Our tasting this month focuses on Pommard where the most powerful red wines of the Côte de Beaune are to be found.  Complex soils with a high proportion of iron-rich clay produce deep-coloured, relatively tannic wines.  The wines are not shy, with aromas that are redolent of blackberry, bilberry, or gooseberry, cherry pit and ripe plum. Often, wild and feline notes develop with age. At full maturity, they tend towards leather, chocolate and pepper.  A “rich” wine ? Certainly.  The best wines need time, and we are fortunate that the wines in this tasting mostly have a couple of decades of bottle age – the vintages run from 1990 to 2005.  Our tasting features three 1er Cru, and two village wines.  The detailed list is below.

For comparison and contrast we pouring wines from three other communes, two close neighbours and one a second cousin – all from Louis Jadot’s 1998 vintage.

Volnay, immediately SW of Pommard may be thought of as a polar opposite of Pommard in spite of its proximity.  It yields some of the finest and most elegant red wines of the Côte de Beaune, and might be twinned with Chambolle-Musigny in the Côte de Nuits, for the high active chalk content in the soil and comparatively low clay content.  We are pouring the 1998 Volnay, Clos de la Barre, Louis Jadot.

Savigny-Les Beaune is on the NW side of Pommard.  It is a value appellation almost equalling Beaune itself.  Locally dubbed “Theoligical, Nourishing, & Prophylactic” the wines fall between Pommard & Volnay stylistically.  We are pouring Jadot’s 1888 La Dominode

The second cousin is Morey-St-Denis, lying some 30 km NE of Pommard in the Côte de Nuits.  Morey is sometimes ignored between its two famous neighbours, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin, but its wines are of equal class, combining elegance and structure, and usually better value.

We are back for this event at the beautiful and convenient Great Hall at St. Paul’s Bloor Street.  The evening will begin with a short reception when you can catch up with friends.  Canapes, chosen to complement the wines, will be served.

Date, Location & Price & Sign Up

Date:          Wed Feb 22
Time:          6:30 pm – Registration & Reception,   6:45 – Event start
Cost:           $100 members;   $150 non-members,  HST Included
Location:    St. Paul’s Church 227 Bloor St E
Sign-up: here

Please do not drink and drive, there is transit near by.

List of Wines

Pommard – Henri De Villamont 2005
Pommard 1er Cru, Clos de Verger – Jean-Claude Boisset 2003
Pommard 1er Cru, Pezerolles – Billard-Gonnet 1997
Pommard 1er Cru, La Refène – Dominique Laurent 1996
Pommard, Les Perrières – Dom. Raymond Launay 1990
Morey-St-Denis, Le Clos des Ormes 1er cru – Jadot 1998
Savigny-les-Beaune, La Dominode 1er cru – Jadot 1998
Volnay, Clos de la Barre – Jadot 1998

[Skip to pricing, location & sign up info at the end]

Well, winter is truly upon us and what better antidote than a Port tasting?  Port lovers are very familiar with the wines of Taylor Fladgate.  This port-only house has produced high-quality port wines since 1692.  Our tasting focuses on the house.  The core of the tasting includes 4 wines from the outstanding 1994 vintage: vintage from both 750 ML and from Magnum formats (the latter giving more gradual development) and 2 1994 Late Bottled Vintage ports bottled in different years – it will be fun to figure out which is which in our semi-blind tastting.  Julia Harding MW on Purple Pages  had this to say about the Taylor 1994 Vintage Port:  “Deep garnet, not as dark as the Graham’s. Sweet, more red fruit, spicy damson, spirit still evident. Then some savoury leather. Generous but so fluid, lots of spice. Silky tannins, much less power and darkness than on the Graham’s. Ready earlier? More elegant but perhaps overall less impressive. (JH)  18 pts* – Drink 2015-2035.”

If you consider 30 years of aging to be insufficient then don’t worry as we have covered that base with the vintage 1970 and another harvested in 1987 from the highly regarded single vineyard Quinta de Vargellas. This is single vineyard bottling  is only made in years where the house does not declare a vintage (other than 1970 when they did due to the impending loss of part of the vineyard from a project to dam the Duoro).  Jancis Robinson wrote this in 2016: “Dark blackish ruby. Big, broad, blustering and bold. Sweet and beefy – everyone’s favourite rugby player? This was served blind and I took it for a Fonseca.  David Guimaraens thought that the spirit then used was responsible for this character (he came back to Portugal from Australia in 1990).   17.5 pts*, drink – 2002-2020″

Looking for something fresher? How about Taylor vintage ports from 2000 and 2007?  The 2007 is in 375 ml bottles, which possible accelerates development compared to 750 ml.    A full list of the wines is below.

The evening will begin with a taste of Bubbles and short reception period when you can catch up with fellow members.  The kitchen will also serve appetizers, cheese and chocolate to complement these stunning and rare wines.

The event will take place in the Great Hall of St Paul’s Church, Bloor St E.  This magnificent hall is where we recently had our very successful Holiday Party.

Sign up now to reserve your place at this outsanding event.

* Jancis Robinson Ratings:
18 pts = “a cut above superior”
17 pts = “superior”

List of wines

1994 Vintage Port – Taylor’s
1994 Vintage Port – Taylor Fladgate , 1500 ml
1994 LBV Port (bottled 2000) – Taylor’s
1994 LBV Port (bottled 1999) – Taylor’s
1970 Vintage Port – Taylor’s (Morgan Furze, London)
1987 Vintage Port, Quinta da Vargellas – Taylor’s
2000 Vintage Port – Taylor Fladgate
2007 Vintage Port – Taylor Fladgate , 375 ml

Date, Location & Sign Up

Date:          Wed Jan 25
Time:          6:30 pm – Registration & Reception,   6:45 – Event start
Cost:           $125 members;   $175 non-members,  HST Included
Location:    St. Paul’s Church 227 Bloor St E
Sign-up: here

Please do not drink and drive.

* Attendees will receive 70 tickets in their packets.

Wednesday December 7th – St Pauls’s, Bloor Street

Much has changed since 2019, the last time we were able to host our Annual Winetasters’ Holiday Party.  While not all of that change has been good, we have all been good (right?), and so we deserve a bit of holiday cheer!  Our cellar has had 3 extra years of rest and promises to provide us lots of treasures to enjoy.

So the famous Winetasters’ Holiday Party returns on Wednesday, December 7th!  As we have done for many years, members and guests will get the opportunity to taste a dazzling array of carefully chosen, and perfectly-aged vinous treasures from the extensive Winetasters’ cellar accompanied by seasonal fare.

Highlights will include:   Scharzhofberger Egon Mueller Kabinet 2007, Ch Haut-Brion 1990, Ch d’Yquem 1996, Grange Bin 95 1993, Ch Montelena 1996, Taylor Quinta da Vargellas 1987  … and more (see below).  In addition we have. as a feature wine. a hundred and two year old Madeira:   Malvasia Reserva Reserva Velha – Barbeito 1920 (there is a surcharge for this and quantities are limited).  Matched with them will be a selection of seasonal meats, cheeses, breads, veggies, and sweets – enough to make a meal and to perfectly complement the wines.

Alas, Osgoode Hall is closed indefinitely for renovations.  However, we were fortunate enough to find a beautiful and convenient alternative for our favourite annual event – the Great Hall at St. Paul’s, Bloor Street East.   The Great Hall was the original church on the site, built in the 1840’s.  It’s a lovely example of gothic architecture that is also conveniently located a short walk from Bloor Station and close to ample parking. We hope that you will all find this location a welcome new site for our event.

In the spirit of the festive season Toronto Winetasters is extending an invitation to members of Toronto Vintners Club to attend at member prices.

Sold already?  Sign up here, or read on ….

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, whisky, port, etc). When you arrive you will be given a packet including 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.

Your packet includes an initial allocation of 70 tickets to buy tasting samples (1 0z each). Pricing of the samples starts at 3 tickets..  If you find yourself in need of additional tickets they can be purchased at the desk at the event for $1 each (cash or credit).

The Wines

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

• Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett – Mosel – Egon Muller – 2007
• Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, Les Referts – Burgundy – Remoissenet Père & Fils 2007
• Château d’Yquem – 1er Cru Sauternes – 1996
• Château Haut Brion – Pessac-Leognan – 1990
• Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle – Rhone – 1992
• Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG, Italy – 2012
• Cabernet Sauvignon Estate – Chateau Montelena – 1996
• Penfolds Grange Bin 95, Australia – 1993
• Alion – Alion (Vega Sicilia) – Ribera del Duero – 2012
• Vintage Port, Quinta da Vargellas – Taylor’s 1987

See here for the current full list of wines.

Feature Wine – 1920 Malvasia Reserva Reserva Velha – Barbeito

Toronto Winetasters is known for its Feature Wine at the Holiday party: a very old Port or Madeira.  This year, to mark our return to Holiday Parties in style, we’ve dug deep into the cellar and are excited to pour a rare Malvasia Reserva Reserva Velha – Barbeito 1920.   This is a fantastic opportunity – it’s not every day you can taste a hundred (and two!) year-old wine!   Madeira is famed for its longevity and this will be a real treat.  For context: 1920 will be remembered as the year when the League of Nations was created, the 19th Amendment was passed in America giving women the right to vote, and a flight from London to South Africa took 45 days.  You will be tasting history!

The rare and valuable wine is in limited supply, so there is a supplementary charge and its 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.

Admin

Register here.  You will receive a confirmation email.
Cancellations accepted up to December 1, 2022 – Cindy Taylor (416.458.3147). No reservations by phone, please.

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.

And, of course, do not drink and drive.  The subway is nearby (Sherborne or Yonge St)

The 411:
Location:            St. Paul’s Church 227 Bloor St E
Date:                    Wednesday, December 7
Registration:    6:00 PM
Tasting:              6:30 PM
Fees:                    Members of Toronto Winetasters or Toronto Vintners $150;  Non-Members $200.  HST Included
1920 Madeira   $50

More from 2019 archive:

December 7th – St Pauls’s, Bloor Street

Much has changed since 2019, the last time we were able to host our Annual Winetasters Holiday Party.  While not all of that change has been good, we all have been (right?), and so we deserve a bit of holiday cheer!  Our cellar has had 3 extra years of rest and promises to provide us lots of treasures to enjoy.

Alas Osgoode Hall is closed indefinitely for renovations.  However, we were fortunate enough to find a beautiful and convenient alternative for our favourite annual event – the Great Hall at St. Paul’s, Bloor Street East.   The Great Hall was the original church on the site, built in the 1840’s.  It’s a lovely example of gothic architecture that is also conveniently located a short walk from Bloor Station and close to ample parking. We hope that you will all find this location a welcome new site for our event.

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. Some highlights are below.

Matched with them will be a selection of seasonal 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, whisky, port, etc). When you arrive you will be given a packet including 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 favourite wine to appear! Note also that for some wines we have only a single bottle available.

Your packet includes an initial allocation of 40 tickets to buy tasting samples (1 0z each). Pricing of the samples starts at 3 tickets..  If you find yourself in need of additional tickets they can be purchased at the desk at the event for $1 each (cash or credit).

The Wines

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

• Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett – Mosel – Egon Muller – 2007
• Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, Les Referts – Burgundy – Remoissenet Père & Fils 2007
• Chateau Trotanoy – Pomerol – 1997
• Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle – Rhone – 1992
• Alion – Alion (Vega Sicilia) – Ribera del Duero – 2012
• Vintage Port, Quinta da Vargellas – Taylor’s 1987

Feature Wine – 1895 Bual Madeira – Yes that’s Eighteen Ninety Five!

Toronto Winetasters is known for its Feature Wine at the Holiday party: a very old Port or Madeira.  This year, to mark our return to Holiday Parties in style, we’ve dug deep into the cellar and are excited to pour a rare Vintage Bual Madeira – Cossart Gordon 1895  This is a fantastic opportunity – it’s not every day you can taste a nineteenth century wine!   For context: In 1895 Mackenzie Bowell (yes, really) was Prime Minister of Canada, Grover Cleveland was President of the US, Queen Victoria was on the throne.  You will be tasting history!

The wine is in limited supply, so its 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.

Admin

Register here.  You will receive a confirmation email.
Cancellations accepted up to December 1, 2022 – Cindy Taylor (416.458.3147). No reservations by phone, please.

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.

And, of course, do not drink and drive.  The subway is nearby (Sherborne or Yonge St)

The 411:
Location:            St. Paul’s Church 227 Bloor St E
Date:                    Wednesday, December 7
Registration:    6:00 PM
Tasting:              6:30 PM
Fees:                    Members $150; Non-Members $200.  HST: Included
1895 Madeira   $XX

More from 2019 archive:

Although the story of the blind monk accidentally discovering sparkling wine is likely a myth, the heavenly experience of a quality sparkling wine is very real. To launch the holiday season in style, Toronto Vintners Club and Winetasters of Toronto have combined forces to offer their members a fabulous selection of sparkling wines from around the world.  The beautiful Wedgewood room at the University of Toronto’s Faculty Club will be the setting for the first time that these distinguished wine clubs have held a joint event. There will be food stations, 5 champagnes, 6 sparkling wines from places that span the globe, an expert-led-tutored tasting and discussion, and plenty of time to interact with friends old and new.    Sold already?  Sign up here,   or read on …

When one thinks of sparkling wine, champagne (which takes its name from the region of Champagne) is the first name that comes to mind but not all sparkling wine is champagne. Vintners around the world craft sparkling wines with products that offer a great diversity of styles, textures, and flavors. Like still wine, terroir is king, and both where the wine comes from and how the wine is made are two factors that distinguish one sparkling wine from another.

The grapes used to make the wine provide another distinguishing feature. In Champagne, you will commonly encounter wines based on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, either solo or in various blends. But, there are actually seven permitted grape varietals that can be grown in Champagne. The other four are Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, and Arbane, all white varieties that make up less than 1% of all the region’s plantings. One of the champagnes we will be serving is made with all 7 grape varietals. Many countries follow Champagne’s lead, basing their wines on Chardonnay, and/or the two Pinots, while others use grapes local to their region. For example, in the Alt Penedes region of Spain, you will encounter sparkling wine, known as cava, made with Xarel Lo, Macabeu, and Parellada grapes. You will experience a premium example of this blend in this tasting.

Unlike most still wines, sparkling wine production often involves the addition of a small amount of sugar, known as the dosage, and added prior to the final closure of the bottle. The amount of the dosage is one of the factors that determine a wine’s perceived sweetness. The labels will tell you what you need to know: Nature and Extra Brut are the driest; Brut, the most common indicator, is dry; and Extra Dry or Dry are actually on the sweet side for the modern palate. Tastes have changed through the years. Most people now seek out drier sparkling wines and that is the style you will encounter when you attend this event. In fact, 5 wines will be Nature / Extra Brut, 5 Brut, and 1 Extra Dry.

The size and nature of the producer also result in significantly different wine styles. Historically, huge producers dominated the market globally. In Champagne in particular, small “grower producers” are becoming more prevalent. These producers typically take a more artisan approach to making wine often with stunning results. It’s probably fair to classify seven of the event’s wines as being artisan. Obviously, Toronto Vintners and Winetasters have a soft spot for artists.

Lastly, most sparkling wine is not vintage-specific. There are many reasons why producers blend two or more vintages together when they make sparkling wine. For example, the objective may be to achieve a consistent house style from year to year. In recent years, vintage sparkling wines are becoming more common. It’s also becoming common for
producers to provide information on the harvest years included in the blend. Smaller producers often do not have the capacity to store multiple years of wine and their offerings are vintage champagne in all but name.

We will kick off the evening with a reception wine and then a blind tasting of two wines discussed by our experts. After that, you will be free to explore eight sparkling wines in any order you like and experiment with pairing them with the food stations that will be set up around the room. To make this event more fun, Toronto Vintners and Winetasters members can bring a guest at member pricing. We look forward to a sparkling evening with you!

The full list of wines, and their details is here

When, Where & How

The tasting will take place at:
Faculty Club Wedgewood Room, Univ. of Toronto,
41 Willcocks Street, Toronto

Please do not drink and drive.

Calendar, Pricing & Sign-up Details

Date:   Wed Nov 16
Time:   6:00 pm Registration, 6:30 event start
Cost:    $150 members;   $200 non-members  –
Members may bring one (1) guest at member price.

Sign-up: here

This will be an outstanding tasting of mature Barolo from 1998 – an excellent year.  Jancis Robinson wrote that the 1998 wines have more structure and potential than 1997 and some very fine, elegant wines.   Galloni wrote “The wines have always been perfumed and accessible, with an attractive softness to the fruit. Even better, the vast majority of the wines have never shut down to the extent that wines from cooler vintages often do. The 1998s are extremely consistent across the board, and that level of outstanding quality may very well end up being the vintage’s strongest attribute.”  Click here to sign up now, or read on…

We are featuring wines from both the Serralunga Valley and La Morra in the Central Valley. The greatest difference between these two divisions is the soil; while the Serralunga Valley has soils high in sand and limestone, the latter tends to be higher in clay. The sandy soils of Serralunga produce more intense wines that demand a longer aging period than the Central Valley Barolos, which are known for softer, fruitier expressions of the region. The commune of La Morra produces the most wine of the five communes.  You can have fun trying to pinpoint which is which.

Our line-up of producers is led by Ceretto, Marengo, and Ratti and we are also featuring Conterno, Pio Cesare, Rivetto, Revello, and Corino.    Here are a few tasting notes to give you an idea of what’s in store:

Marcenasco Rocche – Ratti (La Morra) 1998:  Medium red. Reticent aromas of cherry, plum, smoke and truffle. Sweet, vinous and tight; hints at the velvety texture to come but today the fruit is somewhat suppressed by the wine’s broad, sweet tannins. Still, this is a suave wine with a building, juicy finish.  91+ Tanzer, (2002)

Ginestra – Paolo Conterno (Monforte) 1998: Saturated dark red. Vibrant nose melds cherry, dried rose, smoke, camphor, tobacco and nutty oak. A step up in brightness and intensity; dense, concentrated and sharply delineated. Long, sweet and classy on the finish, with superb extract to support its ripe tannins. This is already delicious, but has the balance and material for a long life in bottle. 93 pts Tanzer (2002)

Here is the complete line-up

Barolo – Corino (La Morra) 1998
Barolo – Fratello Revello (La Morra) 1998
Barolo, Bricco Rocche Prapo – Ceretto (Serralunga) 1998
Barolo, Brunate – Marengo (La Morra) 1998
Barolo, Marcenasco – Ratti (La Morra) 1998
Barolo, Marcenasco Rocche – Ratti (La Morra) 1998
Barolo – Leon Rivetto (Serralunga) 1998
Barolo – Pio Cesare (Serralunga) 1998
Barolo, Ginestra – Paolo Conterno (Monforte) 1998

And to give you a little extra fun, we will also be pouring a Mystery wine, about which we will say no more!

We are excited to have Katherine Mellin as our speaker.  She left a law career for the world of wine to found and run a wine agency – Apparition Wines.  Her IWEG/WSET Levl II & III, Certified Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers speak to her oenoligical qualifications and the Piedmont Wine & Food Specialist Certification in Ian D’Agata’s 3iC Program speak to her love of Barolo.  She will be the perfect guide to lead us through the tasting.

The Location

The tasting will take place in the Burgundy Room, North York Memorial Hall (under the Library):
5110 Yonge St, at Shepherd
North York Centre Subway

The subway accesses the building directly.

This is a large and well-ventilated room.  We will be reviewing the table layout and seating to ensure suitable spacing in order to give the best COVID protection that we can to everyone.

Please do not drink and drive.

Calendar, Pricing & Sign-up Details

Date:   Wed Oct 26
Time:   6:45 pm
Cost:    $100 members;   $150 non-members
Sign-up: here

     La Morra

     Seralunga

The Wines 

Our tasting will feature eleven wines and your admission secures you a tasting portion of each.  (Unlike our holiday party it will not be possible to purchase additional samples).   You will start with the reception Champagne:  Laherte Freres ‘Rose de Meunier’ Extra Brut.  Consistently rated 93 or 94 pts by Galloni you can “…expect a taut, vibrant, yet also weightless style of Rosé. Red berry, mint, white pepper and chalk notes are all finely cut in this super-expressive, inviting Champagne.

The core of the tasting is nine wines from France (Provence, Bandol and the Loire), Spain, Sicily, Israel and South Africa.   The full list is below.  The most notable wine is probably the rare & very hard to find Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva 2011.  This is not your typical rosé, savoury and crying out for food.   In the  words of Luis Gutiérrez on jancisrobinson.com on the 2000, “Don’t expect to find bubble gum, cherries, strawberries or any other berries (or any fruit as a matter of fact) in this wine. Think more about autumn forest, mushroom, truffles, incense, flint, petrol, brioche, nuts, old woods….”  This will likely be quite the talking point in the tasting.

The French contingent is headed by the
Clos Cibon Cotes de Provence Chateau Cibonne Cuvée Marius Rosé, 2017.  The epitome of Provenale Rosé,  Josh Raynolds on Vinous gives it 95 pts, saying “… palate [of] vibrant red currant, bitter cherry, orange pith and candied lavender flavors that steadily deepen on the back half, with no loss of energy. The mineral and floral notes drive a strikingly long, incisive finish that shows excellent delineation and lingering pit fruit”.  

We also have two wines from the excellent Domaine Ott: their top cuvée Ch De Selle and their second wine by.Ott.  You can decide which you prefer(and which is the better value!).  From Bandol we have the Hecht & Banier Rosé.  Josh Raynolds says “it is medium weight, fleshy yet firm and dry, with more character than the pale colour suggests. The length is very good to excellent.”.   The French line up is completed by Reverdy Sancerre Pinot Noir Rose 2019. 

Supporting the  Viña Tendonia from “les autres pays”  we have wines four wines.  From Spain we have the Viña Tondonia headlined above   From South Africa we have the Ken Forrester Petit Rose, (Grenache and Viognier).   This is in the delicious red fruit end  of the rosé spectrum.  Italy is represented by Filipo Grasso – Ripiddu Etna Rosato DOC 2018, Sicily This volcanic wine is made from Nerello Mascalese.  Expect notes of tangerine sea spray and herbs.   Finally we have Ashkar Rose Blend 2019 , Israel. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, it is also in the fresh, floral, citrus strawberry style

For dessert wine we have a unique offering from Ontario: Pearl Morissette Hecate 2011 a fortified Cabernet Franc wine. They describe it thus “ This is a fortified wine that was aged for 10 years in barrel and it drinks like a delicious cross between a port and a madeira. Spicy and concentrated with fruit that has a chocolate tinge to it, as well as whiffs of sultry southern herbs and orange peel.”

Here is the full line-up

Laherte Freres ‘Rose de Meunier’ Extra Brut, Champagne
Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja Spain
Cibon Cotes de Provence Chateau Cibonne Cuvée Marius Rosé, 2017, France
Domaines Ott, Cotes de Provence, Château de Selle Rosé 2020, France
Domaines Ott, Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose, 2020, France
Hecht & Bannier Bandol Rosé, 2020, France
Reverdy Sancerre Rose, 2019, France
Ken Forrester Petit Rose, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2020
Filipo Grasso – Ripiddu Etna Rosato DOC, 2018, Sicily
Ashkar Rose Blend, Israel, 2019
Pearl Morissette Hecate, Niagara, 2011

In addition, we will be serving tapas to highlight the food friendliness of these wines

The Info

Date:  Wed, June 22
Time:  7:00 pm
Location:  Berkeley St Theatre (Canadian Stage),  26 Berkeley St, Toronto (SW of Eastern & Parliament)
Price:  Members $129  including HST & gratuity, Guests $149

CLICK HERE to sign up    Limited to 80 attendees

Our June tasting is a look at the serious side of Rosé. Savvy wine people know there is more to Rosé than popular patio pleasers. We have top Provençal wines like Ch Cibonne Cuvée Marius, however our selection is international with wines like Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rosado – and of course pink champagne.

To augment this serious aspect we will be pairing canapés with the wines to show their food worthiness. And being June in Ontario, there will be Ontario strawberries, paired with 2008 Royal DeMaria Icewine (aka Winter Harvest) to round off the event.

Wait, there’s more … this event will take place in the Berkeley Theatre.  No, you won’t have to audition! A special tasting deserves a special venue – the building is a stunning example of industrial Victorian architecture, and we will have access to several interior spaces as well as its courtyard.  We are finalising the details, look for more info and sign-up form on the web and by email soon.