Hobbs & Co Wine Merchants Annual Portfolio Tasting, April 25/13

The Date and Time: Thursday, April 25, 2013  1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

The Event: Hobbs & Co Wine Merchants Annual Portfolio tasting.

The Venue: Berkeley Street Church

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the usual distribution channels.

The Quote/Background: There were 14 winery representatives, from around the world. More than 100 producers are repped by Hobbs & Co. Here, they have linked with Sideroad Twenty Cellars (SR20), specializing in both Ontario and international boutique wines.

The Wines: I did not try every wine. Prices are RETAIL.

 

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

-Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 VQA Niagara Creek Shores, $26.75

-Creekside Estate Winery Broken Press Syrah 2008 VQA St. David's Bench, $39.75

-Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010 Okanagan Valley, $20

-Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2010 Okanagan Valley, $33

-Plume Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa, $35

-Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Sonoma County Reserve Speciale Chardonnay 2008, $49.85 +64543 Classics

-Talinray Chardonnay 2011 Chile, $30

-Vina Tabali Reserva Especial Syrah 2011 Limari, $19.95

-Gauchezco Malbec Oro 2008 Mendoza, $53

-Chateau Lyonnat Lussac-Saint Emilion 2009 PO

-Chateau Lyonnat "Emotion" Lussac-Saint Emilion 2010 PO

-Les Jamelles Syrah Essentiel 2011 Languedoc, $12.95

-Coto de Hayas Garnacha Centenaria 2011 Campo de Borja, $17 +94805 Vintages

 

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

-Sideroad Twenty Red Tractor Riesling Gewurz 2011 VQA Niagara, $13

-Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Viognier 2011 VQA Niagara, $30

-Creekside Estate Winery Backyard Block 2012 VQA Niagara, $18

-Featherstone Estate Winery Four Feathers 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, $16.70

-Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2012 VQA Twenty Mile Bench, $18.55

-Coffin Ridge Into the Light White 2011 Grey County Ontario, $20.80

-Coffin Ridge Marquette 2011 Grey County, $25.75

-Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 Okanagan Valley, $45

-Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Sonoma County Chardonnay 2009, $33

-Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Sonoma County Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $99.95 +64568 Classics

-Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Washington, $26

-Vina Tabali Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Limari, $14.95

-Vina Tabali Reserva Especial Chardonnay 2012 Limari, $14.95

-Talinay Pinot Noir 2011 Chile, $30

-Talinay Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Chile, $30

-Payen Syrah 2010 Chile, $65

-Gauchezco Torrontes 2011 Mendoza, $19

-Franschhoek Chenin Blanc 2012 South Africa, $15

-Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Stellenbosch, $35

-Alpha Zeta Amarone 2009 Veneto, $52

-Chateau Gaudrelle Touraine Brut Rose NV Loire, $26

-Domaine Lafond Tavel Rose 2011, $24.50

-Chateau Roudier Montagne-Saint Emilion 2005, $27

-Chateau Lyonnat Lussac-Saint Emilion 2006, $19.95 +243774 Vintages

-Chateau Lyonnat Lussac-Saint Emilion 1971, magnum $350 PO

-Leitz Dragonstone Riesling 2012 Rheingau, $23 PO

-Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc Essentiel 2011 Languedoc, $12.95

-Les Jamelles Viognier Essentiel 2011 Languedoc, $12.95

-Domaine Fournier Sancerre 2011, $24.95

 

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

-Sideroad Twenty Reserve Chardonnay 2008 VQA Niagara, $20

-Sideroad Twenty Red Tractor Reserve Merlot 2008 VQA Niagara, $19

-Sideroad Twenty Meritage 2008 VQA Niagara Peninsula, $17.50

-Creekside Estate Winery Shiraz 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, $15.75 +117960

-Creekside Estate Winery Laura's Red 2010 VQA Niagara Peninsula, $19.95

-The Grange of PEC Estate Fume Blanc 2011 VQA PEC, $25

-The Grange of PEC Select Chardonnay 2009 VQA PEC, $17.50

-Quails' Gate Chenin Blanc 2012 Okanagan Valley, $20

-Quails' Gate Pinot Noir 2010 Okanagan Valley, $27

-Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $37

-Sylvester Estate Winery Zinfandel 2007 Paso Robles, $18

-Valle Andino Carmenere Reserve Especiale 2011, $20.50

-Vina Tabali Reserva Pinot Noir 2012 Limari, $15.95

-Gauchezco Malbec Clasico 2009 Mendoza, $19

-Gauchezco Malbec Plata 2009 Mendoza, $35

-Hartenberg Shiraz 2007 Stellenbosch, $28.95

-Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough, $22

-Alpha Zeta Chardonnay 2012 Veneto, $16

-Gilbert Picq Chablis 2011, $28

-Domaine Francois Lichtle Pinot Gris 2011 Alsace, $22.50

-Milhade Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Bordeaux, $15

-Leitz Out Riesling 2012 Rheingau, $23

-Leitz Kaisersteinfels Riesling 2012 Rheingau, $46  PO

 

The Food: cheese, Anna Hobbs' terrine, breads, crackers

The Contact Person: mhobbs@hobbswines.com

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

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

Impending LCBO strike on May 17?

I'm sending my grandkids around to collect wines from LCBO stores far and wide...so I can have enough...Forewarned is forearmed...

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

Malbec World Day tasting, April 16, 2013

The Date and Time: Tuesday, April 16, 2013   2PM to 5PM

The Event: Malbec World Day; walk-around tasting

The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall lobby

The Target Audience: in the afternoon, the wine media; at night, wine customers of Vintages.

The Availability/Catalogue: 28 wineries were available for sampling. All the wines were available at the LCBO.

The Quote/Background:

The Wines: I did not taste every wine. Prices are LCBO RETAIL.

 

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

-Bod Catena Zapata Chardonnay 2011 Mendoza, $19.95

-Bod Catena Zapata Argentino Malbec 2008 Mendoza, $110

 

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

-Bod Catena Zapata Malbec 2011 Mendoza, $19.95

-Alamos Seleccion Pinot Noir 2010 Mendoza, $16.95

-Bod Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2011 Lujan de Cuyo, $19.95

-Bod Dante Robino Reserva Malbec 2009 Mendoza, $19.95

-Bod Don Cristobal 1492 Oak Reserve Shiraz 2010 Mendoza, $13.95

-Luigi Bosca Familia Arizu Finca La Linda Merlot, $13

-Luigi Bosca Familia Arizu Pinot Noir 2010 Mendoza, $17.95

-Merced del Estero Mil Vientos Torrontes 2011 San Juan, $15.95

-Domaine Jean Bousquet Grande Reserve Malbec 2010, $21.95

-Finca Las Moras Reserve Chardonnay 2011 San Juan, $12.95

-Finca Las Moras Black Label Bonarda 2010 San Juan, $15.95

-Graffigna Centenario Reserve Pinot Grigio 2012 San Juan, $12.95

-Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec 2010 San Juan, $17.95

-Nieto Senetiner Gran Reserva Malbec/Petit Verdot 2010 Mendoza, $17.95

 

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

-Alamos Malbec Mendoza, $13.95

-Alamos Seleccion Malbec 2010 Mendoza, $16.95

-Bod Benegas Juan Benegas Malbec 2010 Mendoza, $14.95

-Algodon Wine Estates Bonarda 2008, $19.95

-Luigi Bosca Familia Arizu Malbec 2010, $18.05

-Bod Septima Septimo Dia Malbec 2011, $15.95

-Fabre Montmayou Reserva Malbec 2011, $15.95

-Domaine Jean Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon Organic 2010, $12.95

-Dominio Del Plata Essential Malbec 2011, $15.95

-Dominio Del Plata Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, $19.95

-Familia Zuccardi Organica Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, $13.95

-Finca Agostino Inicio Torrontes 2011, $13.95

-Finca Remolinos Vineyard Malbec 2010, $22.95

-Pascual Toso Alta Reserve Malbec 2009 Mendoza, $32.95

-Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah 2010, $16.95

 

The Food: empanadas, breads.

The Downside: it was tough to taste through a lot of high-fueled Malbec wines, but there were some other wines too.

The Upside: a nice quiet spot for the media to cogitate with no interferences.

The Contact Person: info@winespeak.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

Somewhereness Ontario wines, April 16, 2013

The Date and Time: Tuesday, April 16, 2013   Noon to 4 PM

The Event: Somewhereness: old soils, new wines.

The Venue: MaRS Discovery District

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at the winery, and a few at the LCBO. Cave Spring was listed as Cave Springs.

The Quote/Background: Twelve wineries (two from PEC) brought their wines for the fifth annual Somewhereness Event (three times at MaRS, once at St. Lawrence Mkt, and once at TIFF). One wine producer told me: "I have to check to see if the wine is corked, otherwise I check to see if it is screwed."

The Wines: I did not taste all the wines. Prices are RETAIL.

 

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

-Hinterland Wine Company Les Etoiles 2009 MT, $39

-Hinterland Wine Company Rose 2010 MT, $37

-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy! "Damy" Chardonnay, $34.75

-Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2011, $35

-Stratus Vineyards Red 2009, $44

-Stratus Vineyards Tollgate Fume Blanc 2009, $24.95

-Stratus Vineyards Tollgate Chardonnay 2011, $24.95

-13^th Street Winery 13 Sauvignon Blanc 2011 [wooded], $18.95

-Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Chardonnay, $16.95

-Tawse Winery 2010 Lauritzen Vineyard Pinot Noir, $44.95

-Bachelder Niagara Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay 2010, $44.95

 

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

-Norman Hardie Wines Riesling 2011, $21

-Norman Hardie Wines County Chardonnay 2011, $35

-Norman Hardie Wines Pinot Noir 2009 Niagara, $39

-Hinterland Wine Company Whitecap 2012 M Charmat, $22

-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy! "Sirugue" Chardonnay, $34.75

-Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Chardonnay 2012, $21.75

-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsey! Cabernet Franc "101", $34.75

-Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, $23.75

-Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2010, $35

-Charles Baker Ivan Vineyard Riesling 2012, $27

-Charles Baker Ivan Vineyard Riesling 2011, $35

-Stratus Vineyards Meritage 2009, $48

-13^th Street Winery 13 Pinot Noir 2011, $21.95

-13^th Street Winery Cuvee 13 Rose NV, $24.95

-Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Riesling, $16.95

-Flat Rock Cellars Gravity 2010, $29.95

-Cave Spring Cellars NV Brut Dolomite, $24.95

-Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Riesling CSV Estate Bottled, $29.95

-Cave Spring Cellars 2008 Chardonnay CSV Estate Bottled, $29.95

-Cave Spring Cellars 2011 Riesling "The Adam Steps" Estate Bottled, $24.95

-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Riesling 2012, $23.95

-Tawse Winery Van Ber's Cabernet Franc 2009, $49.95

-Malivoire Wine Company M2 Small Lot Chardonnay, $19.75

-Malivoire Wine Company Moira Chardonnay 2009, $39.75

-Malivoire Wine Company 2011 Courtney Gamay, $29.75

-Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2010, $29.95

-Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery Estate Chardonnay 2010, $32

-Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery Terroir Cache Red Meritage 2009, $32.75

-Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery Estate Pinot Noir 2010, $38

 

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

-Norman Hardie Wines County Pinot Noir 2011, $35

-Southbrook Vineyards Whimsy! Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $34.75

-Stratus Vineyards Wildass Rose 2012, $19.75

-Stratus Vineyards Syrah 2010, $48

-13^th Street Winery June's Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 Creek Shores, $21.95

-13^th Street Winery Chardonnay Sandstone Reserve 2011 Four Mile Creek, $34.95.

-Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Unplugged Chardonnay, $16.95

-Flat Rock Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir, $19.95

-Flat Rock Cellars 2011 Nadja's Vineyard Riesling, $19.95

-Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir Estate Bottled

-Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Cabernet Franc Dolomite, $21.95

-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Gewurztraminer 2012, $24.95

-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Chardonnay 2010, $36.95

-Tawse Winery Quarry Road Pinot Noir 2010, $34.95

-Tawse Winery Cabernet Merlot 2011, $20.95

-Malivoire Wine Company M2 Small Lot Gamay 2011, $19.75

-Malivoire Wine Company 2012 Pinot Gris, $19.95

-Malivoire Wine Company 2009 Small Lot Pinot Noir, $29.75

 

The Food: Best Baa Dairy, Monforte Dairy (cow, water buffalo, sheep), Upper Canada Cheese Company, Fat Chance Hand Sliced Cold Smoked Salmon Co., and Pingue meats from Gastrohomestead.

The Downside: it partially conflicted with a Malbec tasting (see below)

The Upside: the first hour was for the media, and we took advantage of no crowds to talk to the wineries.

The Contact Person: somewhereness@gmail.com

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

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

Konrad Ejbich, Ontario Today, cancelled!!!

I'm not sure if you are aware that Konrad Ejbich's phone-in wine show on Ontario Today (last Friday of each month) has been cancelled...without any notice, and without any "goodbye" show, etc.

 

The last show was April 26, and Konrad just found out a few days ago....

 

If you enjoy the show, could I ask you to send a comment of dismay/outrage or whatever?

 

During the "business week" Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm EST you can call 416-205-3311 and go through the voice message till you reach "make a comment"... or...

 

You can use the online page CBC-Contact Us and fill out the form.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/contact/

 

You can even write a note by snail mail (address on contact page).

 

It is preferable to leave a comment with Audience Relations than it is to contact the show directly as Audience Relations comments are seen by all shows, whereas comments that go directly to the show are limited to the show producer. If you do write an email from the contact page, you may want to copy it to ontariotoday@cbc.ca for the extra strength it may carry. But Audience Relations is preferable.

 

I do not know what will happen, but at least CBC will know that Konrad has an involved audience....and give him a proper sendoff.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MAY 11, 2013

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MAY 11, 2013
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at
http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My Internet compendium
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net" is a guide to thousands of news
items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers and spirits, at
www.deantudor.com since 1994. 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 normally available for a re-tasting.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20

 

San Jose de Aguaron Monasterio de las Vinas Reserva 2006 DO Carinena:
good value from an aged Spanish garnacha (70%) that is not Cali in
style. 13% ABV. +166579, $14.95, QPR: 91.

 

======>>>> ** BEST WINE VALUE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20

 

Balbas Reserva 2001 DP Ribera del Duero, +85183, $20.95. Rated: 92+

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. La Consulta San Polo Auka Torrontes 2012 Mendoza: the latest
sunshine in a bottle to arrive from Argentina, a value sipper for its
summer aromatics. At 13.5% ABV, not a light wine, but good for a
demanding crowd. +322842, $13.95, QPR: 89.
2. Bodegas Vetus Flor de Vetus Verdejo 2012 DO Rueda: light and crisp,
12.5% ABV, more a first course or appetizer wine, not a solo sipper.
+320259, $14.95, QPR: 89.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2008 Columbia Valley Washington
State: nicely aged wine commonly found in many US restaurants. With
strong MVC Merlot tones, some herbs and crisp-dryness for food. 13.5%
ABV. +263418, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Robert Oatley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Margaret River: a good value
MVC cabernet sauvignon done up in Euro style, twist top, 14.5% ABV.
3. Chateau Saint-Nicolas 2009 Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac: North
American fruity style but definitely Bordeaux in quality and taste. 14%
ABV. +138602, $17.95, QPR: 89.
4. Tenimenti Baroque Primitivo 2011 IGP Salento: great name for a 
primitivo, but this is a food one, not the fleshy-flashy style for
North American appeal. Detailed spicing and a super long dry finish.
13.5% ABV.
5. Manuel Martinez Vinos Sin Ley Puerta Bonita Garnacha 2009 DO Vinos
de Madrid: not as off-dry as other garnacha that come through the LCBO
system. This one is made from 120-year-old vines, 14.5% ABV, more to
regular Euro tastes. +132266, $18.95, QPR: 89.

 

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. Blue Mountain Chardonnay 2011 VQA Okanagan Valley, +350108, $23.95
retail. Rated: 89.
2. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese 2010
Mosel, +678011, $29.95. Rated: 88.
3. Colchester Ridge Crew Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 VQA Lake Erie North
Shore, +328385, $25. Rated: 89.
4. Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz/Viognier 2011 Victoria
Australia, +18887, $24.95. Rated: 90.
5. Chateau Vieux Sarpe 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, +943662, $39.95.
Rated: 89.
6. San Silvestro Riserva Barbaresco 2007, +317123, $29.95. Rated: 90
7. Canonica a Cerreto Sandiavolo 2006 IGT Toscana, +270256, $24.95.
Rated: 91.
8. Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino 2006, +318352, $37.95. Rated: 89.
9. La Marquesa Valserrano Reserva 2007 Rioja, +314963, $25.95. Rated:
90.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com