By DEAN TUDOR
The Venue: LCBO, 10 Scrivener Square, Toronto, on Friday, Feb 5, 2010
The Target Audience: Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada
The Quote/Background: Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Winery had organized a tasting of Ontario Chardonnay wines in London, UK. He needed a tasting panel to choose the better wines through a blind process. Once that selection had been made, he offered these “better” wines to the WWCC for a special tasting. They were arranged by flight, from the stainless through the woodies, with a special flight of older library wines.
My favourite: Cave Spring Cellars Chardonnay 2003
The Wines : These rankings reflect my own personal tastes. Two wines were corked, one library wine had a faulty cork, and two non-library wines had evidence of maderisation.
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
— Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, Can $14.95
— Chateau des Charmes Chardonnay Musque Estate Bottled 2008, $16.95
— Malivoire Moira Chardonnay 2005 Beamsville, $36.95
— Tawse Winery Robyn’s Block Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $42
— Closson Chase S. Kocsis Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Unfiltered Beamsville, $44.95
— Malivoire Chardonnay Moira 2007 Beamsville, $39.95.
— Norman Hardie Chardonnay Unfiltered 2008 Beamsville, $35
— Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay Organic 2008 Niagara, $21.95
— Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Black Paw Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, $22
— Malivoire Moira Chardonnay 2004 Beamsville, $64.95 (5 cases left)
— Cave Spring Cellars Chardonnay CSV Estate Bottled 2003 Beamsville, N/A – my fave wine of the tasting.
— Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 1998 Niagara, $154 magnum
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90):
— Colio Estate Vineyards Chardonnay Musque 2007 LENS, $15.35
— Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $35
— Hidden Bench Tete de Cuvee Chardonnay 2006 Beamsville, $45
— Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay 2005 Niagara, $56
— Rosehall Run Chardonnay Rosehall Vineyard 2007 PEC, $29.95
— Creekside Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Niagara, $26.95
— Peninsula Ridge Chardonnay Reserve 2007 Niagara, $24.95
— Tawse Winery Quarry Road Chardonnay 2007 Beamsville, $35
— Lailey Vineyard Winery Brickyard Chardonnay 2008, Niagara, $30
— Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2008 Beamsville, $35
— Peller Estates Signature Series Chardonnay Sur Lie 2008 Niagara, $30
— Hillebrand Winery Trius Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2008 Niagara, $18.95
— Hillebrand Winery Showcase Chardonnay Wild Ferment 2008 Niagara, $35
— Peninsula Ridge Estates Vintners Private Reserve Chardonnay 2003 Niagara, N/A
— Huff South Bay Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 PEC, $29.95
*** Three Stars (85 – 87):
— Colio Estate Vineyards Chardonnay 2006 LENS, $15.35
— Reif Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2006 Niagara, $19.95
— Henry of Pelham Family Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2007 Niagara Escarpment, $19.95
— Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, $24.95
— Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Chardonnay 2008 Niagara, $24
— Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Chardonnay Reserve 2008 Niagara, $38
— Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Cuvee County 2008 PEC, about $17.95
— Black Prince Winery Chardonnay Terroir Elite 2008 PEC, $29.75
The Contact Person: <sdarby@rogers.com>
Chimo!
Dean <http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com>