On the eve of the NHL playoffs the folks from Somewhereness (old soils new wines) decided to give us media types a preview of what the public will be tasting and seeing come May 10 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
Today we are on the 6th Floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox building in Toronto - pretty impressive place - to taste the wines of the original six (another hockey reference): Norman Hardie, Charles Baker, Stratus, Malivoire, Flat Rock and Tawse, plus those of the expansion wineries: Hidden Bench, Southbrook, Cave Spring and Thirteenth Street. An hour long seminar previewed a wine from each producer plus an introduction from May 10th keynote speaker Ian D'Agata.
In honour of the NHL references (original six, expansion and playoffs) I will now give you two lists of awards ... my three star selection and my best of awards for the day (all link back to full reviews on my website).
Starting with the best of category wines:
Best White: Cave Spring 2009 Dolomite Riesling (**** 1/2+)
Best Rosé: Hidden Bench 2009 Bistro Rosé (****+)
Best Red: Norman Hardie 2009 Cabernet Franc (**** 1/2)
The above would seem like an all-star line-up, but the whites outshone the reds today ... the wines below represent my three star selection:
OWR Three Star Selection ...
* Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Dolomite Riesling
** Norman Hardie 2009 Cabernet Franc
*** Charles Baker Wines 2009 Picone Vineyard Riesling
1 comment:
My take (sung to the tune of "My Way")...
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cave Spring Cellars 2004 Blanc de Blancs CSV Estate Bottled Beamsville Bench, $45
-Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Reserve Riesling Twenty Mile Bench, $30 Vintages
-Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Reserve Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench, $35 Vintages
-Flat Rock Cellars 2007 Reserve Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench, $35
-Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir Twenty Mile Bench, $19.95 Vintages
-Hidden Bench Vineyards 2008 Estate Chardonnay Beamsville Bench, $32
-Malivoire 2009 Mottiar Vineyard Chardonnay Beamsville Bench, $29.95
-Norman Hardie 2008 Chardonnay Niagara Peninsula, $35 Vintages
-Stratus 2008 Semillon NOTL, $32
-Stratus 2009 Gewurztraminer Niagara, $32
-Charles Baker 2008 Riesling Picone Vineyard Vinemount Ridge, $35 Vintages
-Charles Baker 2009 Riesling Picone Vineyard Vinemount Ridge, $35
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-13th Street 2008 Funk Vineyard Old Vines Riesling Creek Shores, $23.95 retail
-13th Street 2009 White Palette Niagara, $14.95
-13th Street 2009 Essence Pinot Noir Niagara, $44.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Riesling CSV Estate Bottled Beamsville Bench, $29.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2008 Riesling CSV Estate Bottled Beamsville Bench, $29.95 Vintages
-Cave Spring Cellars 2007 Chardonnay CSV Estate Bottled Beamsville Bench, $29.95 Vintages
-Flat Rock Cellars 2006 Sparkling Brut Twenty Mile Bench, $35
-Flat Rock Cellars 2009 Riesling Twenty Mile Bench, $16.95
-Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Chardonnay Twenty Mile Bench, $16.95
-Flat Rock Cellars 2010 Gewurztraminer Twenty Mile Bench, $22.95
-Hidden Bench Vineyards 2008 Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir Beamsville, $48
-Hidden Bench Vineyards 2008 Terroir Cache-Red Meritage Beamsville Bench, $35 Vintages
-Malivoire 2008 Moira Chardonnay Beamsville Bench, $39.95
-Malivoire 2007 “Cat on the Bench” Pinot Noir Beamsville Bench, $100.20
-Norman Hardie 2010 Melon de Bourgogne PEC, $19
-Norman Hardie 2008 Chardonnay Cuvee L, $49
-Norman Hardie 2009 Pinot Noir Niagara, $39
-Southbrook 2008 Whimsy Cabernet Franc NOTL, $34.95
-Stratus 2007 Red NOTL, $44 Vintages
-Stratus 2007 Petit Verdot NOTL, $38
-Stratus 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon NOTL, $75
-Stratus 2007 White NOTL, $44 Vintages
-Tawse 2008 Estate Chardonnay Niagara, $29.95
-Tawse 2009 Echos Cabernet Merlot Niagara, $16.84 licensee only
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-13th Street 2009 June’s Vineyard Chardonnay Creek Shores, $19.95
-13th Street 2009 Essence Sauvignon Blanc Niagara, $34.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2009 Riesling Dolomite Niagara Escarpment, $16.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir Estate Beamsville Bench, $39.95
-Cave Spring Cellars 2007 Cabernet Franc Estate Beamsville Bench, $34.95
-Hidden Bench Vineyards 2008 Roman’s Block Riesling Beamsville, $34
-Norman Hardie 2010 Riesling, $21
-Norman Hardie 2009 County Pinot Noir PEC, $35 Vintages
-Southbrook 2008 Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon NOTL, $23.95 Vintages
-Southbrook 2007 Triomphe Cabernet Merlot NOTL, $22.95
-Southbrook 2007 Poetica Cabernet Merlot NOTL, $63
-Tawse 2010 Quarry Road Gewurztraminer Vinemount Bidge, $28.95 Vintages in August
-Tawse 2009 Grower’s Blend Pinot Noir Niagara, $31.95 Vintages
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