Monday, May 6, 2013

Report from ... Family Wine Merchants Portfolio Tasting - April 15, 2013


At the Arcadian Loft in downtown Toronto The Family Wine Merchants held their very first portfolio tasting and called in Icons of Wine 2013 ... below is a list of 27 wines from the tasting, its score (out of 5 stars) and some brief tasting notes - some of these wines are Private Order (PO) others Consignment (C) and some others at the LCBO (L):

Greywacke 2012 Sauvignon Blanc - $30.95 (PO)
good expression of fruit: crisp and lots of grapefruit pith (****+)
Greywacke 2011 Pinot Gris - $33.95 (PO)
juicy pear, mac apple and nice acidity (****)
Gerard Bertrand 2010 Grand Terroir Minervois - $15.95 (L)
meaty, spicy, with a certain smoky quality and black pepper finish (****)

Fess Parker 2010 Ashley's Pinot Noir - $67.95 (PO)
dark and red fruit with nice depth of flavour; 40% new oak used (**** 1/2)

Ferraton Pere & Fils 2009 Cornas Les Grands Muriers Rouge - $46.95 (L)
meaty, raspberry, red berries and very peppery (*** 1/2+)

Taittinger Nocturne - $69.95 (C)
very pleasant and easy drinking; good amount of sweetness (****)

Taittinger 2005 Millesime Brut Reserve - $79.95 (L)
4.5 years on lees; delicious bubbly with nice age on it (**** 1/2)

Taittinger NV Brut Reserve - $69.95 (C)
3.5-4 years on lees with 9g of sugar in the dosage (****+)

Cusumano 2011 Syrah - $10.95 (L)
red cherry and spice, soft and juicy; surprised it's under glass closure (****)

Best's Great Western 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon - $56.95 (PO)
rich, smooth and gentle, red fruit, chocolate and strawberry (****)

Best's Great Western 2010 Bin 0 Shiraz - $68.95 (PO)
first made in 1900, rich and fruity with good structure and smooth mouthfeel (****+)

Avontuur Estate 2010 Minelli Pinot Noir Reserve - $33.95 (PO)
interesting and fruit driven (*** 1/2+)

Avontuur Estate 2009 Cabernet Franc - $27.95 (PO)
great version of Franc with mocha, tobacco, cherry and a lovely finish (****+)

Luigi Bosca 2010 De Sangre - $28.95 (PO)
Cab/Merlot/Syrah blend; fruity and juicy (****)

Domaine Drouhin (Oregon) 2011 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir - $46.95 (PO)
a sweet cherry fruit explosion with anise and spice; juicy (****+)

Palliser 2011 Great Paloma Pinot Noir - $72.95 (PO)
16 months in a mix of French and American oak, made from gnarly old vines of 40+ years
concentrated and spicy (****+)

Pyren Vineyard 2011 Block E Shiraz - $N/A (PO)
mocha, smoke, jammy red fruit with nice complexity (*** 1/2+)

Pyren Vineyard 2011 Broken Quartz Cabernet Sauvignon - $26.95 (PO)
rich, red and juicy with good spicy character (*** 1/2+)

Miguel Torres (Chile) 2011 Cordillera Chardonnay - $18.95 (L)
creamy and elegant with generous full mouthfeel (****)

Miguel Torres (Chile) 2009 Manso de Valesco - $48.95 (PO)
rich and big this wine needs time (****+)

Torres 2010 Infite Tempranillo - $12.95 (L)
juicy with blackberry and vanilla (*** 1/2+)

Torres 2010 Coronas Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon - $13.95 (L)
nice spice and dark fruit with hints of red berries and smoke (****)

Torres 2010 Ibericos Tempranillo - $17.95 (L)
smoky-licorice, blue and black berries, good tannins, easy to drink yet with complexity (****)

Torres Moscatel Oro Floralis - $16.95 (L)
orange peel, lemon rind, caramel, spice, always exciting and so well balanced with good acidity (**** 1/2)

Marimar Estate 2010 La Masia Chardonnay - $48.95 (PO)
caramel apple with spiced-peach and hints of vanilla (****)

Marimar Estate 2007 La Masia Pinot Noir - $33.95 (L)
gentle, easy drinking with juicy red berries (****)

Fonseca 2007 Late Bottled Port - $23.95 (L)
smooth, supple and sexy; great dark chocolate and cherry with a spicy finish (****+)


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