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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
 
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "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.
 
These notes for good wines available through  LCBO Vintages (on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at  http://www.deantudor.com
 
Scores are a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Southern Rhone would taste like a Southern Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace above or below its price).
 
Based on my sampling of the table wines chosen by the LCBO from this release for tasting. That presentation is about 50+  different labels out of about 125 released every two weeks. These wines are basically those that fit the categories of  any of the Featured Themes, Wines of the Month, Local Talent, and "new" -- wines that the LCBO has ordered in sufficient quantities for the Ontario marketplace. Not put out for us are the re-orders (even though they may be of a different vintage) , ISDs, or the expensive wines.  Thus, my report comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of these 50+ category wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value in terms of their price.
 
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FINDS --
 
Fizz+301655    DOMAINE CARNEROS BRUT CUVÉE SPARKLING    Traditional method, Napa Valley, California    2013    $41.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
 
Sherry+10813    ALVEAR CAPATAZ SOLERA DE LA CASA FINO VIEJISI FINO    DO Montilla-Moriles  $26.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
 
Under $20
=========
W+345389    SIMONSIG CHARDONNAY    WO Stellenbosch    2017    $19.95     13.5 % ABV, MVC/QPR:  90
W+295709    RABL LÖSS GRÜNER VELTLINER    Langenlois, DAC Kamptal    2017    $15.95   
MVC/QPR: 88.5
W+667535    JULIEN SCHAAL KALEIDOSCOPE RIESLING    AC Alsace    2017    $19.95     12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+667493    CHÂTEAU DE PONT TOURAINE    AC    2018    $16.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+40642    DEU LA DEU ALVARINHO     Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde    2018    $19.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+488734    CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO    DO Rías Baixas    2018    $18.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+10337    SOBILANE GRENACHE/SYRAH    IGP Côtes Catalanes    2015    $18.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+10316    SAINT MONT LES VIEILLES VIGNES AC 2014    $19.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+646059    MONTE CASCAS COLHEITA DOC Douro 2016    $14.95    13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+642421    VALPANTENA TORRE DEL FALASCO RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA    DOC    2016    $17.95    14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
 
Over $20
=========
W+58651    WINE BY JOE PINOT GRIS Oregon 2017    $22.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.5
W+10342    CHARTRON ET TRÉBUCHET MÂCON-VILLAGES    AC    2017    $23.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+648659    DOMAINE BÉRANGER POUILLY-FUISSÉ  AC 2016 $37.95     MVC/QPR: 90
W+577767    NATIV SUADENS BIANCO    IGT Campania    2017    $27.95    12% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+155382    MARCHESI DI BAROLO GAVI DEL COMUNE DI GAVI    DOCG    2018    $22.95    12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+11244    ADAMO ESTATE PARKE VINEYARD GROWER'S SERIES PINOT NOIR    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $28.95    12.4% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.5
R+131201    ANGELS GATE MOUNTAINVIEW PINOT NOIR    VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $29.95 12.4% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+1560    FLAT ROCK GRAVITY PINOT NOIR    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $34.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.5
R+583260    MICHELE CHIARLO REYNA BARBARESCO    DOCG    2015    $36.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+268391    HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE PINOT NOIR    VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2017    $24.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+73817    RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2016    $39.95
13.9% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
R+159970 CLOUDLINE PINOT NOIR Willamette Valley  2017  $26.95  13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+10915    MOUNTADAM VINEYARDS EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ    Eden Valley, South Australia    2017    $24.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+649731    CHÂTEAU ROUSSELLE AC Côtes de Bourg 2015 $23.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+647966    CLARENDELLE    AC Médoc    2014    $27.95    13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88.5
R+928028    FATTORIA DEI BARBI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2013    $54.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
R+930966    ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2016    $24.95 14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89.5
R+568675    VILLA MATTIELLI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA    DOCG    2013    $49.95 15% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+208223    LEALTANZA RESERVA    DOCa Rioja    2012    $22.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 92

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

The September 12 2019 Event: Discover Slovenia Walk Around Tasting Trade Show (Food and Wine)

The Date and Time: Thursday, September 12, 2019  1PM to 4:30PM
The Event: Discover Slovenia Walk Around Tasting Trade Show (Food and Wine)
The Venue: Rosewater Room, Toronto Street
The Target Audience: wine media and agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: All wines are available through private order if there is an agency in Ontario.
The Quote/Background: EUCCAN and the EU Chamber of Commerce in Canada West co-sponsored this show and tell event of foods and wines from Slovenia, with backing from the Slovenia government. There was an excellent catalogue of food products available from Slovenia.
The Wines: I did not try every wine.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Sisi Yellow Muscat 2018
-JNK Rebula "orange" wine 2010
-Bajta Dry Muscat Sparkling (NV?)
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Sisi Traminaec
-Radgonske Gorice Zlata Radgonska penina Sparkling Chardonnay 2015
-Kobal Sauvignon 2016
-Doppler Wines Laski WelchRiesling 2018
-JNK Merlot 2011
-Kristancia Merlot 2018
-Vina Joannesvina Joannes Renski Riesling 2016
-Zlata Extra Dry Rose Pinot Noir
 
The Food: I enjoyed lokev (Slovenian ham), kranjske klobasa (Carniolian sausage), celiske mesnine cheese, planika mlekarna cheese, and breads.
The Downside: nobody had any real wine prices, but the suggestion was that the wines may be a bit higher than expected for this market, and hence need to be negotiated with the LCBO.
The Upside: a chance to taste some Eastern European wines; they did a marvelous job with the whites.
The Contact Person: alex.martyniak@eu-canada.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 84
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The September 12 2019 Event: Taste and buy preview of the 2017 vintage in Burgundy from Bouchard Pere et Fils.

The Date and Time: Thursday Sept 12, 2019, Noon to 4PM
The Event: Taste and buy preview of the 2017 vintage in Burgundy from Bouchard Pere et Fils.
The Venue: Montecito Restaurant, Adelaide Street
The Target Audience: wine media and private clients of the Woodman Wines and Spirits agency.
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines tasted were available as private orders of six bottle cases.
The Quote/Background: Annually, Luc Bouchard visits Toronto and gives us a commentary on his harvests and wines. In addition to the 2017 private orders, there were some wines presented that are already at the LCBO. These have been noted below.
The Wines: I did not taste every wine at the event.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Pouilly-Fuisse 2016 $33 LCBO +56580 [my fave of the day]
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Pouilly-Fuisse 2017 $33 LCBO +56580
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Puligny-Montrachet 2017 $77 LCBO +976035 (Dec 1 2019)
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Echezeaux 2017 $391
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvee Carnot Domaine 2017 $129
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Chambolle Musigny 2017 $91
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet Domaine 2017 $513
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune du Chateau Domaine Blanc 2017 $65
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Meursault Genevrieres Domaine 2017 $140
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Meursault Domaine 2017 $76
-William Fevre Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2017 $76
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Macon-Lugny Saint Pierre 2018 $22 LCBO +51573
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Petit Chablis 2017 $26 LCBO +51466
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Le Corton Domaine 2017 $199
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune du Chateau Domaine Rouge 2017 $66
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune Clos de la Mousse Monopole 2017 $95
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Beaune Greves Vigne Enfant Jesus Monopole 2017 $170
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Pommard 1er Cru 2017 $112
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Savigny-Les-Beaune Les Lavieres Domaine 2017 $71
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Gevrey Chambertin 2017 $77
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Nuits-Saint-Georges 2017 $73
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Corton Charlemagne Domaine 2017 $283
-Bouchard Pere et Fils Montagny 1er Cru 2017 $43
-William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Domaine 2017 $115
 
The Food: oysters, charcuterie and cheese boards, Blackbird breads, mustards and compotes.
The Downside: I had to race here from a piano recital, and then race off again to another wine tasting.
The Upside: another opportunity to engage with Luc Bouchard
The Contact Person: rachel@woodmanwinesandspirits.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

SOME NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING THIS MONTH –

SOME NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING THIS MONTH –
 
 
1.Huff Estates Merlot 2017 South Bay Vineyard VQA Prince Edward County, $30 at winery: very fruity, maybe fruit gone wild, but tempered with 18 months in French oak (15% new). Typically bright red and black fruit style, cherry-berry even. Slightly tannic finish at this point, expected to smooth out over the next year or so. One of the better merlot wines in Ontario. Suggest a double decant before drinking. Charcuterie and/or cheese platters. 12.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
2.Huff Estates Pinot Grigio 2018 VQA Prince Edward County, $19 at winery: the winemaker says "made as a slightly more round version of our typical pinot gris (which we still produce)." This makes Huff a rarity, producing both pinot gris and pinot grigio, the white equivalent of a winery producing both shiraz and syrah: it is all in the style that the winemaker wants. Here the RS is 4.8 g/L which does give it a roundness. Body is firmer and colouring is more straw. Useful as an aperitif or first course wine, but it is more demanding than a regular sipper. 12.5% ABV. 600 cases. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
3.Huff Estates Cabernet Franc 2017 South Bay Vineyard VQA Prince Edward County $35 winery: herby red fruit dominates. 18 months French oak, 30% new. 225 cases. Some tannins need to resolve on the finish, so double decant or leave open for a long time. God with almost anything that needs a bracing red. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
4.Fogolar Cabernet Franc 2015 VQA Niagara Peninsula, $22 at winery (Ridgepoint Winery): barrel fermentation with a month of maceration and then pressed to barrel for storage. Aged in French and US oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months. Ripe black fruit, good aging to bring out the spices and flavours. Best with grilled veggies and meats. Needs double decanting. 13.4% ABV, residual sugar at 1.9 g/L. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
5.Cooper's Hawk North Block Sparkling 2016 VQA Ontario, $23.95 +644773 Vintages Aug 17: a good blend of chardonnay and chardonnay musque (for tropical roundness), with residual sugar at 6 g/L. The vines have been planted to take advantage of the directional wind flows. Expect lemony-y citrus minerality with distinctive chardonnay apple "blanc de blanc" tones. Good infrastructure bready spine, terrific first course or appetizer accompaniment. We had a mayo-parmesan-scallion topping on biscotti. It was just a guess, but it went very well! Uses the cuve close technique. Produced by one of the stalwarts of the EPIC region in LENS. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
6.Fess Parker Pinot Noir 2016 Sta. Rita Hills +83212 Vintages, $33.95: lots of bright red fruit such as raspberries, with spicy-toast woodsy-mushroom points and some vanilla and pepper. From four different vineyards in the region, finishing off at 11 months in French oak (43% new). A whopping 14.3% ABV may still need to be tamed despite its quaffability. Juicy-jammy California wine all the way, but may also need a double decant to open it up. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
7.Henry of Pelham Estate Fume Sauvignon Blanc 2018 VQA Short Hills Bench, +444268 $19.95 winery only: Very aromatic with nuances of toastiness both in the nose and on the palate, somewhat in a fume style started by Mondavi fifty years ago. Typical savvy zestiness is tamed by oaking and unctuous fruit tones. Medium finish accents lemon and vanillin character, melon, honeysuckle. Best as a classy sipper on its own, but also with a lightly aromatic first course. 50% BF in barriques. 12.7% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
8.Gerard Bertrand Terroir Saint Chinian 2016 +370247 September Vintages $17.95: Bertrand has a Terroir series embracing the range of Sud de France wines. Here it is older vines in a schist area of Languedoc, specifically syrah and mourvedre (both vinified separately). Expect black fruit all over the place (even black olives, mocha and garrigue). The "f" word comes to mind: full, fat, fleshy, fabulous at this price. Some of the wine is aged for a year in barrel, the rest matured in vats and then blended before bottling. 14% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
9.Luigi Bosca Malbec 2016 DOC Single Vineyard Lujan de Cuyo Finca Vistalba Mendoza +74922 Vintages October, $29.95: 70-year old vines are aged in new French oak for 14 months with ML fermentation. Highly structured but with red fruit and mocha tones, not light 14.3% ABV. New French oak aging for 14 months adds some toastiness. Better with food such as heavy meats. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
10.Red Tractor (Creekside) Cabernet Merlot 2017 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +11851 $17.95 Vintages September: comes in a stout package, a sort of hommage to the workers, with a screw cap. Aged in barrels for a year, with black fruit notes and a rural sense of character (probably from the cabernet franc). Quite quaffable. 13% ABV, sugar at 3 g/L. Just bottled in June 2019. The producer suggests "bold food" pairing. Quality/Price rating is 88.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
11.Red Tractor (Creekside) Cabernet Franc 2017 VQA Four Mile Creek Winery direct/online, $25: from Serluca Family farm in Niagara. Vinified New World style, with 14% ABV showing, a sugar content of 5.9 g/L (twice the above Cabernet Merlot offering), bottled in June 2019 (after 16 months barrel aging). Strong cherry and red fruit (raspberry?) dominate the nose, but the palate finishes with an herbaceous quality. More bold wine for a "bold food" pairing (suggested are sharp cheese, smoked poultry, lamb ragu, grilled meats). Stuffing. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
12.Angus the Bull (Aberdeen Wine Company) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Central Victoria Australia +602615 LCBO $18.95: a wine that first began in 2002. It has been skillfully blended with different cabernet sauvignon grapes from across Central Victoria to be a pre-eminent drinking wine for beef in all forms. Lately, it's about 42% Goulburn, 29% Barossa, 20% Heathcote, and a bit from McLaren Vale and other Victorian sites. Very tasty and integrative, expressing all the good components of cabernet: mocha, cassis, vanillin, herbs and spices. Long, long length, and 14% ABV with only 3 gm/L RS. For the guys who eat "beef and two veg", it is certainly addictive. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures. Note: September LTO is $2.50 off the list price.
 
 
13.Chateau des Charmes Riesling "Old Vines" 2015 Estate Bottled VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, +277228, $18.95 Vintages August: made from vines largely planted in 1978, so it is now a very mature vineyard. 12% ABV. Succulent, but off-dry Alsatian character (citric tones, spices), with now almost four years of aging. A beaut with spicy or higher acidic foods – lush and plush. Lots of orchard fruit character. Twist top. Quality/price rating 90 points by Dean Tudor.
 
 
14.Chateau des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 St. David's Bench Vineyard VQA St. David's Bench NOTL, $34.95 +453423 winery and online: from a nice ripe year (and thus only made in better years), loaded with choco-berry and mocha tones. One year in French oak, but still done in a Euro style as a food wine. 0.6 gm/L residual sugar; hence, a definite feel of minerality and extremely useful with food such as steak or any lamb cut. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
=======================================================================

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://winewriterscircle.ca
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Event: The Grand Reveal of “Devour! The Food Film Fest” October 22-27, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

The Date and Time:  Sunday September 8, 2019  6PM to 8PM
The Event: The Grand Reveal of "Devour! The Food Film Fest" October 22-27, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
The Venue: Campbell House, TIFF tent of the Italian Trade Commission
The Target Audience: media
The Quote/Background: The world's largest culinary film festival,Devour! The Food Film Fest announced the full film lineup for its 9th year. Devour! takes place October 22-27, 2019 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The festival will screen 80+ new food-and-drink inspired films from 24 countries, with this year's programming and theme centering around "Celebrating Italian Food & Cinema." For six days, Wolfville is transformed into a festival unlike any other, as it pairs an array of fabulous dishes with captivating films, experiential workshops and 100+ events (including local tours of the Gaspereau Valley gourmet/wine country). This year's opening gala film on Wednesday, October 23 marks the North American premiere of From the Vine, about a downtrodden man who finds new purpose in reviving his grandfather's old vineyard in his travels back to his rural Italian hometown. The film's multi-award-winning director Sean Cisterna and star Joe Pantoliano from the acclaimed television series The Sopranos will be in attendance. Headlining the 2019 festival is award-winning chef, TV host, restaurateur and author Lidia Bastianich, who is curating a special presentation of Big Night on Thursday, October 24, about immigrant brothers from Italy who open their dream restaurant in New Jersey, directed by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci. Lidia will attend the all-female celebrity chef dinner inspired by the evening's film and will hold a special book-signing of a selection of her award-winning cookbooks. The festival will include 24 feature-length films including Maxima, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Audience Award winner directed by Claudia Sparrow, which portrays a subsistence farmer's courageous journey to stand against the destruction of resources and corporate intimidation; Honeyland, a multi-award winning documentary directed by Ljubomir Stefanov & Tamara Kotevska about a Balkan woman utilising ancient beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of Macedonia; and multi-award winning documentary Ghost Fleet, that uncovers the vast injustice of slavery in the Thai fishing industry through thrilling escape stories, directed by Shannon Service & Jeffrey Waldron. DevourFest is bringing Italy to Nova Scotia with a solid line-up of films to complement an array of talented chefs from around the world. Thanks to a new partnership with the Italian Trade Commission, festival-goers can catch 60 shorts this year, including Italian programming with new serial episodes from David Rocco's Dolce Italia with David in attendance, short films such as Distance - Short Stories About Food directed by Luigi Capasso and American Marriage directed by Giorgio Arcelli Fontana, and films focused around themes like Italian wine and olive oil. Nova Scotian shorts include That's My Jazz directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kahawa directed by Janet Hawkwood. Closing the festival is The Biggest Little Farm directed by John Chester, that chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
 
All films are eligible for the Devour! Golden Tine Awards, chosen by esteemed jurors Peter L. Stein (Frameline), Rita DeMontis (Toronto SUN) and Justin Johnson (British Film Institute). The Awards Brunch takes place on Sunday, October 27 at the Wolfville Farmers Market. Other festival dinners include the Friday, October 25 Celebrity Chef Dinner based on the Spotlight Gala film Food Fighter (about food waste) directed by Dan Goldberg; the Saturday,October 26 Devour! Chefs and Short Gala Dinner featuring short films screened right in the iconic Barrel Cellar of Lightfoot & Wolfville Winery with the diners and inspiring chefs' dishes; and the return of Devour! DownHome Lobster Supper –also on Saturday, October 26. Attendees will have their pick of experiential workshops and tasting tours, such as the Short Doc Shop Talk with Filmmaker Ben Proudfoot, the Gleaning Expedition with FOUND Forgotten Food, the Zero Waste Workshop with Bob Blumer, and the Bubbles Bus tasting tour. Culinary students from coast-to-coast will cook up a storm alongside festival chefs while also being featured on the big screen in both Merci Bocuse directed by Michael Nguyen, which follows Canadian chefs Trevor Ritchie and Jenna Reich as they head to the prestigious Bocuse d'Or chef competition in France and Stage: The Culinary Internshipdirected by Abby Ainsworth. Indeed, there is 36% Canadian film content at DevourFest this year!
 
More details at the website www.devourfest.com
 
The Wines: We were treated to Folonari Soave (88 pts), Fiol Proscecco (92 pts), Cusumano Syrah (89 pts), Campari and Apernol. The cocktail seemed to be Apernol and Campari with Fiol fizz.
The Food: endless platters from a la carte catering focused on Italian food, such as various cheeses, prosciutto, pancetta, salumi, et al. Along with Rocco Agostino's three minute pizza from the $1100 Breville pizzaiolo oven (750 degrees F.). Canoli appeared along with Barocco espresso coffee.
The Downside: it got really crowded really fast
The Upside: a chance to see the Devour Food Film Festival reveal.
The Contact Person: lia@devourfest.com; michael@devourfest.com;
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://winewriterscircle.ca
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

RE: The Aug 26 2019 Event: Lunch Tasting: Truth or Dare tasting of Rhone Valley Vineyards.

Hello Dean,

Sorry for the delay, and thank you very much for this!
Have a great day,

Mariane

 

Mariane PREGENT-BASTIEN
Media Relations Project Manager | Chef de Projet Relations Medias
 

| DL +1 514-288-5802
2020, rue Robert-Bourassa - Suite 2400, H3A 2A5 Montréal, Québec, Canada
mariane.pregent@sopexa.com
www.sopexa-canada.com
 

   



 

 

 

From: Dean Tudor <dtudor@pathcom.com>
Sent: 3 septembre 2019 12:05
To: blog1 <dtudor2.epicures@blogger.com>
Subject: The Aug 26 2019 Event: Lunch Tasting: Truth or Dare tasting of Rhone Valley Vineyards.

 

The Date and Time: Monday August 26, 2019  11:30AM to 3PM

The Event: Lunch Tasting: Truth or Dare tasting of Rhone Valley Vineyards.

The Venue: Gare de l'Est Dundas Street East

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: some of the wines are at the LCBO, the rest are private orders.

The Quote/Background: Sara D'Amato, well-known Toronto sommelier and CAPS spokesperson, led us in a seminar of wines from the Rhone, focusing on five distinct regions and featuring representative samples (i.e., those available in Ontario) for tasting. She gave us (about two dozen attendees) a rundown on the Rhone area (31 appellations, second largest wine-producing area in France, soils of all kinds [rocky, clay, granite, limestone, sandy]). The first flight was a blind tasting: we had to identify the region that the wine came from. For me, the wines of North and South are totally different, so it was easy to place the wines on the regional tasting mat. No prizes awarded, but it set up our palates for the other 12 wines to come. This was a more in-depth seminar on the particulars of the five appellations.

The Wines: The five regions explored were: Condrieu, Crozes-Hermitage, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Cairanne, and Lirac. Agents are noted below. The wines were from varying vintage years, and overall I enjoyed the older ones better than the younger ones.

 

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

-Chateau de Montfaucom Comtesse Madeleine Blanc 2016 Lirac.  Nicolas Pearce Inc.

-Chateau de Montfaucom Baron Louis Rouge 2015 Lirac.  Nicolas Pearce Inc.

-Lionel Faury Condrieu 2017. Barrel Select.

-Francois Villard Les Terrasses du Palat Condrieu 2017 +209254 $78 [my fave of the day]

-Pierre Gaillard Condrieu 2016 +540344  $65

-Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2016 +704908  $35.95

-Ferraton Pere et Fils Calendes Crozes-Hermitage 2016 +526376   $31.95

-Maison  Gabriel Meffre Laurus Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages. Trajectory Beverage.

-Domaine Boutinot Les Six Rouge 2016 Cairanne +452093 $31.30

 

 

 

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

-M.Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage 2017. Vins Philippe Dandurand.

-Brotte Bord Elegance Blanc 2017 Cotes du Rhone Villages Laudon +644385 $16.95

-Domaine Boutinot Les Coteaux Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages.  Noble Estates.

-Domaine de L'Amandine Rouge 2017 Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret. $19.99 Lic Stem Wine

-Domaine Alary Le Jean de Verde Rouge 2015 Cairanne +639914 $24.25

-Cellier Des Dauphins Rouge 2017 Cairanne.   Churchill Cellars

-Brotte Creation Grosset Rouge 2017 Cairanne +33852  $17.95

 

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

-Louis Bernard Louis Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages +391458  $13.20

 

 

The Food: typically French – with cheese boards and charcuterie boards, followed by breads and appetizer platters of shrimp, potatoes with carmelized onions, lamb loin chimichurri, coq au vin avec vol au vent, oyster mushrooms, and more.

The Downside: I am conversant with North Rhone; I was hoping for more wines from the South, to plug my information gaps and to relate to similarities in styles.

The Upside: I actually learned a lot.

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

 


 

 

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Tuesday, September 10, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES: under/over $20 for SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

WORLD WINE WATCH TOP WINES AT VINTAGES:  under/over $20 for SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
 
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com. My "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.
 
These notes for good wines available through  LCBO Vintages (on a bi-weekly basis)  can always be found at http://www.gothicepicures.blogspot.ca  or at  http://www.deantudor.com
 
Scores are a combination of MVC (Modal Varietal Character, e.g. a Southern Rhone would taste like a Southern Rhone) and QPR (Quality/Price Ratio value in the marketplace above or below its price).
 
NOTE: The first portion  is based on my sampling of the table wines chosen by the LCBO from this release for tasting. That presentation is about 50+  different labels out of about 125 released every two weeks. These wines are basically those that fit the categories of  any of the Featured Themes, Wines of the Month, Local Talent, and "new" -- wines that the LCBO has ordered in sufficient quantities for the Ontario marketplace. Not put out for us are the re-orders (even though they may be of a different vintage) , ISDs, or the expensive wines.  Thus, my report comes from a restricted database. I did not taste every one of these 50+ category wines, nor did I rate several of the wines I did sample because they did not seem to be of particularly good value in terms of their price.
 
NOTE: The second part (at the end) is a simple listing of  those wines that were NOT presented to the media, and are given here simply as a record of  what sampling I could not do. I have left in the name of the agency, in fairness to all.
 
PART ONE:  The "best" wines of a reduced tasting  --
 
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL FIND --
 
Port+11087    MAYNARD'S 10-YEAR-OLD AGED TAWNY PORT    DOP    $24.95   20%ABV, MVC/QPR: 93
 
Under $20
=========
W+246579    CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ    Cave Spring Vineyard,
VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment        $17.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+644716    FEROX PHANTOM RIESLING    VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake   
2017    $19.95     11.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
W+148437    MARISCO VINEYARDS LEEFIELD STATION PINOT GRIS    Marlborough,
South Island    2017    $17.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 91
W+688440    CHÂTEAU DE LA VIEILLE TOUR BORDEAUX BLANC    AC 2017    $18.95 12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
W+10349    CAVE DES VIGNERONS DE BUXY BUISSONNIER BOURGOGNE
CHARDONNAY    AC    2017    $16.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+286278    FLAT ROCK CHARDONNAY    VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara  Escarpment $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+371112    MORANDÉ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE    Single vineyard, Maipo
Valley    2017    $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+492561    FARINA VALPOLICELLA    DOC    2018    $15.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+545772    BUENA VISTA THE LEGENDARY BADGE PETITE SIRAH    California   
2016    $17.95     13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+370247    GÉRARD BERTRAND SAINT CHINIAN SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE    AP    2016
$17.95     13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+303800    TRIUS RED    2016 VQA Niagara Peninsula   $24.95  13.7% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+64618    FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC    VQA Niagara Peninsula       
$17.95     12.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+11851    CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET/MERLOT VQA Niagara Peninsula     2017
$17.95  13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+10593    PUENTE AUSTRAL GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON   
Colchagua Valley    2015  14 % ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+667246    CHÂTEAU DU BALLANDREAU CUVÉE EXCELLENCE    AC Bordeaux
Supérieur    2015    $15.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+667147    CHÂTEAU DE LA PIERRE LEVÉE RÉVÉLATIONS D'HUBERT DE BOÜARD   
AC Côtes de Bordeaux - Castillon    2016    $16.95    14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+546069    CHÂTEAU HAUT-LALANDE    AC Côtes de Bordeaux - Blaye    2015    $19.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+698985    CAZAL VIEL VIEILLES VIGNES SAINT CHINIAN    AC    2016   
$19.95     14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+10657    CAVE DE TAIN KING IN THE NORTH Rhône 2017 $19.95 13% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+10605    UGGIANO ROCCIALTA CHIANTI RISERVA    DOCG    2015    $15.95      13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+646042    FIUZA EMINENTE RESERVA TINTO Vinho Regional Tejo 2015 $14.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+336719    LUIS CAÑAS CRIANZA    DOCa Rioja    2016    $19.95     14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
 
Over $20
=========
W+648576    MARCHAND-TAWSE VIRÉ-CLESSÉ AC 2016 $31.95 13.5 % ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
W+198853    TAWSE QUARRY ROAD ORGANIC RIESLING    VQA Vinemount Ridge,
Niagara Peninsula    $23.95 10.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 88
R+ 426833    COLCHESTER RIDGE CREW MERITAGE VQA Lake Erie North Shore 2016 $21.95  14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+461699    HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE BACO NOIR 2016    VQA Ontario $24.95 14% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+11681    ICELLARS ESTATE CABERNET FRANC    Wismer Foxcroft Vineyard, VQA  Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment    2016    $29.95     14.1% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+10138    QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR    Estate bottled, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake    2017    $39.95 12.7% ABV, MVC/QPR: 90
R+11263    DOMAINE DROUHIN OREGON PINOT NOIR    Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley
2016    $38.95  14.1% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+648931    CHÂTEAU CARIGNAN PRIMA    AC Côtes de Bordeaux – Cadillac  2015    $33.95  14.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
R+177295    RIVERA IL FALCONE RISERVA CASTEL DEL MONTE    DOCG     2013    $24.95 13.5% ABV, MVC/QPR: 89
 
PART TWO: The "rest" of the release [not offered for sampling by media] with agents --
 
    55830    CHÂTEAU DE LAUBADE XO ARMAGNAC    In gift box, AC Bas Armagnac       
$114.95    VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
    442343    CHARLES COLLIN BRUT CHAMPAGNE    AC        $42.95   
RUBY WINES & SPIRITS
    593483    GRAHAM BECK BRUT SPARKLING    Traditional method, WO Western
Cape, South Africa        $19.95    VINEXX
    207936    CHÂTEAU MONCONTOUR TÊTE DE CUVÉE BRUT VOUVRAY   
Traditional method, AC, Loire, France        $19.95    LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS
    311563    CANNONBALL CHARDONNAY    California 2017 $19.95 ROGERS &  CO.
    960120    LIBERTY SCHOOL CHARDONNAY    Central Coast    2017   
$19.95    MARK ANTHONY WINE & SPIRITS
    606772    ARBOLEDA SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY    DO Aconcagua Costa   
2017    $19.95    LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS
    117945    TAHBILK MARSANNE    Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria   
2018    $17.95    GRAPE EXPECTATIONS WINE AGENCY
    441394    KONO SAUVIGNON BLANC    Marlborough, South Island    2018   
$18.95    CONNEXION OENOPHILIA
    429308    SPY VALLEY ENVOY SAUVIGNON BLANC    Johnson Vineyard,
Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, South Island    2015    $29.95    TRIALTO WINE GROUP  LTD.
    372334    NEDERBURG MANOR HOUSE SAUVIGNON BLANC    WO Western
Cape    2018    $16.95    PMA CANADA LTD.
    469734    PFAFF SPECIAL    AC Alsace    2018    $14.95    PHILIPPE
DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    983395    PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE PINOT GRIS    AC Alsace    2017    $18.95    DU
CHASSE WINES & SPIRITS
    466144    J. MOREAU & FILS CHABLIS    AC    2017    $25.95    CHARTON
HOBBS INC
    412163    CHÂTEAU DE LA BRETESCHE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE    AC    2017    $14.95    BRAND NEW DAY WINES & SPIRITS
    556555    MARCEL MARTIN LE DROISSY VOUVRAY    AP    2017   
$17.95    ANDREW PELLER IMPORT AGENCY
    667782    CLOS DE LA MOTTE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE    AC   
2017    $16.95    LEXCELLENT WINES
    525295    LES COSTIÈRES DE POMEROLS BEAUVIGNAC VIOGNIER    Vins de Pays
d'Oc    2018    $14.95    GRAPE EXPECTATIONS WINE AGENCY
    376350    LEITZ EINS-ZWEI-DRY RIESLING    Qualitätswein    2017   
$19.95    HOBBS & COMPANY
    722413    DOMDECHANT WERNER HOCHHEIMER RIESLING KABINETT   
Prädikatswein    2017    $20.95    H.H.D. IMPORTS
    442178    SKOURAS MOSCOFILERO    PGI Peloponnese    2018    $17.95   
THE KOLONAKI GROUP INC
    577676    TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO    DOC    2018    $24.95    NICHOLAS
PEARCE WINES INC
    994012    FALCHINI VIGNA A SOLATIO VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO    DOCG   
2017    $19.95    ROGERS & COMPANY
    734921    MACULAN PINOT GRIGIO    DOC Breganze    2017    $15.95   
HALPERN ENTERPRISES
    350041    PACO & LOLA ALBARIÑO    DO Rías Baixas    2018    $19.95   
AZUREAU WINE AGENCY
    425405    CAVES ORSAT TREIZE ÉTOILES FENDANT    AC Valais    2018   
$23.95    M.C.O.
    495333    ANGELS & COWBOYS PROPRIETARY RED    Sonoma County   
2017    $34.95    ROGERS & COMPANY
    642207    DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Dry Creek Valley,
Sonoma County    2016    $37.95    WINE LOVERS AGENCY INC.
    327502    DECOY ZINFANDEL    Sonoma County 2017    $34.95    ROGERS &  CO.
    524223    PURPLE COWBOY TRAIL BOSS CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Paso Robles   
2017    $24.95    AZUREAU WINE AGENCY
    708842    MOUNT VEEDER WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley   
2015    $49.95    ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
    951889    IRONSTONE OLD VINE ZINFANDEL    Lodi    2017    $17.95   
LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS
    521567    CLOS PEGASE MERLOT    Mitsuko's Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley   
2016    $39.95    AZUREAU WINE AGENCY
    459933    ROBERT MONDAVI MAESTRO    Napa Valley    2014    $59.95   
ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
    246900    FRANK FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Napa Valley    2015   
$89.95    DA CAPO WINES INC.
    570739    MCMANIS PINOT NOIR    California    2018 $21.95 THE VINE AGENCY
    462721    SIMI LANDSLIDE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Alexander
Valley, Sonoma County    2015    $39.95    ARTERRA WINES CANADA INC.
    456764    RIVER'S EDGE BARREL SELECT PINOT NOIR    Elkton, Umpqua Valley   
2015    $32.95    VINOLUNA
    167312    LUCA OLD VINE MALBEC    Uco Valley, Mendoza    2015    $34.95   
TRIALTO WINE GROUP LTD.
    452029    PIATTELLI RESERVE MALBEC    Cafayate Valley, Salta    2016   
$16.95    IMPRESE INC.
    261891    FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Mendoza   
2016    $18.95    GLENCAIRN WINE MERCHANTS
    79095    MASI TUPUNGATO CORBEC APPASSIMENTO CORVINA/MALBEC   
Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza    2015    $24.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS  MERCHANTS
    57513    VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE    Maipo Valley   
2017    $17.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    10627    VUELO GRAND RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON    Estate
bottled, DO Colchagua Valley    2016    $16.95    PV W&S
    541177    MATETIC CORRALILLO WINEMAKER'S BLEND    DO San Antonio Valley     2015    $23.95    H.H.D. IMPORTS
    514182    RITUAL PINOT NOIR    Casablanca Valley    2016    $21.95   
ROGERS & COMPANY
    186114    JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ/CABERNET    Padthaway, South Australia   
2017    $16.95    BARRIQUE WINE IMPORTS LTD.
    9480    TWO HANDS ANGELS' SHARE SHIRAZ    McLaren Vale, South Australia   
2018    $23.95    BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE CANADA INC.
    269464    SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ    Epiphany Vineyard, McLaren Vale,
South Australia    2017    $17.95    NICHOLAS PEARCE WINES INC
    163972    MOMO PINOT NOIR    Marlborough, South Island    2017    $19.95   
DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.
    561142    CATHEDRAL CELLAR SHIRAZ    WO Western Cape    2016    $17.95   
PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    114611    GALIUS    AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru    2016    $44.95    SIGNATURE
WINES & SPIRITS
    143099    MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION    AP Costières de Nîmes   
2017    $16.95    VINEXX
    906073    FAMILLE PERRIN LA GILLE GIGONDAS    AC    2016    $29.95   
CHARTON HOBBS INC
    292722    DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE TÉLÉGRAMME CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE    AC    2016    $55.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED
    10573    MISSION DE PICPUS MALBEC    AC Cahors    2016   
$17.95    GLENCAIRN WINE MERCHANTS
    354134    CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT    AP Fronton    2016   
$14.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    466474    THYMIOPOULOS YOUNG VINES XINOMAVRO    Unfiltered, PDO
Naoussa    2016    $17.95    VICTORY WINE & SPIRITS INC.
    948976    GIRIBALDI BAROLO    DOCG    2014    $48.95    THE GOLDEN VALLEY
ESTATE LTD
    237263    CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2012   
$57.95    EMPORIO WINES AND SPIRITS
    988055    POLIZIANO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO    DOCG    2015   
$31.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    643205    CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO   
DOCG    2013    $23.95    VIN VINO WINE MERCHANTS INC.
    418822    BARONE RICASOLI BROLIO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA    DOCG   
2015    $34.95    CHURCHILL CELLARS LTD.
    651141    PIAN DELLE VIGNE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2014   
$63.95     HALPERN ENTERPRISES
    175091    BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO    DOCG    2014    $29.95   
AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
    83964    CORTE GIARA LA GROLETTA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA    DOC   
2016    $21.95    WOODMAN WINES & SPIRITS
    462812    MASI SEREGO ALIGHIERI VAIO ARMARON AMARONE DELLA
VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO    DOCG    2013    $89.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS
MERCHANTS
    447888    MONTE ZOVO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA    DOCG    2013   
$45.95    H.H.D. IMPORTS
    976670    MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA    DOCa Rioja   
2011    $29.95    DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD.
    85183    BALBÁS RESERVA    DO Ribera del Duero    2006    $23.95   
TRADESA CORP.
    718999    CASTAÑO HÉCULA MONASTRELL    DO Yecla    2017    $14.95   
AZUREAU WINE AGENCY
    417675    CHAPILLON SIENDRA    DO Catalayud    2016    $16.95   
RUBY WINES & SPIRITS
    58974    ALFRED SCHLADERER HIMBEERGEIST BLACK FOREST RASPBERRY
EAU-DE-VIE    Germany        $39.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    10812    LUSTAU VERMUT BLANCO            $28.95    JOHN
HANNA & SONS LIMITED
    482869    EMILIO LUSTAU VERMUT DE JEREZ    DO        $28.95   
JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED
    667444    MAISON SALEYA ROSÉ    AP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence    2018   
$19.95    CHARTON HOBBS INC
    680801    FAMILLE PERRIN TAVEL    AC    2018    $19.95    CHARTON
HOBBS INC
    556274    MARQUIS D'AQUERIA TAVEL ROSÉ    AP    2018    $19.95   
NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    219840    CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE LA FORÊT ROSÉ    AP Fronton    2018   
$14.95    PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
    663427    GLENFARCLAS 30-YEAR-OLD HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
WHISKY    Speyside        $794.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED
    613786    RAMEY CHARDONNAY    Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County   
2016    $19.95    LIFFORD WINE & SPIRITS
    910711    R. LOPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA VIÑA GRAVONIA CRIANZA   
DOCa Rioja    2010    $38.95    JOHN HANNA & SONS LIMITED
    10464    ARGOT ESTATE PINOT NOIR    Estate vineyard, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma
County    2014    $66.95    GREAT NORTH IMPORTS
    160481    SPICE ROUTE CHAKALAKA    WO Swartland    2015    $34.95   
NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    440180    CHÂTEAU TRONQUOY-LALANDE    AC Saint-Estèphe    2014   
$65.95    NOBLE ESTATES WINES & SPIRITS INC.
    644807    CHÂTEAU LA GAFFELIÈRE CLOS LA GAFFELIÈRE    AC Saint-Émilion Grand  Cru    2014    $58.95    RIZZI WINES
    437277    CHÂTEAU HAUT FAUGÈRES    Second wine of Château Faugères, AC
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru    2015    $58.95    DBINO INC.
    440263    MARCHAND-TAWSE CÔTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES    AC    2016   
$43.95    BURGUNDY DIRECT LTD.
    648667    CHÂTEAU DE SANTENAY LA COMME 1ER CRU SANTENAY    AC   
2016    $68.95    GLENCAIRN WINE MERCHANTS
    558007    CHÂTEAU ROMASSAN DOMAINES OTT BANDOL    AC    2016   
$58.95    AUTHENTIC WINE & SPIRITS MERCHANTS
    39230    LOU COUCARDIÉ ROUGE    AC Costierès de Nîmes    2014   
$34.95    HALPERN ENTERPRISES
    41921    DOMAINE BELLE LES PIERRELLES CROZES-HERMITAGE    AC   
2016    $29.95    BRAND NEW DAY WINES & SPIRITS
    953828    VOLPAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO    DOCG    2016    $28.95    ROGERS & CO.     378885    OLARRA ERUDITO RESERVA ESPECIAL    DOCa Rioja    2015   
$39.95    MACDONALD AND COMPANY
    397752    ALONSO DEL YERRO PAYDOS    DO Toro    2014    $29.95   
EPIC WINES AND SPIRITS

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

Sunday, September 8, 2019

NEW BEVERAGE SAMPLES SENT TO ME FOR TASTING AUGUST 2019

1.Huff Estates Merlot 2017 South Bay Vineyard VQA Prince Edward County, $30 at winery: very fruity, maybe fruit gone wild, but tempered with 18 months in French oak (15% new). Typically bright red and black fruit style, cherry-berry even. Slightly tannic finish at this point, expected to smooth out over the next year or so. One of the better merlot wines in Ontario. Suggest a double decant before drinking. Charcuterie and/or cheese platters. 12.5% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 90 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
2.Huff Estates Pinot Grigio 2018 VQA Prince Edward County, $19 at winery: the winemaker says "made as a slightly more round version of our typical pinot gris (which we still produce)." This makes Huff a rarity, producing both pinot gris and pinot grigio, the white equivalent of a winery producing both shiraz and syrah: it is all in the style that the winemaker wants. Here the RS is 4.8 g/L which does give it a roundness. Body is firmer and colouring is more straw. Useful as an aperitif or first course wine, but it is more demanding than a regular sipper. 12.5% ABV. 600 cases. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
3.Huff Estates Cabernet Franc 2017 South Bay Vineyard VQA Prince Edward County $35 winery: herby red fruit dominates. 18 months French oak, 30% new. 225 cases. Some tannins need to resolve on the finish, so double decant or leave open for a long time. God with almost anything that needs a bracing red. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
4.Fogolar Cabernet Franc 2015 VQA Niagara Peninsula, $22 at winery (Ridgepoint Winery): barrel fermentation with a month of maceration and then pressed to barrel for storage. Aged in French and US oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months. Ripe black fruit, good aging to bring out the spices and flavours. Best with grilled veggies and meats. Needs double decanting. 13.4% ABV, residual sugar at 1.9 g/L. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
5.Cooper's Hawk North Block Sparkling 2016 VQA Ontario, $23.95 +644773 Vintages Aug 17: a good blend of chardonnay and chardonnay musque (for tropical roundness), with residual sugar at 6 g/L. The vines have been planted to take advantage of the directional wind flows. Expect lemony-y citrus minerality with distinctive chardonnay apple "blanc de blanc" tones. Good infrastructure bready spine, terrific first course or appetizer accompaniment. We had a mayo-parmesan-scallion topping on biscotti. It was just a guess, but it went very well! Uses the cuve close technique. Produced by one of the stalwarts of the EPIC region in LENS. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
6.Fess Parker Pinot Noir 2016 Sta. Rita Hills +83212 Vintages, $33.95: lots of bright red fruit such as raspberries, with spicy-toast woodsy-mushroom points and some vanilla and pepper. From four different vineyards in the region, finishing off at 11 months in French oak (43% new). A whopping 14.3% ABV may still need to be tamed despite its quaffability. Juicy-jammy California wine all the way, but may also need a double decant to open it up. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
7.Henry of Pelham Estate Fume Sauvignon Blanc 2018 VQA Short Hills Bench, +444268 $19.95 winery only: Very aromatic with nuances of toastiness both in the nose and on the palate, somewhat in a fume style started by Mondavi fifty years ago. Typical savvy zestiness is tamed by oaking and unctuous fruit tones. Medium finish accents lemon and vanillin character, melon, honeysuckle. Best as a classy sipper on its own, but also with a lightly aromatic first course. 50% BF in barriques. 12.7% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
8.Gerard Bertrand Terroir Saint Chinian 2016 +370247 September Vintages $17.95: Bertrand has a Terroir series embracing the range of Sud de France wines. Here it is older vines in a schist area of Languedoc, specifically syrah and mourvedre (both vinified separately). Expect black fruit all over the place (even black olives, mocha and garrigue). The "f" word comes to mind: full, fat, fleshy, fabulous at this price. Some of the wine is aged for a year in barrel, the rest matured in vats and then blended before bottling. 14% ABV. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
9.Luigi Bosca Malbec 2016 DOC Single Vineyard Lujan de Cuyo Finca Vistalba Mendoza +74922 Vintages October, $29.95: 70-year old vines are aged in new French oak for 14 months with ML fermentation. Highly structured but with red fruit and mocha tones, not light 14.3% ABV. New French oak aging for 14 months adds some toastiness. Better with food such as heavy meats. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
10.Red Tractor (Creekside) Cabernet Merlot 2017 VQA Niagara Peninsula, +11851 $17.95 Vintages September: comes in a stout package, a sort of hommage to the workers, with a screw cap. Aged in barrels for a year, with black fruit notes and a rural sense of character (probably from the cabernet franc). Quite quaffable. 13% ABV, sugar at 3 g/L. Just bottled in June 2019. The producer suggests "bold food" pairing. Quality/Price rating is 88.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
11.Red Tractor (Creekside) Cabernet Franc 2017 VQA Four Mile Creek Winery direct/online, $25: from Serluca Family farm in Niagara. Vinified New World style, with 14% ABV showing, a sugar content of 5.9 g/L (twice the above Cabernet Merlot offering), bottled in June 2019 (after 16 months barrel aging). Strong cherry and red fruit (raspberry?) dominate the nose, but the palate finishes with an herbaceous quality. More bold wine for a "bold food" pairing (suggested are sharp cheese, smoked poultry, lamb ragu, grilled meats). Stuffing. Quality/Price rating is 89 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 
 
 
12.Angus the Bull (Aberdeen Wine Company) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Central Victoria Australia +602615 LCBO $18.95: a wine that first began in 2002. It has been skillfully blended with different cabernet sauvignon grapes from across Central Victoria to be a pre-eminent drinking wine for beef in all forms. Lately, it's about 42% Goulburn, 29% Barossa, 20% Heathcote, and a bit from McLaren Vale and other Victorian sites. Very tasty and integrative, expressing all the good components of cabernet: mocha, cassis, vanillin, herbs and spices. Long, long length, and 14% ABV with only 3 gm/L RS. For the guys who eat "beef and two veg", it is certainly addictive. Quality/Price rating is 89.5 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures. Note: September LTO is $2.50 off the list price.
 
 
13.Chateau des Charmes Riesling "Old Vines" 2015 Estate Bottled VQA Niagara-On-The-Lake, +277228, $18.95 Vintages August: made from vines largely planted in 1978, so it is now a very mature vineyard. 12% ABV. Succulent, but off-dry Alsatian character (citric tones, spices), with now almost four years of aging. A beaut with spicy or higher acidic foods – lush and plush. Lots of orchard fruit character. Twist top. Quality/price rating 90 points by Dean Tudor.
 
 
14.Chateau des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 St. David's Bench Vineyard VQA St. David's Bench NOTL, $34.95 +453423 winery and online: from a nice ripe year (and thus only made in better years), loaded with choco-berry and mocha tones. One year in French oak, but still done in a Euro style as a food wine. 0.6 gm/L residual sugar; hence, a definite feel of minerality and extremely useful with food such as steak or any lamb cut. Quality/Price rating is 91 points by Dean Tudor of Gothic Epicures.
 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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Tuesday, September 3, 2019

The Aug 26 2019 Event: Lunch Tasting: Truth or Dare tasting of Rhone Valley Vineyards.

The Date and Time: Monday August 26, 2019  11:30AM to 3PM
The Event: Lunch Tasting: Truth or Dare tasting of Rhone Valley Vineyards.
The Venue: Gare de l'Est Dundas Street East
The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: some of the wines are at the LCBO, the rest are private orders.
The Quote/Background: Sara D'Amato, well-known Toronto sommelier and CAPS spokesperson, led us in a seminar of wines from the Rhone, focusing on five distinct regions and featuring representative samples (i.e., those available in Ontario) for tasting. She gave us (about two dozen attendees) a rundown on the Rhone area (31 appellations, second largest wine-producing area in France, soils of all kinds [rocky, clay, granite, limestone, sandy]). The first flight was a blind tasting: we had to identify the region that the wine came from. For me, the wines of North and South are totally different, so it was easy to place the wines on the regional tasting mat. No prizes awarded, but it set up our palates for the other 12 wines to come. This was a more in-depth seminar on the particulars of the five appellations.
The Wines: The five regions explored were: Condrieu, Crozes-Hermitage, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Cairanne, and Lirac. Agents are noted below. The wines were from varying vintage years, and overall I enjoyed the older ones better than the younger ones.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau de Montfaucom Comtesse Madeleine Blanc 2016 Lirac.  Nicolas Pearce Inc.
-Chateau de Montfaucom Baron Louis Rouge 2015 Lirac.  Nicolas Pearce Inc.
-Lionel Faury Condrieu 2017. Barrel Select.
-Francois Villard Les Terrasses du Palat Condrieu 2017 +209254 $78 [my fave of the day]
-Pierre Gaillard Condrieu 2016 +540344  $65
-Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2016 +704908  $35.95
-Ferraton Pere et Fils Calendes Crozes-Hermitage 2016 +526376   $31.95
-Maison  Gabriel Meffre Laurus Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages. Trajectory Beverage.
-Domaine Boutinot Les Six Rouge 2016 Cairanne +452093 $31.30
 
 
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-M.Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage 2017. Vins Philippe Dandurand.
-Brotte Bord Elegance Blanc 2017 Cotes du Rhone Villages Laudon +644385 $16.95
-Domaine Boutinot Les Coteaux Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages.  Noble Estates.
-Domaine de L'Amandine Rouge 2017 Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret. $19.99 Lic Stem Wine
-Domaine Alary Le Jean de Verde Rouge 2015 Cairanne +639914 $24.25
-Cellier Des Dauphins Rouge 2017 Cairanne.   Churchill Cellars
-Brotte Creation Grosset Rouge 2017 Cairanne +33852  $17.95
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Louis Bernard Louis Rouge 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages +391458  $13.20
 
 
The Food: typically French – with cheese boards and charcuterie boards, followed by breads and appetizer platters of shrimp, potatoes with carmelized onions, lamb loin chimichurri, coq au vin avec vol au vent, oyster mushrooms, and more.
The Downside: I am conversant with North Rhone; I was hoping for more wines from the South, to plug my information gaps and to relate to similarities in styles.
The Upside: I actually learned a lot.
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.
 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com