Report from: Primium Familiae Vini Lunch - April 23, 2015

Is there any possible way to put into words the amazing wines and breadth of history that packed the room on this day, as the Primium Familiae Vini (PFV) came to Toronto to wine, dine and ... for lack of a good rhyming word ... impress the hell out of all in attendance.

These are all names you'd recognize, no matter what level of wine drinker you happen to be.  Names like Pol Roger, Drouhin, Muller, Torres, Antinori, Perrin, Rothschild and more: 11 in total, and the experience and history was enough to put one in awe.  So instead of waxing poetic about the what and who let's take a simultaneous look at the lunch (held at the Four Seasons Hotel) and the wines (one from each family).

You know it's gonna be a good party
when this is the appetizer wine:
--------------------
Pol Roger 2002 Sir Winston Churchill
biscuity, sour apple, almondine along with
notes of toffee and butterscotch
**** 1/2

The Look of Lunch ...

Foie Gras
Brioche, Laroda Plum, Lamb's Lettuce

Scallops
Kumquat, Baby Leek, Caviar

Cavatelli Pasta
Rabbit Confit, Preserved Tomato, Olives

Braised Bison Short Rib
Spring Carrots, Pommes Dauphines

Stilton Cheese
Fig, Walnut Crostini, Red Watercress

Wine a Little - Cause there's a lot of them ...

Many of the wines we tried today are no longer in the market place for purchase so no score will be given.

Famille Hugel 2010 Riesling Jubilee
wine made from top Crus
quite lovely with hints of elegant petrol

Joseph Drouhin 2012 Chablis Grand Cru 'Les Clos'
made from a 1.3 hectare parcel in Chablis
creamy texture, apricot, peach, nice minerality
with a hint of oxidation

Egon Muller Scharzhof 1994 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
the house of Muller dates back to 1797
stunningly young in both colour and freshness

Torres 2010 Mas La Plana
represented here today by Miguel Torres - 5th Generation
100% Cabernet Sauvignon - started making this wine in the late 60's
lots of dark fruit and spice; great complexity with power and heft

Tenuta San Guido 2009 Sassicaia
young by comparison, the winery was established in 1941
earthy, sour cherry, cassis - has the acidity of Sangiovese
yet the fruit and force of Bordeaux

Famille Perrin 2005 Chateau Beaucastel
dark fruit and spice; a real delicious endeavour

Antinori 2007 Solaia
name meaning "looking at the sun" - label started in 1978
this wine has an incredible power in the glass with a long life ahead

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2005 Pauillac
Julien Beaumarchais de Rothschild had plenty of quoteable moments:
"wedding between great family and terroir"
"way beyond business puposes, it's about the soul"
As for the wine: menthol, dark fruit with oak and cassis

Vega-Sicilia 2004 Unico
"close to a perfect vintage" - 90% Tempranillo / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
this wine is only produced in the 'great years'
a pure delight on the palate and perfect match with the short ribs -
but this one was also a wonderful wine on its own

Symington Family - Graham's 1977 Vintage Port
if there is a God and he drinks port regularly
he's got a few cases of this in his cellar

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

 

Report from ... Generation Riesling, German Wine Tasting - May 20, 2014

Sure it's called "Generation Riesling" but Germany makes more than just Riesling - thing is it's the Rieslings that stand up ... so let's take a look at what happened on this day of lunch, German wine pairing and a whole boat-load of Riesling.

Riesling - Join the Movement ...
if you need to be convinced to drink Riesling,
I'm really not sure what to say here

Starting with Lunch ...

The line-up of wines scheduled for lunch - reviews later

Scallop Crudo
with sunflower and lemon balm

Poached Hen's Egg
with duPuy Lentils and Smoked Bacon

Grilled Salmon
with broiled asparagus and onion soubise

Thyme and Roasted Garlic Braised Beef Short Rib
with braised cabbage and marinated beans

Nosey Goat Camelot and Comfort Cream
with walnut and cherry compote and artisan chocolate

The Generation Riesling Tasting ...

Entering the Riesling Room

Top Lunch Wine:
Weingut Runkel 2011 Bechtheimer Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir)
pretty violet, sour black cherry with cran-vanilla, anise and cinnamon
this complex wine has nice balance of fruit and acidity (****)

Top Lunch Wine:
Prinz von Hessen 2012 Riesling Dachsfilet
sweet smell of apple, apricot and lime; palate turns out to be dry
with lime zest and mineral (*** 1/2+)

Double Shot from Weingut Bollig-Lehnert
2012 Fire Dragon Riesling: fresh and fruity; gentle, delicate and fun
2013 Flagfish Riesling: touch of sweetness with nice acid/mineral balance
Both wines *** 1/2+

Weingut Willems & Hofmann/Fritz Muller
2013 Hofmann Riesling "vom Muschelkalk" trocken
chalky, minerally with hints of lime - great acidity and so much mineral (****)

Weingut Willems & Hofmann/Fritz Muller
2013 Willems-Willems Riesling "Auf der Lauer" feinherb
fresh green apple, lemon-lime, peach pit and mineral (****+)

Weingut Klumpp 2013 Riesling QbA trocken
easy drinking style with nice acidity, dry pith and zesty citrus (*** 1/2+)

Reh Kendermann 2012 Riesling Roter Hang
nice fruit, good mineral, long finish (*** 1/2+)

Domanenweingut Schloss Schonborn 2008 Erbach Marcobrunn Riesling kabinett
nicely aged with good sweetness, white fruit and lovely mineral quality (****+)

Domanenweingut Schloss Schonborn 2013 Riesling QbA trocken
mineral intensity, lots of acid, dry and food friendly (*** 1/2+)

Weingut St. Urbanshof 2012 Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling GG
dry with the bitterness of citrus pith and green apple skin (*** 1/2+)

Weingut St. Urbanshof 2012 Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling
dry, delicate and delicious - so sippable with lots of mineral/talc
with apple, lemon and lime (****+)

Weingut St. Urbanshof 2013 St. Urbanshof Riesling
silky white fruit; balanced acid with sweetness then adds
pear, peach and apple - this is very pretty (****)

Weingut Walter 2012 Riesling Kabinett
an elegant sweetness to the wine with all its
apple, talc and pear notes along with a pretty finish (*** 1/2+)

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.

Report from ... Mark Anthony Brands Portfolio Tasting - November 5, 2013

With about 79 wines to taste you'd think it would be easy to pick out just a few for a best of list ... but at this Mark Anthony Brands Tasting, and in the end 27, or 34%, made my worth getting list, and one from Portugal was my ultimate buy, especially for the price ... see below for all the wines and their reviews:

Falesco 2010 Montiano ($44.95 - Consignment)
big and fruit driven, spicy and elegant (****)

Tenuta Sant'Antonio 2006 Campo Dei Gigli ($79.95 - LCBO Spring 2014)
rich, ripe and spicy with nice dark fruited on the nose;
palate is full of cassis, plummy and dark chocolate (****)

Tormaresca 2011 Neprica ($14.95 - Consignment)
blend of Negro Amaro, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon (Ne-Pri-Ca)
plenty of plum and black cherry - pretty and pleasant (****)

Alois Lageder 2012 Lageder Porer Pinot Grigio ($27.95 - Private Order)
floral and pretty with mostly tropical and pineapple notes (*** 1/2+)

Eugenio Collavini 2009 Spumante Ribolla Gialla ($49.95 - Consignment)
interesting little bubble; pretty, fresh, crisp and fruity - 2nd ferment is 28 months in tank (*** 1/2+)

Eugenio Collavini 2006 Merlot dal Pic ($49.95 - Private Order)
juicy yet leathery with both blue and black berries; tannins present but not overwhelming (*** 1/2+)

Cavas Hill NV Cava Brut ($13.95 - LCBO Spring 2014) - traditional method, 12 months
almond, vanilla and bready aromas with touches of lime and bread crust on the palate (*** 1/2)

Schloss Johannisberg 2012 Grunlack Spatlese ($37.95 - Consignment)
oldest Riesling wine estate of world, est. 817
lovely sweetness, great acidity, and nice minerality; fresh and fruity (****)

Brumont 2002 Chateau Montus - La Tyre ($104.95 - Consignment)
100% Tannat - leathery black fruit and lots of spice (****+)

Mission Hill 2010 Perpetua ($30.99 - Consignment)
100% Chardonnay - butterscotch, buttery, vanilla, creamy and lush (****)

Mission Hill 2010 Oculus ($70.79 - Consignment)
Bordeaux blend, but not Petit Verdot
rich and ripe with fruit, white pepper and spice (****)

Mission Hill 2010 SLC Syrah ($32.79 - Consignment)
full on peppery Syrah with raspberry and blackberry; quite meaty (****+)

Dona Paula 2006 Yacochuya ($49.95 - #35964)
peppery with chocolate raspberries and strawberry, good anise finish (*** 1/2+)

Santa Rita 2010 Bougainville Petite Sirah ($99.95 - Consignment)
lots of raspberry and cherry fruit with a touch of white pepper (****)

Santa Rita 2009 Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon ($61.95 - Consignment)
sexy and smooth with chocolate, raspberry and cherry (**** 1/2)

Long Shadows 2008 Pedestal Merlot ($57.95 - #64782)
blueberry and chocolate with elements of cherry - ripe and ready to drink (****)

Long Shadows 2007 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon ($57.95 - #64766)
cherry and raspberry take charge with a nice mineral chalkiness (*** 1/2+)

Adelsheim 2011 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($39.00 - Consignment)
Pinot Noir comes from multiple sites: strawberry and cherry,
nice hit of acidity with earthy backbone and a nice element of juiciness (*** 1/2+)

Adelsheim 2010 Elizabeth's Reserve Pinot Noir ($65.95 - Consignment)
selected blocks and barrels Pinot: elegant red fruit with strawberry and cran-cherry (*** 1/2+)

Adelsheim 2011 Ribbon Springs Pinot Noir ($80.45 - Private Order)
single vineyard Pinot Noir:  white pepper on the nose;
red and black fruit battle it out with some juiciness, great acidity and tannin balance (****+)

Sanford 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($54.95 - Private Order)
juicy cherry with plenty of other red berries and red licorice (*** 1/2+)

Tangley Oaks 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($25.95 - #104208)
chocolate, blackberry and black cherry - nice Cali-Cab (****)

Chimney Rock 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95 - Consignment)
tobacco, blackberry, cassis and chocolate (*** 1/2+)

P + S (Prats & Symington) 2009 Chryseia ($74.95 - Private Order)
dark and plumy with nice chalkiness with tannins and minerality (****+)

P + S (Prats & Symington) 2010 Post Scriptum ($18.95 - Private Order)
and here it is, the best wine of the tasting: flavour but price:
juicy blackberry and cassis with mocha chocolate notes along with plum and other dark fruit (****+)

Graham's 2008 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($16.95 - #191239)
the acidity balances out the sweet cherry, chocolate and spice
great for after dinner (****)

For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com, while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.