTD.,

    11847    CULMINA MERLOT    BC VQA Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley    2014    $43.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS

    10962    MASI BROLO CAMPOFIORIN ORO    IGT Rosso Verona    2015    $56.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS

    452102    MIGUEL TORRES PURGATORI    DO Costers del Segre    2014    $44.9    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

 

The October 10 2019 Event: Luncheon featuring Boekenhoutskloof Winery and its chief winemaker, Marc Kent.

The Date and Time:  Thursday, October 10, 2019  11:45AM  - 2:15 PM

The Event: Luncheon featuring Boekenhoutskloof Winery and its chief winemaker, Marc Kent.

The Venue: George

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: The wines are, or will be, available via the channels of the LCBO.

The Quote/Background: Marc has been with the company for a quarter of a century, so he is well versed in the philosophy and style. They have grapes from Swartland, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek. He differentiated amongst the three regions as the tasting progressed.

The Wines: We tasted the wines before the luncheon. Prices are from the agency and may be affected by availability channels.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms)

-Boekenhoutskloof Patina Chenin Blanc 2017 Swartland $29.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2018 Swartland  $15.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Patina Syrah 2017 Swartland $29.95 [my fave]

-Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2015 Swartland $55.95

-Heiderberg Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Stellenbosch $14.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Stellenbosch $55.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Franschhoek $55.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Franschhoek Library wine

-Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2015 Franschhoek $49.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2005 Franschhoek Library wine

 

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Heiderberg Winery Vinologist Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Cape Town $12.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Chenin Blanc 2019 Swartland $15.95

-Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2017 Swartland $37.95

-Boekenhoutskloof Porseleinberg 2016 Swartland $99.95

-Heiderberg Winery Vinologist Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Stellenbosch $12.95

 

The Food: our menu featured George salad, beef tenderloin or cornish hen, and pavlova.

The Downside: Personally, I had wished for cheese for the wines.

The Upside: a chance to talk with the winemaker, Marc Kent

The Contact Person: demberley@univins.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The October 7 Event: Rogers & Company Portfolio Trade Tasting

The Date and Time:  Monday October 7, 2019  1:30 PM to 8PM

The Event: Rogers & Company Portfolio Trade Tasting

The Venue: George

The Target Audience: wine trade sommeliers and media

The Availability/Catalogue: New wineries this year include Tenuta Cocci Grifoni (Le Marche), Vignerons de Bel Air (Burgundy), and Tenute Falezza (Valpolicella). The catalogue was re-sorted this year by winery in alphabetical order, for the most part.

The Quote/Background: The catalogue had much info about each wine, including wine press  scores, size and number of wines per case, and space for notes.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine, preferring to be eclectic. Prices include HST but not bottle deposits.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2013 $50.95

-Altesino Brunello di Montalcino "Montosoli" 2014 $109.95  [my fave red]

-Barbour Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa $223.95

-Bevan Cellars Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $274.95

-Bull & Gine Pieret DOQ Priorat 2013 $85.95

-Cain Five 2013 Napa $168.95

-Champagne Delamotte Bruct NV $60.95

-Champagne Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Grand Cru Brut NV $59.95

-Chateau Montelena Napa Chardonnay 2016 $75.95

-Chateau Montelena "The Montelena Estate" Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $137.95 [value]

-Continuum Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa $357.95

-Domaine Christian Moreau Pere et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2018 $54.95

-Domaine Christian Moreau Pere et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2017 $97.95

-Dominus Estate Napanook 2015 Napa $133.95

-Dominus Estate 2015 Napa $391.95

-Duckhorn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa $130.95

-Duckhorn Napa Merlot "Three Palms" 2016 $130.95

-Chateau Corbin Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 $71.95

-Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve IGT 2015 Tuscany $131.95

-Forman Vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $144.95

-Grgich Hills Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $87.95

-Mas Doix "Salanques" 2016 Priorat $67.95

-Mas Doix "Doix" 2015 Priorat $152.95

-Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva Especial 2009 $175.95

-O'Shaughnessy Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa $154.95

-Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 Sonoma $66.95  [my fave white]

-Paul Hobbs Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $132.95

-Pazo Senorans Albarino 2018 Rias Baixas $27.95

-Pio Cesare Barolo 2015 Piedmont $71.95

-Produttori del Barbaresco DOCG 2015 $54.95

-Quintessa Napa 2016 $212.95

-Red Cap Vineyards Howell Mountain  Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa $138.95

-Ridge Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley 2016 Sonoma $66.95

-Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2017 Napa $76.95

-Shafer One Point Five Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $136.95

-Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2015 $423.95

-Ulysses Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa $280 LCBO Classics+478800

-Cobos Marchiori Estate Malbec 2016 Mendoza $266.95

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013 $50.95

-Cain Five 2007 Napa $336.95

-Domaine des Hates Chablis 2018 $29.95

-Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Blanc 2018 $41.95

-Duckhorn Decoy Sonoma County Merlot 2017 $32.95

-Dickhorn Napa Chardonnay 2017 $44.95

-Flowers Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2016 $54.95

-Frog's Leap Napa Chardonnay 2017 $43.95

-Mas Doix "Les Crestes" 2018 Priorat $39.95

-Mas Doix "1902" 2015  $379.95

-Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2014 $31.95

-Marques de Murrieta Capellania Rioja 2014 $43.95

-Marques de Murrieta Rioja Gran Reserva 2012 $77.95

-Mount Eden Domaine Eden Chardonnay 2015 Santa Cruz $48.95

-Paul Hobbs CrossBarn Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017 $32.95

-Paul Hobbs CrossBarn Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $64.95

-Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Santa Cruz $97.95

-Ridgeview Bloomsbury Brut NV Sussex $49.95

-Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $105.95

-Santa Barbara Winery Central Coast Chardonnay 2017  $22.95

-Tenuta Cocci Grifoni Tara Falerio DOC Pecorino 2018  $16.95  [value white]

-Terra Costantino "deAetna" Etna Bianco 2017 Sicily $30.95

-Truchard Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa $39.95

-Tr3smano "Vendimia" Ribera del Duero 2016 $76.95

-Vina Cobos Bramare Lujan de Cuyo Malbec 2016 Mendoza $42.95

-Vina Cobos Bramare Rebon Estate Malbec 2016 Mendoza $88.95

-Vina Cobos Felino Chardonnay 2018 Mendoza $18.95

 

The Food: server platters of green figs, skewered chicken breast, and arancini. There were stationary platters of cheeses and biscuits.

The Downside: there was a hectic lineup to get in, but then this was 1:30 starting time.

The Upside: a great opportunity to speak with many principals.

The Contact Person: s.stoddart@rogcowines.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90

Chimo! www.deantudor.com