Friday, December 13, 2013

Report from ... Vinexx Tasting - October 23, 2013

Vinexx Mission Statement ... "To provide our customers, suppliers and associates with the highest quality experience possible, yielding long term results and relationships. Ethics and honesty will provide the foundation of all our work.”

Vinexx is an agent based in Hamilton, Ontario - their event took place at Seasons Restaurant in Oakville.  44 wines in their portflio were on for tasting - below are my top 18 selections, in no particular order.

Caves de Bailly NV Cremant de Bourgogne Paul Delane Reserve ($19.80 - #214981)
nice bite of apple, fresh pear and some sweet lemon notes. (*** 1/2+)
Alliance Loire NV Cremant de Loire de Chanceny Brut Rose ($17.60 - #211466)
fresh raspberry and lemon with a green apple and raspberry. (*** 1/2+)
La Chablisienne 2009 Chablis "Vieilles Vignes" ($24.95 - #215525)
a little stone, a little lemon, a little lime with an apple core and apple skin on the finish. (****)
Vignobles Lorgeril 2010 Chardonnay "Les Coteaux" ($13.95 - #320424)
nice complexity and great value: lime zest, grapefruit pith and a nice long finish. (****)

Alliance Loire 2010 Saumur Champigny "Reserve des Vignerons" ($17.95 - #103879)
tobacco, earthy, spiced sour cherry, lingering smoky dry finish. (*** 1/2+)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County ($28.00 - Consignment)
raspberry, plum, cherry, cocoa with nice white pepper and spice. (****+)
Mas des Bressades 2011 Cuvee Tradition ($14.95 - #143099)
pretty raspberry notes with vanilla-plum and hints of spice; good value. (****)

Cline Cellars 2011 Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($19.95 - #719211)
plenty of plum and cherry cola, raspberry-vanilla and hints of white pepper on the finish (****)
E. Guigal 2010 Cotes du Rhone ($16.95 - #259721)
a real beauty with plenty of fruit, elegance of spice, balance of oak; a real steal for the price (**** 1/2)

Castorani 2008 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Podere ($48.00 - Consignment)
loaded with dark fruit and spice, especially blackberry and black pepper. (****)
E. Guigal 2009 Crozes-Hermitage ($25.95 - #704908)
lovely cherry and licorice notes with hints of cassis thrown in. (****)

E. Guigal 2009 Saint Joseph "Vignes de L'Hospice" ($79.00 - #908889)
red and black licorice with vanilla and cedar notes. (*** 1/2+)
E. Guigal 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape ($55.00 - Consignment)
beautiful richness of fruit: plum, black cherry, sweet cassis, and black pepper on the finish. (****+)
Roux Pere et Fils 2011 Mercurey 1er Cru "La Perriere" ($19.95 - #692756)
so pretty, hints of white pepper, violets, cherry-raspberry-strawberry and good acidity. (****+)
Montoya 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($28.00 - Consignment)
gentle raspberry and cherry fruit with nice anise and balancing acidity (****)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2010 Heritage Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($21.95 - #574491)
best Zin in the place: plum, vanilla, cherry, hints of cola  and a whole lotta raspberry;
pleasant cherry and vanilla on the finish (****+)
CignoMoro 2011 Primitivo di Manduria ($22.00 - Consignment)
raspberry, cherry, vanilla and sweet red licorice (*** 1/2+)
Domaine La Croix Vanel 2008 Fine Amor Pezenas ($19.95 - #343418)
raspberry, cassis, blackberry, white pepper and smoky kick things off
there is also tar, leather and cocoa - quite complex. (*** 1/2+)

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