The Event: Launch of Zapiain Spanish Basque cider.

The Date and Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 5PM to 6PM

The Event: Launch of Zapiain Spanish Basque cider.

The Venue: Barque

The Target Audience: wine writers, sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: A new company Ekialdeko Imports was formed to import this impressive cider from the Basque region of Spain.

The Quote/Background: The Zapiain family started the current business in 1950 as artisanal apple cider (called sagardoa, in the region) using cider-type apples, chosen from more than 30 types of Basque apples. It can be a dry apple wine, at about 6% ABV, but it does contain a small amount naturally carbonized gas for a 750mL bottle with a cork closure. It should be shaken to awake the gas and the natural sediment, and then poured from a height (like a sherry) into a glass, a few ounces at a time. Perhaps the "pommelier" might be best at this since the cider is only available from the agent at $10 a bottle, and there are limited quantities reserved mainly for restaurants such as Barque (which had the launch).

 

Zapiain Astigarragako Sagardoa, 750 mL $10: under cork, refreshing, slightly sour with a good cider feel of apples, sediment cloudiness. Light yeast taste, certainly rustic and artisanal. Best with food.

 

The Food: .. and you thought we were going to have BBQ? Barque offered a variety of Basque styled tapas!! Including cheese, white anchovies on toasts, smoked fish and roe on toasts, cold cuts, mussels, and other platters I could not reach across the expansive table (good thing, too). Excellent accompaniment.

The Downside: it was just one product to taste (which I have not done since 1986), but too tempting to resist. How many non-Canadian ciders do we get in Ontario?

The Upside: chance to taste something non-vinous and the tapas.

The Contact Person: sales@ekialdeko.com; dean@rootenbergcc.com

 

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Legras et Haas Champagne tasting, with Mellecey Wine Group and Jerome Legras

 

The Date and Time: Wednesday February 25, 2015  3:30 - 5PM

The Event: Legras et Haas Champagne tasting, with Mellecey Wine Group and Jerome Legras

The Venue: Fine Wine Reserve

The Target Audience: FWR members and media

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the agent Mellecey

The Quote/Background: Jerome Legras, head of sales, assists his family's ventures by speaking about his champagnes, based in Chouilly. The family has been producing wines for seven generations; they own vineyards in the Cote des Blancs and in the Aube, working with chardonnay (principally) and pinot noir. Everything is done by hand, and blended by only the family members. Aging is a minimum of three years. They bottle about 10,000 cases total a year.

The Wines: We tasted six wines today in a sitdown fashion.

 

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

-Legras & Haas Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Extra Brut, $80 [100% chardonnay] My fave.

-Legras & Haas Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru, $75 [100% chardonnay]

-Legras & Haas Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Millesime 2008, $92 [100% chardonnay]

-Legras & Haas Cuvee Exigence, $110 [50% chardonnay; 50% pinot noir from Ay] made from 50% reserve 2009 wine (all chardonnay) and balance from 1995/96/99/02/04/05/06 and 08.

 

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

-Legras & Haas Tradition NV, $65 [50% chardonnay, 25 meunier, 25 pinot noir]

-Legras & Haas Rose Saignee NV, $71 [50% chardonnay, 25 meunier, 25 pinot noir]

 

The Food: there was a cheese platter, a veggie platter, and a charcuterie platter, with breads and biscuits.

The Contact Person: cyndi@melleceywinegroup.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Carnevale 2016 Toronto Media Launch

The Date and Time: Tuesday, February 24, 2015  5Pm to 8PM

The Event: Carnivale 2016 Toronto Media Launch

The Venue: Berkeley Church

The Target Audience: media and sponsors

The Availability/Catalogue: wines and foods were made available by sponsors.

The Quote/Background: The winter Carnivale from Italy is coming to Toronto in February 2016. This was the sponsorship media launch, co-ordinated by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario and L'Altra Italia (arts and culture). This was to be the Grand Masquerade Ball. Unfortunately, I had to leave early so I missed the Costume Parade and soprano Alessandra Paonessa.

The Wines: There were seven wines on offer, to sample (one was lost in transport)...

 

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

-Inama Vina Soave Classico 2013, $23 from Stem

-Feudi di San Gregorio Rubrato Aglianico 2012. $19 Stem

-Taif Zibibbo Terre Siciliane 2013, Appellation Wines

 

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

-Cantine Delibori Valpolicella Ripasso 2012, $19 Stem

-Argiolas, 'Costera', Cannonau di Sardegna 2012, $20 Stem

-Monte del Fra Valpolicella Ripasso 2010, Signature Wines

 

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

-Feudi di San Gregorio, Falanghina, Sannio Falanghina 2013, $19 Stem

 

 

The Food: food sponsors include Pizza Nova (great greens and chicken pizzas), Boccaccio Columbua Centre (prosciutto sandwiches), Quality Cheese, and some pastries and espressos.

The Downside: there was a low turnout of media people before 6:15 when I had to leave, before the actual dressed up affair. But I had time to sample the food and the wine.

The Upside: Malabar provided many costumes for dressers assembled on the first floor.

The Contact Person: leone@italchambers.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 86.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Australia Today: history – evolution – revolution (trade and media tasting)

The Date and Time: Monday, February 23, 2015  1PM to 4PM

The Event: Australia Today: history – evolution – revolution (trade and media tasting)

The Venue: Vintage Conservatory Lombard Street

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: according to the catalogue, wines were available at the LCBO and by Private Order (PO). The catalogue was nicely put together by winery with a separate index to the wines.

The Quote/Background: Mark Davidson discussed Australia's 200 years of winemaking, highlighting regional differences and traditions and what the future holds. Then we had a self-pour tasting to examine other bottles of wines from Australia.

The Wines: There were 55 wines; I did not taste all of them.

 

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

-Casella 1919 Shiraz 2006, $100 Con

-Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2013, $30 Consignment

-Josef Chromy Sparkling 2008, $30 Vintages

-Vasse Felix Chardonnay Filius 2013, $28 Cons

-Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $25 HVC

-Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $27.95 Vintages Essential

-Yabby Lake Chardonnay 2012, $79 PO

 

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

-Barossa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $21.95 PO

-Casella 1919 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $100 Con

-Jacob's Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $16.95 LCBO

-Fowles Wines Are You Game? Chardonnay 2013, $15.95 LCBO

-Langmeil Valley Floor 2012, $30 HVC

-Heggies Eden Valley Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, $31.95 PO

-John Duval Plexus 2009, $35.88 Vintages

-Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $19.95 Vintages

-Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $45 Cons

-Haycutters Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014, $15.80 LCBO

-Wakefield Estate Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $14.95 LCBO

-Teusner Independent Shiraz Mataro 2012, $19.95 Vintages

-Wirra Wirra The Dead Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $59.95 PO

-Yabby Lake Block I Pinot Noir 2012, $85 PO

-Yabby Lake Red claw Chardonnay 2014, $34.95 PO

 

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

-Alpha Crucis Titan Shiraz 2012, $24.95 Vintages

-Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2012, $21.95 PO

-Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz 2012, $21.95 Vintages

-Fowles Wines Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz 2012, $35.95 LCBO

-Fowles Wines Stone Dwellers Cabernet 2012, $19.95 LCBO

-Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, $29.95 Vintages

-Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz 2012, $64.95 Cons

-Lime Coast Winery Hidden Sea Shiraz 2013, $16.95 LCBO

-Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2012, $30+ Consignment

-Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache 2013, $25 Cons

-Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier 2012, $19.95 Cons

-Tahbilk The Tower Shiraz 2012, $20 Vintages

-Tahbilk The Tower MVR [marsanne-viognier-rousanne] 2012, $20 Vintages

-Wakefield Estate Chardonnay 2013, $14.95 Vintages

-Teusner Joshua Barossa Valley Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2012, $29.95 Cons

-Wirra Wirra The Church Block [cab sauv,syrah, merlot) 2012, $19.95 Vintages

 

The Food: shrimp, international cheeses, lamb sausages, cold cuts, and more!

The Downside: it came right after the Zenato tasting, and the room (and tables) was soon crowded.

The Upside: a chance to catch-up with some really stunning wines.

The Contact Person: popoffanne@gmail.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: a tasting of Ontario fruit wines

The Date and Time:  Thursday, February 26, 2015  10:30AM to 4:30PM

The Event: a tasting of Ontario fruit wines

The Venue: Wine Writers' Circle of Canada exclusive tasting facilities.

The Target Audience: WWCC members

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at the wineries involved, but a few were also at the LCBO as noted below.

The Quote/Background: It had been 7.5 years since the last fruit wine tasting in Ontario. IT IS WORTH REPEATING my notes from that time for Monday, July 23, 2007 – "The Outer Limits of Ontario Wine; a tasting of 100% Ontario wine that is not currently VQA eligible from one of Ontario's recognized areas", as organized by the late Larry Paterson. All 212 wines from 40 different wineries were available at their respective winery, but only a handful of wines were distributed by the LCBO. The catalogue was a spreadsheet listing the names and prices, websites, email addresses, and so forth, as well as sugar levels. My strategy, to reduce palate fatigue, was to try just those fruit wines under SC 5 in sugar content. I missed a lot of good wines, but many sweet wines sell themselves. I began tasting alphabetically, and right away ran into some of the best fruit wines I have ever had – from Applewood Farm Winery in the Stouffville area. I started with their Crazy Eight Cider, a 100%

raspberry at 8.8%. The last time I had quality like this was when Lenz Moser sent us an Austrian Sparkling Raspberry wine in the previous century, under 10% alcohol. The intense raspberry flavours were phenomenal, and the mousse was certainly effervescent. I was blown away, enough to order five two-fours from www.applewoodfarmwinery.com.

A 341 mL bottle costs a mere $2.50 (includes deposit). It'll be my summer drink for the rest of the year. Later I went back to try the Pear Port 2002 (fortified to 18%, sugar code of 5, $12.95 for half a litre), another phenomenal wine of intense pear flavours; it was better than my usual all-time favourite pear sweetie, the St.Jorg Cellars Poire Royale from California. I also enjoyed an experimental Caramel Apple, the Strawberry Cider (10%, fresh strawberry nose and palate – not the usual cooked jam I experienced in many other strawb concoctions; $9.95 for 750 mL), and the Mac-Meade (sparkling wine from Macintosh apples and honey, same price). At Archibald Orchards Estate Winery, I tried the Hard Cider NV, 6.2%, sugar 3, $8.95 750 mL, off-dry in the finish, the nifty

Ida Red Oak Aged NV (12.1%, bone dry, $9.95, good oak consistency, almost like a chardonnay; I've still got some of their 1999 Ida red Oak Aged, which is still showing very well). The Birtch Farms and Estate Winery Oak Aged Macintosh 2004(11.5%, sugar 1, $13.95) had less oakiness but a more pronounced apple finish. Their Peach wine ($11.5%,

sugar 3, $12.95) was just peachy and slightly off-dry in the finish. Their Rhubarb 2005 (one of the more difficult wines to make) was 12%, sugar 3, $13.95, and reminiscent of a fine rhubarb jam. Coffin Ridge makes A Winey Pear 2006 ($14) which was made from wild pears. I also tried Cornerstone Estate Winery's Cherry Festival 2005 (13% ABV, sugar

3, $9.50 for half-litre), with its off-dry cherry intensity. And their Estate Apricot Wine 2004 (10.5% ABV, sugar 4, $9.50 for 500 mL) not unsurprisingly like a fine off-dry vidal. Their Strawberry Festival (12.5%, sugar 4, $9.50 for half-litre) was a bit light in taste, but it certainly was not jammy. Cox Creek Cellars Black Currant Back Home NV

($13% ABV, bone dry, $11.70) was oak aged, good price, and highly recommended – but it does need time to resolve the wood. Nevertheless, another underpriced wine value. Downey's Estate Winery Premium Gooseberry NV (14% ABV, bone-dry, $13.95) certainly tasted like gooseberry without the jamminess, but it was also reminiscent of sauvignon blanc. My fave gooseberry wine is from Hoodsport in Washington State. Kawartha Country Wines Black Currant 2006 (14.1% ABV, sugar 1, $14.80) showed its intense cassis nature. The Meadow Lane Winery Black Currant NV (sugar 3, $10.95) gave it a run for its money.

Their Blueberry (sugar 3, $11.95) was fetching, but then I've never been a fan of blueberries in any form. Their Plum NV (sugar 4, $10.95) was more to my liking, with a great plum nose. Ocala Winery Heritage Apple 2006 ($9.95 litre) had fresh apples on the nose and the palate, and was good value for the price. Their Plum NV ($9.95 for 750 mL) had plums in the nose and palate, long length, a finishing acid, not very sweet, perfect as an aperitif. Pine Farms Hard Cider NV (7% ABV, dry, $5.60 for half-litre) was a good cider in a manageable format for one person. Their Macintosh Apple Wine 2006 (10.3% ABV, dry, $13.95) was also a winner, loaded with fresh flavours. Puddicombe Estates Farms Cranberry NV (10.4%, sugar 9, $15.20) was still refreshingly tart and full. The winery makes 32 different wines, including a Peach NV of good intensity and a Pear-a-dise (12% ABV, sugar 7, $18.10 for 750 mL) made from bosc, bartlett, and sugar pears. Rush Creek Orchards Pearfection NV (12.5%, dry, $10.25) showed remarkably good pear tones at this level. My fave pear wines come from Bartlett Winery (the owner's name, not the pear) in Maine; they make a variety of different styles of pear wines, from bone dry to fortified levels. Scotch Block Elderberry NV (11.5% ABV, sugar 1, $12.95) was a useful fruit wine, stressing the elder fruit. Their Raspberry Rouge NV (11.5% ABV, sugar 1, $14.95) was very good, off-dry in tone, lots of body. Scotch Block also makes a series of currant wines, specifically Regal Red Currant NV (11.5%,

sugar 1, $12.95), Regal White Currant (11.5% ABV, sugar 1, $12.95), and Regal Black Currant (11.8 ABV, sugar 1, $12.95). They would be terrific to have at any kind of blind tasting. Scotch Block Strawberry Fields NV (11.5% ABV, sugar 1, $11.95) showed ripe flavours, sweet aftertaste, but finishes in a dry mode. As I said, I'm not a fan of blueberry but I was blown away by the finish on their True Blue NV (11.5%ABV, sugar 1, $14.95). Sunnybrook Farm Estate Ironwood Hard Cider (6% ABV, off-dry, $13.15 for a six pack of 341 mL) was very fresh. County Cider Company makes a County 2000 Champenoise NV, a cider made on the traditional champagne method, from ida red, northern spy, and macintosh apples (8% ABV, sugar 1, $19.95 bottle) is certainly something many fruit wineries can aspire to. The mousse was superb, the nose all bready. My fave raspberry wines come from Hoodsport and Paul Thomas in Washington State

(both for the bone dry wines) and Barghetto's Chaucer in California for the off-dry raspberry. But after tasting today's fruit wines from Ontario, I can safely say that I'll be pulling my Yankee dollars and spending my fruit wine budget money at home..."

 

The Wines: Today's tasting was of some 45 wines, about a third of the number I tasted eight years ago. But from fewer wineries as sadly some no longer exist. Wines are normally bottled and sold in 750mL unless otherwise stated. My notes are from my experiences alone, and do NOT reflect the WWCC, and are NOT an average score of the tasting. We had three separate flights: one flight for the ciders, one flight for the 750 mL bottles which were mainly around SC 2 in sugars, and one flight for the dramatically sweet or iced styles, SC over 5. This way we could pace our palates...

 

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

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2012    Spiced Apple    $19.95

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2012    Bosc Pear    $18.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Framboise     $14.95  375mL

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Red Raspberry Sensation     $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Regal Black Currant     $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Cassis     $14.95 375mL

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Raspberry    $23.95

-Muskoka Lakes Winery    2013    Cranberry Wine $15.95    +609701 LCBO

-Wooden Bear L Winery    Applicious NV    $14.95 500 ml  2014/15 Intervin Honours

-Wooden Bear L Winery    Bear Claw Hard Cider NV    $3.00    N/A 341 ml    [variety of apples]

-Southbrook Vineyards    NV    Canadian Framboise    $15.95 375mL +341024 LCBO

-Applewood winery    2013    Iced Cider    $29.95  375mL

-Applewood winery    2014    Hopped Amber Cider    $3 525mL

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Strawberry Fields     $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Strawberry Sensation     $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Strawberry Sunsation     $14.95 375mL

 

 

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

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Cranberry    $23.95 Cranberry 85%; Apple 15%

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Blueberry Truffle     $15.95  375mL

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Chocolate Embrace    $22.95/34.95 375/750 Blueberry 100%

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Black Raspberry Sensation     $14.95

-Villa Nova Estate    2013    Nectar    $9.95    +252962 375m Nectarine

-Wooden Bear L Winery    2012    Gala     $14.95 2014/15 Intervin Honours

-Wooden Bear L Winery    2011    Cherry 2011    $14.95    2013 ACWC Gold Winner

-Revel Cider Co.    2014    Hop X    $5.05    500mL    Apple  6.9% ABV   

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Blueberry    $22.95

 

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

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Redhaven Peach    $21.95

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Burgundy Plum    $22.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Framboise Truffle     $15.95  375mL

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Blueberry Bouquet     $14.95 375mL

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Strawberry Truffle     $15.95 375mL

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Blueberry Sensation     $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Cassis Truffle     $15.95 375mL

-Villa Nova Estate    2013    Cerise    $12.95    +277325

-Villa Nova Estate    2014    Saucy Apple Cider    $9.95    +267922  750mL

-Villa Nova Estate    2014    Saucy Fizzy Peach Cider    $9.95 750mL

-Muskoka Lakes Winery    2012    Red Maple Dessert Wine    $23.95 +50039 LCBO 375mL [maple, cranberry]

-Muskoka Lakes Winery    2013    Cranberry Blueberry Wine $16.95 +609719 LCBO

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Apple Cider    $2.95    +405241 LCBO 473 ml

-Wooden Bear L Winery    2013    GalaCrisp    $14.95   

-Wooden Bear L Winery    Apple Cherry NV    $14.95

-Scotch Block Winery    2014    Kinky Keltic     $14.95  Black Currant, Red Currant, Red Raspberry, Gooseberry [varies from year to year]

-Applewood winery    2010    Apple Jack    $40  21% ABV

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery    2013    Iced Apple    $19.95 375 ml

-Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery 2013    Tres Robles (oaked) Apple Cider $15.95 1.9 L or keg 7% ABV

 

The Food: bread and water

The Contact Person: deantudor@yahoo.com or kim@ludwigtransport.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR MARCH 7, 2015

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR  MARCH 7, 2015

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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 LCBO 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.

 

NOTE: It is getting more difficult to endorse wines under $20 for the simple reason that the LCBO does not release many of them into the Vintages program, ones that can be deemed to be worthy of your consideration. So I will now just ADD some "under $25" suggestions, along with point values.

 

FIND OF THE MONTH!!

 

Le Pere Jules Pommeau de Normandie AOC, +402131, $39.95 for 700mL: Formerly known as Pommeau Ste. Anne, this AOC has apple cider syrup blended with Calvados. Le Pere Jules is aged in oak barrels for more than 5 years. There is a strong "cider apple" aroma that follows through on the palate, a sort of intensified cider taste. The finish is smooth, suggesting that the one-year old Calvados has been aged smoothly. Aperitif or with dessert or post-dinner. QPR: 93.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $25:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

1.Tinhorn Creek Gewurztraminer 2013 BC VQA Okanagan, +904185: this hits all the right gewurz buttons, especially for those seeking an older style Alsatian style (dryish, bitterish finish). Very good expression from before global warming. 13.3% ABV, twist top. QPR: 89.

2.M.Chapoutier Tournon Mathilda 2013 Victoria, +401398, $19.95: very aromatic, almost all viognier, twist top, but a very dry finish makes it better with food than as social wine. QPR: 89.

3. 3 Stones Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Marlborough, +207159, $16.95: zesty tasty kiwi savvy. Twist top but only 12.5% ABV, making it less dry and more social wine too. QPR: 89.

4.Cave des Grands Crus Blancs Macon-Vinzelles 2013, +405795, $17.95: the latest in a continuing LCBO stream of good value burgundy Chardonnays, in the Chablis mould, 13% ABV. QPR: 89.

5.Tokaji Yellow Muscat 2013 Puklus Cellars Hungary, $15.95, +46508: Yellow Muscat is related to Muscat Blanc. Made from older vines, done up in Late Harvest style, with that peachy complexity, medium-bodied, but with lemons and pineapple acidity on the longer finish. Floral aromatics. 13.5% ABV. Serve with later courses (fruity mains, salads, cheeses, off-dry desserts). QPR: 89

6.Featherstone Four Feathers 2012 VQA Niagara, +341586, $14.95: off-dry blend of savvy, riesling, gewurz, and chardonnay, very good social wine coming in at 11% ABV and twist top. Still fresh. QPR: 88.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $25:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

1.Jules Taylor Pinot Noir 2013 Marlborough, +329805, $24.95. QPR: 91.

2.Chateau Tour Salvet 2009 Haut-Medoc, +403766, $23.95. QPR: 90.

3.Castelli dei Grevepesa Panzano Chianti Classico 2008, +972695, $23.95. QPR: 90.

4.Churchill's Estates Vinho Tinto 2011 Douro, +166561, $21.95. QPR: 90.

5.Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Syrah/Mourvedre 2012 Colchagua Valley, +399360, $15.95: good value in an organic wine. Lots of black fruit, 14.5% ABV. Cork closure. Nicely aged food wine. QPR: 89.

6.Zonte's Footstep Lake Doctor Shiraz Viognier 2012, +72975, $17: done up in traditional North Rhone style with added viognier. Twist top, 14.5% ABV, dense and somewhat clunky at this stage. Try again in six months. QPR: 89.

7.Notte Rossa Primitivo di Manduria 2012, +395095, $17.95: delicious off-dry zin knockoff with complexity of black fruit, 14% ABV. Winner of two Gold Medals. QPR: 89.

8.Castellani Chianti Riserva 2010, +970707, $14.95: now over four years old but rustic and vibrant in life with typical MVC of sangiovese from approved Chianti regions. Deftly done and affordable. 12.5% ABV. QPR: 89.

9.Tenuta di Trecciano Chianti Colli Senesi 2013, +86314, $15.95: packed with sangiovese flavours but needs more time if you are willing to wait. 13% ABV. QPR: 89.

10.Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell 2012 Jumilla, +163154, $13.95: full-bore toastiness, dark fruit, six months in French oak, mocha tones. QPR: 89.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $25 RETAIL

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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.Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 VQA Twenty Mile Bench Niagara, +345819, $44.95 retail.

2.Chateau de Cruzeau Blanc 2009 Pessac-Leognan, +966010, $31.95.

3.Ropiteau Meursault 2013, +405159, $59.95.

4.Burrowing Owl Athene 2011 BC VQA Okanagan, +371336, $44.95.

5.Nk'Mip Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 BC VQA Okanagan, +303719, $27.95

6.Il Grigio da San Felice Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2010, +403477, $46.95.

7.Frescobaldi Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Riserva Chianti Rufina 2011, +395186, $29.95.

8.Beronia Gran Reserva 2007 Rioja, +940965, $39.95.

9.Finca La Emperatriz Reserva 2008 Rioja, +359927, $32.95.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Zenato Wine Tasting, Proprietor's Selection

The Date and Time: Monday, February 23, 2015  10:30 - noon

The Event: Zenato Wine Tasting, Proprietor's Selection

The Venue: George Brown College Wine Lab

The Target Audience: about 20 students and some wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are or will be at the LCBO

The Quote/Background: Alberto Zenato spoke about his wines from the Veneto, along with the characteristics of appassimento.

The Wines:

 

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

-Zenato Lugana San Benedetto 2013, +707158, $16.95 April Vintages

-Zenato Veneto Rosso IGT Parziale Appassimento 2012, +208579, $13.95 LCBO [with merlot and cabernet sauvignon juice and appassimento]

-Zenato Amarone della Valp;olicella Classico 2010, +413179, $49.95 Vintages

 

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

-Zenato Veneto Rosso IGT 2011, +208579, $12.15 LCBO

-Zenato Valpolicella Superiore 2012, +995704, $17.95 Vintages April

-Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2011, +479766, $25.95 Vintages

 

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

-Zenato Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT 2013, +37648, $15.95 Vintages

 

The Food: the chefs at George Brown prepared for us some typical Venetian food with samples of lentils, risotto, bread, and ground pork sausage.

The Downside: it was very cold outside and my TTC passage had been down.

The Upside: a chance to speak with Alberto Zenato.

The Contact Person: Sheila SwPuritt <spuritt@sympatico.ca> and     <mjordan.cipelli@bellnet.ca>.

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

New Wines/Spirits tasted recently ...

SOME NEW PRODUCTS TASTED THIS MONTH --

 

1.Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve Series Brut 2011 Methode Traditionelle VQA Niagara, +234161 $22.95: very much one of the bargain sparklers in Ontario at this price level. The 2008 was one of my faves, and the 2010 (with more pinot noir, three years en tirage, and a red tinge, like a rose) hit a 94 on my taste scale recently. The 2011 is back to regular straw colour. It has been aged over two years en tirage, very crisp on the palate, somewhat tart but may improve with age. Refreshingly crisp with typical yeasty nose, nuts, creamy vanilla, and a long long length. Good pinot noir character. 12.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

2.KWW Roodeberg 2012 South Africa, +7187, $12.45 LCBO: when I first had this wine, it was 1968 or so, and it cost 10 times less. It was good value because it was strong and minty even then. Today, it is 14.24% ABV with a twist top, and instead of a pinotage blend, it is a cab sauv/shiraz/merlot mix for 82% of the total. Expect vanilla, some plumminess, dark brooding colours and palate, plus good acid for food. Decent price too. Quality/Price rating is 87 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

3.Burnt Ship Bay Pinot Grigio 2013 VQA NOTL, +404939, $14.95 LCBO: a relatively new player in the Ontario wine sweepstakes, Burnt Ship has already signed up the Hockey Hall of Fame as a provider of house wines. In February, this wine became available at the LCBO: think peaches and lemons and apples, with some serious tones on the midpalate. Commingling is back, with citric undertones. Prize winner from All Canadians and Intervin. Twist top, 12.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

4.Burnt Ship Bay Cabernet Merlot 2013 VQA NOTL, +404947, $14.95 LCBO: with grapes from its sister winery Pondview (and the same winemaker), this wine has ripe berries (black and red) in overdrive, in a sort-of classic California version of a Bordeaux-like blend. 13.5% ABV, twist top. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

5.Burnt Ship Bay Chardonnay 2013 VQA NOTL, $14.95 Winery: with apples and pears, other orchard fruit plus lemons and citric tones, the wine has plenty of definition. It tastes unoaked. Good for patio/deck/balcony, and first course fish dishes. It won an Intervin Award for Honors and Best Value. 13% ABV, twist top. Quality/Price rating is 87 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

6.Le Pere Jules Pommeau de Normandie AOC, +402131, $39.95 for 700mL Vintages March: Pommeau de Normandie (formerly Pommeau Ste. Anne) is made like Pineau de Charentes (grape mistelle and cognac) – some apple cider mistelle blended with one-year aged Calvados. Then it is aged in oak barrels for more than 5 years. There is a strong "cider apple" aroma that follows through on the palate, a sort of intensified cider taste. The finish is smooth, suggesting that the Calvados has been aged smoothly. This is a great aperitif (as the company says) although it is sweet enough to put out with dessert or just post-dinner. Pommeau arrives in Ontario every three years, so snap this one up (fewer than 50 cases in the system). Quality/Price rating is 93 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

 

7.Mark Andrews Knappogue Castle Single Malt Irish Whiskey, +223776, $62.95 Vintages: arriving just in time for St. Paddy's Day, this is a 12 year old Irish nicely aged in used bourbon oak casks. No colour has been added, so there is a naturally light lemon-orange colour, also suggesting some citric tones. The spiciness includes coconut and honeyed tones from both the bourbon and the oak. It was first introduced in 1998 and relaunched in 2010 as a medium bodied, off-dry very polished whiskey in the super premium category. Triple distilled, of course, with an ABV of 40%. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

8.Tenuta Balbia Greco Bianco Malvasia SX.E 2013 IGT Calabria, +386995 LCBO, $12.95: a good basic fresh and fruity wine, somewhat like muscat in its orange-peachiness. 12% ABV makes it a social wine, perfect before dinner as aperitif or with a salty first course such as soup. New to the General List. Quality/Price rating is 88 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

9.Gnarly Head Viognier California 2013, +396416, $17.95 Vintages: a limited release to Vintages, this wine is aromatic but on the dry side, perfect as a social wine or for first course. Expect peachy and orange tones, but of course no oak. Nicely produced.

Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

10.Casar de Burbia Godello 2011 Bierzo Spain, +368381, $16.25 Vintages: Godello is indigenous to the up-and-coming Bierzo region, and may soon be its most prominent white grape. It is firmly in the Muscat family style of peaches, tropicality, orange-citrus, certainly compares favourably with the Viognier reviewed above. Here is is slightly off-dry but with a long finish. Aged on its lees for eight months, 13.5% ABV. Suitable for aperitif or social wine or even with a first course. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

 

11.Casar de Burbia Mencia 2010 Bierzo Spain, +392530, $19.95 Vintages: another indigenous grape variety on the rise from Bierzo – it's dark fruit and floral MVC, coupled with 8 months aging in US oak, gives it some smokey quality in a Rhonish tone. Even with some jammy and mocha nuances, the wine exhibits some savoury herb character, perhaps making it better with food rather than as a social wine. 14.6% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

GOOD FOOD AND DRINK BOOKS

3.GATHERINGS; bringing people together with food (Whitecap, 2014, 318 pages, ISBN 978-1-77050-226-0, $34.95 CAN paper covers) is by Jan Scott (former event planner) and Julie Van Rosendaal (cookbook author). Currently, both are heavily involved in family nutrition writing, appearing in the national media and in Toronto and Calgary respectively. Here the idea is the family table to sit around and eat. The range is from casual weeknights to special occasions and weekends, with the emphasis always being "gathering". There's material on party planning and catering your own event. The arrangement is by occasion:weekend brunch, showers, pie party, pantry party, birthday party, BBQ, pizza party, snow day, plus a dozen more. Many recipes can be interchangeable if you dig around. The 100 preparations have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois measurements.

Audience and level of use: families

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: simple French onion soup; no bake chocolate pots de crème; sticky cocktail meatballs; browned butter brownies; cracker-coated chicken strips.

The downside to this book: the typeface for the ingredients is very faint and can be hard to read.

The upside to this book: there is a menu and ideas for a book club gathering.

Quality/Price Rating: 87.

 

 

 

4.WINTER GRILLING (Whitecap, 2013, 160 pages, ISBN 978-1-77050-249-9, $29.95 CAN hard covers) is by Tom Heinzle, an Austrian grill specialist. Here he expounds on winter BBQ, which features such as boar, hare, turkey and duck. There are also recipes for seasonal sides and desserts. It is a basic book, but you don't need to freeze while grilling outside. Just grill some other time. There are 46 preps plus six more desserts (grilled apples, figs). Winter equipment is explained. There is NO index (a major fault) but the preps are listed in a table of contents, and have titles such as "beer-can duck", "wintry spare ribs", "chicken with hay", and "lamb shoulder" which are self-explanatory. It is an interesting book, but also with too many photographs. Heinzle concludes with a glossary. Preparations have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois measurements.

Audience and level of use: BBQ fanatics

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: bacon-wrapped cheese cubes; lebkuchen with bacon and chili; smoked trout fillets with smoked mushrooms and habaneros; roe deer shoulder in bread; venison with root veggies.

The downside to this book: no index, too many photos

The upside to this book: good idea for a book

Quality/Price Rating: 85.

 

 

 

 

5.SHEET PAN SUPPERS (Workman Publishing, 2014, 296 pages, ISBN 978-0-7611-7842-3, $15.95 US paper covers) is by Molly Gilbert, cooking instructor and recipe tester for Saveur. Her idea is a spin-off of the one-pot. Here, it is the sheet pan and the oven. She's got 120 recipes for complete meals, snacks, brunch and dessert. Just choose one method: roasting, broiling or baking. They all intensity flavours. She's got a sheet pan primer

for foil, parchment paper, and oven knowledge. Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements, but there are tables of metric equivalents.

Audience and level of use: those looking for quick and easy new treatments.

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: Thai green curry eggplant boats with tofu; pecan fried fish with tartar sauce; baked turkey meatballs and slow-roasted tomatoes; fresh tomato bruschetta; thinnest brownies; cannoli roulade; raspberry and white chocolate scones.

The downside to this book: some of the preps are standard issue roasts and bake, so nothing really new here.

The upside to this book: good idea for another cooking technique, and best when coupled with a slow cooker and/or blender for those cooks who appreciate "one" item to clean up.

Quality/Price Rating: 87.

 

 

6.THE DASH DIET YOUNGER YOU (Grand Central Life & Style, 2014, 252 pages, ISBN 978-1-4555-5454-6, $26 US hard covers) is by Marla Heller, RD and a clinical instructor in nutrition at University of Illinois, She has authored many DASH diet books; this is her latest. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been recognized as the best diet overall by several reputable sources, but it might be stretching it a bit to say (as the publisher does on the front cover) "shed 20 years and pounds in just 10 weeks". I can see the pounds, I cannot see reversing the aging process. DASH is still a good diet although here it seems to have moved on from its "hypertension" roots. There's an emphasis on colour on the plate, eliminating sugars, eating more plant-based foods, doing a detox, and avoiding agribusiness and pharmacy. It is all good healthy food in this book, along with menus for several different time frames. She concludes with many charts, including a useful food serving tracker, a Body Mass Index chart, and details on calcium-rich, potassium-rich, and magnesium-rich foods. Eat as much of these as you can/

Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements, but there are conversion tables of metric equivalents.

Audience and level of use: those looking for a relatively safe diet.

Some interesting recipes: carnitas; quick steak and vegetable soup; stir-fried beef with spinach and noodles; peach and balsamic glazed pork chops; mango walnut salad; salade nicoise; spiced roasted chickpeas.

The downside to this book: it is hard to give out anti-aging advice.

The upside to this book: the food trackers and the advice.

Quality/Price Rating: 87.

 

 

7.THE PLAN COOKBOOK (Grand Central Life & Style, 2014, 214 pages, ISBN 978-1-4555-5653-3, $26 US hard covers) is by Lyn-Genet Recitas who wrote the bestseller, The Plan. It is an anti-inflammatory nutritional protocol. Some material from the first book is necessarily repeated here, but I should think that you would not need both books. If you are indeed interested in The Plan, then this is the book, with all of its recipes. The Plan seems to have helped people lose weight fast and forever by discovering which food work for their unique body chemistry. Her preps are supposed to boost your energy and cut inflammation, as well as make you lose weigh. It is a lifestyle change. Preps cover all meals, from breakfast through salads, soups, sides, apps, sauces, dressings, mains, and desserts. Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements, but there are tables of metric equivalents.

Audience and level of use: those searching for anti-inflammation diets and lifestyle changes.

Some interesting or unusual recipes: vegan cream of mushroom soup; duck breast tacos; whipped coconut cream; venison medallions in apple bourbon sauce; mini lamb meatballs; steak fajitas.

Quality/Price Rating: 87.

 

 

8.HAND MADE BAKING (Chronicle Books, 2014, 207 pages, ISBN 978-1-4521-1230-5, $29.95 US hard covers) is by Kamran Siddiqi, a food writer and recipe developer. Here he's got an eclectic collection of some 55 preps, ranging from classics (cream scones and brioche) to some innovatives (pistachio polvorones). He's got a lot of fun and ease in his style, great for young people, to provide enthusiasm and confidence. He begins with breakfast goodies, moves through pies and lunches, and then tackles cookies and the tea times, ending with cakes and breads/biscuits. As a true baker, his recipes are scaled with metric and avoirdupois measurements.

Audience and level of use: beginners, millennials

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: blondies; New York bagels; Nutella shortbread sandwich cookies; Caribbean princess cake; baklava; butterfly cookies (i.e. palmieres); strawberry crumble; chocolate Swiss roll; apple harvest loaf cake.

The downside to this book: too wide-ranging a collection.

The upside to this book: good warmth and many variations

Quality/Price Rating: 86.

 

 

 

9.PUCKER (Whitecap, 2014, 214 pages, ISBN 978-1-77050-227-7, $29.95 CAN paper covers) is by Gwendolyn Richards, food writer (Calgary Herald) and blogger. It's a book meant for those who love the sour taste of citric acid through lemons, limes, grapefruits, and some sub-varieties such as Meyer lemons and key limes. She covers the sour (pucker) side, leaving alone pomelos, citrons, kumquats, oranges, tangerines, mandarins, and sevilles. She's got a hefty section on drinks and apps, followed by soups, sides, mains, desserts, and breakfasts. Preparations have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of metric equivalents. About 92 recipes all told, most of them illustrated with colour closeups.

Audience and level of use: beginner to intermediate.

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: veal scaloppine limone; lemon drop martini; glazed lemon-raspberry drop scones; citric-braised pork shoulder tacos; tarte au citron;  banh mi burgers with spicy limo mayo; earl grey cupcakes with lemon butter cream.

The downside to this book: I was disappointed that only one recipe used orange juice and  only one used orange blossom water.

The upside to this book: great photographs.

Quality/Price Rating: 87.

 

 

10.QUENCH (Roost Books, 2014, 204 pages, ISBN 978-=1-61180-128-6, $24.95 US hard covers) is by Ashley English, who has written several food books (A Year of Pies, Handmade Gatherings, Keeping Bees among others). Here she concentrates on thirst-quenching drinks, with 100 recipes for natural sodas, fruit nectars, tisanes, shrubs, kombucha, bitters, liqueurs, wines infused liquors, party punches, and more. As the subtitle indicates, these are "handcrafted beverages to satisfy every taste and occasion". Her book is about evenly divided between soft drinks and hard drinks. The soft drinks are either invigorating or comforting in style. The hard drinks can be festive, warming or spirited. That's how she's got them arranged, with detailed indexing at the back. Her gin toddy calls for ginger tea; my gin toddy just calls for hot water and bitters. There are enough variations throughout the book to satisfy all. Wine is pretty well limited to seasonal sangrias, mulled wines, and "vin maison". All the preps here can be labeled "social drinks" and should have instant appeal for parties or crowds. Preparations have their ingredients listed in avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of metric equivalents.

Audience and level of use: those looking for something different; millennials

Some interesting or unusual recipes: wineberry wine; dandelion and honeysuckle wine; vin de noix; basil vodka; pear bitters; vanilla milkshake; root beer; rose and cardamom soda; rhubarb bitters.

Quality/Price Rating: 89.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Tasting and pairing of Burnt Ship Bay LCBO wines.

The Date and Time: Thursday, February 12, 2015  4PM to 6PM

The Event: Tasting and pairing of Burnt Ship Bay LCBO wines.

The Venue: Hockey Hall of Fame Theatre

The Target Audience: wine opinion makers and writers

The Availability/Catalogue: both wines are on the General List; as well we also tasted a Vidal Icewine (Silver medal at Decanter Asia Wine Awards) but not their Chardonnay table wine (limited quantities).

The Quote/Background: Front and centre were Fred DiProfio (winemaker), Lou Puglisi (grape grower and co-owner), and Marcel Morgenstern (co-owner). The winery is a virtual winery in partnership with Puglisi (Pondview winery owner) and DiProfio (Pondview winemaker), using Pondview grapes but made in different styles. There was a presentation at this Toronto launch and then the food pairing began. There were four tidbits created by Marigold & Onions Catering, with two suggested for the white wine and two for the red (although we could try a mix and match). Burnt Ship Bay has already signed up the Hockey Hall of Fame as a provider of house wines.

The Wines:

-Burnt Ship Bay Pinot Grigio 2013 VQA NOTL, +404939, $14.95 – think peaches and lemons and apples, with some serious tones on the mid-palate. Commingling is back, with citric undertones. Prize winner from All Canadians and Intervin. Twist top, 12.5% ABV. (88)

-Burnt Ship Bay Cabernet Merlot 2013 VQA NOTL, +404947, $14.95 – with grapes from its sister winery Pondview (and the same winemaker), this wine has ripe berries (black and red) in overdrive, in a sort-of classic California version of a Bordeaux-like blend. 13.5% ABV, twist top. (88)

The Food: both wines went very well with food, in fact they improved. With the Pinot Grigio was suggested a "Chinese firecracker" (spiced duck, vermicelli, sesame hoisin, mango slaw in coconut crepes). It may have been Chinese, but it needed a punch up in spicing; it was not a firecracker (as in explosion. More successful was the maritime knuckle sandwich of lobster and shrimp, citrus aioli, and green mango served in a bread bun as a small lobster roll. With the Cabernet Merlot, we had a sun-dried tomato crostini with tenderloin of beef, green pea pesto, and garlic artichoke cream. Also, we had steak and eggs (mini potato roesti with rare beef steak slice, fried quail egg and hollandaise drizzle). This latter was my fave of the day, and it also went well with the Pinot Grigio. There was also a platter of international gourmet cheeses.

The Downside: it was a bitterly cold day (so what else was new)

The Upside: a chance to engage with some real food pairing.

The Contact Person: kreid@enterprisecanada.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! *

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUGARS & SWEETENERS (The Experiment, 2014, 280 pages, ISBN 978-1-61519-216-8, $16.95 US paper covers) is by Alan Barclay (consulting dietician for diabetes), Philippa Sandall (a nutrition editor) and Claudia Schwide-Slavin (an RD specializing in diabetes education). There are 185 entries, with products from acesulfame potassium to yacon syrup, arranged in dictionary format with material on history, taste, use, nutrition, and scientific data for each. There's a primer on using the book and on the Glycemic Index; as well, there is a discussion on health matters, such as added sugars = added calories, special diets, and labeling issues. Of great interest is the chapter on "test kitchen" wherein two recipes are used to substitute a variety of sugars and sweeteners, with cosmic results: vanilla butter cookie, and blueberry bran muffin. They use rice syrup, agave nectar, honey, stevia-erythritol blend, Demerara sugar, coconut sugar, and xylitol. Both the cookie and the muffin were compared and contrasted with the various sugars as to taste, texture, appearance, finish, calories. At the end there is an appendix of brand names of high-intensity, non-nutritive sweeteners. The book will answer important questions, such as which sweeteners perform well in baking, will the kids notice if there are sugar substitutes, and which are best for dieting or blood sugar.

Audience and level of use: libraries, those looking for sweeteners beyond sucrose.

Some interesting or unusual facts: From a taste note on stevia – "then came the follow-up – a lingering, very sweet, slightly bitter aftertaste on the tongue and the front palate. You could not really identify the vanilla or butter flavours – the whole point of making a vanilla butter cookie."

Quality/Price Rating: 90.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com