Feb 27, 2016

Red Wines of S. France - the Road Less Travelled

On March 22, 2016 we’ll explore an interesting and eclectic mix of red grape varietals that dominate the lesser known vineyards in Southern France and see how the final “assemblage” is translated into quite different styles of wine by some of the most accomplished winemakers in the region.   While these are likely to be bold wines, the winemakers’ restraint should shine through to ensure a well- balanced profile suitable for a wide range of accompanying food.

Date: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
Time: 6 PM
Price:  TVC Members: $70; Guests/Non-Members: $90 (includes appetizers & a reception wine)
Venue: Faculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C7  - Map
Deadlines:
Mailed Reservations
         - Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2016
Online Payments
         - Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2016

(NOTE: all ticket sales are FINAL; no refunds issued unless we are oversold)

We have 7 red blends and one 100% Syrah from reputable winemakers.  Here are some snippets of information about four of the winemakers whose wines we'll be tasting in March

Domaine Léon Barral is a beacon of revolutionary winegrowing. Didier farms thirty hectares of vineyards with a team of cows, horses, and pigs which graze the cover crops in and around the vineyards. The simple act of grazing cultivates healthy microbiotic activity in the soil which in turn benefits the grapes, ultimately resulting in tremendously powerful, complex, and age-worthy wines. 


Domaine de Trevallon, located near the medieval town of Les Baux de-Provence, was bought in 1955 by René Dürrbach, painter, sculptor and friend to Picasso. His son Eloi now makes the greatest of all Provencal wines.


Michael Gassier has been in Wine Spectator’s top 10 French Wineries for Value every year since 2007. "A tireless champion of his native Costières de Nîmes in the southern Rhône, the dynamic Michel Gassier has transformed his family estate into a reputable source for value wines as well as world-class top cuvées, produced with the guidance of star consultant Philippe Cambie." Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 2013 Wine Star Award Nominees.  We will taste his Lou Coucardie.

Chateaux Bouscassé is the home estate of Alain Brumont, who also owns Château Montus. Few wine producers anywhere in the world dominate their region like Brumont does Madiran. Bouscassé produces what are, for Andrew Jefford of Decanter magazine, France’s most undervalued fine wines. He was a pioneer in Madiran and Côtes de Gascogne wines, bringing them to rank with the world’s best. The Brumont wines benefit now from an international recognition and remain at a very good value for money.  we'll be tasting his Madiran wine.


Jan 31, 2016

2006 Barolos - a Very Great Vintage!


The Nebbiolo grape is to Barolo what the Pinot Noir grape is to Burgundy.  Both grapes have made their wine-producing regions famous, for good reason since they both produce high quality, long-lasting wines.  While the Pinot Noir grape has made a successful transition to other wine-producing regions throughout the world – as TVC demonstrated in its New World PN tasting last month - the same cannot be said of Nebbiolo.  It’s extremely difficult to grow outside of north-west Italy and it’s rare to find it elsewhere because cuttings and clones are jealously guarded.  Hence, when we talk about Nebbiolo, it’s synonymous with Italy and as Italy’s greatest wine – Barolo - considered the King of Wines!  It’s a great wine variety, producing bigger, darker and more tannic wines than most other grape varieties, and consequently long-lived and very prized by collectors.
Barolo is a very robust red wine, full-bodied, tannic and very dry. It’s a “chewy” wine. The aroma is similar to ripe strawberries, tar, roses, violets and truffles. Barolos are not cheap, although not nearly as expensive as other benchmark wines like Bordeaux and Burgundy.

What about 2006 as a vintage? The wines can be described as of good depth, sturdy structure and fine elegance, already more open than the ’05s (which were rough-edged at this stage of their life) and which display appealing, snappy tannins and a nervy acidity. Robert Parker gives the 2006 Barolo vintage a 97/100!


More information on the wines

Date: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016
Time: 6 PM
Price:  TVC Members: $84; Guests/Non-Members: $104 (includes appetizers & a reception wine)
Venue: Faculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C7  - Map
Deadlines:
Mailed Reservations
         - Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016
Online Payments
         - Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016

(NOTE: all ticket sales are FINAL; no refunds issued unless we are oversold)


Jan 12, 2016

New World Pinots

NEW WORLD PINOT NOIR TASTING

Does a New World Pinot Noir taste different from a Burgundian Pinot Noir? According to Jay Youmans, Master of Wine, “Yes” there are differences.  However, there are many New World winemakers who are employing traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques and we present several in our line-up on January 19, 2016.


From the N. Hemisphere we have 4 wines, 3 from the Willamette Valley of Oregon and 1 from Ontario. From the S. Hemisphere, we have 4 wines one each from Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa and Chile. Northern Hemisphere: Coyote's Run, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake produces wine in small batches from 100 percent Niagara-grown grapes, much of which are sourced from its 58-acre St. David's vineyard. Since its first vintage in 1990, Domaine Serene has produced award winning Pinot Noirs from six vineyard estates. In April 2015, the owners purchased a Burgundy wine estate in the Côte d’Or to expand their operation of producing fine Pinots. The Bergström Family uses biodynamic methods, and since 1999 has been a leader in the sustainable farming of wine grapes in Oregon. Argyle Winery, established in 1987, is "Grower First", focusing its attention at the source – continually improving viticulture on over 650 hillside acres sited on the very best vineyard locations in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Southern Hemisphere: Bodega Chacra, is owned by the grandson of the creator of the famed Sassicaia winery in Italy and he’s now working in the” middle of nowhere” to produce stunning Patagonian Pinot Noir. Chacra doesn’t employ any mechanization in the production of their wines which results in their Pinots expressing the subtle, complex and finely textured tannins characteristic of very old vines. Hamilton Russell Winery is one of the most recognized S. African brands in the U.S. Their Pinot Noir is Burgundian in style, with subtle perfume, stylish texture and long, lingering, gentle flavors. A world search of the perfect conditions for viticulture, Schubert Wines. They use traditional Burgundian winemaking methods with extreme low yields, (3/4 ton per acre), extended macerations and the exclusive use of Burgundian cooperage for their Pinots. Lastly, from Kyoong Winery situated in the cool-climate Mornington Peninsula, 80km south of Melbourne Australia, winemaker Sandro Mosele has crafted a reputation for the very best representation of Australian Pinot and Chardonnay.

specially for Pinot Noir, brought Kai Schubert and Marion Deimling, graduates of the German Viticulture and Oenology to Wairarapa, New Zealand to start

 This will be a wonderful opportunity to sample and compare Pinots throughout the New World and also to compare the wines from the Northern Hemisphere against the Southern. Our evenings start with a reception wine followed by the formal, blind, sit-down tasting. Bread and light appetizers will be served with our wines. Plus we have a special BONUS for our registrants: an exclusive tasting of a Femme Fatale Pinot Noir from Cloud's Nest, a boutique winery in Sonoma, California presented in Canada by Great North Imports.  Great North Imports is also supplying our reception wine.

More information on the wines

Date: Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Time: 6 PM
Price:  TVC Members: $70; Guests/Non-Members: $90 (includes appetizers & a reception wine)
Venue: Faculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C7  - Map
Deadlines:
Mailed Reservations
         - Tuesday, Jan. 12th, 2016
Online Payments
         - Monday, Jan. 18th, 2016
Register / Buy Tickets (NOTE: all ticket sales are FINAL; no refunds issued unless we are oversold)

Sep 16, 2015

40 Years of Bordeaux Tastings!

Toronto Vintners Club turned 40 years in June of 2015 and we’ve celebrated throughout the year.  TVC’s inaugural event was a tasting of Bordeaux wines in 1975 and we’ve hosted a Bordeaux event every year since then.  The initial occasion cost $6.50 per person ($7 at the door). The average cost of the wines consumed that evening was $5.82.  Mind you, they weren’t top Bordeaux by any means.  The club served a Colona Sommet Rouge for $2.15 (it was once the world’s biggest selling wine) and the priciest was the 1966 Chateau Rauzan Segla at $17.70. A 1966 Rauzan Segla would set you back about $325 if purchased today and if you still want a Sommet Rouge, you’ll have to travel to BC to buy it where it sells for $6.50/litre.  Oh we’ve come a long way baby!!!

On Monday, September 28, we'll be tasting a line-up of 2006 red Bordeaux. We have 2 Grand Cru Classé (GCC) wines and second (2e) to fifth (5e) growth wines mainly from the Left Bank.  The average cost of the wines for this tasting is $79 (based on futures’ prices) compared to $6 in 1975!

Theme:  2006 Bordeaux
Cost:  Members $90; Guests / Non-Members:  $120  - includes light appetizers
Date:   Monday, September 28/15
Time: 6:00 PM for reception wine; formal tasting usually starts at 6:20
Location:   Faculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1C7  - Map 
Register / Buy Tickets  Please note that all ticket sales are FINAL; we cannot provide refunds unless we are oversold and have a wait list.

May 21, 2015

Summer is Riesling Time!

Next month in June, we will usher in summer with some refreshing dry Rieslings - a grape that Jancis Robinson, one of the world's most


important wine critic considers the world's greatest white wine grape.  Read more about why on our website by clicking the link below. It will be a bit of a world tour since we have Rieslings from several different countries and wine growing regions. Hope to see you on June 16th.  We will take a break over the summer and then return in September.

Date: June 16, 2015
Time: 6:00 PM
PlaceFaculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto  Map
Fees: Members: $60; Non-members & guests: $75
Register/Buy Tickets - NOTE - ALL ticket sales are FINAL.  We cannot issue refunds unless we are oversold & have a wait list. 

Our event includes appetizers with the main tasting event.  Dress is business casual. Please refrain from wearing cologne and other scented products to our events.



Apr 26, 2015

Barolo vs Barbaresco, May 12


Barbaresco and Barolo communes are situated in the Piedmont area of Italy about 10 miles apart and both produce wine from 100% Nebbiolo grapes.  Yet, despite the proximity of these two wine producing zones that use the same grape, they produce two distinct styles.  Many refer to Barolo as ‘masculine’ and the Wine of the King and Barbesco as “feminine” and wine of the Queen. Or to draw from the title of a popular book, “Barbaresco is from Mars, Barolo is from Venus”.

On May 12, Toronto Vintners Club explores these two communes with 8 wines (5 Barolos and 3 Barbarescos) from the 2004 vintage, a year described as "excellent" and "classic" with the wines expected to age for several decades.


Theme:  Barbaresco vs Barolo (2004 Vintage) Open this link for more information about the areas, wines and the list of wines we'll be tasting
Date: May 12, 2015
Time: 6 PM
LocationFaculty Club, Univ. of Toronto, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto
Fee: TVC Member: $82; Non-Members/Guests: $110
Register / Buy Tickets 
Note: All ticket sales are FINAL.  We cannot refund any ticket sales unless we are sold out and have a wait list.




Apr 22, 2015

An evening with Thomas Bachelder


An eager crowd of almost 50 wine lovers gathered to sample a rare vertical of Le Clos Jordanne pinot noir and to hear winemaker Thomas Bachelder speak about recent vintages and his adventures making these stunning wines.

Bachelder Sanders Vineyard Chardonnay

The evening started off with reception wine samples of two new Chardonnays for Bachelder wines, Thomas’ current wine project.  The 2011 Niagara chardonnay is a full-bodied and rich that the crowd really enjoyed.  But the single vineyard 2012 Saunders Vineyard chardonnay got people really really talking… there were murmurs of the wine tasting like a high end Meursault.  Expect to find these delicious wines in the LCBO soon.

Thomas Bachelder
Before we started tasting the wines, Thomas gave a short introduction to the wines and their respective vintages.  Thomas also offered some insights into his fascinating process of discovering the unique Niagara terroirs.  He explained that the approach with Le Clos Jordanne was to separate grapes into east West and Centre blocks in a year in year out process to find the best parcels and site characteristics.  He offered some fresh insight into the mysterious process of uncovering terroir.


As a vintage overview, Thomas suggested that the 2005 wines would be most concentrated and dark.  2006 was a good year with lighter color.  2008 was a tougher year, so lighter color and perhaps some leafiness.  2009 was expected to be ripe and dark with the most smoky characteristics.

The tasting revealed a great variety of wines as Thomas had suggested.  Some really ripe, dark wines, some a little green and a few with a pronounced smokiness.  All wines had really lively acidity.  It happens quite rarely, but our group scored all of these wines remarkably consistently with our guest speaker with Thomas and the group showing definite preference for the 2005 and 2006 wines.  In fact, the 2005 and 2006 wines were all in the top 4.  It was great to see 10 year old Niagara Pinot Noirs still presenting so well.

At the end of the tasting, Thomas surprised us with a few bottles of his soon to be released 2012 Lowrey Vineyards Pinot Noir.  This fruity, aromatic red will be released through Vintages in May and it was a special treat to get a sneak peak of this fantastic wine.

Raffle winnder David Turgeon (L)
And finally, as part of our 40th Anniversary/Birthday celebrations, we raffled off a bottle of 2006 Grand Clos Chardonnay. Fortunately, the winemaker was on hand to sign the bottle for the occasion. Congratulations to TVC club member David Turgeon for winning this very special bottle of Niagara chardonnay.

And here is how the wines were ranked.


2005 La Petite Vineyard $35: Group 1 / Speaker 5

2008 Talon Ridge Vineyard $40: Group 7 /  Speaker 7

2005 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $35:  Group 1 / Speaker 5

2006 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $ 40:  Group 3 /  Speaker 1

2009 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $ 45:  Group 6  / Speaker 6

2006 Le Grand Clos $70:  Group 3 /  Speaker 3

2008 Le Grand Clos $70: Group 5 / Speaker 4

2009 Le Grand Clos $ 75:  Group 8 / Speaker 8