Ontario Pinot Noir

In the current issue of OntarioWineReview, Michael Pinkus reports on the Pinot Noir Challenge, a blind tasting of Ontario Pinot Noir conducted over four evenings.

Judging was done on a simple ten-point scale: one being worst, ten being best. Because these tastings were done blind, nobody knew the wines or the prices — all they knew was they were tasting Pinot Noir. Our panels judged the wines based on four criteria: nose and taste — combining these two numbers made up their "do you like it" score; likelihood to buy — this score was based on the question, "if the wine was in your usual price range or budget 'would you buy it'?". The final criterion was based on value. After scoring the first three it was time to reveal the price of the bottle. People would once again go back to their ten-point scale and determine whether that wine delivered for its price. This is the category that can make or break a wine . . . good value wines rose, and perceived a overpriced bottles fell, down the ladder. In the end, it was those wines that delivered right now that took the crown. Some of our more serious judges took age-ability into consideration, but most were looking for immediate satisfaction in their wine; after all 90% of all bottles purchased are consumed within 24 hours and 95% within 48 hours — the shelf life of a bottle of wine, after it leaves the winery or store, is very short.