Report from ... Hobbs & Merchant Vintner Tasting - March 29, 2011

It took place at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts ... two portfolios brought together for one tasting:  Hobbs & Co Wine Merchants Inc. and The Merchant Vintner Ltd.  58 wines were poured, below the top 15 with selected notes:

3.5 stars (good) ...

Quails' Gate 2008 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir ($44.99 - Canada) - 

up front cherry aromas with cranberry-sour cherry and spice in the mouth.

Weingut Josef Leitz 2008 Riesling Kabinett ($19.99 - Germany) -

peaches and apples, a touch of sweetness with a lovely lingering finish.

3.5+ stars (good +) ...

Torlesse 2008 Waipara Riesling ($18.95 - New Zealand) - 

good bit of sweetness amongst the tropical fruit, crisp, nice acidity, lingering finish.

The Grinder 2010 Pinotage ($19.99 - South Africa) -

all out coffee with a latte-like creaminess, nice spice notes on the finish.

Edward Sellers Vineyards 2006 Vertigo ($27.54) -

chocolate, cherry, spice aromas with spicy raspberry and lingering pepper finish.

Vilafonte 2006 Series M ($39.95 - South Africa) - 

nice red and black fruit that shows elegance across the palate.

Domaine Sainte Rose 2009 Coquille d'oc Red ($16.75 - France) -

lots of cherry fruit with just a pinch of pepper.

4 stars (very good) ...

Dr. Frank 2010 Dry Riesling ($24.99 - New York) -

melon, citrus and tropical aromas; lots of melon and tropical on the palate and a lime zest finish.

Vignoble Guillaume 2009 Chardonnay ($17.95 - France) -

nice mouth weight, creamy vanilla, hazelnut, butter and peach.

Chateau Grand Moulin Vieilles Vignes 2005 ($22.10 - France) -

good black fruit and spice.

Alpha Zeta 2008 'R' Ripasso (21.99 - Italy) -

fruit driven with a touch of chalky on the finish: cherry, plum, vanilla and cinnamon.

4+ stars (very good +) ...

Chalkers Crossing 2009 Tumbarumba Pinot Noir ($27.99 - Australia) -

sweet red fruit nose, touch of mineral, cherry, raspberry fruit palate all mixed with spice and pepper; really nice finish.

Empordalia 2010 Verdera ($11.99 - Spain) -

sweet raspberry fruit on the nose; raspberry-spice in the mouth.

Domaine Francois Lichtle 2008 Gewurztraminer ($22.70 - France) -

lychee-peach with the right amount of sweet spice ... yum.

4.5 stars (excellent) ...

Clairault Wines 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.80 - Australia) -

red fruit and floral smells, delicate and elegant, the right amount of playful fruit, spice, pepper, mocha/coffee, lovely fine tannins on a slightly chalky finish.

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