TASTING: Ontario Vintner's Series, Toronto, Sept 11-24, 2009

 The Time and Date: week of September 11 – 24, 2009

The Event: Ontario Vintner's Series, featuring Niagara and Prince Edward County wineries, almost daily, with winemakers in attendance.

The Venue: Fine Wine Reserve

The Target Audience: wine media, private consumers, trade.

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the winery's distribution network.

The Quote/Background: tastings went from 2 – 7 PM each day, and featured one Niagara and one PEC each day. Some I was unable to go to: there were Tawse, Rosehall Run, Organized Crime, Closson Chase, Hernder, Norman Hardie; I was not able to taste these, but I did taste the wines listed below.

The Wines: about 4 wines were shown from each winery.

 

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

-Long Dog Bella's Riserva Chardonnay 2007 PEC, $34 – 22 barrel, medium toast

-Long Dog Tumbling Stone Gamay/Pinot Noir NV PEC – a passetoutgrain that is 50% gamay 2007 and 50% pinot noir 2006. Could be slightly chilled. 13.4% ABV.

-Nyrai Cellars Chardonnay 2007 Niagara NOTL, $16.20.

-Huff Estates South Bay Chardonnay 2007 PEC, $29.95

-13^th Street Winery Cuvee 13 Rose Brut 2006 Niagara, $25

-13^th Street Winery Chardonnay Sandstone Old Vines 2007 Four Mile Creek, $25.

-13^th Street Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Creek Shores Niagara, $26.

-Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay 2006, +117572 Vintages, $21.95

-Southbrook Triomphe Merlot 2008, $21.95 – certified organic and biodynamic.

-By Chadsey's Cairns Gewurztraminer 2008 Prince Edward County, $17.12 licensee

 

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

-Long Dog Otto Pinot Noir 2007 PEC, $50

-Nyarai Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Niagara, $18.20

-Nyarai Cellars Cabernet-Merlot 2007, Niagara Beamsville/NOTL, $18.20 – 35%CS, 35% merlot, 15%CF, 15% syrah.

-Huff Estates Pinot Gris 2008 PEC, $19.95

-13^th Street Winery Riesling Funk Vineyard Old Vines 2008 Niagara, $22.

-13^th Street Winery Gamay Noir Sandstone Old Vines 2007 Four Mile Creek, $24.

-Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Merlot, $26.95

-By Chadsey's Cairns Chenin Blanc 2007 Prince Edward County, $19.57 licensee.

-By Chadsey's Cairns Gamay Noir 2007 Prince Edward County, $17.94 licensee.

-By Chadsey's Cairns Cabernet Franc 2007 Prince Edward County, $16.30 licensee.

 

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

-Long Dog Francesca Pinot Gris 2007 PEC, $22 – 13.5% ABV

-Nyarai Cellars Syrah 2007 Niagara, $20.20

-Huff Estates Rose 2008 PEC, $16.95 – 30%CS/60%CF/10%merlot

-Huff Estates South Bay Merlot/Cabernet 2007 PEC, $29.95 – 50%merlot/15%CF/15%CS.

-Southbrook Triomphe Sauvignon Blanc 2007, +117556, Vintages Nov 7, 2009, $18.95.

-By Chadsey's Cairns Chardonnay 2006 Lailey Vyd (Niagara) and PEC, $14.68 licensee.

 

The Food: bread and water

The Downside: I had to make multiple visits.

The Upside: good contact with the winemakers

The Contact Person: lindsaygroves@hotmail.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 86.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com