Newsletter #259 - A New Kind of Challenge: The Throw Down

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MichaelPinkusWineReview Newsletter #259             July 2015

• WineReview: A New Kind of Challenge -The Throw Down
  

• Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: New and Noteworthy Wine

• Weekly Wine Video Series:  A Recap of The Week in Videos

• Bi-Weekly OWR Updates:  Additional Articles and more

• Wine Event Spotlight:  See What's Going on in Wine Country

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WineReview:  A New Kind of Challenge - The Throw Down

A number of years back I started the Ontario Wine Challenges: a series of events that ran a number of nights over the course of a few weeks where we invited the public to try a number of entered wines and rate their favourites – from that we determined the best of a certain varietal.

We did such quintessentially Ontario grapes as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, plus others like Baco Noir and Gewurztraminer, all were well attended, fun and, if I do say so myself, wildly successful.  People still come up to me and ask when the next one will be.  But as the years rolled on finding a venue became difficult and the amount of wine that would be submitted became prohibitive – with the number of wineries in Ontario asking each to submit, say a Chardonnay or a Riesling, would now take 3 days a week over a 10 week period to go through all the wines - so I reluctantly stopped holding the challenges – hoping a better way would come along … and it finally did.

What I’m about to introduce to you is the evolution of the Ontario Wine Challenges and it all came about by watching a short debate on (what else) FaceBook between two camps:  Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc lovers.  Instead of looking for just the best wine of a given grape variety what if we added a food component and pitted the two varieties against each other over dinner?

Get ready for the First Ontario Wine Throw Down.

On Saturday August 1, 2015, nestled in the vineyards of Coyote’s Run in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we’re hosting the first ever Ontario Wine Throw Down, a dinner in the vineyard that puts Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc to the challenge:  what’s the better wine, what pairs better with food and then of course we need to determine a favourite wine of the night.  Chef Erik Peacock, of Wellington Court in St. Catharines, will be the ring master as he prepares five dishes to pair with each of our entrants and for this event we have chosen 6 wineries to participate – I hear you asking, 6 wineries? 5 courses? Huh?

That’s right, we’ll be tasting two wines (a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Franc) with each course from Rosewood, Lailey, Cave Spring and Coyote’s Run – but then we invited Flat Rock (Pinot Noir) and Vineland  (Cabernet Franc) to square off in the octagon (actually the vineyard pavilion at Coyote’s Run is a rectangle but that didn’t read as well).  Seats are still available (as of the publishing of this newsletter) so book your tickets now - be a part of history:  Ontario’s first Pinot Noir versus Cabernet Franc Throw Down.

Tickets can be purchased thru Coyote’s Run – click here.
To see the menu for this event click here

A list of the wines being poured – not necessarily in this order:
Rosewood:  2013 Origin Cab Franc vs 2012 Select Pinot Noir
Coyote’s Run: 2012 Rare Vintage Cabernet Franc vs 2012 Red Paw Pinot Noir
Cave Spring: 2012 Pinot Noir, Estate vs 2012 Cabernet Franc, Estate
Lailey:  2013 Cabernet Franc vs 2009 Pinot Noir, Old Vines
Flat Rock: 2012 Gravity Pinot Noir vs Vineland: 2012 Reserve Cabernet Franc

I look forward to seeing you there and of course to announcing the results, which will be published right here in the newsletter.

For App users – 500 points will be rewarded for attending this special event … don’t have the app, check it out here.

Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch:  New and Noteworthy Wines

Closson Chase 2013 Pinot Noir, Watson Vineyard - $34.95 (W)
www.clossonchase.com
The wine folks at Closson Chase take Niagara fruit from Watson Vineyard and turn it into a delicate raspberry, cherry number with gentle earthy-raspberry flavours seasoned with an easy shake of white pepper … but what really makes this wine is the light fruitiness, that really is the wow factor.  Price: $34.95 – Rating: ****

Jackson-Triggs 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Grand Reserve - $24.95 (W)
www.jacksontriggswinery.com
Another wonderfully delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from the equally wonderful 2012 vintage.  Nice rich red and black fruit on the nose with flavours that include cherry, plum, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla and espresso beans … there’s just so much here for you to sniff and taste – there’s even a silkiness to the palate that manages to work well with the lovely tannin backbone.   Price: $24.95 – Rating: ****

Lailey 2013 Chardonnay, Barrel Select - $30.00 (W)
www.laileyvineyard.com
While it might sound like a best-of-the-best barrel selection, the way this wine is made is by taking 6 barrels that play the best together – I trust this makes some sense to you.  Fans of Lailey will be happy to know that according to winemaker Derek Barnett all vineyards are represented in this blend … and what a wine it is.  Aromas of vanilla, butterscotch, floral and spice are very appealing and alluring.  Palate is soft and buttery with apple and spice most noticeable at this early stage; adding to the enjoyment is a creamy texture, great acidity and a long finish.  Price: $30.00 Rating: **** ½

Strewn 2012 Cabernet Franc, Terroir - $34.00 (W)
www.strewnwinery.com
Cab Franc seems to be making friends with American oak these days, with many winemakers using it … In this Marc Bradshaw (winemaker for Strewn) version U.S. wood houses Franc for 19 months and draws out tobacco, smoke, coffee and raspberry aromas along with pencil shavings and floral nuances … Flavours are fruit forward with raspberry and blackberry backed by cinnamon and a dose of white and black pepper mixed in … there’s nice complexity here with a real smoky-tobacco finish.  Price: $34.00 – Rating: ****

Tawse 2010 Cabernet Franc, Van Bers Vineyard - $49.95 (W)
www.tawsewinery.ca
Even with 4 years under its belt the Van Bers Vineyard Franc shows powerful tannins but there is fruit there, you just have to look for it.  It’s a battle royale between grit and fruit as blue and black fruit do get their licks in at the beginning; mid-palate has a raspberry note that likes to play possum (now you taste me, now you don’t) but with time should show itself more fully.  I’m happy to report that the fruit is here it’ll just need some time on its side to coax it out.  Best 2016 – 2022.  Price: $49.95 – Rating: ****

Thirty Bench 2012 Merlot, Small Lot - $45.00 (W)
www.thirtybench.com
Welcome back Merlot, now that may be something we’re saying in 2016, but Merlot is going to be in pretty short supply for the next few years – which is why stocking up on this Small Lot from Thirty Bench may not be a bad idea.  Aromas of blueberry, cassis and black cherry lead to a mocha-blueberry palate showing fine tannins.  With enough aeration some pleasant raspberry notes even show up … currently this one is tight and textured but with a great future ahead of it.  Only 250 cases produced.  Price: $45.00 – Rating: ****

Also look for reviews of
Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Chardonnay, The Rusty Shed
Southbrook 2012 Chardonnay, Poetica
Added late last week (videos coming Thursday and Friday)

Availability legend:  W (Winery) – L (LCBO/Vintages) –  OL (On-Line)

Get the FREE Grape Guy Events App - Plus there are plenty of prizes to be won ...

 Get FREE the Grape Guy Events App - Plus there are plenty of prizes to be won

The Weekly Wine Video Series: Local (Ontario); National (Across Canada) and International

The Weekly Wine Videos
Just as the name suggest … every week I'll introduce you to another fabulous wine that you've just gotta try – Check out the YouTube Channel Now

Weekly Ontario Videos

Video #136 - Grange of Prince Edward County 2009 Gamay Select

Weekly National & International Videos

Video #12 - Montes Alpha 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

i4C Week:  Great Chardonnays - June 13-17 (so far)

Talbott 2013 Logan Chardonnay
Featherstone 2013 Canadian Oak Chardonnay
Closson Chase 2013 The Brock Chardonnay
See which Chardonnays make the cut this coming Thursday and Friday

Subscribe to the YouTube channel by clicking here

Bi-Weekly OWR Updates:  Additional articles on the website and more

On the Road with the Grape Guy (blog)
(Trips, tours and tastings – join me as I review the highs, and sometimes, the lows)
Nothing New This Week - more coming soon

NEW - Taste it Again / Lost & Found (blog):  the two blogs have merged
(Find out what happened to some favourites and to those that never were tasted) 
Taste it Again: Coyote's Run 2009 Pinot Blanc
Taste it Again: Creekside 2007 Laura's Blend Red

NEW NAME - Uncorked Tonight (blog)
When it’s not an Ontario wine, here’s what I’m pulling out of the cellar
New Posts Added

Vintages Release (blog)
July 11, 2015 - Vintages Report can be found here
July 25, 2015 - tasting missed due to Pan Am Games traffic

 GRAPE GUY EVENTS Spotlight: See What's Going on in Wine Country

Grape Guy Events, highlights from the APP - points to be had:
The First Ontario Wine Throw Down Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Franc ... August 1, 2015 (500 points)
plus the usual video re-tweets ... see the APP for details.

Four new winery partners coming on-board in July.

Don't have the APP? Click here to get it, it's FREE and you could win some great prizes just for downloading.

OntarioWineReview’s bi-weekly newsletter is devoted to the love, enjoyment and promotion of the wines of Ontario and the wineries that make them.

What can the Grape Guy do for you … Michael Pinkus (Grape Guy) provides a variety of wine related services that you might be interested in taking advantage of:  he gives lectures, leads seminars, conducts tastings, sets up tours; consults, selects and judges.  He also gives interviews, broadcasts, podcasts and writes.  Contact the Grape Guy if you require any of these services or have any questions.

Psst, Pass It On … keep the good wine flowing. Forward this newsletter to your mom in Milton, your son in Smith Falls, or any other family member or loved one that you know needs good wine advice.

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© MichaelPinkusWineReview.com 2015. All rights reserved. You may use the content of this newsletter by including full credit to Michael Pinkus, Grape Guy and a link to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com

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