Tasting: Fosters Wine Estates, 75 wines, Feb 18/10

 The Time and Date:  Thursday, February 18, 2010  2PM to 5PM

The Event: Fosters' Wine Estates Presents 75 Estate Wines

The Venue: Fermenting Cellars, Distillery District

The Target Audience: sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine writers.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are currently available somewhere iin the LCBO distribution system, including Permanent Consignment, Current Consignment, and Upcoming Consignment.

The Quote/Background: There was a charity component in the evening. This has now become an annual event from Fosters, to display their California wines (Stags' Leap, Beringer, TAZ, St. Clement, et al) and their Australian wines (Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Greg Norman, et al).

The Wines: 18 wineries were presented, but I did not taste every wine.

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +352583, $39.95 Vintages ESSENTIAL

-Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2005, not available

-Wolf Blass Black Label Cab Shiraz 2005, +960468, $75.00    LCBO

-TAZ Pinot Noir 2007 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Chardonnay 2008, +158600 $24.95

-Souverain  Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $49.95 cons

-St. Clement Orropas Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +655670, $64.95 Private

 

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium Red 2005, +393447, $49.95

-Beringer Napa Valley Merlot 2005, +919647, $29.95

-Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2005, $24.95 Consignment

-Matua Valley Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2008, +144634, $24.95

-Etude Pinot Gris 2008 Carneros, +142851, $29.00      LCBO

-Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +4994     $99.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +84996, $24.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2006, +32227, $23.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +48579, $23.95 cons

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Reserve Shiraz 2003, +585828, $49.95

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Cabernet Merlot 2007, +552075, $24.95 Vint ESSENTIAL

-Greg Norman California Estates North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 +8722     $24.95     

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, +606939, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2006, +390872, $34.95   LCBO

-Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2005, +564278, $107.60

-Penfolds Hyland Shiraz, +611210, $19.95  Vint essentials

-Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2006, +509919, $34.95  LCBO

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2006, +655399,  $44.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +996405, $49.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Viognier 2007, +263987, $29.95 Private Order

-TAZ Goat Rock Syrah 2006 Santa Maria Valley, +157339, $34.95

-Cellar No 8 Zinfandel 2007,  $16.95      consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Merlot 2006, $39.95  consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Dry Creek Single Vineyard Cab 2006, $49.95 cons

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Chardonnay 2007, +79178    $54.95 LCBO

-St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2008, +128934, $24.95

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium White 2007, +403188, $34.95

-Matua Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2008, +158873, $29.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet 2006. +466748, $69.95

-Rosemount Estate Show Reserve 'Traditional' 2005. +484097, $34.95

-Saltram No. 1 Shiraz Barossa,$49.95      consignment

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz Viognier 2006, +606301, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Barossa Shiraz 2007, +590273   $27.95      LCBO

-Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2006, +422782, $34.95

-Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2005, +510875, $75

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah, +590356, $44.95      consignment

-TAZ Pinot Gris 2008 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Merlot 2006, $29.95      Private Order

-St. Clement Napa Valley Merlot 2006, $39.95    Private Order

 

The Food: some serious cheeses (Manchego, goat Gouda, et al)

The Downside: dim lighting at Fermenting Cellars – this has always been a problem for serious wine tasting.

The Upside: it was a good chance to taste many of these wines since they don't appear to be exhibited elsewhere.

The Contact Person: Kelly.northey@am.fostersgroup.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 85.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

Feb 20/10 LCBO Vintages Releases: Tipsheet

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is guide to thousands
of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and
spirits, at www.deantudor.com (since 1995). Creator of Canada's leading wine
satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My tastings are based on MVC
(Modal Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio).
Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE: The
LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine writers
or product consultants. Corked wines are not available for re-tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Okanagan: delicious
creaminess, 14.5% ABV, overripe voluptuousness. +618298, $17.95, QPR:
90.
2. Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Monterey County: good fruit
complexity at this price level, sauvignon zest is slightly muted.
+586149, $15.95, QPR: 90.
3. Catena Alamos Chardonnay 2008 Mendoza: hard to pass up at this
level, buttery-burnet toast, 13.5% ABV. French oak. +801571, $13.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Domaine Wachau Terraces Gruner Veltliner 2008 Austria: softer and
more floral than in the past, longer finish, sip or with food. +155812,
$15.95, QPR: 90.
5. Agnusdei Albarino 2008 Rias Baixas: highly and brightly aromatic,
light lemons on finish. +146241, $17.95, QPR: 90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Van Ruiten Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 Lodi: off-dry, jammy, juicy,
party wine. +58685, $18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Cristobal 1492 Oak Reserve Merlot 2007 Mendoza: dynamite blowout of
rich and oaky tones, black fruit and black chocolate. At this price,
buy it all!! +663096, $12.95, QPR: 93.
3. Cono Sur Vision Syrah 2007 Colchagua: 13.5% ABV, dense, chunky, not
yet ready but delicious. Some tomato and olive tones. +24661, $15.95,
QPR: 90.
4. Evans & Tate Cabernet/Merlot 2004 Margaret River: a Bordeaux-style
wine with snap, ready now, affordable. +721548, $14.95, QPR: 91.
5. Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz 2008 Barossa: ripe plums, spicy,
cedar, 15% ABV, twist top. +595306, $15.95, QPR: 90.
6. The Winery of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2008 Stellenbosch:
North American style, twist top, 13.5% ABV, nicely affordable. +8748,
$11.95, QPR: 90.
7. Domaine Ferrer-Ribiere Tradition 2007 Cotes du Roussillon: delicious
raspberry complexity, longer length. Organic. +148627, $16.95, QPR: 90.
8. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition 2008 Costieres de Nimes: very
Rhonish, ready now, good syrah hit for under $15. +143099, $14.95, QPR:
91.
9. Terres d'Avignon Les Cardinalices Grande reserve Cotes du Rhone
2007: well-integrated, aging gracefully, terrific fruit, anise, and
length. 14% ABV. +155473, $14.95, QPR: 90.
10. Giordano Maestri Italiani Nebbiolo d'Alba 2007: a plush Barolo-like
hit. +159483, $16.95, QPR: 90.
11. Monte Antico Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 IGT Tuscany:
undersuperTuscan style, affordable. +69377, $15, QPR: 90.
12. Duque de Medina Gran Reserva 2000 Carinera Spain: aging well, with
leather and some snappy tartness that's enough for food accompaniment.
+148494, $19.95, QPR: 90.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Wilm Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace, +156745, $26.95 retail (Kosher)
2. Domaine Chevallier Chablis 2007, +112227, $22.95.
3. Hugh Hamilton The Rascal Shiraz 2006 McLaren Vale, +595405, $26.95.
4. Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, +650754, $29.95.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

TASTING: Feb 5, 2010 -- Ontario Chardonnay: Seriously Cool Tasting

The Time and Date: Friday, February 5, 2010  11:20 AM to 1:30 PM

The Event: a tasting of "Ontario Chardonnay: Seriously Cool Tasting".

The Venue: LCBO, Scrivener Square

The Target Audience: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada

The Availability/Catalogue: just about all wines are available, except for most of the Library wines.

The Quote/Background: Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Winery had organized a tasting of Ontario chardonnay wines in London, UK. He needed a tasting panel to choose the wines through a blind process. He offered most of these wines to the WWCC for a special tasting (not blind). They were arranged by flight, from the stainless through the woodies, with a special flight of older library wines.

The Wines: These rankings reflect my own personal tastes. Two wines were corked, one library wine had a faulty cork, and two non-library wines had evidence of madeirization.

 

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

-Coyote's Run Estate Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, $14.95

-Chateau des Charmes Chardonnay Musque Estate Bottled 2008, $16.95

-Malivoire Moira Chardonnay 2005 Beamsville, $36.95

-Tawse Winery Robyn's Block Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $42

-Closson Chase S. Kocsis Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Unfiltered Beamsville, $44.95

-Malivoire Chardonnay Moira 2007 Beamsville, $39.95.

-Norman Hardie Chardonnay Unfiltered 2008 Beamsville, $35

-Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay Organic 2008 Niagara, $21.95

-Coyote's Run Estate Winery Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, $22

-Malivoire Moira Chardonnay 2004 Beamsville, $64.95 (5 cases left)

-Cave Spring Cellars Chardonnay CSV Estate Bottled 2003 Beamsville, N/A – my fave wine of the tasting.

-Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 1998 Niagara, $154 magnum

 

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

-Colio Estate Vineyards Chardonnay Musque 2007 LENS, $15.35

-Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $35

-Hidden Bench Tete de Cuvee Chardonnay 2006 Beamsville, $45

-Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 2005 Niagara, $56

-Rosehall Run Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard 2007 PEC, $29.95

-Creekside Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Niagara, $26.95

-Peninsula Ridge Chardonnay Reserve 2007 Niagara, $24.95

-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $35

-Lailey Vineyard Winery Brickyard Chardonnay 2008, Niagara, $30

-Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2008 Beamsville, $35

-Peller Estates Signature Series Chardonnay Sur Lie 2008 Niagara, $30

-Hillebrand Winery Trius Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2008 Niagara, $18.95

-Hillebrand Winery Showcase Chardonnay Wild Ferment 2008 Niagara, $35

-Peninsula Ridge Estates Vintners Private Reserve Chardonnay 2003 Niagara, N/A

-Huff South Bay Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 PEC, $29.95

 

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

-Colio Estate Vineyards Chardonnay 2006 LENS, $15.35

-Reif Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2006 Niagara, $19.95

-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2007 Niagara Escarpment, $19.95

-Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, $24.95

-Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, $24

-Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Chardonnay Reserve 2008 Niagara, $38

-Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Cuvee County 2008 PEC, about $17.95

-Black Prince Winery Chardonnay Terroir Elite 2008 PEC, $29.75

 

The Contact Person: sdarby@rogers.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com

 

 

TASTING Feb 3, 2010: Ontario Wines being shown at Cuvee Feb 19, 2010

The Time and Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010  10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

The Event: The Wine Council of Ontario and Cuvee presented the top scoring wine submitted to Cuvee from each participating winery.

The Venue: Bank of Montreal, 100 King St West, 68^th Floor.

The Target Audience: wine press and wine sommeliers.

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at the respective winery, but only a mere handful are at LCBO or Vintages.

The Quote/Background: The wines are representative of the best wines from each winery that will be poured at Cuvee, but do not necessarily represent the award winning wines, which were announced at the Gala on Friday, February 19, 2010. 56 wines were presented, but I did write any notes on the 11 icewines, nor on the three sparklers. For some reason, there were no late harvest wines or other off-sweet wines. There was lots of impressive fruit from the warm 2007 vintage.

The Wines: prices are retail.

 

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

-20 Bees Cabernet Merlot 2007, $9.95 – a decent VQA wine under $10

-Alvento Elige 2006 (Cab-Merlot), $23.95

-Angels Gate Winery Old Vines Chardonnay 2008, $23.95

-Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Meritage 2007, $19.80

-Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Viognier 2008, $28.95

-Flat Rock Cellars Reserve Chardonnay 2007, $35

-Harvest Estates Winery Gewurztraminer 2007, $11.95

-Hernder Estates Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $14.95

-Inniskillin Wines Reserve Series Cabernet Franc 2007, $18.95

-Peller Estates Winery Signature Series Merlot 2007, $35

-Rosewood Estates Winery Semillion 2008, $18

-Southbrook Vineyards Poetica Cabernet Merlot 2007, $60

-Thirty Bench Wine Makers Small Lot Benchmark Red 2007, $60

-Vineland Estates Winery Cabernet Franc Reserve 2005, $40.20

 

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

-Cave Spring Cellars Pinot Noir Estate 2007, $39.95

-Closson Chase Vineyards Chardonnay S. Kocsis Vineyard 2007, $44.95

-Featherstone Winery Onyx 2007, $29.95

-Five Rows Craft Wine of Lowrey Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $25

-Frogpond Farm Organic Winery Cabernet Franc 2007, $16.80

-Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Winery Proprietor's Grand Reserve Syrah 2007, $32.95

-Lailey Vineyard Impromptu 2007 (Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cab Sauv), $45

-Mountain Road Wine Company Reserve Chardonnay 2006, $25.95

-Niagara College Teaching Winery Dean's List Pinot Noir Canadian Oak Project 2007, $38.95

-Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2007, $24.95

-Stonechurch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007, price N/A

-Stoney Ridge Estate Winery Warren Classic Pinot Noir 2006, $15

-Twenty Twenty-Seven Cellars Featherstone Vineyard Riesling 2008, $24.95.

 

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

-13^th Street Wine Sandstone Vineyard Old Vines Gamay Noir 2007, $26

-Calamus Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, $23.20

-Cattail Creek Estate Winery Merlot Reserve 2007, $40

-D'Angelo Vineyards Estate Winery Baco Noir 2007, $15

-DeSousa Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, $21.95

-Fielding Estate Winery Syrah 2007, $39.95

-Grange of Prince Edward Estate Winery Dianna Block Pinot Noir 2007, $34.80

-Kacaba Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $44.95

-Lakeview Cellars Estate Winery Merlot Reserve 2006, $22.95

-Legends Estates Winery Diva 2008 (Semillon, Sauv Blanc), $14.95

-Mike Weir Wine Cabernet Merlot 2007, $18.95

-Nyarai Cellars Chardonnay 2007, $16.20

-Strewn Winery Chardonnay Barrel Fermented Amalgam 2007, $23.95

-Tawse 17^th St Pinot Noir 2007, $58

-Wayne Gretzky Estates Estate Series Shiraz/Cabernet 2007, $22.95.

 

The Food: sandwiches and wraps, salads, fresh fruit and baked goods, coffee, milk, fruit juices and pop.

The Downside: I ALWAYS get lost finding this place's location, so I allow for plenty of time. This year I was 15 minutes early.

The Upside: a great way to taste through really significant Ontario VQA wines.

The Contact Person: erin@mitchellwestlake.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.

 

!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com