Wine Tasting with Christopher Waters at The Chase in Toronto

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Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

By Amy Sanderson

Torontonicity was invited to taste wines with the Sun Media’s national wine columnist and co-founder and editor of Vines, Christopher Waters at The Chase Fish & Oyster, which recently opened on Temperance Street. Waters revealed InterVin’s Winery of the Year for 2013, Wolf Blass, and discussed available tastings at the upcoming Gourmet Food and Wine Expo in Toronto.

Christopher Waters shares insights about Gold Medal winning wines in Toronto
Christopher Waters shares insights about Gold Medal winning wines

We enjoyed Wolf Blass’s Gold Medal winning wines with a selection of small plates from The Chase Fish & Oyster. Did someone say oysters?

Oysters on the half shell at The Chase Fish & Oyster
Oysters on the half shell at The Chase

Wolf Blass’s Sparkling White is fresh and fruity and tastes like a top-notch champagne. You can buy this wine f0r $30 at Vintages. The Riesling has a tin top note with apples and tree fruit brimming underneath. I detected pear and butter undertones.

Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling
Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling

Time for some appetizers to enjoy with these wines. The Beef Tartare on crostini featured a slight zest of horseradish. A moist, delicious mustard seed gave it a slight burnt flavour. Tasty!

Beef Tartare on crostini at The Chase Fish & Oyster
Beef Tartare on crostini at The Chase Fish & Oyster

Wolf Blass’s Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon has a thick pepper nose with a burnt tone. The wine produces a slightly meaty, gritty mouth feel.

Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

The winery’s Platinum Label Barossa Shiraz is the star. The 2008 vintage gives a gorgeous velvety mouth feel with pepper overtones and a Rubik’s cube’s complexity underneath.

Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Shiraz 2008
Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Shiraz 2008

The Shiraz tasted superb accompanied by blue cheese, resulting in a  silky texture that melts in your mouth. This wine is not for sale; it’s only on consignment at $130 bottle.

Cheese tray at The Chase Fish & Oyster
Cheese tray at The Chase Fish & Oyster

Time for another appetizer. The Tuna Tartare with horseradish was delicious.

Tuna Tartare at The Chase Fish & Oyster
Tuna Tartare at The Chase Fish & Oyster

Wow! Some really spectacular wines from Wolf Blass paired with some delicious plates from The Chase Fish & Oyster. I’m definitely looking forward to attending the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo in November to sample more of these great vintages.