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Monday, March 12, 2018

The Event: Taste Ontario – Toronto trade show Feb 26, 2018

The Date and Time: Monday February 26 2018  11AM to 4PM
The Event: Taste Ontario – Toronto trade show
The Venue: ROM
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was a model – wines and license contacts were listed by region, moving from east to west, with full data (vintage year, licensee and retail prices), with enough space for tasting notes.
The Quote/Background: the media writers were in the Glass Room on the 4th floor where we had advance time and some sit-down table space to write up our scores.
The Wines: About 175 wines were available; I did not taste them all. ABVs are used. The first price is licensee. CSPCs are listed when the wine is available through the LCBO.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Pelee Island Winery    Vinedresser Meritage    South Islands    2016    13.5    317933    $24.75    $24.95
Cave Spring Cellars    Riesling CSV    VQA Beamsville Bench    2015    11.5    566026    $25.12    $29.95
Cave Spring Cellars    Chardonnay CSV    VQA Beamsville Bench    2016    13.5    529941    $25.12    $29.95
Charles Baker Wines    Charles Baker Riesling Picone Vineyard    VQA Vinemount Ridge     2014            $29.55    $35.00
Domaine Queylus    Chardonnay Tradition    Niagara Region    2015    13%    489591    $20.90    $24.95
Fielding Estate Winery    Brut (Traditional Method)    Niagara Peninsula    NV    12        $31.20    $37.15
Hidden Bench Estate Winery    Bistro Chardonnay    Beamsville Bench    2013    13%    N/A    $17.95    N/A
Magnotta Winery     Chardonnay VQA - The Silver Line Single Vineyard Niagara Stone Road    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2015    13.6%    258681    $15.19    $17.95
Nyarai Cellars    Veritas    Niagara Peninsula    2012    13        $22.58    $26.95
Redstone Winery    Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2013    12.5    NA    $16.00    $19.15
Tawse Winery    Limestone Ridge Spark Riesling    Twenty Mile Bench    2015    12    370361    $17.69    $21.15
Chateau des Charmes    Brut sparkling wine Méthode Traditionnelle    Niagara-on-the-Lake    n/v    13    1454091    $12.54 half-bottle    $14.95
Chateau des Charmes    Equuleus, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard    St. David's Bench    2014    13    319525    $36.14    $43.00
Icellars Estate Winery    Arinna    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2015    13.5        $32.76    $39.00
Icellars Estate Winery    Cabernet Sauvignon    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016    14.7        $50.49    $60.00
Inniskillin Niagara Estate Winery    Reserve Merlot        2014            $20.90    $24.95
Southbrook Vineyards    Triomphe Organic Merlot    Niagara Peninsula    2016    12.5    n/a    $25.12    $29.95
Stratus    Stratus White    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2014    12.9        $32.08    $38.00
Stratus    Stratus Red    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2014    13        $40.52    $48.20
Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    Chardonnay    VQA Niagara Peninsula VQA    2015    11.9%    184432    $32.93    $39.20
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Colio Estate Wines    Lily Sparkling VQA    Ontario    N/A    12%    418657    $14.99    $17.95
Colio Estate Wines    Lily Rosé Sparkling VQA    Ontario    N/V    12%    536565    $14.14    $16.95
Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Cabernet Merlot Reserve    Lake Erie North Shore    2016    13%    328013    $16.00    $18.95
Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Gewurztraminer    Lake Erie North Shore    2016    11%    N/A    $18.53    $21.95
Charles Baker Wines    Charles Baker Riesling B-Side    VQA Niagara Peninsula     2016    11        $18.57    $22.00
Creekside Estate Winery    Iconoclast Syrah    St. David's Bench    2015    13.6    471797    $20.94    $25.00
Creekside Estate Winery    Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon    St. David's Bench    2013    13.5        $37.82    $45.00
Fielding Estate Winery    Unoaked Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2016    12.5    Vintages 164491    $12.62    $14.95
Flat Rock Cellars    Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    13.5%    286278    $16.68    $19.95
Flat Rock Cellars    Riesling    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    11%    43281    $14.99    $17.95
Malivoire Wine     Mottiar Chardonnay    Beamsville Bench    2013    13        $22.58    $29.95
Megalomaniac    My Way Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2016    12.5 %    N/A    $20.90 $24.95
Meldville Wines     Chardonnay     Lincoln Lakeshore    2016    13%        $16.89    $20.20
Tawse Winery    Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2015    12.5    N/A    $16.84    $20.15
The Good Earth Food And Wine Co.     2015 Chardonnay    Beamsville Bench VQA    2015    13.0 %        $20.90    $24.95
The Good Earth Food And Wine Co.     2016 Viogner     Niagara Peninsula VQA    2015    13.5 %        $20.90    $24.95
Vineland Estates Winery    Elevation Cabernet    Niagara Escarpment    2015    13    173609    $23.47    $28.00
Westcott Vineyards    Violette Sparkling Brut    Vinemount Ridge    2016    12.4        $21.74    $25.95
Westcott Vineyards    Estate Chardonnay     Vinemount Ridge    2016    14        $21.74    $25.95
13th Street Winery    Premier Cuvée    Niagara Peninsula    2012    12.5        $29.34    $34.95
2027 Cellars    Wismer Vineyard - Fox Croft Block Chardonnay    Twenty Mile Bench    2016    12.8%    n/a    $19.19    $22.95
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery    Grand Reserve Shiraz        2015            $20.90    $24.95
Reif Estate Winery    Chardonnay Reserve    Niagara River    2014    13.5%        $19.40    $22.15
Southbrook Vineyards    Triomphe Organic Riesling    Niagara Peninsula    2016    11    n/a    $20.90    $24.95
Southbrook Vineyards    Triomphe Organic Cabernet Franc Rosé    Niagara Peninsula    2017    11.4    n/a    $16.67    $19.95
Stratus    Tollgate Chardonnay    Niagara-on-the-Lake    2016    13.1        $18.53    $22.20
Two Sisters Vineyards    Estate Red Reserve    Niagara River    2012    13.5    $21.01    n/a
Two Sisters Vineyards    Unoaked Chardonnay    Niagara Peninsula    2016    13.5        $32.76    $39.00
Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard    Calcaire    VQA Ontario VQA    2016    11.7%        $19.42    $23.20
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
Cooper's Hawk Vineyards    Unoaked Chardonnay    Ontario    2016    12.5    453167    $12.62    $14.95
Cave Spring Cellars    Riesling Adam Steps    VQA Beamsville Bench    2016    10.5%    901211    $20.90    $24.95
Rosewood Estates Winery    Locked & Loaded White    Niagara Peninsula    2016    13.00%        $14.31    $16.95
Vieni Estates Wine and Spirits    Momenti Sparkling        N/V            $13.32    $13.95
Vineland Estates Winery    Chardonnay unoaked    Niagara Peninsula    2017    12.5    307751    $11.60    $13.95
13th Street Winery    Chardonnay    Creek Shores    2016    13        $14.99    NA
Inniskillin Niagara Estate Winery    Montague Vineyard Chardonnay        2016            $20.90    $24.95
Pondview Estate Winery    Lot 74 Sparkling    Ontario    2016    12        $20.90    $24.95
Reif Estate Winery    Chenin Blanc    Niagara River    2016    13%        $16.75    $19.15
Reif Estate Winery    Shiraz Reserve    Niagara Peninsula    2016    13%        $23.85    $27.15
Two Sisters Vineyards    Riesling    Niagara Escarpment    2016    10.7    LCBO # 2017.1801    $29.38    $35.00
Grange of Prince Edward Winery    'Estate Grown' Chardonnay    VQA Prince Edward County VQA    2013    12    n/a    $16.67    $19.95
Lacey Estates Winery    INOX Chardonnay    VQA Twenty Mile Bench    2017    12.5        $20.09    $24.00
Rosehall Run Vineyards    Indigo Sparkling White        2016            $20.90    $24.95
Frisky Beaver | Smoke&Gamble     Frisky Beaver Shades of Grey Chardonnay    VQA Ontario    2015    12.8%    490383    $12.45    $14.95
 
The Food: enormous sandwiches were provided to the media, along with quinoa salad and a green salad plus cookies for dessert, and coffee.
The Downside: overall, I found some of the wines very inviting, but most were too young. Restaurants and private clients may want to store them awhile.
The Upside: the media room...THANK YOU WMAO!!
The Contact Person: info@wmao.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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