PORTFOLIO TASTING: Cynthia's Selections and Ex-Cellars Wine Services, Nov. 27, 2008

The Time and Date: Thursday, November 27, 2008  2PM to 5 PM
The Event: A joint portfolio tasting of Cynthia's Selections (Cynthia
Moore) and Ex-cellars Wine Services (Nuray Ali)
The Venue: Flatiron Building, 5th floor.
The Target Audience: wine trade in the afternoon, private clients in
the evening.
The Availability/Catalogue: everything is in stock
The Quote: "These boutique wineries specialize in sustainable or
organic or biodynamic wines, traditionally made with attention to
detail"
The Wines: Ex-cellars showed 13 wines (Ex); Cynthia showed 21 wines
(C).

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-CORE Winery Hard Core 2006 $40 (Cynthia)
-White Rock Vineyards Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $65 (C) –
organic, good value.
-Cedarville Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 $38 (Cynthia)
-Wedgetail Estate The North Face 2005 $27 (C) – Bordeaux blend
-Wedgetail Estate Pinot Noir 2004 $35 (C)
-Domaine des Quarres Anjou Blanc Sec Les Pierres Noires 2005 $23 (Ex)
-Domaine d'Orfeuilles Vouvray Les Coudraies 2005 Medium-Dry $22 (Ex)
-Chateau Sainte Eulalie Minervois La Liviniere La Cantilene 2005 $23
(Ex)
-O.Fournier Alfa Crux Tempranillo-Malbec-Merlot 2002 $38 (Ex)

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Handley Cellars Pinot Gris 2006 California $26 (Cynthia)
-Domaine De LaGasqui Vallat des Taches 2005 Rhone Vauclause (C)
-Cedarville Vineyard Zinfandel 2003 $25 (Cynthia)
-Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blanc 1999 $88 (Ex)
-Latour-Giraud Meursault Perrieres 2006 $88 (Ex)
-Domaine Tollot-Beaut Savigny 1er Cru Lavieres 2005 $55 (Ex)
-Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Pommard 1er Cru Epenots 2006 $75 (Ex)
-Dom de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres 2003
$59 (Ex)

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Handley Cellars Gewurztraminer 2007 California $28 (Cynthia)
-Poppy Hill Cabernet California 2004 $20 (C)
-CORE Winery Elevation 2006 Santa Barbara $54 (C)
-Twenty Rows The Grappler Zinfandel Blend 2006 $35 (C)
-Field Stone Winery Convivio Red 2005 Alexander Valley $26 (C)
-Field Stone Winery Old Vine Petit Syrah 2006 $40 (C)
-Cedarville Vineyard Zinfandel 2005 $25 (Cynthia)
-Andrew Pirie Estate Pinot Noir 2005 $39 (Ex)
-Montevetrano Colli de Salerno IGT Rosso $99 (Ex)
-Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2002 $40 (Ex)

 

The Food: Saucier Foods (www.saucierfoods.com) provided the duck
rilettes, the smoked salmon dip, the pate, and diverse artisanal
cheeses. As well, there was a giant frittata.
The Downside: it came just after a heavy bout of port and champagne
tasting (see above). Also, the quarters were small.
The Upside: great wines and food, good "close" company.
The Contact Person: nuray@ex-cellars.ca and Cynthia.moore@rogers.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com