Welcome to Somewhereness, the showing of six premium Ontario wineries (Flat Rock, Norman Hardie, Malivoire, Stratus, Tawse and Charles Baker). For the media tasting Somewhereness was held somewhere-else … the St. Lawrence Market demo kitchen, instead of where the main event was happening for the rest of the folks (in the evening) - Artscape Wychwood Barns. Something-else was interesting about this year's event … it would seem that Tawse has officially changed their name to “Tawes”, a fellow writer pointed out the new spelling on the printed material we received (our tasting sheet) each incident that should have read "Tawse” was actually spelled "T-A-W-E-S" ... even the websites and e-mail address. An interesting way to announce your new name, with subtlety, very Tawse/Tawes like.
Aside from the new spellings and name changes Somewhereness is a very interesting events; a chance to try the new releases (and in one case, back vintages) of some of Ontario’s premier (read expensive) wineries.
Tawse (or Tawes) ...
I’ll start this off with some kudos to this winery. When they first began operations, Tawse prices were astronomical and exclusionary, today I believe they have seen the light. Sure some of their wines are still in the stratosphere of the price chart, but for those of us who like our wines in the twenty buck range Tawse now has something for us too: Sketches. Sketches is the old ‘Echos” line under a new name. Restaurants wanted some exclusivity when it came to the Echos line, so Tawse drew up a new plan – Echos for restaurants, Sketches for the masses. The 2008 Sketches Riesling is wonderful, while the 2007 Sketches Cabernet-Merlot is everything you’d expect from a 2007 red (think great harvest year) for an incredibly reasonable price of $19.95 for a wine with a decade ahead of it. I was also a huge fan of the 2007 Growers Blend Pinot Noir, a pretty hefty wine for 38 clams, big and mouth filling with ageing potential written all over it. It's mixing the vision of great wine, a price structure that includes everyone, and a willingness to listen to the consumer (especially when it comes to pricing) that'll make Tawse the big winner in the end.
Stratus, Malivoire and Norman Hardie ...
I’m still awaiting the 07 reds from wineries like Stratus and Malivoire - though the Malivoire 2007 Mottiar Vineyard Pinot Noir is a great tease of what's to come, and don't forget about the Malivoire Ladybug Rose 2008 - perfect for the patio this summer. And Hardie has had some great Pinots and a Riesling come out from Ontario’s vintage of the century.
Charles Baker …
Charles presented a tasting of three of his vintages, all Riesling: 2006, 2007 and the new 2008 – the back vintages are aging well while the 2008 Riesling has great potential for longevity in the cellar.
Flat Rock …
Another impressive showing from the Rock, the 2008 Riesling is minerally and peachy; the 2008 Gewurztraminer is rosy and spicy, and the 2007 Pinot Noir is the best starter-Pinot they've ever made (as opposed to the Gravity – reserve - yet to be released).
Aside from the new spellings and name changes Somewhereness is a very interesting events; a chance to try the new releases (and in one case, back vintages) of some of Ontario’s premier (read expensive) wineries.
Tawse (or Tawes) ...
I’ll start this off with some kudos to this winery. When they first began operations, Tawse prices were astronomical and exclusionary, today I believe they have seen the light. Sure some of their wines are still in the stratosphere of the price chart, but for those of us who like our wines in the twenty buck range Tawse now has something for us too: Sketches. Sketches is the old ‘Echos” line under a new name. Restaurants wanted some exclusivity when it came to the Echos line, so Tawse drew up a new plan – Echos for restaurants, Sketches for the masses. The 2008 Sketches Riesling is wonderful, while the 2007 Sketches Cabernet-Merlot is everything you’d expect from a 2007 red (think great harvest year) for an incredibly reasonable price of $19.95 for a wine with a decade ahead of it. I was also a huge fan of the 2007 Growers Blend Pinot Noir, a pretty hefty wine for 38 clams, big and mouth filling with ageing potential written all over it. It's mixing the vision of great wine, a price structure that includes everyone, and a willingness to listen to the consumer (especially when it comes to pricing) that'll make Tawse the big winner in the end.
Stratus, Malivoire and Norman Hardie ...
I’m still awaiting the 07 reds from wineries like Stratus and Malivoire - though the Malivoire 2007 Mottiar Vineyard Pinot Noir is a great tease of what's to come, and don't forget about the Malivoire Ladybug Rose 2008 - perfect for the patio this summer. And Hardie has had some great Pinots and a Riesling come out from Ontario’s vintage of the century.
Charles Baker …
Charles presented a tasting of three of his vintages, all Riesling: 2006, 2007 and the new 2008 – the back vintages are aging well while the 2008 Riesling has great potential for longevity in the cellar.
Flat Rock …
Another impressive showing from the Rock, the 2008 Riesling is minerally and peachy; the 2008 Gewurztraminer is rosy and spicy, and the 2007 Pinot Noir is the best starter-Pinot they've ever made (as opposed to the Gravity – reserve - yet to be released).
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