Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting is a pretty broad topic. I’m sure that most if not all of you have tasted wine in an informal setting. I’m sure too that most of you have either been on a wine tour, visited a wine cellar, a wine bar or all of the above, and experienced some of the formalities in their tastings - noting colour, clarity, aroma/bouquet, grape type, hints of fruit, coffee, chocolate, sour grapes etc. Well, Applewood Probus Tastings, from my experience, incorporate some of this formality, but REALLY, we are just enjoying the wines. We do each use an evaluation sheet to score our impressions on each wine tasted - Appearance; Aroma/Bouquet; Taste/Texture; After-taste and more. It’s amazing how at times everyone’s scores can be so similar, or so very opposite, which causes immediate “guffaws” and much friendly discussion. Personally, the tastings have exposed me to wines that I may not have otherwise tried, as well as helped me develop a “do not purchase list”. Above all, it’s a great social gathering in a very informal setting, where there is a good group of guys, plenty of conversation, opinions and laughter.

The groups decide for themselves what works best for them for their meeting every month. There are currently 4 groups, each consisting of 8 - 9 members. Those who prefer to participate just occasionally may register on a “Spares” listing. All groups meet at 2:00 PM, at least 8 times per year, (usually excluding July and August).

Each group member hosts at least one meeting per year, with the other members contributing $20 - $25 (the group’s decision) to cover cost of the wines, cheese and crackers, etc.

The present group leaders and meeting days are:

Group 1 (Mike Read) - 2nd Tuesday of the month. Group 2 (Mike Preston) - 4th Wednesday. Group 3 (Reg Perkin) - 3rd Wednesday. Group 5 (Dave Stubbert) - 3rd Thursday. (Group 4 reduced in size due to attrition. Its remaining participants are being absorbed by the other groups).

Our wine groups are encouraged to invite “spares” as well as members of other groups to make up their usual complement (in case of absenteeism).

Probus has a culture of fostering socialization. If you would like to join the Wine Tasting Group, or have an interest in changing to another group, let it be known to the Group leader or myself and we will try to make it happen.

PLEASE TASTE RESPONSIBLY

Cheers,
Mike Preston

Group 5 - July, 2025

WINE TASTING GROUP 5
JULY 17, 2025
Group 5 met in July and tasted both Rose and Red wines. Below are the rankings for each wine
TWO IN THE BUSH BIRD IN THE HAND SHIRAZ 2022 Australia - $18.95

2, SMOKY BAY ROSE – NE Australia $11.00

3. SIDEWOOD STABLEMATE SHIRAZ 2021 Australia $17.95

4. WITTS END LUNA SHIRAZ 2022 - South Australia $15.95

5. TORO BRAVO Shiraz Garnacha Rosado 2024– Spain $10.50

6. PROTEA ROSE 2024 - South Africa $15.00

Group 1- June, 2025

Five members of Group1 convened at Denis Bailey’s home on Wednesday, June 11, to sample 6 wines from Eastern European Countries, 2 whites (numbers 1 and 2) and 4 reds (numbers 3 – 6). We usually meet on Tuesdays but on this occasion the members opted to reserve the immediately preceding Tuesday for playing golf. All of the wines were obtained from the LCBO, some with more difficulty than others because most LCBO’s have only very small selections of wines from this region. The wines we tasted were the following:

Wine	Country	LCBO#	Price
1. Kremetal DAC Grüner Veltina 2022	Austria	375022	$17.95
2. Empress Classic Grašvina 2024	Croatia	22685	$17.95
3. Vicelic Peljesac Plavac Mali Red 2020	Croatia	24640	$33.50
4. United Stars Mukuzani Dry Kakheti 2021	Georgia	460501	$20.00
5. Teleki Selection Villányi Kékfrankos 2019	Hungary	34429	$16.95
6. Terra Tangra Black Label Rubin 2019	Bulgaria	39376	$17.95

Both white wines were light and enjoyable, but the Grüner Veltliner from Austria was zestier and more flavourful and was favoured. The four red wines also very enjoyable, with prominent fruit flavours and variable tannins, but the Plavac Mali from Croatia and the Kékfrankos from Hungary stood out and were preferred. Individual scores were not recorded to avoid comparing entire countries’ wine industries based on the assessments of single wines. In addition to politics and wars the group discussed the wines we tasted, and were generally surprised at their high quality. We suggest that other members of the club consider looking at these and similar, reasonably priced wines from this region.

Denis Bailey

Group 2 - May 2025

Five Group 2 members and guest John Mark recently tasted six “old world reds”. As usual it was a convivial gathering with much banter to accompany the tasting and informal rating process. Three wines from Spain and three from Italy were sampled. While the grape varietals differed, the average ratings were closely grouped with one exception - the lowest rated wine trailed the others noticeably.
The results in descending rank order were as follows:

1. Borsao - Tres Picos Garnacha 2021 ($21.95). Spain.   VINTAGES# 273748
2. Zensa - Nero D'Avola Appassimento Sicilia DOC. ($15). Italy.   LCBO# 31801
3. El Goru   ($14.95). Spain.   LCBO# 443945
4. Luciano Arduini - Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2021 ($25.95). Italy. VINTAGES# 12407
5. Cantine San Marzano - Primitivo ($11). Italy. LCBO# 13494
6. Priorat - Clos de Tafall   2021   ($20.95) Spain.   VINTAGES# 574616

Group 3 - May 2025

Doug Gilpin hosted Group 3 Winetasters on May 21, 2025; the attendees were Reg Perkin, Marty Wanat, Jack Doney, Neil Paget, Don Steeen, Paul Walters, and guest Ron Kawchuk.
The theme of the event was "Bold Wines", defined on the website "Wine Folly" as very dark red wines, usually with alcohol by volume of 14% or greater, and from tropical vineyards. A chart "Red Wine Boldness" was provided.

The group ranked the six wines in the following order of preference:
1. Boschendal Pinotage 2012, South Africa, $19.75
2, Knappstein Clare Valley Shiraz 2021, South Australia, $19.95.
3. El Goru Monestrell/Syrah/Petit Verdot, Spain, $14.95,
4. Red Stripe Wynn's Coonawarra Estate Cabernet/Shiraz/Malbec 2022, South Australia, $19.75.
5. Torres Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Spain, $19.95.
6. Monasterios de los Vinos Gran Reserva, Spain, $21.95.

As usual, discussion was lively and enjoyable.

Group 2 - April 23, 2025

Six members of Group 2, Jim Christie, Peter Crawford, Bob Weese, Hugh Turner, Bob Ewart, and Victor Fornasier met at Jim Christie’s house to sample a selection of Ontario red wines. During past wine tastings we had often included one Ontario selection in the wines to be sampled and had found the Ontario wines to be on par with the foreign selections. So, for this tasting six red wines from Point Pelee and Niagara on the Lake were selected. All six wines were found to quite drinkable and the general consensus was that Ontario red wines had now come of age. The six wines tasted in order of preference were:
1. Inniskillin Baco Noir, $16.95
2. Pelee Island Lola Merlot, $15.95
3. Jackson Triggs Reserve Merlot, $14.95
4. Pelee Island Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.95
5. Southbrook Triomphe Organic Cabernet Franc, $26.95
6. Chateau des Charmes Gamay Noir, $13.95

Group 3 - March 19, 2025

Ranking	Location	Name	Vintage Year	Price	LCBO #
1	South Africa	Rustenberg	2022	$19.95	443374
2	Argentina	Saurus	2021	$22.95	36314
3	Chile	Casillero	2022	$17.05	570754
4	Ontario	Trius	2021	$15.95	587956
5	Ontario	Jester	2020	$21.95	44324
6	Ontario	Smoke Gamble	2022	$19.95	16207

Group 2 - November 27, 2024

Group 2 met at Bob Ewart's this Wednesday November 27th. Attendees included Jim Christie, Hugh Turner, Peter Crawford, Mike Preston, Bob Ewart and David Luckock.

We sampled 6 reds, 3 from California and 3 from Italy. Everyone enjoyed all 6 tastings as shown by the ratings which were all very close.

The number one rated wine was Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Vernaiolo from Italy with a group rating of 16.8 (max 20) will the second place tasting was Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon at 16.7

A great time was had by all with the usual discussions/opinions on politics in these interesting times.

Group 1 - October, 2024

Held at the home of Ken Boughton in October.

A sample of young South African Wines. Most are available here either from LCBO or various Agencies. Our usual convivial and wise group and some surprising scores. Some of us have been together for over 20 years and have gained much wisdom, 'solved' many topical issues as usual and
had a load of fun.

Present:
Denis Bailey, Ken Boughton, Stu Hatcheson, Dave Irwin, Marcus Miller, Mike Read. Apologies Ken Foxcroft.

The following wines:

1) Chenin Blanc 2023; Mean score 80 points; Breede (Wide) River Estate north of Cape Town near cold Atlantic Ocean; LCBO $14.50 S.A. cost $11
2) Chardonnay 2021; Mean score 88 points; Lanzerac Estate1692 Stellenbosch Region RSA $17.00
3) Sauvignon Blanc 2023; Mean score 81 points; De Grendel Estate 1940 Tygerberg Hills; RSA R400 C$36 equivalent Canadian Agency price ?
4) Cabernet Sauvignon 2018; Mean score 86 points; Groot Constantia Estate - 1685; Constantia region LCBO $48. SA $36.00
5) Cabernet Sauvignon 2020; Mean score 83 points; Glenelly Estate.1682. Stellenbosch; C$18.95. SA C$ 8.50 equivalent.
6) Pinot Noir 2022; Mean score 90; Hamilton-Russell Estate. est 1975 Overberg region near Hermanus and warm Indian Ocean; Consistently excellent Pinot Noir; LCBO $69.75 SA $48

An Interesting collection!

Doug Gilpin