The Event: VIVA ITALIA Italian Market at George Brown College

The Date and Time: Tuesday March 28  6PM to 9PM

The Event: VIVA ITALIA Italian Market

The Venue: George Brown College Atrium

The Target Audience: consumers and wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are from agents and LCBO; food from restaurants.

The Quote/Background:

The Wines: I did not taste all the wines

 

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

-De Gregorio Lotto 1 Catarratto – Viognier 2015 IGT Terre Sicilian $15.40 (Colio)

-Il Palagio When We Dance Chianti DOCG 2014 $21.95 (Le Sommelier)

-Fanti Sassomagno Sant'Antimo Rosso DOC 2013 Tuscany $19.95 (Le Sommelier)

-Tenuta di Martucino Brunello 2011 $53.95  (Profile)

 

 

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

-Ruffino Modus Sangiovese/Cabernet/Merlot 2014 Tuscany

-Tenuta di Martucino Barolo 2011 $38.95  (Profile)

-Cantina Rizzi Barbaresco 2012 $38.95 Vintages +478958

 

The Food: I did not try all the foods, unlike the Green Show preview. Stalls and stands came from a variety of place, such as -

 

-Ardo [ardorestaurant.com] had a really terrific cannoli

-Carmen

-Fabricca [www.mcewangroup.ca]

-Forno Culture for breads

-Local Kitchen & Wine Bar

-Pusateri's Fine Foods for pasta

-Speducci Mercatto

-Terroni

-Tutti Matti for a fab porchetta

-A. Bertozzi Importing [www.bertozziepicure.com] La Garofalo mozzarella di bufala

-Mountain View Coffee for Columbia coffee

-Gelato Fresco for ices (I had coffee and one blood orange)

 

The Downside: I had to be at another function earlier in the evening.

The Upside: a chance to try some new wines and new foods.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Tasting Loire Valley wines of Ackerman and Remy Pannier with winemaker Pierre Charon and Export Manager Isabelle Moreau.

The Date and Time: Monday March 27, 2017  11:30AM to 2PM

The Event: Tasting Loire Valley wines of Ackerman and Remy Pannier with winemaker Pierre Charon and Export Manager Isabelle Moreau.

The Venue: Novotel Toronto Esplanade

The Target Audience: wine writers and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: only 4 wines are currently listed in Ontario, all Remy Pannier. The rest will be applied for; they are TBD.

The Quote/Background: Pierre Charon took us through the winemaking processes. A few notable facts: the difference between MT Saumur Brut and MT Cremant de Loire (Ackerman makes both) is that Saumur is machine-harvested while Cremant is hand-harvested. Cabernet Franc such as  Ackerman's Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil is done by short maceration, stainless steel fermentation, and early bottling – light and fruity and clean. Ackerman/Remy Pannier is the number one producer of sparkling wines in the Loire.

The Wines:

 

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

-Remy Pannier Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2016 LCBO +68676 $15.90

-Ackerman Secret des Vignes Saumur Blanc 2015 est$19.95 TBD [Gold Medal] slightly oaked

-Ackerman Cremant de Loire Cuvee 1811 Blanc Brut est$19.95 TBD [70% chenin] Gold medal

-Ackerman Cremant de Loire Royal Blanc Brut est$24.95 [60% chardonnay]

 

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

-Remy Pannier Sauvignon IGP Val de Loire 2016 LCBO +471318 $12.95 [Gold Medal for 2015]

-Remy Pannier Blanc de Noir 2016 est$16.95 TBD [cabernet franc]

-Ackerman Saint-Nicolas de Bourgeuil 2015 est$18.95 TBD

-Ackerman Secret des Vignes Chinon 2014 est$19.95 TBD

-Ackerman Cremant de Loire Ambrosa est$22.95 [60% chenin] Gold medal

 

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

-Remy Pannier Muscadet 2016 LCBO +13821 $14.95

-Remy Pannier Rose D'Anjou 2016 LCBO +12641 $14.95

 

The Food: there was a buffet emphasizing Loire-style food, such as rillettes de Tours, pan-seared cod loin, leeks mash, veal stew with mushroom cream sauce.

The Downside: with about 40 people it was a very noisy room.

The Upside: a chance to speak with winemaker Pierre Charon.

The Contact Person: amcginty@eurovintage.com; sales@eurovintage.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Lunch with Georg Riedel, 10th generation head of Riedel Crystal.

The Date and Time: Monday, March 13, 2017  1PM to 3PM

The Event: Lunch with Georg Riedel, 10th generation head of Riedel Crystal.

The Venue: Chef's House, George Brown College

The Target Audience: wine writers and editors

The Availability/Catalogue: it was principally a tasting of wines with the red varietal series of Riedel crystal glassware. The wines we tasted may not be generally available through the LCBO, but they were relevant to the exercise.

The Quote/Background: we were "tasting" glasses, and not wines, to find which glass went best with which wine. I remember doing this every now and then, starting about 25 years ago when Riedel began a big push in North America. Their latest glass was in 2015, I think, and it was for Provence Rose. We had no rose today, but we did have –

 

The Wines: Pol Roger in a Champagne glass (reception wine), Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Niagara VQA 2013, Black Hills Estate Syrah Okanagan VQA 2014, and Stags Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2013. We had a CS glass, a PN glass, and a Syrah glass. Each wine was poured into all three glasses so that we could taste and try. The PN glass had a smokestack shape (high brandy glass style) which emphasized fresh fruity tones; the Syrah had a slightly closed-in top somewhat like an ISO glass that emphasized salt and minerals; and the CS rim was more straight open for intense flavours and acidic for food. So the Napa cab was more aromatic to fit in with dessert, the BC syrah was juicy but with some minerality, and the Ontario pinot noir was upfront fruity. It was a great exercise in discovering the impact of wine and food pairings. Riedel believes in more different styles of glasses for the red wines and some differing ones for their white wines. One of their breaks with tradition is abandoning the flute glass for Champagne; I am all for their current "Champagne" glass. Most of my own tastings are with the basic ISO glass – there is some consistency in using the same glass.

The Food: the food was meant to accompany the wines, so we were expected to taste the salmon against the PN in all three glasses to see how they affected taste. The braised beef short ribs went up against the syrah; the mocha chocolate tartelette went up against the CS. The menu was well-chosen to emphasize the flavours of the wine and the appropriate glasses. Overall, it seemed as if we had tasted 18 different wines (9 with food, 9 without food).

The Downside: I needed more intense concentration to be worthy of the consideration of taste.

The Upside: a chance to talk with Georg Riedel.

The Contact Person: mbuckley@nikecomm.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Media Preview of 2017 Green Living Show (April 7 – 9; Metro Convention Centre)

The Date and Time: Tuesday March 28, 2017  5:30PM to 8:30PM

The Event: Media Preview of 2017 Green Living Show (April 7 – 9; Metro Convention Centre)

The Venue: Propeller Coffee Company

The Target Audience: "green" media writers, food and wine writers.

The Availability/Catalogue: we were treated to food, beer and wine from diverse sources (see below) as well as samples of green products via the "swag bag" and a "top-10 innovations of the year" counter-top display. Personnel from the companies involved were available for interviews. The Green Living Show will have more than 400 sustainable companies April 7 – 9 at the Metro Convention Centre. For more details, see www.greenlivingshow.ca.

The Quote/Background: The media preview centered around the Food and Drink Pavilion (Taste Ontario, Taste the World), with local beers and sustainable wines. There were dishes from a variety of restaurants and caterers (see below). Much buzz was generated.

The Wines: Southbrook and Rosewood had sustainable VQA wines; I also tried a few beers.

 

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

-Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay VQA 2015

-Southbrook Triomphe Pinot Noir VQA 2015

-Rosewood Merlot VQA 2013

-Southbrook Wild Ferment Apple Cider 2016 $15.95 750mL

-High Park Across the Pond English Special Ale 42 IBU

-High Park Off the Leash India Pale Ale 57 IBU

 

 

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

-Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc VQA 2015

-Southbrook Connect Organic White VQA 2015

-Rosewood Origin Riesling VQA 2014

-Sweetgrass Shagsbark Stout 52 IBU

-Whitewater Farmer's Daughter 22 IBU

-High Park Against the Grain Lager 20 IBU

 

The Food: There were eight stalls offering foods that could be called "street food", except some required a fork and/or a place to sit down. All of the food was terrific, right down to the last bite. It's worth going to the show just to eat (and drink).

 

-Karam Kitchen (Syrian food) with a halloumi cheese pita [hello@karamkitchen.com]

-Magic Oven with Tandoori chicken katchumber salad

-Hawthorne Food Drink with beef pot stickers [www.hawthorneto.ca]

-Pimenton Spanish/Mediterranean with paella {www.pimenton.ca]

-TC's MoMo Tibetan dumplings (veggie/beef) and vegetarian pasta noodles [tserongdo@hotmail.com]

-B'saha Restaurant Moroccan street food (chicken couscous, grilled merguez with warm salad, toasted beet salad) [www.bsaha.ca]

-Urban Acorn Catering (black bean and malanga fritter with roasted red pepoer, house-smoked hickory salmon)

-Santo Pecado (butternut squash taco with green beans, sweet corn, pumpkin seed, Ontario corn tortilla)

 

The Downside: I had to leave early to go to an Italian food and wine show.

The Upside: a chance to view and examine good innovations such as Dalcini's stainless steel containers, Crazy D's all natural soda, vegan cashew cheese by Fauxmagerie Zengarry (stunning!), and STRAND's BOB (Black Out Bulb: an LED light that switches to battery when blackouts occur).

The Contact Person: enavarro@enterprisecanada.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for April 1, 2017.

 

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for April 1, 2017.

=======================================================================

By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My Internet compendium "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.

 

So many people have asked me for wine recommendations, with numbers only. The readers' most common response is that while they like what I say, they only relate to the score. The score is a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, where e.g. a Southern Rhone tastes like a Southern Rhone and not like a Northern Rhone) and Quality/Price Ratio. Let's take it for granted that, e.g., a Riesling tastes like a Riesling, and the wine has some value in the marketplace either above or below its selling price. This way too I can also cover more wines.

 

This restructured wine newsletter for the Ontario market (with wines available through the LCBO and Vintages on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca/ or at    http://www.deantudor.com

 

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS FOR RELEASE ON APRIL FIRST– (please enjoy responsibly)

 

W-Pandemic Winery Pinot More 2017 VQA Viagara Falls, +171717, $15.95, QPR: 93

R-Erewhon Winery Cabernet Stupendous 2014 Napasnooze, +929495, $19.95, QPR: 94

W-Trump Winery Poisson d'Avril White Only Blend 2020 USA $18.95, QPR: 70

 

20 under $20

=========

W+9167    MOMO SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough, South Island    2015    $19.95        13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+37952 IN SITU RESERVA CARMENÈRE Aconcagua Vly 2015 $16.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+276956    LES HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE Michel Gassier    2014    $17.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89

R+480988    DOMAINE PUIG-PARAHY CARIGNANE DE LA PERPIGNANE AC Cotes du Roussillon    2013    $19.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+481457    SILVER PALM ZINFANDEL North Coast     2012    $19.95    % ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+481549    SENORIO DE LA ANTIGUA MENCÍA    IGP Castilla y Léon    Alvarez de Toledo 2012    $13.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90

W+485532    CHÂTEAU SAINT NABOR CÔTES DU RHONE WHITE 2015    $13.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+999946    REMO FARINA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE    DOC     2015 $17.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.

W+129700    STRATUS WILDASS RIESLING    VQA Niagara Peninsula    Stratus Vineyards 2015 $16.95    11.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+231282    KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC    WO Stellenbosch 2016    $17.95  MVC/QPR: 88

R+269464    SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia 2014    $16.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+355610    TRAPICHE FINCA LAS PALMAS GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY    Uco Valley, Mendoza 2015    $16.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+413211    XAVIER VENTOUX      AP    2015    $15.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89

R+414615    BRUMONT TOUR BOUSCASSÉ Madiran    2011 $18.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+451419    LEONARDO DA VINCI ROSSO DI MONTALCINO    DOC    2011    $18.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+91694    SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG     2013    $19.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

R+482083    TRAPICHE PERFILES CALCAREOUS MALBEC Mendoza 2015 $18.95

14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

W+489807 CHATEAU GRAND MOUËYS 2015 Bordeaux Blanc $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

R+712463    PRIMUS THE BLEND Colchagua Valley    2014    $19.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

 

20 over $20

=========

W+21253    DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER LES PRINCES ABBÉS PINOT GRIS    AC Alsace 2014    $21.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87.

W+106161    LOUIS MOREAU DOMAINE DE BIÉVILLE CHABLIS    AC 2015    $27.95  12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+167700 ARDAL RESERVA DO Ribera del Duero  2006    $21.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+183772    DOMAINE BESANCENOT BEAUNE CLOS DU ROI 1ER CRU 2013    $44.95    

13% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+226035 CHÂTEAU TEYSSIER Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2012 $23.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+241307    LA LECCIAIA RISERVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG     2010 $73.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

W+373548    DOMAINE BILLAUD-SIMON MONT DE MILIEU CHABLIS 1ER CRU  2012 $49.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+373688 CHÂTEAU BELGRAVE     Haut-Médoc     2010    $67.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+378604    KIM CRAWFORD WILD GRACE SMALL PARCELS CHARDONNAY Hawkes Bay, North Island    2015    $24.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+381079    DOMAINE PIERRE USSEGLIO ET FILS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE    2013    $47.95     15% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+389221    ECHEVERRIA LIMITED EDITION CABERNET SAUVIGNON Central Valley 2011 $24.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR:  91

R+479071    BARACCHI O'LILLO IGT Toscana    2014    $20.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89

R+483313    DOMAINE LAFAGE NARASSA LIEU DIT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON 2014    $24.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

R+483800    TOMMASI CASISANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2011 $49.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+484303    CATENA APPELLATION AGRELO CABERNET SAUVIGNON Agrelo, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2014 $22.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

W+677450    DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC Marlborough, South Island    2016 $24.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+745638 GAJA CA'MARCANDA PROMIS IGT Toscana 2014    $54.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+951210    MARCHESI DE' FRESCOBALDI MORMORETO IGT Toscana    Castello di Nipozzano 2012  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

W+962886    LA CREMA SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY    Sonoma Coast     2014    $29.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+976811    COTO DE IMAZ GRAN RESERVA El Coto de Rioja 2010 $36.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+981787    DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D'OR GIGONDAS    AC    Céline et Bernard Chauvet, Prop.    2014    $32.95     15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Master Class with Matias Calleja of Bodegas Beronia, on the use of oak.

The Date and Time: Monday February 27, 2017  11:30AM - 3PM

The Event: Master Class with Matias Calleja of Bodegas Beronia, on the use of oak.

The Venue: Lena

The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers (36 or so in all at the seminar)

The Availability/Catalogue: only some wines are at the LCBO, as indicated. Others can be privately ordered through Woodman Wines and Spirits.

The Quote/Background: we tasted 10 wines. A white at reception, a barrel sample of new Rioja done up in three different oak styles, a reserva and three Gran Reservas. Matias spoke on the company's use of oak: US oak, French oak, and special barrels with US staves and French heads. I actually did prefer this latter, which was a judicious use of oak. They go through 3500 new barrels a year, and all new wines go into new barrels for a period and after that into second- and third-use barrels for aging.

The Wines:

 

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

-BERONIA GRAN RESERVA 2008 VINTAGES 940965 $37.95    

-BERONIA GRAN RESERVA 1994  PO    

-BERONIA GRAN RESERVA 1973  N/A  **BEST WINE TODAY**      95pts

 

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

-BERONIA RESERVA 2012 VINTAGES 50203 $20.95    

-BERONIA TEMPRANILLO ELABORACION ESPECIAL RIOJA LCBO 426981 $16.95

 

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

-BERONIA RUEDA VERDEJO 2015 VINTAGES 461327 $11.25    

-BERONIA TEMPRANILLO RIOJA LCBO 243055 $13.95    

 

Barrel Samples – US Oak (88pts); French Oak (89pts); Mixed oak (90pts)

 

The Food: we had a range of Spanish cheeses and sausages plus breads just after the tasting started. This was followed by a scrumptious meal accompanied with extra wine: our table had some 1994 Gran Reserva (yummy), with choices of mushroom and lentil soup,  organic chicken, caldoso pasta, and striploin. I chose the striploin because I thought it would pair better with the Rioja. It did. Kudos to the kitchen.

The Downside: I thought the aromas of the cheeses and the sausages on the tables conflicted with the aromas of the wines. They were difficult to ignore.

The Upside: a good chance to hear about an oak program, and to savour a wonderful 1973 Gran Reserva Rioja.

The Contact Person: rachel@woodmanws.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

* FOOD BOOK OF THE MONTH! *

FEAST (Appetite by Random House, 2017, 296 pages, ISBN 978-0-14-752971-8, $35 CAD hardbound) is by Lindsay Anderson and Dana VanVeller who decided in the summer of 2013 to take a road trip across Canada to experience and write up Canada's food culture. They also turned it into an award-winning blog. And now they have turned it into a book, after 37,000 kilometres through five months, one car, eight ferries, two flights and a 48-hour train ride – all complete through every province and territory. They've got 100 recipes plus stories and eight log rollers (one without ID – somebody named Peter Mansbridge). Over 80 contributors (farmers, chefs, indigenous elders, nanas) shared their regional dishes. It's as diverse as is Canada, or course, and one book to celebrate the 150. (Also: don't forget the stories – they are everywhere in this handsome book). The arrangement is by course: brekkies, apps, veggie mains, meat mains, seafood mains, sides/salads, desserts, and drinks. Contributors are named and an ID given at the back. Preparations have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of equivalents. Enough here for two meals a week for the rest of the year.

Audience and level of use: Canadian cooks celebrating Canada and 150 years.

Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: eggs galiano; curried shrimp; sour cherry and ricotta perogies; spicy haddock and snow crab cakes; giant lobster roll; East coast seafood chowder; venison loin; cauliflower steaks with roasted bone marrow butter.

The downside to this book: in line with the new form of computerized guest lists, all contributors are ranked by their first name and not their last name. Pfui.

The upside to this book: a celebration of the great 150.

Quality/Price Rating: 90.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Marisco NZ Winemaker's Dinner, with Matt Mitchell, General Manager of the Winery.

The Date and Time: Thursday February 23, 2017  7PM - 10PM

The Event: Marisco NZ Winemaker's Dinner, with Matt Mitchell, General Manager of the Winery.

The Venue: Estiatorio Volos, Richmond Street

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: wines are at, or will be at, the LCBO except for the pinot noirs which are private orders through Authentic Wine & Spirits.

The Quote/Background: Matt left us to taste the wines on our own, and to develop their affinities for the food. Then he went around the table and chatted with everybody. The winery is in Marlborough by the Waihopai River. They focus on sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and pinot noir. There is a high end series which includes a viognier but we had so samplings here. The "Bastard" refers to the single chardonnay as out-of-the-ordinary since it is not really prominent in this region. The export model is label "Legacy", but alas, there were no samples here for us to taste. Matt and I covered a lot of ground about New Zealand wines in Ontario, and we discovered that he went to wine school (Roseworthy) with our mutual friend Joe Will of Strewn Winery in Niagara.

The Wines: I had been exposed to Marisco over the years through the annual New Zealand wine show that passed through Toronto every May. I was disappointed that no Chardonnays appeared (I loved The King's Bastard Chardonnay, which the company changed to King's Legacy on the new export label)...

 

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

-Marisco The King's Desire Pinot Noir Rose 2016, $19.95 +492926 Vintages April 29

-Marisco The King's Wrath Pinot Noir 2015 $26 Private Order

 

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

-Marisco The King's Ned Pinot Noir 2014 $19 Private Order

-Marisco The King's Thorn Pinot Gris 2016 $19.95 +490300 Vintages May 13

-Marisco The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $16.60 LCBO +470070

 

The Food: we had a small plates menu, with samplings of flaming saganaki (sheep's milk cheese) with The Ned Sauvignon Blanc, and a trio of horiatiki salad, tiger prawn saganaki, and grilled Moroccan octopus accompanied by the Thorn Pinot Gris and the King's Desire Pinot Noir Rose. The main course was surf and turf: grilled Mediterranean filleted sea bass and beef tenderloin riganato. Here we had both Pinot Noirs. The food was well-chosen for engaging the wine.

The Downside: I had to leave early before dessert (alas, there was no sticky wine either).

The Upside: an engaging one-on-one conversation with Matt Mitchell about the New Zealand wine industry.

The Contact Person: nmonoholias@awsm.ca and matt@marisco.co.nz

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for March 18, 2017.

 

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP 20/20 WINES: 20 under $20 and 20 over $20 for  March 18, 2017.

=======================================================================

By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My Internet compendium "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.

 

So many people have asked me for wine recommendations, with numbers only. The readers' most common response is that while they like what I say, they only relate to the score. The score is a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, where e.g. a Southern Rhone tastes like a Southern Rhone and not like a Northern Rhone) and Quality/Price Ratio. Let's take it for granted that, e.g., a Riesling tastes like a Riesling, and the wine has some value in the marketplace either above or below its selling price. This way too I can also cover more wines.

 

This restructured wine newsletter for the Ontario market (with wines available through the LCBO and Vintages on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca/ or at    http://www.deantudor.com

 

THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --

 

W+456020    RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC WO Stellenbosch 2015 $14.95      13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

W+469700    BOECKEL GEWURZTRAMINER    Alsace 2015    $17.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91

R+480889    CHATEAU DE SÉRAME MINERVOIS 2010    $16.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

 

20 under $20

=========

W+946848    PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO    DOC    2015    $18.95     12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+13755    TOMMASI POGGIO AL TUFO ROMPICOLLO    IGT Toscana    2014    $17.95

13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+23325 BORGO SCOPETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2013 $18.95  13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+38117    VINELAND ESTATES ELEVATION ST. URBAN VINEYARD RIESLING    St. Urban Vineyard, VQA Niagara Escarpment    2015 $19.95  9.9% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+46508    PUKLUS PINCÉSZET TOKAJI SEMI-SWEET YELLOW MUSCAT 2015    Tokaj-Hegyalja $16.95  12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+70573    14 HANDS WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Columbia Valley 2014 $18.95

13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89

R+92536    CHÂTEAU LARROQUE Bordeaux 2012    $15.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+148577    ADRO DA SÉ RESERVA    DOC Dão Udaca 2012 $15.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90

R+203364    ERRAZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON Aconcagua Valley 2014    $19.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR:  88

W+225557    ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC    Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island    2015 $18.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

W+251116    HENRY OF PELHAM FAMILY TREE WHITE    VQA Niagara Peninsula 2013 $17.95

13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+256834    CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED "OLD VINES" PINOT NOIR VQA Niagara-on-the-lake    2012    $19.95      13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+273672    STORIA ANTICA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2014 $17.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+488015 QUINTA DO ESPÍRITO SANTO Vinho Regional Lisboa Casa Santos Lima 2014 $12.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+343509    TESSELLAE VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN    IGP Côtes Catalanes    Domaine Lafage, vignobles d'altitude    2014    $17.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+363150    LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE SUR LIE    AC 2015    $14.95     12% ABV, MVC/QPR:  89

R+379768    SCHOLA SARMENTI ROCCAMORA NARDO' NEGROAMARO DOC Nardò     2013 $16.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+380683    CHÂTEAU DU PORT CUVÉE PRESTIGE MALBEC    AC Cahors    2012    $19.95

12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+413237    GÉRARD BERTRAND SYRAH/GRENACHE    AP Languedoc 2013    $16.95

13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+481416    FAUSTINO RIVERO ULECIA SILVER LABEL RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2009 $17.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

 

20 over $20

=========

R+958868    BARÓN DE LEY RESERVA DOCa Rioja    2011    $21.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

R+931600    CORIOLE ESTATE GROWN SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia 2014    $28.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+109116    BOASSO SERRALUNGA BAROLO DEL COMUNE DI SERRALUNGA D'ALBA DOCG     2011    $41.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+112607    FANTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2011 $62.95 15.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+206409    CONVENTO SAN FRANCISCO    DO Ribera del Duero     2010    $20.95

14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90

R+236927    VIÑA HERMINIA RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    Bodegas Vina Herminia 2010 $27.95

14% ABV, MVC/QPR:  90

R+279059    LAURENT GAUTHIER GRAND CRAS VIEILLES VIGNES MORGO     2014    $21.95

12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+353086    CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Maipo Valley 2014    $22.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+421362    2027 WISMER VINEYARD FOX CROFT BLOCK CHARDONNAY    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2014    $22.95 12.8% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90

W+429308    SPY VALLEY ENVOY SAUVIGNON BLANC    Johnson Vineyard, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, South Island    2014    $29.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

R+107383    POGGIO VERRANO DRÒMOS    IGT Maremma Toscana 2007    $39.95

14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89

W+189126    JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2015 $27.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+340513    BRANDLIN ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON     Mount Veeder, Napa Valley    2013 $59.95     15.6% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+374454    ASTROLABE VALLEYS PINOT NOIR    Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island 2014    $23.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+472480    STONEY RIDGE EXCELLENCE MERITAGE    VQA Niagara Peninsula 2014 $24.95

13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+472811    VIÑA HERMINIA EXCELSUS DOCa Rioja 2012    $23.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+481044    JUNIPER ESTATE CHARDONNAY Margaret River, Western Australia    2014    $34.95   

13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+485219    ROLAND LAVANTUREUX VAUPRIN CHABLIS 2014    $36.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 87

R+660597    FESS PARKER PINOT NOIR Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara 2013  $34.95 14.2% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

W+488585    LE G DE CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD  Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2015 $27.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

R+655399 STAGS' LEAP WINERY MERLOT Napa Valley 2013 $39.95 14.1% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: Taste Ontario Toronto; VQA Wines of Ontario March 7, 2017

1. The Date and Time: Monday March 6, 2017  11AM to 4PM

The Event: Taste Ontario Toronto; VQA Wines of Ontario

The Venue: ROM

The Target Audience: wine trade (media at 11, trade at 1)

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available at winery or LCBO. The catalogue had full details with names of contact persons.

The Quote/Background: Over 40 wineries participated, from Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, and Prince Edward County.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine; there were 130. Prices are retail. Scores are added for each wine.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (90+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

90 Stratus Vineyards    Stratus White    Niagara Lakeshore    2013    13.8    +660704 $38

90 Tawse Winery    Tawse Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2013    12.5    N/A     $20.15    

94 Thomas Bachelder    Chardonnay Mineralité    Niagara Peninsula    2014    12.50% N/A     

92+ 2027 Cellars LTD     Wismer Vineyard - Foxcroft Block - Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2014    12.8    +421362 Vintages     $22.95    

92 Adamo Estate Winery    Oaked Chardonnay Willms Vineyard 2014    Niagara On The Lake    2014    13.8%    N/A     $31

92 Cave Spring Cellars    Riesling CSV    Beamsville Bench    2015    11.5%    +566026 $29.95    

94 Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay    Four Mile Creek 2013 13    N/A $50 90 Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Estate Grown Small Lot '101' Cabernet Franc    Four Mile Creek    2013    12.5    N/A     $34.95    

90 Chateau des Charmes    Rosé sparkling wine Méthode Traditionnelle    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2014    12.5    +78055     $29.95    

94 Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut    VQA Niagara Peninsula    NV    12%    +217505     $33.84    

93+ Icellars Estate Winery    Chardonnay    Niagara-on-the-lake    2014    13.5    $35

90 Icellars Estate Winery    Pinot Noir    Niagara-on-the-lake    2015    13    $45

90 Malivoire Wine Company Bisous Brut Nature Beamsville Bench NV    12    N/A     $34.95    

90 Closson Chase Vineyards    Closson Chase South Clos Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2014    12.5    N/A     $39.95    

90 Domaine Queylus     Pinot Noir Signature    Niagara Peninsula    2013    13    N/A    

90 Flat Rock Cellars    Pinot Noir    Twenty Mile Bench    2014    13%    1545     $20.20    

92 Flat Rock Cellars    Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2015    13.5%    +681247     $18.95    

93 Flat Rock Cellars    Riddled Traditional Method Sparkling    Twenty Mile Bench    2010    12%    +383315     $29.95    

 

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 89.5 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

88 Flat Rock Cellars    Riesling    Twenty Mile Bench    2015    9.5%    +43281     $16.95    

89 Good Earth Vineyards & Winery (The)    Riesling Beamsville Bench 2014 9.6     $21.95    

89 GreenLane Estate Winery Tenacious C[hardonnay] Lincoln Lakeshore 2014 13.2     $19.95    

88 GreenLane Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Lincoln Lakeshore 2012 13.5     $32.95    

88+ Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay Ontario 2015    11%    +453167     $14.95    

89+ Creekside Estate Winery    Chardonnay Queenston Road Vineyard    St. David's Bench    2014    13         $24.95    

88 Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon    St. David's Bench    2012 13.5 $40

89 Domaine Queylus Chardonnay Tradition    Niagara Peninsula    2014    13    N/A     $24.95    

89+ Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Estate Chardonnay    VQA Short Hills Bench    2015    13.5    268342     $22.54    

89 Magnotta Winery G. Marquis Chardonnay Niagara-on-the-Lake 2015    13.6    N/A     $17.95    

89 Magnotta Winery    Magnotta Enotrium Gran Reserva    Niagara Peninsula    2012    15.5    N/A     $60.15    

88 Meldville Wines Meldville Sauvignon Blanc Lincoln Lakeshore 2015 13.8 N/A     $20.20    

89+ Meldville Wines    Meldville Chardonnay    Lincoln Lakeshore    2015    13.2 N/A $20.20 89 Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    County Chardonnay     VQA Prince Edward County    2014    11.4%    N/A     $45.20    

89+ Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    Chardonnay    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2014    12.2%    +184432     $39.20    

89 Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    Pinot Noir    VQA Niagara Peninsula    2015    11.9%    208702     $45.20    

89 Nyarai Cellars    Viognier    Niagara Peninsula    2015    13%         $22.95    

88 Pelee Island Winery    Vinedresser Chardonnay    Lake Erie North Shore    2012    13%    492462     $17.75    

88 Rapscallion Wine Company     Frisky Beaver Shades of Grey Chardonnay    VQA Ontario     2015    12.8%    490383     $14.95    

89 Redstone Winery    Redstone Cabernet    Niagara Peninsula    2013    13    NA     $19.95    

89 Domaine Queylus     Pinot Noir Reserve    Niagara Peninsula    2012    13.5    N/A    $45

89 Fielding Estate Winery     Riesling      Niagara Peninsula    2014    10.5    +146761 $15.95    

88+ Reif Estate Winery    Reif Estate Chardonnay Reserve    Niagara River    2014    13.5 %    +252163     $22.15    

89 Reif Estate Winery    Reif Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve    Niagara River 2014    13 %    +304162     $30.15    

88+ Rosewood Estates Winery    Origin Chardonnay     Beamsville Bench    2014    13 $28.95 89 Chateau des Charmes    Equuelus    St. David's Bench    2012    13.5    319525     $42.00    

89+ Chateau des Charmes    Old Vines Riesling, Estate Bottled    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2014    12    277228     $17.95    

88 Chateau des Charmes    Cuvée d'Andrée Rosé, Estate Grown & Bottled    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2015    12.6    333260     $15.95    

89 Rosewood Estates Winery Origin Cabernet Franc Niagara Peninsula 2014    13.2    $29.95    

89 Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2015    12.5    N/A     $22.95    

89 Southbrook Vineyards    Southbrook Triomphe Pinot Noir    Niagara Peninsula    2015    12.5    N/A     $29.95    

88 Stoney Ridge Estate Winery     Excellence Pinot Noir     Niagara Peninsula    2015    12.5%    N/A     $29.95    

88 13th Street Winery    Cuvee Rose NV    Niagara Peninsula    NV    12.5%    147504 $27.95    

88 2027 Cellars LTD    Queenston Road Vineyard' Pinot Noir    St. David's Bench    2013    13    421370     $35.00    

88 2027 Cellars LTD    2027 Cellars Falls Vineyard Riesling    Vinemount Ridge    2016    10    n/a     $18.95    

88 Adamo Estate Winery    Gewurztraminer Wismer - Lakeview Vineyard 2015    Twenty Mile Bench    2015    12.9%    N/A     $19.95    

89 Adamo Estate Winery    Pinot Noir Lowrey Vineyard 2014    St. David's Bench    2014    12.8%    N/A     $34.75    

89 Thomas Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench 2012 12.5    $44.95    

88 Thomas Bachelder    Pinot Noir Parfum    Niagara Peninsula    2014    12.5         N/A     

89+ Thomas Bachelder    Wismer-Parke Pinot Noir    Twenty Mile Bench    2014    13    $44.95    

88 Westcott Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay    Vinemount Ridge 2015 12.9 N/A     $32.95    

89 Westcott Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir     Vinemount Ridge    2013    13.5    N/A     $30.00    

88 Two Sisters Vineyards Eleventh Post    Niagara River    2012    14%    N/A     $39.00    

88 Cave Spring Cellars    Chardonnay CSV Beamsville Bench 2014 13%    +529941     $29.95    

89 Cave Spring Cellars    Pinot Noir Estate    Beamsville Bench    2015    13%    +246561 $39.95    

86 Stratus Vineyards    Tollgate Red    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2014    13.5    N/A    $22 88+ Stratus Vineyards    Stratus Red    Niagara Lakeshore    2012    13.8    +131037     $44.00    

89 Tawse Winery    Tawse Riesling    Niagara Peninsula    2015    10    NA     $16.05    

 

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

86 Fielding Estate Winery     Estate Bottled Chardonnay    Lincoln Lakeshore    2015    12.5    +355842     $21.95    

86 GreenLane Estate Winery    Riesling    Lincoln Lakeshore    2014    10.9         $12.95    

86 Icellars Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Niagara-on-the-lake    2015    13     $50.00    

85 Icellars Estate Winery Arinna    Niagara-on-the-lake    2014    13         $39.00    

86 Creekside Estate Winery Iconoclast Syrah St. David's Bench 2013 12.2         $22.95    

85 Vieni Estates Wine and Spirits    Sauvignon Blanc    Vinemount Ridge    2013    13    N/A

86 Pelee Island Winery    Vinedressers Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot    Lake Erie North Shore    2012    13%    492470     $19.75    

86 Redstone Winery    Redstone Redfoot Vineyard Viognier 2015    Lincoln Lakeshore    2015    13    N/A     $29.95    

86 Stoney Ridge Estate Winery     Gewurztraminer    Niagara Peninsula     2015    13%     N/A     $14.95    

86 Meldville Wines Meldville Cabernet Franc Lincoln Lakeshore 2015 13    N/A     $27.00    

85 Mike Weir Estate Winery    Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2016    12.5    26     $14.95    

86 Stoney Ridge Estate Winery     Excellence Merlot     Niagara Peninsula     2015    13.5%    na     $24.95    

85 Vineland Estates Winery    Cabernet Merlot    Niagara Peninsula    2015    12.5    $15.00    

85 Westcott Vineyards Violette Sparkling Brut Vinemount Ridge NV    12.3    N/A     $25.95    

87 Aure Wines    Viognier    Ontario    2015    11.2         $15.95    

86 Two Sisters Vineyards Riesling    Niagara Escarpment 2015    10.7%    n/a      $35.00    

87 Tawse Winery    Tawse Pinot Noir    Niagara Peninsula    2013    13    NA     $22.15    

86 Rosewood Estates Winery Select Series Merlot Niagara Escarpment 2013    13     $19.95    

 

The Food: WMAO graciously provided a variety of baguette sandwiches, wraps, salads, and grains – plus some desserts and coffees.

The Downside: I had to leave early for another engagement, but I did spend almost 3 hours tasting what I could.

The Upside: a chance to catch up with VQA wines ahead of the Ontario Wine Awards.

The Contact Person: magdalena@wmao.ca

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The Event: New Gems and Old Favourites from Northern Italy

The Date and Time: Thursday, February 9, 2017  11AM to 3PM

The Event: New Gems and Old Favourites from Northern Italy

The Venue: Chef's House, George Brown College

The Target Audience: wine trade, media

The Availability/Catalogue: There were four wines at the seminar and about a dozen more for just the trade. The agents were there to sample wines and perhaps sign up an Italian winery to represent. Reps from the wineries had just arrived from Miami and warmer weather.

The Quote/Background: We began with a short talk on the traceability and regulation of Italian DOC wines from Federdoc, and then moved on to the seminar moderated by Michael Fagan. About 40 attended the seminar and the panel presentation. None of the wines are currently in the Ontario marketplace. The Friuli region is in the process of regularizing its name on the label.

The Wines: Hey, I tried every wine!

 

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

-Villa Mattielli San Giacomo Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2014 $25–30 USD retail

 

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

-La Scusa Ribolla Gialla Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC 2015

 

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

-Casa Vinicola Antonutti Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave DOC 2015, $18-29 USD retail

-La Scusa Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC 2015

 

The Food: a light buffet lunch included roast pork loin with mushroom sauce and roasted roots of potatoes, carrots and onions. There was also a vegetarian lasagne and a green salad followed by a dessert.

The Downside: I thought that there would be more interplay with the audience, especially since there were only 4 wines.

The Upside: it was good to sit and break bread with some agents, something we don't normally do.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com