Originally Posted By: fredk

I keep hoping someone in the vintages section at the LCBO will be able to help out, but most appear to be nothing more than shelf stockers.

This is why having access to a dedicated wine store with trained sommeliers helps so much.
I completed the ISG Level 1 and took another course on ports a few years ago so i know my way around most of the labels and regions but still pose many questions to those who have travelled far more broadly as part of their profession. Still have interest in pursuing some more courses just for fun, but the price goes up quite a bit from this point on ($600 or more, 12 weeks or more of classes).

Anyway, this is my wine store of choice in town and they have a link to "ask the sommelier" which i'm sure they would respond to a question even from an out of province query.
http://www.banvilleandjones.com/index.php

I also recommend you look through their issues of The Cellar Door. I suspect most of the wines they discuss in the magazine could be found in Ontario.
http://www.banvilleandjones.com/cellardoor.php

This issue has articles on Spain and mentions Cava.
http://www.banvilleandjones.com/cellardoor/pdf/TheCellarDoor-Banville&Jones-Issue009.pdf
while this issue talks all about the sparkling wines including Cava.
http://www.banvilleandjones.com/cellardoor/pdf/TheCellarDoor-Banville&Jones-Issue008.pdf


Quote:

Edit: The Tawse has an 89 points rating, so I'm hoping this one will be better than average.

I tend to avoid ratings since the reference point and reason for ranking are far too variable. For example, Wine Spectator rates many wines between 84 and 95 on average. As a reference point, Lindemans Bin 65, a $10 chardonnay which is simple and because of its price, is one of the best selling worldwide, but is by no means a sophisticated or outstanding wine, is rated 87 to 89. On my own scale, i rate this wine around 82 (to me, a wine rating of 89, not unlike academic scores, is pretty darn high and as such should be pretty damn good).
Knowing the quality of Bin65 is ok, but not stellar, how would a Wine Spectator rating of 91 compare?
How much "better" is it?
Check how they score and tally the wine ratings. Sometimes some simple criteria (e.g. a colour or odour) could cause a stellar wine to lose a couple of points and be put on par for rating with the simple, not so stellar wines which becomes misleading to a consumer.

I've found Robert Parker scales to score higher than Wine Spectator overall, but his scores vary more broadly (e.g. try to find a Wine Spectator score under 84...incredibly rare).

"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."