The Event: Annual Tasting of Imported Sparkling Wines by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada. Sept 21

The Date and Time:  Monday, September 21, 2015   10:30AM to 1:30 PM

The Event: Annual Tasting of Imported Sparkling Wines by the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada

The Venue: Quebec Avenue Meeting Place

The Target Audience: members of the Wine Writers' Circle of Canada

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available through the LCBO, some are by consignment, others by private order only. Our thanks to the many suppliers who contributed samples for our tasting.

The Quote/Background: This year there were far too many sparkling wines to taste in one go, so we divided them up into Imports and Domestics. We just tasted the imports this time; the domestics will be tasted in two weeks.

The Wines: All wines were chilled and corks popped at the same time. Members went through at their own pace, filing notes individually (this was not a competition nor a judging). What follows are my own scores from tasting the wines, and reflect my own opinions. [J. de Telmont,O.R. 1735 - Brut,2004,$186,+107069,100% Chardonnay – was badly corked]

 

My personal FAVE, best overall score of 96: Domaine Legras et Haas,Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut,NV,$79.95, 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru Selection Parcellaire. cyndi@melleceywinegroup.com

My FAVE for the price was Trapiche,2014,Trapiche Extra Brut,$11.95,+262261.

 

Wines are rated generally within a range but NOT ranked within.

 

 

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

-NINO FRANCO,Grave di Stecca,2011,$39.95,+422758,100% Gerla

-Louis Roederer,Roederer Estate Rose,NV,$42.95,+479758,Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

-J. de Telmont,Cuveé Sans Soufré - Brut,NV,$123.86,+107036,100% Chardonnay [from www.espritduvin.ca]

-Fowles Wines,Stone Dwellers Sparkling,NV,$19.95,+43074,Chard/Pinot Noir

-Champagne Tarlant,Reserve Brut,NV,$42.40,+325167,"1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Pinot Meunier, 1/3 Pinot Noir"

-Champagne Henriot,NV,Champagne Brut Souverain, $69.95,+944206

-Louis Roederer,Brut Premier,NV,$69.95,+268771,Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay

-Champagne Taittinger,Brut Reserve ,NV $59.95,+365312,"Pinot Noir, Chardonnay"

-Laurent-Perrier,Cuvée Rosé Brut,NV,$99.95,+158550,Pinot Noir

-Perrier Jouet,NV Grand Brut,$67.95,+155341

-LOIRE VINS DOMAINE Chateau D'Eternes, Saumur Brut $14.95,+429696,Chardonnay

-Domaine Legras et Haas,Champagne Tradition,NV,$64.95 50% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Meunier 25% Pinot Noir

-Domaine Legras et Haas,Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc,NV,$74.95 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru

-Domaine Legras et Haas,Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Millesime 2008 $91.95 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru Selection Parcellaire

-Domaine Legras et Haas,Champagne Rosé,NV,$70.95 50% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Meunier 25% Pinot Noir

-NINO FRANCO,Vigneto della Riva di San Floriano DOCG,2014,$27.95 100% Gerla

-NINO FRANCO,BRUT Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG,NV,$21.95,+349662,100% Gerla

 

 

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

-Jansz Premium Rose,NV,$32.95,+142421,

-Villa Maria,2014,Villa Maria Lightly Sparkling,$17.95,+429969

-Soc.Agr.D'Aione s.r.l.,,TUBOLLE Brut,$29.95,+688118

-Ruffino Prosecco,NV 100% Glera

-Barone Pizzini,n/v,Franciacorta,$29.95,+422691

-J. de Telmont,Grand Couronnement - Brut,2002,$136.87,+107051,100% Chardonnay

-Henkell Trocken Rose,NV,$14.95,+203125,Select Classic Varietals

-J. de Telmont,Grand Rosé,NV,$62.63,+107077,85% Chardonnay

-Antech Limoux,Antech Expression Brut Cremant de Limoux,2012,$19.95,+68239,"Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac"

-Louis Roederer,Roederer Estate Brut,NV,$29.95,+294181,Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

-Trapiche,n/v Extravaganza $17.95,+424838

-Freixenet Sonoma Caves,n/v,Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut,$33.95,+192898

-Freixenet Sonoma Caves,n/v,Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs,$33.95,+925735

-Freixenet Sonoma Caves,n/v,Goria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs,$33.95,+223792

-Aimery Sieur d'Arques,n/v,Grande Cuvee 1531 Cremant Blanc,$17.95,+428086

-J. de Telmont,Grand Réserve Champagne - Brut,NV,$53,+107028,33% Chardonnay

-Delegat Limited,NV,Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Brut,$21.95,+163634

-J. de Telmont,Grand Vintage - Brut,2005,$67.44,+107044,40% Chardonnay

-Domaine René Meyer,Crémant D'Alsace - Brut,2013,$24.67,+935733,60% Chardonnay

-Domaine Deliance,Cremant Brut Reserve,NV,$29.95 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Prunes

-J. de Telmont,Grand Blanc de Blancs - Brut,2007,$67.44,+107093,100% Chardonnay

-Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte,Brut ,NV,$49.95,+537605,"20% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier"

-G.H Mumm ,Non Vintage,Mumm Cordon Rouge $64.95,+308056

-Lanson Black Label Brut,NV,$54.95,+215962,"50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier "

-Codorniu Raventos,NV,Seleccion Raventos Rosé Cava,$15.95,+370080

 

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

-KWV Cathedral Cellar Brut 2010,$16.95,+296426

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay Pinot Noir,2012,$21.95,+606285, Chardonnay,Pinot Noir

-Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee,$14.95,+210633

-Kim Crawford Fizz,2009,$29.95,+381236,60% Pinot Noir and 40%  Chardonnay

-Delegat Limited,NV,Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Rosé,$21.95,+280172

-Yellow Tail NV Bubbles,$13.95,+229047

-Yellow Tail Bubbles Rose,$13.95,+229039

-Bottega,Il Vino dei Poeti Rosé Brut,NV,$13.45,+277202,"60% Raboso, 40% Pinot Noir"

-Henkell Trocken,NV,$14.95,+122689,Select Classic Varietals

-Sichel Sohne, Blue Nun 22K Gold Sparkling,$14.95,+425199,

-Codorniu Raventos,NV,Clasico,$13.95,+215814

-Henkell (Spain),Cavas Hill,NV,$13.20,+370866,50% Xarel-lo, 35% Macabeo, 15% Parellada

-Segura Viudas Reserva,$14.95,+216960

-Gonzalez Byass,NV,Vilarnau Brut Reserva,$17.95,+134683

-Freixenet Carta Nevada Brut Cava,N/V,$12.95,+216887,33% Parellada 33% Macabeo 33% Xarel.lo

-Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava,N/V,$13.95,+216945,40% Parellada 35% Macabeo 25% Xarel.lo

-Ca'del Bosco,Cuvee Prestige,NV,$39.95,+105353,"75% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Bianco, 15% Pinot Nero"

-Villa Sandi,Il Fresco Prosecco DOC Treviso Spumante,NV,$13.95,+394387,100% Glera

-Domaine de Mouscaillo,AOP Crémant de Limoux,NV,$25.14,+938703,70% Chardonnay

-Santa Margherita Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC Brut,NV,$18.95,+687582,100% Glera

-Domaine Deliance,Cremant Rosé,NV,$32.95 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Red Wine

-Cono Sur,Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose,NV,$13.95,+365205,Pinot Noir 100%

-LaCheteau,Chateau de Montgueret Cremant de Loire,NV,$19.95,+217760,"Chenin, Chardonnay & Cabernet Franc"

-La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC Treviso ,NV,$14.95,+789263

-La Marca Prosecco,NV,$17.95,+298987,Glera

-Riolite Vini,David Rocco's Dolce vita Prosecco,N/V,$14.95,+385906,100% Glera

-Luce Della Vite,Danzante Prosecco,NV,$14.95,+288910,Prosecco 100%

-Bottega,Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco D.O.C.,NV,$13.95,+897702,Glera/Prosecco

-Colli Vicentini,Prosecco DOC Vescovi $13.95,,Glera

-PIERA MARTELLOZZO S.P.A.,Blu Giovello Prosecco,$13.95,+85316,Glera

-BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE $19.95,+53215,Glera

-Henkell,Mionetto Il Prosecco,NV,$13.95,+588053,100% Glera

-Henkell,Mionetto Treviso DOC,NV,$17.95,+266023,100% Glera

 

The Food: bread and water

The Contact Person:  deantudor@yahoo.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com