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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Tasting Growers' Champagnes...

The Date and Time: Monday, October 29, 2012 10:30 AM to noon
The Event: monthly tasting meeting of the Wine Writers' Circle of
Canada in Toronto. This time we tasted the Growers' Champagnes repped
by Groupe Soleil and the indigenous Italian wines of the Appellation
Wines agency.
The Venue: LCBO Summerhill
The Target Audience: WWCC members
The Availability/Catalogue: all champagnes are available by
consignment. There is always a rotating selection of about a dozen or
more.
The Quote/Background: www.groupesoleil.com brings in many champagnes
through the year. Check with gsoleil@rogers.com for a listing, or the
website. At the same time, we were presented with some Zalto stemware
to taste-test. We had the white wine glass ($65) which had been
previously judged to go better with champagne than the champagne glass
($67.50). But since we did not have the champagne glass for a
comparison, there is no way of knowing whether the champagne actually
tasted better or not in the white wine glass rather than in the
champagne glass. If so, then this would save purchasers the cost of doubling up.
Details are at Edward_j_thompson@yahoo.ca
The Wines: One wine was corked. Most NV wines here were 50% of a base
year plus 25% of two other, later years.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Andre Clouet Rose Bouzy NV [all pinot noir], $59.95 cases of six
-Andre Clouet Silver Brut Nature NV [all pinot noir], $49.95 [my fave]
-Andre Clouet 1911 NV [all pinot noir], base 2002, plus 2005, 2006, $95
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price
Rating terms):
-Champagne Bereche et Fils Reserve Brut NV, base 2009, 35% PMeunier,
$49.95
-Champagne Laherte Les Clos 2008, $78 [all 7 official grape varieties,
60% 2008, field blend, biodynamic]
The Contact Person: gsoleil@rogers.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade):
90.
 

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