Meritage Rankings

Flat Rock Sparkling Brut

We were joined by Ed Madronich, co-founder of Flat Rock Cellars in Niagara as our guest speaker who was terrifically knowledgeable about BC and Ontario wines. Flat Rock also supplied our reception wine - a lovely Sparkling Brut from 2006 which sells for $35.20 at the winery. I was very surprised to see their sparkling wine topped with a bottlecap like you used to see on pop bottles (or now on beer bottles) but Ed explained how sparkling wines are capped this way all throughout the aging process.  He explained that the cap is as effective as a cork and far, far safer when opening the bottle, even though it may not look ‘as nice’. Either way, the wine was a treat to taste.  Thank you so much Ed and Flat Rock Cellars!

The group's fav

And our Meritage wines showed very well too.  The group and our speaker weren’t in agreement on their top selection but overall, people enjoyed these complex wines. The group’s fav was a BC Meritage - 2004 Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Meritage  while Ed ranked the 2002 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve from Ontario as his #1 (the group ranked this #7).  There was more agreement on the 2004 Burrowing Owl Meritage which the group ranked 8th and Ed ranked ranked 7th.  But here are the other rankings:

Name of Wine (in order poured)	Group Ranking	Guest Ranking
A. 2007 Thirty Bench Benchmark Red	4	3
B. 2005 Creekside Estate Reserve Meritage	3	8
C. Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve 2002	7	1
D. 2004 Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Meritage	1	4
E. 2004 NK'MIP Qwam Qwmt Meritage	6	6
F. Jackson-Triggs Sun Rock Vineyard Meritage 2004	5	2
G. 2004 Burrowing Owl Meritage	8	7
H. 2000 Sumac Ridge Pinnacle	2	5

Ted Turner's address at our 30th anniversary

I had forgotten that I had videotaped Ted Turner's address at our 30th anniversary tasting. Here it is. Very interesting how much things have changed for liquor laws in the province of Ontario in the past 30 years.  Listen to what Ted had to say. 



If you had read my earlier blog, you'll know that Ted passed away just a couple of months ago this year.  He is greatly missed.

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!