Meritage Wines, November 16

Our last tasting of the year is Meritage wines. Meritage is a term used to denote high quality New World wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux, crafted with specific “noble” Bordeaux grape varieties and are considered to be the very best wines from a winery. Expect full, complex wines with Bordeaux signature flavors - cigar box, rich fruits, with a hefty feel. A few of the wines we'll be drinking are from wineries whose Meritage wines beat out a few top French Chateaux (including second growths) in a recent Vendange Institute tasting of international premium reds.

Theme: Meritage (Click for details)
Date: Tuesday, November 16
Time: 6 PM
Where: Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks St., Toronto
Cost: Members $43; Non-Members: $57
Register / Buy Tickets


Please note that all ticket sales are final, whether paid by credit card or cheque.

1996 Barolo Rankings

We had a good turnout for our Barolo tasting on October 19 and were joined by Bernard Stramwasser, sommelier and co-owner of Le Sommelier Inc., as our guest speaker and also reception wine supplier. A lover of Barolos, Bernard spoke to us back in Nov, 2008 when we tasted 1997 Barolos. With his exceptional nose and keen palate, Bernard picked up some very interesting bouquets and flavours in the wines.

Sommelier, Bernard Stramwasser

Only one wine failed to show really well in Bernard’s opinion and that of most attendees - the Elio Grasso which Bernard described as Umami - soy sauce overtones.  It was a little over the hill but the other 7 wines still had considerable tannin and aging potential left even after 14 years.  The group and our speaker agreed on their #1 wine - the Marchesi di Barolo Barolo $44 from La Lorra which he said was a "most classic Barolo", "super complex on the nose - tar, roses, black cherries, loads of woods . . ." . Barnard ranked the Elio Grasso (Monforte d’Alba) at $49 as his #8 while the group ranked it 7th. The group ranked the Andrea Oberto Vigneto Rocche Barolo as #8 which Bernard ranked 5th.

The reception wine, supplied by Le Sommelier Inc. was a Schiopetto wine white from Fruili (Italy).  Robert Parker wrote, "A brilliant producer, Schiopetto is the reference point for just how flavorful, perfumed, and compelling dry whites from Friuli can be." Click the link for information.
http://www.lesommelier.com/wineries/entry/schiopetto/  To order, contact Le Sommelier at 416-603-7026 or send an email to vinfo@lesommelier.com.

A huge thanks to Bernard and Le Sommelier Inc. for making our evening so enjoyable!  Here are how the wines ranked.

Name of Wine (in order poured)	Group Ranking	Guest Ranking
A. Armando Parusso Barolo Piccole Vigne	5	3
B. Andrea Oberto Vigneto Rocche Barolo	8	5
C. Fratelli Revello Barolo	4	4
D. Elio Grasso Barolo	7	8
E. Mauro Veglio Barolo Gattera	3	3
F. Giacomo Ascheri Barolo Podere di Sorano	2	6
G. Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cerequio	6	7
H. Marchesi di Barolo Barolo	1	1

2000 Bordeaux Rankings

Here are the rankings for the 2000 Bordeaux we tasted on September 21. Both the group and our speaker, Ian Hanna of John Hanna & Sons wine agency, rated the d'Armailhac highly but they differed on the least favoured wine. However, there wasn't a 'bad' wine in the group. It was just what people preferred.

Name of Wine (in order poured)	Group Ranking	Guest Ranking
A. 2000 Ch. Grand-Pontet, St. Emilion	2	6
B. 2000 Ch. Talbot, St. Julien	6	7
C. 2000 Ch. D’Issan, Margaux	5	8
D. 2000 Ch. D’Angludet, Margaux	8	5
E. 2000 Ch. Malescot-St. Exupery, Margaux	3	3
F, 2000 Ch. D’Armailhac, Pauillac	1	2
G. 2000 Ch. Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac	7	4
H. 2000 Ch. Pontet-Canet, Pauillac	4	1

October 19 - 1996 Barolos

Next month’s tasting is of the 1996 vintage - one of five greatest vintages of Barolo in the past 20 years and with 14 yr of aging, these wines should be drinking well. You are encouraged to register early as tickets are limited!

Theme:  1996 Barolos
Date:    Tuesday, October 19
Time:    6 PM
Where:  Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks St., Toronto
Cost:    Members $64; Non-Members: $89

Register / Buy Tickets

2000 Red Bordeaux / 35th Birthday!

We had a large turnout for our 2000 Bordeaux tasting on September 21.  By all accounts, everyone enjoyed the wines (rankings will be updated on our website and Blog very soon) and the speaker, Ian Hanna, educated and entertained us with some very interesting, amusing and personal tales of some of his visits to Bordeaux as well as giving us tips on what to look for in these wines and sharing his comments on each wine.   A tribute was paid to founding member, Ted Turner, who passed away on September 11.  Long-time, former member Bob Moore, pointed out that virtually every other wine club was started by someone who was once a member of TVC in its early days.  A memorial service for Ted will be held at St Mark's Church in Niagara-on-the- Lake next spring TBA. Donations in Ted’s memory to 'The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada' or Canadian Blood Services would be appreciated.

Because it was TVC’s 35th birthday, we gave away some lovely prizes!  Our guest speaker drew the first name out of the bag  -  and it was his own name! However, he graciously drew another prize winner instead:  a bottle of 2004 Ch. Beauregard (Bordeaux) went to Harry Xanthis.  John Macdonald, David Gotfrid and Stephen Tobe were the other lucky door prize winners of some lovely wine paraphernalia.  All were TVC members.

The reception wine, supplied by John Hanna and Sons Ltd., was a Spanish red wine, 2008 Bodegas Cataňo Hécula Monestrell available from Vintages (Product # 718999) for a mere $13.95! It was outstanding and great value for money!

Ted Turner - Person of the Year 1995

Edward (Ted) Giles Turner 

Ted Turner, June 2005

 

Husband, father, grandfather, and best friend.

May he drink with the Gods and dance with the angels. May he shine through the universe like he shone through life. His spirit burns bright with magnificent colours. He lived. He loved. He made a difference. Thank-you Ted.

Born May 12, 1932 in Toronto, Ontario. Passed away in Guadalajara Mexico on September 11, 2010 from kidney failure.  All who knew Ted could not help but be impressed by his intelligence, humour, and kindness. He was delightful, charming company, loved and respected by many in his chosen retirement towns of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and Manzanillo, Mexico. Ted founded, and was the former President/CEO of Hunt Personnel/ Temporarily Yours (1967-2001) He delighted in being, at various times in his life, an entrepreneur, actor, artist, photographer, and musician. He adored good food, great wine and was an oenophile who started the Toronto Vintner's Club.

An excellent humourist, Ted became a regular on Lorne Michaels comedy sketch show 'The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour' (70's) going on to host his own radio show 'Turning Point' on CFRB 1010 (80's). He was a lifelong learner who excelled at poker, snooker and bridge. Ted believed in giving back to the community, playing a jolly Santa Claus every year at the Manzanillo Children's Orphanage. He was also a board director for a number of prestigious organizations: The Canadian Stage Company, ABC Life Literacy Canada, Public Policy Forum, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Baron de Forester Society. Employment Industry selected Ted as Man of the Year (1988). Toronto Wine named him 'Person of the Year' (1995). He was the Canadian Employers Council delegate to the International Labour Organization, United Nations, Geneva in 1996 and '97.

Ted was a mentor to many; a strong and loving man who will be sorely missed. He is survived by: his adoring wife of thirty years, M. Patricia Turner, daughter Loren Turner (Patrick Hunter), stepchildren Leslie (Herb Nelson), Joe, and Amy Fritz, and grandchildren Benjamin Hacking (Kim Proctor) and Michael Fritz- Jones.

http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/Deaths.20100918.93243415/BDAStory/BDA/deaths

Bordeaux registration closed!

Ticket sales for our fabulous 2000 Bordeaux have ended! If you didn't get in, you'll be missing out on tasting one of, if not THE, greatest vintage ever.  Sorry!  You'll just have to read about it on our Blog.