The Date and Time: Thursday, October 2, 2014 10:30AM to 4PM
The Event: Taste Ontario – Experience Ontario VQA Wines, annual tasting
The Venue: ROM
The Target Audience: in the AM, the media; in the afternoon, the trade; in the evening, the consumers.
The Availability/Catalogue: everything is available, either at the LCBO or at the winery. Some items are only available to restaurants.
The Quote/Background:
The Wines: Some of us had just tasted a round of Ontario sparkling wines the Friday before. Rather than repeat, and to save my palate, I've reproduced those notes here. The first price listed is the licensee, the second price is retail. Thanks to WCO for the spreadsheet data!
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cave Spring Cellars NV Blanc de Blancs VQA Niagara $29.95 213983 LCBO
-Huff Estate Cuvee Peter F. Huff Brut 2010 PEC, $39.95 (2007 is at Vintages)
-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Brut $29.95 217521 LCBO
-Henry of Pelham 2009 Cuvee Catharine Carte Blanche Blanc de Blanc $44.95 315200
-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Rose Brut $29.95 217505 LCBO
-Tawse 2011 Spark Blend $24.95 384966
-Chateau des Charmes n/v Brut $22.95 224766 LCBO
-ANGELS GATE WINERY 2011 HANDSOME BRUT $24.95 395160 LCBO
-Lake Erie North Shore Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2008 750 ml 13.7% 627843185653 $16.84 $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment Bachelder Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011 750 ml 13.9% 302083 $26.50 $29.95
-Niagara Escarpment Bachelder Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 750 ml 13.9% 366120 $38.50 $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment Bachelder Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 750 ml 13.7% 324103 $38.50 $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment Di Profio Wines Limited Sauvignon Blanc 2013 750 ml 13.7% $15.03 $17.80
-Niagara Escarpment Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Wismer Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2013 750 ml 12.6% 809381011212 $16.83 $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment Thirty Bench Winery Winemaker's Red 2012 750 ml 13.8% 0 48162 01172 4 $20.27 $24.00
-Niagara Escarpment Thirty Bench Winery Triangle Riesling 2013 750 ml 10.9% 0-4816201128-1 $25.33 $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake ChĆ¢teau des Charmes "Old Vines" Riesling, Estate Bottled 2012 750 ml 12.5% 277228 $14.14 $16.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Jackson-Triggs Winery Delaine Vineyard Syrah 2011 750 ml 13.6% 80011991 $27.65 $32.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Jackson-Triggs Winery Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.5% 988055 $16.67 $19.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.7% 985879 $25.16 $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Le Clos Jordanne Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 750 ml 13.5% 985895 $33.60 $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Konzelmann Estate Winery Chardonnay Family Reserve 2012 750 ml 14.5% 624654100222 $42.17 $50.15
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Lailey Vineyard Wines Syrah 2012 750 ml 13% 833078000500 $22.79 $27.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Ravine Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2011 750 ml 13% $33.54 $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vineyards Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay 2013 750 ml 13.1% 172338 $19.21 $22.75
-Prince Edward County Closson Chase Kocsis Chardonnay 2011 750 ml 13% $29.33 $34.75
-Prince Edward County Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2011 750 ml 12.3% 837654599532 $32.93 $39.00
-Prince Edward County Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2012 750 ml 12.5% $32.93 $39.00
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-ANGELS GATE WINERY 2011 ARCHANGEL CHARDONNAY Brut $23.95 227009 LCBO
-ANGELS GATE WINERY 2009 PINOT NOIR ROSE Brut $25 BEAMSVILLE BENCH
-Fielding Estate Winery NV Brut $34.95 Winery
-Jackson-Triggs 2011 Grand Reserve Series Entourage Spark. Brut $22.95 234161 Vintages
-Featherstone Winery 2010 Joy Brut $34.95 310334 Twenty Mile Bench Dec 6, 2014
-Flat Rock Riddled Sparking 2009 VQA $24.95 Vintages
-Creekside Estate The Trad Reserve Brut 2011 Queenston Road Vineyard MT $28.75
-Tawse 2013 Spark Riesling $19.95 VQA 370361
-Grange of Prince Edward 2010 Lot 2 Brut $29.95 Prince Edward County
-Niagara Escarpment 13th Street Winery Sandstone Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 750 ml 13% $25.12 $29.95
-Niagara Escarpment 13th Street Winery June's Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.5% $16.68 $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment Angels Gate Winery Mountainview Chardonnay 2008 750 ml 13% 402492008234 $14.99 $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment Bachelder Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750 ml 13.5% 361816 $38.50 $44.95
-Niagara Escarpment Cave Spring Cellars Riesling The Adam Steps 2013 750 ml 10.5% $20.90 $24.75
-Niagara Escarpment Creekside Estate Winery [Backyard Block] Sauvignon Blanc 2013 750 ml 12.5% 341792 $14.99 $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Viognier 2012 750 ml 13.5% $25.12 $29.75
-Niagara Escarpment Fielding Estate Winery Lot No. 17 Riesling 2013 750 ml 10% 876584001166 $23.60 $27.95
-Niagara Escarpment Flat Rock Cellars Nadja's Vineyard Riesling 2013 750 ml 10.5% 18860100235 $16.84 $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment The Good Earth Winery and Vineyard the good wine 2013 Betty's Blend 2013 750 ml 12% 2014 $14.99 $17.75
-Niagara Escarpment Rennie Estate Winery Christine Chardonnay Unfiltered 2012 750 ml 14% $29.38 $34.80
-Niagara Escarpment Tawse Winery Tawse Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 12.5% $16.84 $19.95
-Niagara Escarpment Thirty Bench Winery Winemaker's Riesling 2013 750 ml 10.6% 0-4816201126-7 $15.83 $18.75
-Niagara Escarpment Westcott Vineyards Westcott Estate Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.5% 3755000004 $21.78 $26.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Cattail Creek Estate Winery Estate Series Riesling 2013 750 ml 12% 825020013010 $14.82 $16.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake ChĆ¢teau des Charmes Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard 2010 750 ml 14% 319525 $33.60 $40.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Inniskillin Wines Reserve Pinot Gris 2013 750 ml 14% 981415 $16.67 $19.95
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Lailey Vineyard Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2013 750 ml 13% 833078000173 $16.88 $20.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.5% 48162005556 $15.83 $18.75
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Ravine Vineyard Riesling 2013 750 ml 8% 629114 00142 0 $25.12 $30.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vineyards Southbrook Whimsy! "Richness" Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 14.3% 621605 $29.34 $34.75
-Prince Edward County Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2012 750 ml 11.5% 400001253106 $32.93 $39.00
-Prince Edward County Norman Hardie Calcaire 2013 750 ml 10.8% 837654599679 $19.42 $23.00
-Burning Kiln Winery Cureman's Chard 2012 750 ml 13% UPC824799039122 $18.37 $21.75
-Union Wines Union White 2013 750 ml 12.5% 197145 $13.00 $13.95
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-ANGELS GATE WINERY 2011 SAUVIGNON BLANC Brut $23.95 BEAMSVILLE BENCH
-Coyote's Run Winery 2011 Sparkling Chardonnay $24.95 398388 LCBO Nov 22
-Coyote's Run Winery 2009 Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose $29.95 359125 LCBO -Jackson-Triggs 2012 Reserve Series Cuvee Clos $14.95 217679 LCBO
-John Howard Cellars of Distinction/Megalomaniac 2012 Bubblehead $28.95 363655 LCBO
-Diamond Estates Winery 2012 FRESH Sparkling Rose $13.95
-Lakeview Cellars 2008 GMR Sparkling $19.95
-Diamond Estates Winery 2013 20 Bees Buzz & Bubbles $13.95 332577 LCBO
-Jackson-Triggs 2010 Grand Reserve Series Entourage Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc $29.95 353078 Vintages
-Jackson-Triggs 2010 Grand Reserve Series Entourage Sparkling Merlot $29.95
-Sue-Ann Staff 2011 Sparkling & SASSY $27.95 344622 Vintages
-Sue-Ann Staff 2011 Sparkling & Icy $34.95 359703 Riesling Vintages Dec 4 -Colio Girls Night Out Sparkling $14.95
-PELEE ISLAND WINERY 2012 SECCO Sparkling $15.75 LENS 225946 LCBO
-Grange of Prince Edward 2013 Sparkling Riesling $19.95 392746 Prince Edward C Vintages
-Palatine Hills NV Prestige Brut VQA $20.00
-Redstone 2011 Sparkling $24.95 at Tawse VQA
-Huff Estate Cuvee Janine Brut Rose 2012 PEC, $29.95 Winery
-Lake Erie North Shore Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Talon White 2013 750 ml 13% 853698001138 $14.31 $16.95
-Lake Erie North Shore Cooper's Hawk Vineyards Riesling 2013 750 ml 9% 853698001114 $14.31 $16.95
-Lake Erie North Shore Sprucewood Shores Winery Riesling 2012 2012 750 ml 12% 326249 $11.61 $13.75
-Niagara Escarpment Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir RĆ©serve 2011 750 ml 12.5% 896131000213 $34.95 $45.00
-Niagara Escarpment Di Profio Wines Limited Riesling 2013 750 ml 11.2% $14.86 $17.60
-Niagara Escarpment Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13% 881860300291 $14.31
-Niagara Escarpment Henry of Pelham Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2013 750 ml 13.5% 268342 $16.67 $19.75
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Marynissen Estates Unoaked Chardonnay 2013 750 ml 13% $12.49 $14.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Marynissen Estates Pinot Gris 2013 750 ml 13.2% $14.18 $16.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Palatine Hills Estate Winery Riesling 2012 750 ml 11% 38956001413 $10.98 $12.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Palatine Hills Estate Winery Neufeld Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 750 ml 13.5% 338956004163 $19.38 $22.80
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Ravine Vineyard Reserve Merlot 2010 750 ml 13.7% 629114 00072 2 $37.76 $45.00
-Niagara-on-the-Lake Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Ravine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 750 ml 13.5% $29.33 $35.00
-Prince Edward County Rosehall Run Chardonnay Cuvee County 2011 750 ml 13% 834328002770 $17.98 $21.30
-Prince Edward County Rosehall Run Hungry Point Unoaked Chardonnay 2013 750 ml 12.5% 834328002701 $16.67 $19.75
-Union Wines Union Squared 2012 750 ml 13.5% 292359 $17.00 $17.95
The Food: the media were fed huge gourmet sandwiches, green salad, salade composee, Nanaimo bars, coffees, etc.
The Downside: I had to race since I had a concert to attend.
The Upside: a great snapshot of the Ontario VQA wines.
The Contact Person: magdalena@winesofontario.org
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com