From the LCBO site:
BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE CHARDONNAY LCBO 534230 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 18.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1
Made in: , USA By: Beringer Vineyards

Tasting Note
Bright gold colour; spicy, toasty vanilla and tropical notes on the nose; full-bodied on the palate with forward apple citrus fruit and vanilla notes; well-balanced with a long finish.

Serving Suggestion
Roast pork loin, grilled salmon, roasted poultry, or cornish hen stuffed with wild rice.

Check LCBO stock

Check LCBO stock

Reviews of these wines to follow.

This wine is Deep in color lovely dark berries on the nose. On the mid pallet are some deep fruit forward classic California cab flavors cherries some oak, some chocolate. This is a rich wine for sure. On the finish are some mild tannins and a slightly sweet lingering flavor that grows is the mouth. This is definitely a smooth well made fruit forward California style cab. The oak is present but not overwhelming.  Alcohol is also nicely under control. I would give this a 90. It is sadly not available in the LCBO. It is $28 at the Winery . Yum. Eleven charged $20 for the glass … ouch.

I was impressed with Aaron behind the bar who had a good level of knowledge of wine and has his level 2 sommelier. I’m always impressed when establishments commit to ensuring their staff are knowledgeable about wines.

Here was a review I found of the wine where they said “There are people that believe it takes Napa Valley heat to make a good Cabernet. If you are one of them, try Yorkville’s and judge for yourself. The nose wraps up your senses in raspberry, cherry, plum, and semi-sweet chocolate aromas. When sipped, the cherry, plum, and dark chocolate all return. Easy to drink now but with enough tannins to age for a few years, at under $30 a bottle, it’s a much better value than most Napa Cabs. FBWorld Panel Score: 91″. From Food and Beverage.

From the Magnotta web site:
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition VQA 750 mL

Red Sugar: 0 13.8% alc./vol. Body: Full

Flavour Profile: Cassis, black grapes, earth and spice with hints of cedar, peppercorn and raisins
Food Pairing: A definitive pairing to a superb filet mignon, beef tenderloin or well seasoned venison plate

Regular Price: $19.95

They serve 3 ounce and larger to allow you to taste a few. They even have flights you can order. The staff are reasonably knowledgeable about wine.

If your out and about for a game at the ACC be sure and check it out. I found it quite interesting. The food is average but it’s a neat idea. Support it so it doesn’t go away!

2008 ROMAN’S BLOCK RIESLING $34
This wine is pale in color with some honey suckle sweetness coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet there is some sweetness there to match the nose and then on the finish the wine has some tartness to finish it up. The finish is medium in length and nice and dry. This is a pretty good Riesling. I would give it an 88 but to be honest, for the price I can think of better wines.

Wimenaker’s Comments (from their web site)
A brilliant appearance with pale yellow straw colour. Classic and intense Riesling aromatics with hints of yellow grapefruit, lime, honey and a flinty minerality. The palate is vibrant and shows great depth of flavours. This concentrated wine has a core of yellow pomello with candied citrus and lime. An austere wine that shows great finesse, power, beautiful balance and an extraordinary length. These are trademark characteristics of the Rosomel Vineyard, specifically Roman’s Block terroir.

2007 FELSECK CHARDONNAY $38
This wine is golden in color with a varietal California style chard on the nose. On the mid pallet are some lovely California style chard flavors to match the nose. Some nice butter and complexity coming through. The finish is medium in length with alcohol and oak well under control. This is a beautiful wine, not over baked as some can be, probably one of the better Chards I have had from Niagara but I have to say the price is really high for this one. Again I would have to say you can do much better for this kind of money.

Wine makers notes (from their website)
Lively golden pale straw colour. The very concentrated nose shows aromas of ripe peach, caramelized apple, vanilla and clove spice. The powerful and rich palate is showing beautiful concentration of citrus and peach flavours with a well-integrated smokiness. The 2007 Felseck Chardonnay has great intensity and length and is best enjoyed with rich foods.

2007 LA BRUNANTE $85
This wine is very dark in color with loads of black fruits coming through. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Malbec and Cab franc so it is a heavily blended wine. On the mid pallet this is a big bold wine with loads of complexity in the mouth. Layers of flavors ripple through the mouth. Lots of black berries. The wine has a lovely dry finish that lingers nicely. A very well made wine. 89-90. This is a Bordeaux stlye wine and they have done it very well, but did you see the price? No that was not a typo. Wow!

Wine makers notes (from their web site) The colour is deep, opaque purple with hints of violet. An expressive, powerful and elegant nose with rich, ripe dark fruits layered in classic Beamsville Bench minerality. Super-fine luscious tannins frame the palette which expresses purity of black and blueberries. Extremely concentrated, the wine gives way to a velvety texture with a finish that extends into minutes. This wine is meant for mid to long-term aging.

2008 ESTATE PINOT NOIR $38
This wine is ruby in color with a varietal pinot noir nose with rustic notes coming through. On the mid pallet the wine is exactly what one would expect, some rustic flavors, some earthy notes, and none of none of less attractive barnyard characteristics that can plague some pinots. The wine is nice and dry on the medium finish with some nice tannins present. This wine is bold and concentrated, again a VERY well made wine, again one of the better ones in Niagara. I would give this one a solid 90.

I was really impressed with the quality of wines Hidden Bench are making. If price was seriously not an issue for me, I would definitely enjoy any of these. The reality, or my reality anyway, is price is an issue. I highly recommend you stop by Hidden Bench if for no other reason to try some of the best wines coming out of Niagara! In spite of the price I found the staff to be pleasant, approachable and not in the least bit pretentious (nothing like 30 Bench, my least favorite winery in Niagara). Staff can make all the difference. They also had on display that they have installed 105 solar panels and throughout the year are power neutral returning power back to the grid for most of the year. Nice!

The Winery

From the LCBO web site:

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION GOLD LABEL CHARDONNAY 2008
VINTAGES 708305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Francis Ford Coppola Pres Rosso & B
Release Date: Oct 2, 2010

Tasting Note
This Gold Medal-winning Chard is dense with flavour yet remains light on its feet. Bright yellow with emerald highlights, it’s clean and appetizing with aromas of toast, vanilla, butter, sweet pear, apricot, mango and cantaloupe. Dry and medium bodied with plenty of smoky oak, though the tasty fruit character shines strong. Good acidity leads to a crisp, smoke-infused finish. Simply perfect for a juicy, buttery turkey at Thanksgiving Dinner, or try it with pan-fried scallops with butter and garlic. (VINTAGES panel, March 2010)

Check LCBO stock

I enjoy taking trips to Niagara to the wineries, the Inn’s and the wonderful food that has become a part of the wine industry. It’s a lovely place to visit and so close to home. I’ve been to Ridgepoint on a number of occasions and keep going back. They have some unique wines at Ridgepoint. They have planted an acre of Nebbiolo grapes. These are the grapes used in Italian Barolo’s and Barbaesco’s, a testimonial to the owner’s Italian background. I’ve always found the staff at Ridgepoint knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and attentive. Today we really lucked out that it was super slow which gave them lots of time to spend with us, which I REALLY appreciated. Ridgepoint has a lovely “casual dining” experience where they serve lots of Italian style food. We had the wild boar sausage that was prepared for us by the dish’s creator Christopher Knight. It was delicious. Each time I’ve been there the food has been excellent and at a fair price. In the summer they have nice big patio. They are very accommodating and unpretentious. We stopped by one time after mountain biking in Short Hills Provincial park and they welcomed us! Milly (spelling???) served us and she was excellent! Laura took care of us in the tasting room and spent lots of time explaining the wines, setting up a flight for us, just the right way! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ridgepoint. I highly recommend a stop at Ridgepoint.

Ridgepoint wines in the LCBO

Here’s a mini review of the wines we tasted:

2007 Pinot Noir $25.25. This wine is pale in color with a mild pinot varietal nose. A little earthy, some rustic scents coming through. On the mid pallet wine is a smooth well balanced pinot with those same rustic earthy tones coming through. This is a milder pinot noir. So much so that Lorraine who was with me, who does not like pinot noir’s normally enjoyed this one! On the finish the wine is nice and dry with a medium finish. A very nice Pinot. I would give it an 89 or so.

2008 Merlot $14.25
My regular readers know I have a narrow version of what Merlot ought to taste like. Plum is what I look for. This wine is not a bad wine with some nice complexity, reasonable finish and lots of dark berries coming through, but to my tastes, this is more like a cab than a Merlot. I would give it an 88 or so. Still not a bad wine.

2007 Meritage $25.25. This wine is 35% cab sauv 35% merlot and 27% cab franc (no idea what the other 3% is, either I wrote it down wrong or …). The wine is dark in color with a nose of dark berries again. You can get the cab franc on the nose for sure. The wine has a very nice finish, medium in length with some tannins and oak that are well under control. I enjoyed this wine and was one the wines we had at lunch. I would give this a solid 89. Very nice. Check LCBO stock

2006 Nebbilolo $40. This wine is dark in color with lots of earthy notes coming up. The wine has some lovely dark berry, deep rich flavors consistent with a Barbaresco. Ridgepoint have done it. They have made a pretty reasonable facsimile of an Italian Nebbiolo. The wine is big with lots of pallet coating tannins. This wine will go fabulous with a steak or lamb. I was thrilled to be able to finally sample (and buy this wine!). I would give it a solid 89. Very well done. Niagara is not kind to this grape. It hates our winters!

2007 Chard $20.25. This wine is yellow in color (not quite golden). On the nose this wine is a varietal (albeit milder) chard. On the mid pallet are some varietal flavors with some butter coming through. This is a light well made chard. On the finish the wine is medium in length with some nice flavors lingering but not all that strong. This is a finesse wine. I would give this one an 88.

2008 Riesling Dry $15.26. Very pale in color with a varietal nose of honey suckle. Not too sweet though. On the mid pallet with wine is a lovely dry riesling, smack on. The finish is on the lighter side of medium. This one is displacing the Cave Springs as my favorite Niagara Riesling now. The current year from Cave Springs, even the dry one, is just too sweet for my tastes. I really enjoyed this one and would give it an 89-90!

All in all I was impressed with my visit to Ridgepoint. They are doing better and better each year hitting the points where Niagara does well while still having room to innovate. Ridgepoint wines are good value for your money. I hope they are able to continue the pace of continuous improvement! Great job folks.

From the LCBO web site:

BIG YELLOW CAB CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 VINTAGES 35014 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Mendocino Wine Co.

Release Date: Sep 4, 2010

Description
Here’s a Cab that is easy to hail. The whimsical name and label are all in good fun, but the wine inside is surprisingly serious. An excellent value, the wine is bursting with juicy blackberry flavours with notes of mocha and toasty oak. It’s dry, well-balanced and ready-to-drink. Well worth the fare. Enjoy it tonight with roast beef or grilled steak.

Here’s what winecurrent.com had to say:
13.5% alcohol Straightforward and bistro-styled this opens with a fragrant nose of smoky earthy tones mingling with mint-infused dark fruit. There are fruit-forward mouth-filling flavours of dark berry fruit and cherry that persist through the mid-length balanced finish. Pairs nicely with gourmet grilled sausage or backyard barbecued burgers. (Vic Harradine) (035014) $17.95 Rating 3/5 from Winecurrent
Featured 9/4/2010

Check LCBO Stock

From the LCBO web site:
TWO OCEANS CAB SAUV/MERLOT LCBO 340398 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95

Wine, Red Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: South Africa, South Africa By: Distillers Corporation Limited

Tasting Note
Deep ruby colour; smoky, cherry and candied fruit aromas with notes of leather, oak and cassis; dry, medium bodied, with soft tannin, smooth, smoky, oaky berry flavours; approchable, easy drinking style.

Check LCBO Stock

This wine was the first wine they served. The wine is 89% Semillion and 11% Sauv Blanc. On the nose the wine is quite sweet in bouquet with pear screaming through and some florals. On the mid pallet this wine has some nice apple flavors with a lovely long green tart apple finish lingering nicely. I was quite impressed with the length of this wine. It is not sweet as the nose would expect. I would easily give this a 90. Quite an impressive wine. $22 and is available in a case of 12x750ml.

Menu
Various Hors d’œuvre were served along with THIRTEENTH STREET JUNE’S VINEYARD CABERNET ROSÉ 2008 . I didn’t really think much of this wine. It wasn’t terrible, but not to my tastes. I’m really not a rose person, and a bubbly Rose is even less to my tastes.

· Braised rapini with a poached mini egg over a pickled garlic sauce
13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT 2004. I quite enjoyed this Brut which is made in the traditional champagne style. Lots of Chard flavors, just the right amount of bubbles. I’m not a big Champagne person but I enjoyed this one and would have it again. I would give it a 89 or so.

· Elk ‘PHO’ – Carpaccio of elk over braised cabbage with raw mushrooms and horseradish surrounded by spicy broth
Funk Vineyard Riesling 2007 (Not available in the LCBO right now). This is a quite nice semi sweet Riesling with a good varietal structure to the wine, some honey, some apricot. The sweetness was about right for a food friendly wine.

· Juniper scented risotto with hot ricotta and smoked prawns
Gamay Noir Sandstone Old Vines 2007 (Not available in the LCBO). This was quite an interesting wine. It was quite a fruit forward Gamay with some tannins and structure on the finish. There’s a fair bit of sweetness to the wine so one would need to be careful with the food pairing. This particular pairing was not bad but frankly I would have reversed the Riesling and the Gamay. I would give this one an 89-90. I quite enjoyed it.

· Crispy duck breast over celery root puree and mulled wine sauce
Meritage 2006. I must admit I am not a big fan of Meritage blends. This one was not bad displaying only a little of that “Niagara terroir” to it. I would give it an 87 or so. The fruit in it was fairly well done and the Niagara tannins were well under control. Medium in finish the wine seemed to go Ok with the duck.

· ‘Smores’ shooter

· Lemon almond cream cake with mascarpone mousse and a warm sage emulsion sauce
13 Degrees Below Zero Riesling 2008. I have to admit again, I am not a big fan of Ice wines. This one was pretty good to my tastes. It was not as sweet or syruppy as some. They were well under control. It made a nice finish to the evening.

All in all it was a nice evening, very well done by the whole crew at The Stop and Peter did a great job of giving us just enough information about the wines and the winery! He was very enthusiastic about what he does, was very knowledgeable and stopped by each of the tables during the evening to discuss the wines, the winery and anything else that might have been on our minds!

About The Stop Community Food Centre:
Located in the Davenport West neighbourhood in Toronto, The Stop works to increase people’s access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality.

The Stop’s Green Barn is a satellite site of The Stop located in the Artscape Wychwood Barns at St. Clair & Christie. It includes a year round greenhouse, sheltered garden, bake oven, compost demonstration project, community kitchen, a classroom and a weekly farmers’ market.

None of these wines are currently in the LCBO, not even a different year from what was tasted.

The event was run as a blind tasting to add some fun!

We started the evening with a cab from Marietta Cellars $20 or so. This is a very interesting wine in that there is no year on the bottle. They blend grapes from different years into the bottle to craft the wine. I am told this is called an “NV” or non-vintage wine. I have run into a few times but not all that common. The wine was dark in color with a dominant tobacco smell that persisted. On the mid pallet there were lots of dark dried fruits, cherries, prunes etc. On the finish the wine was light with a hint of dryness that built on the tongue. One would not confuse this with a Napa cab, very unique experience!

For the rest of the tasting we first did Pinot Noirs and then onto cabs. Pinot’s can be quite interesting. Bouquet’s of earthy notes, barnyard, and the like are not uncommon. Rustic tastes are also quite common.

First up was a 2006/2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir.

It was quite surprising how different the 2005 and 2006 were. The 2006 was the typical light color while the 2005 was dark enough to be confused as a cab. The 2006 was $35 and the 2005 was $38.

On the nose the 2006 was earthy and rustic. On the mid pallet there were lots of lovely subtle fruits. On the finish the wine was moderately complex with just a hint of tartness. This was my favorite of the Pinots.

The 2005 had quite a barnyard smell on the nose. Not unpleasant, not atypical. On the mid pallet this too was a fruity wine with medium finish and a rustic taste. The wine had a funky finish to it that was not all that nice. It was also not as long as the 2006. This wine was my second least favorite of the pinots. Amazing what difference a year can make!

Next up are the 1997 and 1999 Sokol Pinot Noirs. The 1999 was an Old Vines. They 97 went for $35 and the 99 Old Vines went for $120.

The 1997 had a very unpleasant bouqet which reminded me of a bathroom. Yuk. The wine tasted better than it smelled, but not a whole lot. This one earned the least favorite Pinot in my book. The wine was rustic on the mid pallet and really not a great finish. I suspect my taste buds could not get past the nasty smell.

The 1999 displayed prominent wood on the nose. Quite smooth on the mid pallet but the fruit had all but dissipated (for my tastes). On the finish the wine had a slightly bitter tart taste that fought a bit with some of the mid pallet sweetness. I actually wondered in my mind if this one was past it’s prime. For the smoothness this was my second favorite of the Pinots.

Now onto the Cabs!

First up is the Wineglass cellars 1998 cab which retailed for $69.50.

The wine was quite mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some subtle cab flavors with cherries being dominant. On the finish this is a smooth easy drinking food friendly cab. This will not be mistaken for a boisterous Napa Cab. This is a well made, wine that has aged very well. This one netted my “best of the night cab”!

Next up was the Januik 1999 Cab which retailed for $64.95.

The wine had quite an earthy note to it. If I had not been told, from the bouquet, this wine smelled a whole lot more like the Pinots we had tasted. Chris said “vegetal highlights”. Yup I could go with that. On the mid pallet the wine also had more of a rustic pinot like taste. Finish was mild. This was my second least favorite cab. It wasn’t nasty by any means, just not what I expect from a cab.

Pepper bridge 1999 cab which retailed for $65 was next up. Their Merlot is in the LCBO but not the cab. And a whopping 5 in the whole province of Ontario …

On the nose I got some strong alcohol/petrol smells. No idea where this came from. Happily the wine tastes better than it smells! On the mid pallet this is a lovely smooth wine with a nice finish with tannins in control. This wine has aged well. This was my second favorite cab!

Last up is the Hedges 1999 cab which retailed for $85.

The wine is quite mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some fruit masked slightly by a tartness. This wine is quite long and dry and builds in the mouth. This was my least favorite cab but even this was not bad at all!

The event was held at the University of Toronto Faculty club!

Unlike some events there is no one book that shows you all the wines at the event for you to make tasting notes for. Frankly it would be HUGE. Couple that with the fact that literature of what you are tasting really varies booth to booth and this is not an easy one to end up with notes for. So be sure and take along something to write on and with.

I really wish more of the booths would provide a simple sheet with what was being tasted at the booth, is it in the LCBO (and if so the LCBO number) and the price. Preferably with somewhere to write tasting notes. Sounds simple enough.

I enjoyed myself and will comment on a few of the wines in this and future posts, but in the end, my summary was that I really didn’t find anything that was earth shatteringly good, or earth shatteringly bad. That said with so many wines being tasted it is a matter of what you choose to taste as to how your experience will be!

Onto a wine! This one was one that stood out for me. This is a well made middle of the road chard. It has been well crafted with balance in mind. On the mid pallet are some lovely chard fruit flavors. On the finish is a bit of oak, some creamyness and medium in length. This is clearly a wine that is responding to the critics that have been going at the overly buttery/creamy chards! Very nice wine. I would give it an 89-90. Finesse is a word that comes to mind for this wine! I woud prefer if it a little longer but quite good none the less!

from the LCBO web site:
GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2008 VINTAGES 138305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Gemtree Vineyards

Release Date: Oct 24, 2009

Tasting Note
Shows sophisticated use of winemaker inputs; fresh and crisp, with oak perfectly integrated and balanced; long, clean finish; well-priced. Drink [until] 2012. Score – 92. (James Halliday, www.winecompanion.com.au, Aug. 2008)

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Gemtree Citrine Chardonnay 2008 McLaren Vale South Australia
13.0% alcohol Gemtree owned by the third-generation-growers Buttery family have been following bio-dynamic principles since 2008. This is flavourful and deftly balanced. Aromas and flavours abound with yellow peach pear honeydew melon lemon-lime tang and spiced yellow plum among them. The prudent barrel treatment, only 30% aged in oak is perfectly integrated while the lively finish is crisp and refreshing with tangy citrus and spice flavour. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour pick up a few. (Vic Harradine) (138305) $17.95 Rating 4.5/5 from Winecurrent
Featured 10/24/2009

Shiraz and Syrah are two different names for the same grape. The difference between the two is the style in the way the wine is made as well as the different flavors imparted into the wine by the terroir.

Shiraz tends to be more of a fruit forward style of wine with quite a peppery, tannic finish to them. Sometimes the tannins and pepper can be quite dominant.

Syrah on the other hand, when on it’s own (the French often blend Syrah) ends up being a smooth, refined wine without the edgeyness on the finish.

The difference between the two is most evident when the wine is young. As the wine ages I discovered at this event, the peppery, tannic finish dominant in a Shiraz integrates more fully into the wine and the line between a Shiraz and a Syrah virtually disappears. This is the first time I’ve had a well aged Shiraz and I was impressed with how smooth it can become. I had always believed there was no point in aging Shirazs beyond 5 years. Man was I wrong. These were lovely. The oldest tasted was a 1999 and all of the wines we tasted were still tasting VERY well. Managing a large cellar isn’t easy and it would be a crying shame to have a wine go bad before you get to it! Clearly the cellar masters are doing a great job!

This particular event was a blind tasting.

Onto the tastings. We started the evening with two chardonnays as the reception wine.

Reception wines

YALUMBA WILD FERMENT CHARDONNAY 2008 $17.95
The wine is pale in color with some mild sulphur on the nose. Not to the point of smelling a match (which I have had before), but it was there. The wine is quite mild in flavor, some slight butteryness, some varietal chard flavors with a mild finish. There is a bit of sulphur tastes to the wine as well. All in all this was an Ok wine, but nothing great. I would give it an 87-88 ish.

Check LCBO stock

CHATEAU ST. JEAN CHARDONNAY 2007 $19.95
The wine is a lovely Californian style chard with some butteryness, some creamyness and a finish that builds nicely in the mouth. At first the wine seems light in flavor until it starts to build. After a few sips you are really appreciating the depth and complexity of the wine. This is a very well made chard. Be sure and try a few sips of it on it’s own (without food) to fully appreciate it. I would give it a 90 easily. Yummy. Of the two this was my favorite and the crowd also preferred this one. As an interesting side note, this winery is owned by Fosters, an Australian company.

Check LCBO stock

Wines from the tasting

These wines were all brought out of the cellars of the Society for American Wines and the Australian Wine Society. Current vintages are available for some of them in the LCBO but not the specific year we tasted. Prices quoted are what they were bought for originally.

2002 Arrowood Sonoma County California $29.95
- chocolate/coffee on the nose
- smooth wine with lots of lovely fruit and a spicey finish
- this was the group’s 2nd least (tied with 2 others) favorite and my number 4

2001 Charles Melton Barossa Valley South Australia $45
- very mild and non descript on the nose
- very nice smooth wine, lots of fruit with some tannins on the finish
- more fruit forward than some of the other
- this was the group’s 2nd least (tied with 2 others) favorite and my number 2
Check LCBO stock on the current vintage now $47

2000 Henry’s Drive Padthaway South Australia $45
- very mild on the nose
- not a great finish to it at all
-this was the group’s 2nd highest rated wine but one of my least favorites

1999 Leasingham Classic Clare Valley South Australia $60
- slight mint on the bouquet
- smooth, well integrated with a lovely dry finish
- this was the group’s favorite wine of the evening and my number 5
Check LCBO stock on the current vintage now $51

2001 Macroste Wildcat Mountain Sonoma County California $30
- on the nose I got dishwater, maybe the glass was contaminated
- the wine tasted foul and had some fruit flavors. It might have just been this bottle. Others at the event enjoyed the wine. Others at my table also did not enjoy the wine but did not smell what I smelled.
- my least favorite wine and also the least favorite of the group
Check LCBO stock on the current vintage now $54.95

2002 Rosemount Hill of Gold Mudgee New South Wales Australia $24.95
- on the nose I got black licorice
- deep fruit tastes with some tannins and a nice finish
- this was the group’s 2nd least (tied with 2 others) favorite and my number 3

2003 Silver Stone Paso Robles California $49.95
- beautiful bouqet with some oak and coffee smells. Lots of cassis like smells! My mouth was watering just based on the smell. This was actually the first wine we started with and I was quite enthralled with the bouquet!
- lots of beautiful fruits, a lovely smooth wine with a medium finish. This is a well made wine that has aged extremely well. I would be thrilled to have some of these in my cellar! Of course at the price it ought to be good
- this was by far my favorite wine of the evening and the groups 3rd favorite
Check LCBO stock on the current vintage now $49.55

2002 Zacca Mesa Foxen Canyon Los Olivos California $25.60
- very mild on the nose with some petrol odors
- noticeable alcohol on the tastes some fruit with a medium finish
- this was the group’s 2nd least (tied with 2 others) favorite and my one of my least favorites as well

The event has a lot more general list wines in comparison to other events. This means there are a lot more simple wines which is a different but not bad thing. A lot more wines are below the $15 mark and only a few above $40. This sets the stage for expectations.

Event Summary

I started the event by focusing on whites. I don’t have a lot of experience with whites from Chile so this was a great opportunity. I discovered Chile make some lovely rich vibrant Sauvignon Blancs for very reasonable prices. I only found a few Chardonnays that were to my tastes. From a red point of view Chile have some Shirazs but they are much more a syrah than a Shiraz with little to no pepper on the finish. They really need to embrace the syrah. Chile also make a number of Cabernet Sauvignons. Their cabs are quite different than say a Napa cab and don’t have that distinctive deep cassis cherry flavor that Napa is famous for. There are lots of smooth well balanced cabs to enjoy. Chile is well known for there Carmenere. This is a grape well known to Chile and generally is a well balanced fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon like grape. I didn’t find one Merlot that I thought was good. There was food at the event but to be honest I was still full from lunch so I didn’t try any of it.

The event is fast and furious and it’s not possible to taste everything (at least not for me) and the reviews end up being mini reviews. I ended up tasting 44 wines. Some wines I have chosen would be be worthy of a follow up in which case I’d like to get a bottle and do a more thorough tasting.

Wines that stood out that are in the LCBO

Here are the wines that stood out for me that are currently available in the LCBO (that I could find listings for):
Cono Sur Viognier 2008 $9.95
- this was the biggest longest wine of the evening. For the price this wine is a bargain. Jump out and grab some of this and try it for yourself
- quite tart
- totally unexpected for a Viognier
- slightly vinegary on the finish
- worthy of a more detailed review

From LCBO Web site:
CONO SUR VIOGNIER LCBO 64287 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 13.7% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal

Tasting Note
Pale gold colour; tropical fruit aromas with melon, peach and orange blossom notes; dry, medium bodied, with great acidity and flavours of grapefruit, peach, green apple and pineapple; good length on the finish.
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review

Errazuriz Estate Sauv Blanc 2008 $11.90
- very New Zealand like grassy smell and flavor
- reminded me a lot of Kim Carawford at half the price!
- nice fruit med length
- best of show sauv blanc!
Full review

From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 263574 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.40
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 11.90 Now: $ 10.40 Save: $ 1.50 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.

Tasting Note
Pale straw in colour, this medium bodied white has fresh grassy aromas, with lots of citrus and green apple, the citrus carries through on the palate and the finish is dry and refreshing
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review

Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2007 $17.95
- mild on the nose
- no pepper more of a syrah than a shiraz. Some cab flavors
- quite dry
- worth a more detailed review
From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVE SHIRAZ LCBO 614750 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.85
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.

Tasting Note
Dark purple in colour; aromas of spice, wood & cigar; full-bodied with flavours of black cherry & spice; tannic finish.
Check LCBO stock

Tarapaca Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.99
- mild light easy drinking not bad at all for the price
From the LCBO web site:
VINA TARAPACA SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 414185 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.15
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 9.90 Now: $ 9.15 Save: $ 0.75 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala

Tasting Note
Light yellow straw colour; aromas and flavours of gooseberry, herbs and green apples; dry, light- to medium-bodied with softer acidity; with a soft finish
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.95
- mild bouquet
- slightly tart, nice finish worth a longer look especially based on the price
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA SAUV BLANC RSV LCBO 337535 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; fresh, green apple aromas with a hint of lime zest; dry, medium bodied with a lemony palate.
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review

Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay 2008 $10.95
- med fruit slightly buttery and smooth, for the price this is well worth another look!
More detailed review of this wine
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA CHARDONNAY RSV LCBO 304022 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; light toasty notes with peach and apple fruit; medium-bodied with toasty, tropical fruit flavours
Check LCBO stock

Valdi Vieso Reserva Chardonnay $17.95
- lovely smooth buttery california style chard. Quite good. Well worth another look!
- second best chard of the evening (there single vineyard was even more intense but not available)
From the LCBO web site:
VALDIVIESO RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2006 VINTAGES 981621 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.25
Wine, White Wine, 14.1% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Valdivieso S.A. Release Date: Dec 6, 2008

Description
A veritable fruit salad of flavours and aromas, this Chardonnay is packed with juicy pear, nectarine, banana and peach. Vibrant and inviting, it provides a flavourful counterpoint to chicken in cream-based sauces.
Check LCBO stock

Montgras Sauv Blanc Reserva 2008 $11.95
- mild bouquet
- nice fruit, lighter on the finish
From the LCBO web site:
MONTGRAS SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVA LCBO 58362 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Montgras

Tasting Note
Pale lemon yellow colour with hints of green; intense fresh scents of citrus, gooseberry, and cut grass; light bodied, racy acidity, displaying flavours of lemon zest, grass, and green apple.
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2008 $10.95
- varietal colors, bouquet and flavors
- light on the finish typical of a pinot
- bargain for the price!
From the LCBO web site:
CONO SUR PINOT NOIR LCBO 341602 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.95
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal

Tasting Note
Ruby red colour; cherries, earth and berries with a touch of spice in both aroma and flavour; dry, light to medium-body, quite lively on the palate, with mild tannin and a rounded fruity finish.
Check LCBO stock

Other wines tasted

Anakena Single Vineyard Sauv Blanc 2008 $14.95 (not in the LCBO for now)
- smooth easy drinking varietal sauv blanc

Anakena Single Vineyard Carmenere 2007 $14.95
- quite nice not as fruit forward as some
- more cab like flavors
- worthy of a more detailed tasting when it comes out
- not available in LCBO for now

Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier $14.95
- quite good, tasty
- suppose to be coming out in January
- not available in LCBO for now

Anakena Single Vineyard Cab Sauv $14.95
- non descript light in flavor
- not available in LCBO for now

Carta Vieja G7 Reserva Carmenere 2008 $14.95
- not bad slightly tart on the finish
- some cab like fruit
- slightly oaky
- not available in LCBO for now

Carta Vieja G7 Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2007 $17.95
- this is a lovely California style chard. Slightly buttery, lovely chard bouquet.
- third best chard of the show!
- not available in LCBO for now

Vina Chocalan Malvilla Chardonnnay 2008 $23.45
- more Sauv blanc than chard, slightly tart not a great chard for the money
- suppose to be LCBO number 145524 but I could not find it

Concha Y Toro Trio 2008 Chard/Pinot Grigo/Pinot Blanc Blend $12.95
- got a 90 from Robert Parker
- slightly tart, more chablis in style than a california style
- suppose to be released in Feb

Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay $17.95
- Nov 7th release
- slight tart more chablis in style, no butteryness
- no secondary fermentation
- lots of fruit in the flavors!

Cono Sur Merlot 2008 $9.95
- a mild wine with some varietal Merlot flavors
- some mild mid pallet fruit flavors
Check LCBO stock

Cono Sur Organic Cab Sauv/Carmenere 2008 $13.95
- not available at the LCBO
- the carmenere was dominant in the flavors
- fruit forward, slightly sweet

Cousino Macul Sauvignon Gris 2008
- not available in the LCBO
- this is not a blend but a unique grape
- green grassy smell
- wood, light on the fruit

Cousino Macul Don Matias Sauv Blanc $12.95
- not available in the LCBO
- smooth light slightly fruity
- varietal bouquet

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cab Sauv 2007
- smooth lighter on the finish slightly dry not a bad Chilean cab
Check LCBO stock

Estampa Reserve Carmenere/Cab Sauv/Cab Franc $15.95
- not in the LCBO
- totally non descript with a blend like this I was expecting a whole lot more. A disappointment

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Shiraz 2007 $16.95
- more of a syrah than a shiraz, nice and smooth no pepper quite reasonable
- not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Camenere 2007 $16.95
- smooth non descript nothing special
- not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Rosa Blanca Cab Sauv 2007 $13.95
- smooth easy drinking cab, lighter side
- not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Malbec 2008 $12.95
- 14% alcohol which is quite noticeable
- lots of dried fruit flavors
- totally nice for the price
- not in the LCBO

Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Carmerere/Syrah 2008 $19.95
- not in the LCBO
- smooth easy drinking wine

Vina Maipo Reserva Merlot 2008 $13.95
- not at all varietal Merlot
- smooth easy drinking wine
Check LCBO Stock

Montgras Intriga Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $19.95
- yummy smooth deep cab, deep on the finish
- supposedly LCBO number 57901 but I couldn’t find it

Nativa Gran Reserva Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
- Dec 5th release LCBO number 975359
- slightly bitter mild cab

Nativa Cabo de Hornos Cab/Syrah/Malbec $80
- smooth easy drinking wine but not worth the price

Nativa San Pedro 1865 Cab Sauv 2007 $24.99
- lovely and smooth worth another look, unfortunately not in the LCBO

Tarapaca Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $19.99
- not a whole lot better than the non reserve, not worth the extra money
- not in the LCBO

Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2007 $18.95
- lighly oaked mild in flavor more of a chablis style
Check LCBO stock

Santa Rita Casa Real Cab Sauv 2005 $59.95
- smooth easy drinking but so not worth the money for my tastes
- not in the LCBO

Sena Arboleda Merlot 2007 $18.95
- not varietal non descript … yawn

Valdi Vieso Reserva Cab Sauv 2006 $17.95
- deep medium fruit
- dry not sweet at all, slightly bitter
Check LCBO stock

Valdi Vieso Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 $22.60
- even better than the one above, quite deep rich chard very yummy for the price. Unfortunately not in the LCBO
- best in show Chard

Vina Ventisquero Reserva Shiraz 2008 $13.95
- sweeter fruit forward wine not great

Vina Ventisquero Queulat Syrah 2007 $18.99
- lovely deep and rich syrah, shame it’s not in the LCBO

Vina Tabali Reserva Syrah 2007 $16.95
- slightly bitter not all that smooth definitely one of the more edgey syrah’s of the evening (but not in a good way)
Check LCBO stock

Vina Terra Noble Gran Reserve Carmere $16.95
- smooth easy drinking not fruit forward Carmenere
Check LCBO Stock

Last time around we were totally spoiled by Jason who took lots of time to talk to us, discuss the wines and generally show a passion for what he/they were doing.

This time around, unfortunately, the restaurant was booked for a large birthday party and we were relegated to the bar area as well as rushed out. I had even called to check if they were still doing the wine tastings and was told they were with no mention of the large party. I was not impressed. It’s good this was the second time, because if this was the first there would not have been a second

We arrived around 5:30 or so and already they were down to about 10 wines and they went fast. When one bottle is drank dry they stop serving it. We ate dinner there and again the food was alright but nothing amazing, maybe 2.5/5 stars for me.

Being relegated to the bar meant we had only the bartender to serve us. And while she was pleasant enough, she was by no means chatty and seemed to have little wine knowledge. It seems Jason is the only one there (at least the two times we have been) that has in depth knowledge of the wines. A shame. I like the idea of what they are doing.

In this venue I took some brief notes as well as pics of the bottles. The place is dark and the iPhone camera sucks so the pics are only so so, but then your not here to look at pictures are you. So consider these mini reviews of the wines. Most are not in the LCBO unfortunately.

Terre di chieti Pinot grigio 2007
Slightly bitter finish, some oak flavor 87
might be this one, can’t be sure

Pescaja
Strong apple flavor, and reasonably long not bad at all! 88. Not in the LCBO unfortunately. I would consider this the second best wine of the evening.
Pescaja

Norman hardie Pinot noir
We tasted this one at the winery in our visit and really didn’t like it. This time we got some mild dill on mid pallet, reasonable finish 88. It tasted much better this time, perhaps at the winery it was too young. Still wouldn’t be jumping out to grab one. Not in the LCBO.

7deadly zin 2007 Check LCBO stock $24.95
Lovely varietal zin not Jammy at all. Quite nice 89

Mission Hill Merlot 2006
Quite reasonable, varietal merlot with a slighlty bitter finish typical of Okanagan finish 89. Not in the LCBO.

Prospect winery Shiraz 2006
Really good, nice finish, only a little pepper. More of a syrah than a shiraz in style. There are even some cab flavors yum! 91 This was the pick of the litter for the evening. Not in the LCBO

2006 Flor garanacha old vines
Strong oak flavor, med fruit. Quite dry builds, 88. Not in the LCBO
More about the wine

Villa pilo 2006
Strong oak med finish some fruit 88
Sangiovese cab merlot blend
The winery

Mastroleo Negroamaro 2005
Strong Raisin, dried fruit flavor. 87 (not my tastes)

Map

Urban Spoon

They feature 20 wines by the glass for $3 for a 3 ounce tasting their recommended size. We had a meal as well which was good. We were attended to by Jason one of the managers their and he was very good. Quite enthusiastic about the wines and attentive.

Most of the wines are unfortunately not available at the LCBO. Here’s what we tasted. I only had my iPhone with me so sorry the pictures aren’t the greatest. When it got dark taking pics was impossible so I don’t have all of the bottles either …

Sibling rivalry 2008 white
Reisling is dominant (60%). Mild finish. Not a bad wine but nothing incredible for my tastes I’d say an 87. Well balanced, slightly sweet. A varietal Riesling, so might has well just been a Riesling for me.

Santorini Boutari 2007 87
Very Sauvignon blanc like with a med finish with some complexity 88 or so

First step chard 2008 (Aussie)
Middle of the road chard 89. All in all very nice. Nice fruit, oaks under control, slightly buttery.

Legends semillions
Honey on the bouquet slightly sweet 87.

Kaleido 2003 cab Sauvignon
Smack on varietal smell and tastes for a cab. Yummy 90! This one was carried in the LCBO for $14.95. Wow missed that bargain.

Torres temprabillo 2007 vina brava
Mild temprabillo slightly sweet 88, not great.

Carlos Basso cab sauvignon
Yummy cab 91

Kummer Schuster 2008
Fruit forward simple wine 87 strong oak

Peter Zemmer 2006 Pinot nero
Also fruit forward simple table wine 87

Aglianico topics 2006
Reasonably complex reasonably dry fruity slightly raisiny flavor 88

From the LCBO web site:
MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 VINTAGES 322586 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 21.95 Wine, Red Wine, 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Montes S.A.
Release Date: Jun 6, 2009

Description
Here’s an excellent Cab from one of Chile’s most reputable producers. Aged for 12 months in French oak, this well-structured, full-bodied Cab is a fine display of the magic that top Chilean winemakers are able to conjure with this grape. Delicious berry fruit flavours lead to intriguing notes of chocolate, tobacco, vanilla and spice box, and all of these elements are woven beautifully together. Winemaker Aurelio Montes is a hot commodity and this wine shows precisely why.

Check LCBO Stock

From the LCBO Web site:
CLOUDY BAY CHARDONNAY 2006 VINTAGES 359513 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 37.95 Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D Made in: New Zealand, New Zealand By: Cloudy Bay Vineyards Release Date: Sep 27, 2008 Description Ranked #6 on Cuisine Magazine’s Top Ten New Zealand Chardonnays of 2006. (Issue 128, April 2008) Tasting Note Out from the shadow cast by the other varietals from this iconic winery, this Chardonnay won its place at the top table with its distinctive Old World scents and generous, rich, nutty palate – a Cloudy Bay Chard trademark. (Cuisine Magazine (New Zealand), April 2008)

From winecurrent.com:
Perhaps no other producer in New Zealand can lay claim to having put this country on the map for its Sauvignon Blanc and for good reason. This effort from Cloudy Bay is quite impressive and certainly evolves over time in the glass. It opens with green melon aromas combining with the fresh grass and bell pepper thatas so typical of the region. Myer lemon flavours appear on the palate which is softer in acidity than previous vintages giving a somewhat oily mouth feel. Medium in body and impressive in length this wine will not only be enjoyable today but also over the next few years. Try it with pan-seared halibut with fresh herbs. (MT) (304469) $33.95 Rating 4/5 from

Check LCBO Stock

From the LCBO Web site:
SABOR REAL VIÑAS CENTENARIAS TEMPRANILLO 2005 VINTAGES 122325 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 19.95 Wine, Red Wine, 15.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Toro, Spain
By: Campina De Toro
Release Date: Jun 20, 2009

Tasting Note
The 2005 Vinas Centenarias, as the name implies, comes from vines over 100 years of age. Purple-colored, it offers up a complex perfume of pain grille, violets, mineral, spice box, black cherry and blackberry. Bigger, richer, and more sweetly-fruited than its younger colleague, it would benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellaring. Balanced, lengthy, and altogether hedonistic, it should drink well through 2015. Score – 91. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Aug. 2008)

Check LCBO stock

From the LCBO web site:
DOÑA PAULA ESTATE MALBEC 2006 Mendoza TASTING NOTE: Solid, with a juicy core of red plum, raspberry and red licorice flavors backed by alluring spice and floral notes on the finish. Drink now through 2008. Score – 89. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2007) 661819 (D) 750 mL $16.95
Featured 11/8/2008

From the LCBO web site:
LAMMERSHOEK BARRIQUE CHENIN BLANC 2007 WO Swartland South Africa produces some of the best Chenin Blanc wines in the world and this is a great example. With grapes hand-picked from 40-year-old bush vines and hand-sorted to ensure only the very best fruit is used, Lammershoek’s Chenin Blanc is the embodiment of a hand-crafted wine. Rich with honey, smoke and baked apple aromas, this dry, full-bodied wine is elegant and complex and will pair well with rich seafood, roast chicken and pastas in a cream sauce. Featured May 24th 2008 058206 (XD) 750 mL $18.95 Featured 5/24/2009.

Winecurrent.com wrote:
This displays elegance and finesse and is not to be passed by. Aromas of honeyed tree fruit and mangos waft from the glass while rich full flavours drench the palateGÇöquince caramel honeyed ripe pear and cleansing key lime on the refreshing finish. Medium bodied and fleshy in texture it pairs well with pan-seared garlic prawns on a bed of baby arugula. A dazzling wine. (VH) (58206) Rating 4.5/5

Check LCBO stock