Winetasters @Home Episode 7
Australian Wine Dinner
Wednesday, May 26^th, 8:00 PM

Event Summary

Many of you will remember the very successful Two Hands tasting that we had at the beginning of last year.   A comment we heard frequently that evening was that the wines needed food.  Well, here is your chance!  For our seventh (yes, really!)  Winetasters@Home© event, we are delighted to present a dinner with an all-Australian wine selection.

The wines:  Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2017 to start, three Two Hands Shiraz, all from 2007,  and Chambers Old Vines Muscat to end with. The white and red wines will come, carefully decanted, in 4 OZ servings and the dessert wine will be 2 Ozs. There are 48 wine packages available.

The food: Chef Gregory and his team at the Vintage Conservatory have created a five-course tasting menu to go with the wines.

The online event:  8 pm on  Wednesday, May 26^th. We hope that this time will allow you to enjoy your meal and the wines, before joining your friends online in Google Meet.   Be sure to save a bit of your wine for the discussion!

Registration: Wine service for this event is $65 for members, $90 for non-members, including GST/HST,  click here to register. Foodservice is $65 plus HST, click here to order.

The Wines and the Menu

This event will feature five wines from Toronto Winetasters’ cellar. A vegetarian menu option is also available.

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2017

Nova Scotia Scallop – summer pea puree, corn emulsion, apple chutney
Honey Ricotta Ravioli – parmesan lemon sauce, toasted pine nuts

~~~

Two Hands Harry & Edward’s Garden (Langhorne Creek) Shiraz 2007
Two Hands Max’s Garden (Heathcote, Victoria) Shiraz 2007
Two Hands Zippy’s Block (Barossa) Shiraz 2007

Forrest Mushroom Salad – walnut and roquette pesto, truffle vinaigrette
Braised Short Rib – pomme puree, sautéed kale, braising reduction

~~~

Chambers Rosewood Vineyard Rutherglen Old Vines Muscat, NV
(from 100+  year old vines)
(and Zippy’s Block Shiraz, if you have some left!)

Chocolate cake – red wine chocolate ganache

We’re sure you will want to play with the wine pairings a bit – for example, Barossa Shiraz can pair very well with Chocolate.

The Wineries

Vasse Felix is Margaret River’s founding wine estate, established in 1967. The vineyards in Margaret River contain ancient soils, situated near-twin oceans, which creates an ideal environment for growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Vasse Felix has four vineyards situated throughout Margaret River producing wines recognized as Margaret River benchmarks.

Two Hands’ rise to fame has been meteoric – from the germ of an idea in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, it had by 2012 achieved ten consecutive years in Wine Spectator top 100 and their success continues today.  The wines are not for the faint of heart – these are big, even massive, wines (can exceed 15% alcohol), but with the polish to attract high Parker scores.  Shiraz was their initial focus and remains their core today.

Chambers Rutherglen, established in 1858, the Chambers family has been making “honest wines with a sense of place” for over six generations. Chambers produces highly prized fortified wines such as the Muscat and Muscadelle. Robert Parker Jr describes them as ‘some of the world’s most remarkable dessert wines’.

The Vintage Conservatory

The Vintage Conservatory’s kitchen will be familiar to many of you by now.  They did the very successful “Off the Beaten Path” dinner for us in February.   Our dinner is being prepared by Executive Chef Gregory Hogg.

How to participate

Wine service for this event is $65 members, $90 non-members, including GST/HST,
click here to register.  Foodservice is $65 plus HST, click here to order.

The wine portion of this event is limited to 48 orders. Register quickly to avoid disappointment.

Beginning at 14:00  on Wednesday, May 26, you will be able to pick up your package (of wines and/or food) at either the downtown location on Lombard St (Adelaide  & Church) or at the uptown location at Avenue Road and 401 (just north of the 401).   You can also drop off bottles from prior events for future re-use.  Full details will be in the confirmation email after you sign up, which will also include the Google Meet link.

Vasse Felix Vineyard

The Wines – Tasting Notes

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2017

A crisp note of flint emerges in the background of this intense white, offering a core of peach, melon, and tangerine flavors. Shades of green tea linger on the finish, with fresh acidity. 91 points Wine Spectator

Two Hands Harry & Edward’s Garden (Langhorne Creek) Shiraz 2007

Minty, plummy and chocolaty, with a soft, velvety texture, this is a solid example of what the Shiraz Langhorne Creek is capable of producing. Some will criticize the slight eucalypt character, while others will laud its regional character. 90 points Wine Enthusiast

Two Hands Max’s Garden (Heathcote, Vicator) Shiraz 2007

Winemaker Notes
The color is a deep magenta with black hues. On the nose, red to black fruit characters of raspberries and red currants intermingle with darker cherry-like chocolate aromas. Subtle black pepper and smoky notes, graphite, and scorched earth add complexity. The palate opens gently with refined definition, nicely accentuated by a solid core of fruit weight without heaviness. The acid balance supports the very long but fine tannins.
*******
Silky, open-textured, and utterly beguiling for its exuberant raspberry and plum fruit, sailing smoothly over the tannins in pinpoint balance. Picks up savory notes as the finish persists. 91 points Wine Spectator.

Two Hands Zippy’s Block (Barossa) Shiraz 2007

Winemaker Notes

Deep black in the glass. A very obvious inky nose of blueberries, minerals, coal, and dark chocolate, backed by secondary notes of daffodil and Asian spices with a thread of mint. Starting out with an even float of fruit across the palate, the mouth-feel stays soft, long, and elegant throughout. This is a surprising wine that sits on an elegant core of ripe and concentrated fruit. The tannins are soft and fleshy and well balanced with the fruit.

******

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 pts – The 2007 Shiraz Zippy’s Block from Roennfeldt Road in the Marananga sub-region of Barossa Valley, is a brooding, burly wine with a splendid nose of plum, tar, licorice, smoke, game, and blueberry. On the palate it is surprisingly restrained, bordering on elegant. Savory, ripe, and medium-long, it will be approachable in 1-2 years and drink well for a decade thereafter. – Dec 2009

James Halliday’s Wine Companion – 92 pts – More life here, with some red fruit providing lift to the concentrated fruitcake and chocolate beneath; the oak and fruit work in tandem and provide a rich, but not overwhelming level of interest on the finish; chewy with some nerve to conclude. Date tasted 26 Feb 2009, drink by 2020.

Wine Spectator – 91 pts – This spicy red is distinctive for its star anise and cigar box overtones around a plump, chewy core of blackberry, plum and dried blueberry flavors, persisting through a solid frame of fine tannins. Best from 2011 through 2019. 750 cases made. -HS, Oct 2009

NV Chambers Rutherglen Old Vines Muscat (from 100 year old + vines)

Winemaker comments: Raisins and rose petal aromas combine with a luscious palate consistent with the fruit aromas and the hint of wood age. The result is a rich, well-balanced wine with a depth of flavor to enjoy with cheese dishes or chocolate-based desserts.

“Mid-walnut hue, with the last faint vestiges of red. A wine that immediately commands attention and respect with its racy touch of rancio to the liqueur raisins of a deluxe Christmas pudding center stage, backed by spices of every known kind.” James Halliday

….”Made from older vines, but still retaining freshness and lift on the palate and finish, this is a halfway house style Muscat, between the fresh, open styles and the ancient medicinal ones, and it keeps its figgy, rose petal, and walnut notes alive but combines them with a deeper, darker core than last years’ wine.” Matthew Jukes.

Winetasters @Home
Episode 6 – April Tasting
Chablis 1er Cru 2014 v 2015
Wednesday, April 28^th, 7:00 PM

Mark your calendar for this fascinating event – comparing two very different vintages of 1er Cru Chablis. Members may experience this Google Meet event for $85 ($105 for non-members) – prices include HST. Further details appear below, and you can sign up for this event by clicking on this link. Note that this event is limited to 48 tasting sets.

This should be a most interesting tasting. 2014 had cool summer, followed by the hottest September on record. The result was absolutely classic wines with typical steely minerality, taught and lean balanced with a delicious ripeness – the quintessence of Chablis. The top wines are for the long haul. 2015 shows the easier, more approachable side of Chablis. A warm summer was spoiled by hail in mid-September. The vines that were not destroyed gave ample fruit resulting in delicious mid-term Chablis.

Our tasting features four 1er Crus, three from the more favored South West facing Right bank of the Serein, where all the Grands Crus vineyards are located; and one from the Left bank. For each of these, we have an example from 2014 and from 2015.

We are delighted to have Thomas Bachelder lead us through this tasting. He is well known to our members as the quintessential Burgundy enthusiast and he will make this an entertaining and informative tasting.

Montée de Tonnerre is at the heart of Chablis, adjacent to Blanchot on the SE corner of the block of Grands Crus vineyards. Regarded by many as the best 1er cru (Samuel Billaud calls it le petit Grand Cru), its early austerity matures into mineral elegance. Mont de Milieu adjoins MdT to the SE. Some parts of it give wines that are a little more airy or floral while the best SE facing slopes give more incisive wines. Our examples should lean to the latter. Fourchaume is NW of the block of Grands Crus with more soil. The wines are more supple and approachable earlier, however, there is quite a variety of styles. Montmains lies across the river. With more clay, its wines have richness and depth.

Our wines come from excellent producers: Laroche, Pinson, Billaud-Simon, Pascal Bouchard, and Jadot.

For those of you who do not want to cook that evening, we are again partnering with Vintage Conservatory for a dinner option. Details will be available nearer the time.

Distribution and Call for Volunteers

As with previous @Home events, the wines will come carefully decanted into 2 OZ bottles. You will be able to pick up your tasting package either at the downtown location on Lombard St (Queen & Church) or at the uptown location at Avenue Road and 401 (just north of the 401). Full details will be in the confirmation email. Also, if you want to recycle bottles from previous tastings, you can bring them, washed, to the pick-up. (We will of course wash and sterilize prior to next use).

COVID seems to be hanging around for the near future and we would like to accommodate more members and their guests for future @home events. We are seeking additional volunteers to reach out to our membership as additional pick-up points outside of Toronto. Idea is that the volunteers would pick up at the primary distribution points and become sub-distribution points. If you are interested in being a sub-distributor please drop us a line with contact details and postal code. Lots to work out here but let’s give it a try.

We are also seeking volunteers with marketing experience to help us with the development of a social media strategy and execution of that strategy.

List of wines

2014 Domaine Laroche Chablis Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes Premier Cru

(90% from clay-rich Homme Mort): Ripe aromas of citrus peel, crushed stone, anise, and brown spices. A step up in texture, ripeness, and salinity from the Fourneaux, combining a touch of sweetness with an impression of power. This dense, concentrated wine is carried nicely on the long finish by lemony citricity, with a tannic element nicely buffered by the wine’s density and ripeness. 91 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, July 2016.

2015 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis Fourchaume Premier Cru

(from vines in Vaupulent; done entirely in cuve): Reticent, slightly reduced aromas of orange zest and yeasty baked bread. A soft citrus fruit bomb in the mouth in a broad, fat style. The Pinsons always pick this fruit early but may have been delayed a bit in 2015 owing to the need to start with the hailed-on vineyards. Large-scaled, honeyed wine with plenty of palate presence, but a bit warm at 13% alcohol. 89 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, July 2016.

2014 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru

Hints of yellow fruits on the nose, with complicating notes of white pepper and crushed oyster shell; smells austere. A bit sweeter on entry than the Mont de Milieu but even more backward and stony today in spite of the roundness of texture. In a more refined style, a hint of orange oil giving this bone-dry premier cru a sexy suggestion of sweetness. Finishes with penetrating minerality. 92 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, July 2016.

2015 Louis Jadot Montee de Tonnerre 1er Cru

Professional tasting notes are not available.

2015 Domaine Billaud-Simon 1er Cru Chablis Mont de Milieu

Cool stoniness greets the nose, picking up peach and melon flavors, before converging on the tangy mouthwatering finish. Shows terrific harmony and length. 93 points, Wine Spectator, December 2017.

2014 Domaine Billaud-Simon 1er Cru Chablis Mont de Milieu

Green plum and melon fruit pervade this intense, bracing, and compact white, which leans toward the austere side in the balance, staying long on the steely, chalky finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 94 points, Wine Spectator, March 2017.

2015 Pascal Bouchard Montmains Premier Cru Les Vieilles Vignes

This vineyard on the left, cooler bank of the River Serein brings out great minerality in its wines even in warm vintages such as this. Full of ripe yellow fruits, textured and still young, the wine has a toasty character from wood aging. Drink this rich wine from 2021. 92 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, October 2018.

2014 Pascal Bouchard Montmains Premier Cru Les Vieilles Vignes

The flint and chalk nature of the soil shows in this wine. From old vines well situated in the Premier Cru of Montmains, it has concentration and a tight, young texture that will need to develop. It is fresh and full of citrus now, although a riper, creamy character will be coming through as it matures. Drink from 2018. 94 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, May 2016.

Wednesday, Feb 24th, 8:00 PM

Wednesday, Feb 24th, 8:00 PM — For our fourth Winetasters@Home event, we present a unique wine and food experience. We have tapped Chef Jon and his team at the Vintage Conservatory to create a five-course menu paired with wines from our cellar. The dishes on the food menu may look familiar but your wine journey will take you “off-the-beaten-path” as we visit Alto Adige and the Jura.  Perhaps not as famous as regions like Bordeaux or Burgundy, both of these regions have a number of smaller producers making outstanding wines.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 24, at 8 PM. We hope that this time will allow you to enjoy your meal and the wines before joining your friends online to share our observations. Be sure and save a bit of your wine for the discussion starting at 8 PM.

To sign up for the wine portion of this event ($55 members, $80 non-members, including GST/HST) click here.

Given wine, constraints, the wine portion of this event is limited to 36 orders. Register quickly to avoid disappointment.

To sign up for the Vintage Conservative Five Course dinner click here. ($65 per person plus tax)

The wines will come carefully decanted into 4 OZ bottles. Beginning on Wednesday, February 24, you will be able to pick up your tasting package either at the downtown location on Lombard St (Queen & Church) or at the uptown location at Avenue Road and 401 (just north of the 401). Full details will be in the confirmation email.

The Five Course Dinner Menu

Trout Tartare
Nori chip, sesame, horseradish

Beet Salad
Whipped feta, pistachio, apple

Mushroom Pasta
Strozzapreti, Parmesan

Confit Duck Leg
Lentils du puy, runner beans, fennel

Basque Cheesecake
Sherry vinegar caramel

The Wines
(4 OZ bottles)

2018 Nals Margreid Punggl Pinot Grigio: This is not a typical Italian Pinot Grigio. With this wine, we ventured off-the-beaten-path to Alto Adige. This wine perhaps is more stylistically Alsacian or German with complexity and length.

2012 Alois Lageder Tenutae Lageder ‘Krafuss’ Pinot Noir: We’ll linger in Alto Adige a little longer and try a Pinot Noir from one of the region’s fine producers. Perhaps stylistically this wine will be more New World oriented as the tasting notes speak of “cranberries, blackberries, paired with cloves and anise.” We’ll find out when our glasses are poured.

2016 Nals Margreid Jura Pinot Noir Riserva: Our less-traveled path will take us directly West of Alto Adige, through Switzerland to a tiny wine region in France. The Jura is better known for their white wines but producers are learning that Pinot Noir also does very well there. In this case, we have the same Alto Adige producer as the white wine we will be enjoying. The tasting notes for this wine indicate that it leans towards being full-bodied, with dried-strawberry and sliced-plum character. Duck confit anyone?

2001 Constance et Terrassous Rivesaltes Hors d’Age 6 Ans: To finish our journey, the less worn path takes out far south in France, very close to the Spanish border. Rivesaltes is in the Languedoc-Roussillon, where they make lush and balance dessert wines from Grenache Blanc. Tasting notes indicate “sweet notes of golden raisins, bitter orange, almond, and subtle browned sugar.” Sounds like a wonderful match for cheesecake.

Our Chef

Jon has both local and global culinary experience, including some of Toronto’s greatest restaurants.  He was part of the opening team as the Sous Chef at Richmond Station for 3 years, run by Top Chef Canada’s Carl Heinrich.   He then traveled to London, England, to work in numerous restaurants including The Clove Club, Dinner By Heston Blumenthal, and finally Hedone, as the Chef de Cuisine.  All of these have been awarded Michelin Stars and are rated on San Pellegrino’s “Worlds 50 Best Restaurants”.

Upon returning to Toronto he has undergone formal wine training at the Sommelier Factory and worked as the Executive Chef of Mascot Brewery, LBS and Cru before returning to Richmond Station as the Head Pastry Chef.

(Wednesday, December 4, 2019) — “Santa Baby, slip a 1989 Château Lafite-Rothschild under the tree – for me”.  Ok, maybe it isn’t quite what Eartha Kitt sang, but I’m sure she would have been happy with that little gift from Santa nonetheless.

Register now

We know that you’ve all been good this year and deserve a little holiday cheer, so you are invited to our not-to-be-missed annual holiday wine tasting extravaganza!  Once again, we’ll be at The Law Society of Upper Canada’s Osgoode Hall restaurant –   one of Toronto’s best kept secrets and the perfect setting for our annual party.

As we have done for many years, members and guests get to be amazed by a carefully chosen array of perfectly-aged vinous treasures from the extensive Winetasters cellar. Matched with them will be a mouth-watering selection of meats, cheeses, breads, veggies, and sweets – enough to make a meal and to perfectly complement the wines.

How The Event Works

It’s a walk around party, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to socialize.  The wines are set out at six serving tables. Each will have a selection of wines at the start of the evening, both red and white as well as “others” (Armagnac, whiskey, port, etc). When you arrive you will be given a list of the initial set of wines and where to find them.   And then, as the first wines run out, look for top-quality replacement surprises throughout the evening. These will be prominently identified at the various stations as the wines appear, so look out for the “pink” signs, or just listen for the buzz in the room.

Note that some of the wines mentioned will be in the initial flight and some will come out later. You may have to be patient for your favorite wine to appear! Note also that for some wines we have only a single bottle available.

On arrival, you will be given an initial allocation of 40 tickets to buy tasting samples.  The price of each taste is 3 tickets and upward.  If you find yourself in need of additional tickets they can be purchased at the desk at the event for $1 each.  Cash is preferred.

The Wines

We’ll be posting more info closer to the event, but you’ll have a chance to sample some rare finds, like:

• 2006 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains – Chanson
• 1996 Vouvray Moelleux, Ch Chevrier – Domaine Bourillon
• 1989 Vosne-Romanée, 1er Cru Les Suchots – Remoissenet Père & Fils
• 1999 Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos Saint Jacques – Jadot
• 1999 Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Château de Beaucastel
• 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon – Rutherford Hill (23rd Anniv)
• And of course the above noted 1989 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Featured Wine

Toronto Winetasters is known for its Feature Wine at the Christmas party: a very old Port or Madeira.  This year we are pleased to offer the 1934 Verdelho Madeira – Justino’s.   The wine is in limited supply, so it’s first come first served!  You will reserve your sample when you register.

Santa

And, as you are all judged to be good, you’ll get a taste of a bubbly or two from Santa who will be appearing during the evening.

Refunds net of Eventbrite fee up to 7 days before the event. Inquiries, cancellations — (Cindy Taylor, 416.458.3147 evenings only). No reservations by phone, please.  First, come basis with a priority for members.

No mail confirmations will be issued—you will be contacted only if we are sold out. The Supplies of the 1934 Madeira are limited and will be allocated to the earlier responders.

As always with tastings, please ask your guests not to wear aftershave, cologne or perfume. We do get many first-timers at our event who may not be familiar with our etiquette. A scent-free environment ensures we all get to fully experience this exceptional assembly of wines.

Date: Wednesday, December, 4th, 2019
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Limit: 150 people
Members: $135 including HST of $15.53*
Guests: $155 including HST of $17.83*

Madeira:  $35 per serving including HST of $4.02*

*In addition price includes and Eventbrite processing fee of 2% + C$0.59 per ticket

Location:

GST/HST account: 844742619 RT0001

Business Name: Winetasters Society of Toronto

Starting Wines

1. 2009 Chardonnay, Ridge
2. 2009 Riesling – Rolly Gassmann
3. 2009 Jadot Moulin-a-Vent de Rochegres Chateau des Jacques
4. 1989 Château Lafite-Rothschild
5. 2009 Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial – CVNE
6. NV Fonseca 20 year Tawny
7. 2009 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains – Mount Eden
8. 2009 Riesling, Kappelweg – Rolly Gassmann
9. 2006 Moulin-a-Vent Champ do Cour Jadot
10. 1995 Chateau Trotanoy
11. 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve – Beringer
12. 2002 Escudo Rojo Maipo – Baron Phillipe Rothschild
13. 2009 Chateau de Cruzeau blanc
14. 2009 Bourgogne – Henri Boillot
15. 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon – Thelema
16. 1989 Chateau Cantemerle
17. 1994 Ornellaia – Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia
18. 1989 Vosne-Romanée, 1er Cru Les Suchots – Remoissenet Père & Fils
19. 2004 Chateau Laville Haut-Brion
20. 2009 Clos Marsalette blanc
21. 1990 Pommard, Les Chaponnières 1er Cru – Dom Parent
22. 1989 Chateau Liversan
23. 2007 Pinot Noir – Foxtrot
24. 1997 Chianti Classico Riserva – Fontodi
25. 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Colles – Gross
26. 2009 Chateau Fombrauge blanc
27. 1997 Chateau Trotanoy
28. 1999 Shiraz, Ares – Two Hands
29. 2004 Merlot, Cuvée Alexandre, Apalta Vineyard – Casa Lapostolle
30. 2003 Vintage Port – Warre’s
31. 2007 Riesling, Pflaenzerreben – Rolly Gassmann
32. 2013 Sancerre, d’Antan – Henri Bourgeois
33. 1999 Chateau Trotanoy
34. 2004 Cain Five – Cain Cellars
35. 2004 Rioja Reserva Tondonia – Lopez Heredia
36. 1999 Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Château de Beaucastel

Many others to follow.