The most recent meeting of the Probus Wine Tasting Club took place on June 1, 2023 in James and Joan Rayners’ garden. The hosts’ plan was to compare two white and two red wines of similar varieties but with one of each pair costing significantly more than its partner. The results were rather surprising.
The first pair of wines to be compared were a Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Gris.
Tavernello, Italy – Pinot Grigio, 2021
The Pinot Grigio was from Tavernello (Italy), 2021, 12% alcohol content. This is a straw yellow vegan wine made with organic grapes. It has a distinctive perfume of peach and green apple, is dry and light-bodied with a refreshing crisp finish.
LCBO recommends serving it with antipasti, grilled fish, and white meat. On the LCBO website, it has 5 stars and a 91 points rating. LCBO # 19780. Price: $11.60
Of those present, 8 would buy it, 1 might, and 1 would not buy it.
Joseph Cattin, Alsace – Pinot Gris, 2021
The second white wine was Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris (Alsace), 2021, 13% alcohol, Unlike its Pinot Grigio counterparts which are rather subtle, Alsation Pinot Gris “tends to flaunt its fragrance and flavour.” This light gold wine is spicy and smoky with suggestions of apricot, honey, and gingerbread.
LCBO suggests pairing it with roast pork, game, prawns and foie-gras as well as a traditional Alsatian dish known as baeckeoffe.
This wine won the Médaille d’or at the Concours général des Grands Vins, Paris. LCBO #196956. Price: $16.95
Again, 8 members would buy this wine, 1 might, and 1 would not.
The red wines we tasted had a definite division of opinions.
Farina, Italy – Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, 2021
This Italian Valpolicella Ripasso from Farina at Veneto, Italy is described as clear ruby red with purple highlights; chocolate, nutmeg and toast aromas with floral and fig notes; dry, medium to full body; forward fruit flavours, balanced acidity and soft tannins for a smooth finish. It contains 13.5% alcohol. LCBO#: 195966. Price: $18.20.
This was the least popular wine with the vote being evenly split between those who would buy it and those who would not buy it.
Fantini, Italy – Sangiovese, 2022
However, the second red wine won a resounding vote favouring it: Fantini Sangiovese, 2022, 13.5% alcohol. This wine is modern in style, velvety, garnet red, intense and persistent, with floral aromas of toast, licorice, dark fruit and juniper as well as a touch of spice and smoke.
It is recommended to serve with charcuterie, meatballs in tomato sauce, grilled meat, short ribs, and chops. This wine won gold at the Frankfurt International Wine Show, and silver at the India Wine Awards in 2022. Luca Maroni assigns it 95 points. LCBO #512327. Price: $11.00.
The vote: 8 would buy it, 2 might buy and there was no one who would not buy it.
It seems that price alone does not determine if a wine is liked or not.
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 