Search This Blog

Monday, March 23, 2020

The February 24 2020 Event: Taste Ontario – Toronto wine trade show

The Date and Time: Monday February 24. 2020  11AM to 4:30PM
The Event: Taste Ontario – Toronto trade show
The Venue: ROM
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was a model – wines and license contacts were listed by region with full data (vintage year, licensee and retail prices), with enough space for tasting notes.
The Quote/Background: the media writers were in the Glass Room on the 4th floor where we had advance time and some sit-down table space to write up our scores.
The Wines: About 213 wines were available from 55 wineries; I did not taste them all, preferring to concentrate on the chardonnays and the sparklers, and some syrah wines. ABVs are used. The first price is licensee. CSPCs are listed when the wine is available through the LCBO. The rated wines are listed RANDOMLY within each category of BEST, BETTER and GOOD.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
 
Winery    Wine    VQA Appellation    Vintage    Volume/bottle    Alc./Vol.    LCBO #    Licensee Price    Retail Price                                
 
-13th Street Winery    Gamay Blanc de Noir    Creek Shores    2017    750ml    12.5%    n/a     $29.34      $34.95                                        
-2027 Cellars    Edgerock Vineyard Brut Rosé    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    750ml    11.5%    n/a     $28.95      $34.95                                    
-Alvento Winery    Sparkling Rosé    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    12.5%    N/A     $21.06      $25.15                                                
-Cave Spring Cellars    Blanc de Blancs CSV    Beamsville Bench    2013    750ml    12.0%    n/a     $37.78      $44.95
-Cave Spring Cellars    Riesling CSV    Beamsville Bench    2017    750ml    11.5%    566026     $25.12      $29.95
-Cave Spring Cellars    Chardonnay CSV    Beamsville Bench    2018    750ml    13.5%    529941     $25.12      $29.95
-Charles Baker Wines    Charles Baker Riesling    Vinemount Ridge    2017    750ml    11.0%    n/a     $31.24      $32.91
-Charles Baker Wines    Charles Baker Riesling    Vinemount Ridge    2016    1500ml    11.0%    n/a     $83.57      $99.00
-Keint-he Winery and Vineyards    Portage Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2016    750ml    12.5%    n/a     $20.94      $25.00
-Cloudsley Cellars    Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    13.5%    n/a     $20.74      $25.00
-Cloudsley Cellars    Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench    Twenty Mile Bench    2017    750ml    13.5%    n/a     $29.18      $35.00
-Closson Chase Vineyards    Brock Chardonnay    Niagara River    2017    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $19.88      $23.75
-Domaine Queylus    Signature Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $20.89      $24.95
-Flat Rock Cellars    Riddled    Twenty Mile Bench    2017    750ml    12.0%    383315     $29.34      $34.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Cuvée Catharine Brut    Niagara Peninsula    NV    750ml    12.0%    217521     $27.65      $32.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Chardonnay Estate    Short Hills Bench    2018    750ml    13.0%    444268     $18.53      $21.95
-Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery    Three of Hearts Rosé    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    11.5%    552562     $16.67      $19.95
-Hidden Bench Estate Winery    Estate Chardonnay    Beamsville Bench    2017    750ml    13.0%    68817     $25.12      $29.95
-Hidden Bench Estate Winery    Terroir Caché    Beamsville Bench    2016    750ml    13.0%    505610     $37.78      $44.95
-Leaning Post Wines    The Fifty Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    13.0%    578864     $18.57      $22.20
-Rockway Vineyards    Wild Ferment Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    750ml    14.0%    n/a     $19.51      $25.00
-The Foreign Affair Winery    Conspiracy Bianco    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    11.3%    n/a     $14.99      $17.95
-Westcott Vineyards    Estate Chardonnay    Vinemount Ridge    2018    750ml    12.5%    n/a     $23.43      $27.95
-Icellars Estate Winery    Chardonnay    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2017    750ml    13.2%    n/a     $33.60      $40.00
-Queenston Mile Vineyard    Chardonnay    St. David's Bench    2017    750ml    12.8%    n/a     $29.38      $35.00
-Southbrook Vineyards    Triomphe Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    13.0%    172338     $20.90      $24.95
-Southbrook Vineyards    Laundry Vineyard Chardonnay    Lincoln Lakeshore    2017    750ml    13.4%    n/a     $29.38      $35.00
-Trius Winery    Trius Brut    Niagara Peninsula    NV    750ml    12.0%    284539     $25.12      $29.95
 
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
 
Winery    Wine    VQA Appellation    Vintage    Volume/bottle    Alc./Vol.    LCBO #    Licensee Price    Retail Price
                               
-13th Street Winery    Cabernet Franc    Creek Shores    2018    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $20.90      $24.95                                
-Westcott Vineyards    Violette Sparkling Brut    Vinemount Ridge    2014    750ml    9.5%    n/a     $21.74      $25.95
-Two Sisters Vineyards    Unoaked Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    13.2%    n/a     $21.84      $39.00
-Colio Estate Wines    Lily Sparkling    Ontario    NV    750ml    12.0%    418657     $14.99      $17.95                                        
-Colio Estate Wines    Bricklayer's Reward Riesling    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    10.5%    644765     $15.83      $18.95                        
-Stratus Vineyards    Stratus White    Niagara Lakeshore    2016    750ml    13.1%    660704     $32.91      $39.20
-Broken Stone Winery    Exuberance Sparkling Riesling    Ontario    2017    750ml    11.0%    627083     $20.89      $24.95
-Stratus Vineyards    Tollgate Sauvignon / Semillon    Niagara Lakeshore    2018    750ml    11.8%    n/a     $17.54      $20.95
-Trail Estate Winery    Chardonnay Unfiltered    Prince Edward County    2018    750ml    12.7%    n/a     $33.60      $40.00
-North 42 Degrees Estate Winery    Chardonnay    Ontario    2018    750ml    12.5%    n/a     $13.50      n/a                                                
-Huff Estates Winery    Cuvée Janine    Prince Edward County    2017    750ml    12.0%    n/a     $23.90      $30.00
-Trius Winery    Barrel Ferment Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    12.8%    251470     $16.67      $19.95
-Between The Lines Winery    Gewürztraminer    Four Mile Creek    2018    750ml    12.0%    n/a     $14.99      $17.95
-Pelee Island Winery    LOLA Cabernet Franc Rose    South Islands    2018    750ml    12.5%    552497     $13.30      $15.95                        
-Keint-he Winery and Vineyards    Voyageur Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2016    750ml    12.7%    n/a     $16.29      $19.50
-Pelee Island Winery    J.S. Hamilton Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive    South Islands    2017    750ml    13.5%    n/a     $14.16      $16.95                        
-Pelee Island Winery    Thaddeus Smith Red [syrah blend]    South Islands    2017    750ml    13.4%    n/a     $21.74      $25.95                
-2027 Cellars    Wismer Vineyard FoxCroft Block Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2018    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $19.95      $24.95                        
-The Foreign Affair Winery    Viognier    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    13.5%    11948     $20.05      $23.95
-The Organized Crime Winery    Limestone Block Chardonnay    Beamsville Bench    2017    750ml    13.1%    n/a     $17.73      $21.20
-Traynor Family Vineyard    Chardonnay Skin Ferment White    Prince Edward County    2016    750ml    12.4%    n/a     $16.39      $25.00
-Alvento Winery    Riesling    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    9.5%    n/a     $20.22      $24.15                                                
-Angels Gate Winery    Mountainview Syrah    Beamsville Bench    2016    750ml    13.0%         $25.12      $29.95                                    
-Calamus Estate Winery    Barrel Kissed Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    12.0%    n/a     $14.14      $16.95
-Creekside Estate Winery    Iconoclast Syrah    St. David's Bench    2016    750ml    13.0%    471797     $20.94      $25.00
-Creekside Estate Winery    Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc Semillon    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    12.0%    520627     $19.25      $23.00
-Creekside Estate Winery    Broken Press Syrah    St. David's Bench    2016    750ml    13.5%    n/a     $46.26      $55.00
-Flat Rock Cellars    Gravity Pinot Noir    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    750ml    13.5%    1560     $29.34      $34.95
-Flat Rock Cellars    Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2018    750ml    13.5%    286278     $16.68      $19.95
-Georgian Hills Vineyards    Wild & Inspired Chardonnay Cuvée    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $25.16      $30.00
-Meldville Wines    Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $16.71      $20.00
-Redstone Winery    Limestone Ridge Vineyard Sparkling    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $21.06      $25.15
-Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery    Elisha's Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2018    750ml    12.5%    n/a     $19.21      $22.95
-Tawse Winery    Natural Quarry Road Chardonnay    Vinemount Ridge    2018    750ml    13.0%    n/a     $31.19      $37.15
                                               
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Winery    Wine    VQA Appellation    Vintage    Volume/bottle    Alc./Vol.    LCBO #    Licensee Price    Retail Price                                
 
-Broken Stone Winery    County Grown Chardonnay    Prince Edward County    2018    750ml    13.4%    668269     $22.58      $26.95
-Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Barrel Fermented Chardonnay    Lake Erie North Shore    2017    750ml    11.5%    n/a     $15.15      $18.15                        
-Reif Estate Winery    'Magician' Pinot Shiraz    Niagara Peninsula    2017    750ml    13.5%    246413     $25.25      $30.15
-Creekside Estate Winery    Backyard Sauvignon Blanc Bubbly    Creek Shores    2018    750ml    13.5%    398628     $20.94      $25.00
-Between The Lines Winery    Riesling    Four Mile Creek    2018    750ml    11.5%    n/a     $14.99      $17.95
                               
The Food: enormous sandwiches were provided to the media, along with a couple of salads plus a charcuterie/cheese board, with cookies and fruit for dessert, and coffee.
The Downside: overall, I found some of the wines very inviting (principally whites, roses, and sparklers), but most reds were too young – restaurants and private clients may want to store them awhile.
The Upside: the media room...THANK YOU WMAO!! For a comparison of wine quality and prices, look at my previous postings for VQA at the end of February going back several years.
The Contact Person: info@wmao.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

No comments: