Reported by Mike Cowen
 It was a great night for nostalgia, trivia, and some truly great wine. The Guild welcomed back one of its own … Pierre Dupont, Governor, former President, and long time Board member. Pierre’s tastings in the late 90s were legend: months of collecting, exhaustive research, innovative quizzes, the most beautiful tasting notes and ethereal wine. Back to honour the Guild’s 15th anniversary (if a bit belatedly), Pierre combed his cellar to find some of the best wines we have been treated to in a long while.
Pierre stumped the audience with his choice of a Japanese sake to start off the evening’s festivities. That was followed by a wine trivia questionnaire (a Caudalie is … ?) while we were trying to match the aromas in some sealed cups with a list of common wine “noses” such as cassis, bell pepper, lychee, and vanilla. Then the real fun started with an exceptional flight of whites. Always the Riesling fan, Pierre showcased some delightfully fragrant Alsatian and German examples with anywhere from 10 to 22 years of age. The two Alsatian Gewürztraminers were heavenly, displaying those floral notes that only the best examples of this grape can exhibit.
 Flight II saw a tour of some of the world’s great red wine regions: Burgundy, Chianti Classico, Coonawara and the southern Rhone. The differences in style and terroir could not have been more striking but the common theme was complexity, length and superb quality. My favourite was the 1995 Vieux Télégraphe from Châteauneuf-du-Pape which displayed the perfect blend of fruit, tannin and acidity in one neat package.
Pierre wrapped the evening up with a flight of four delicious dessert wines: a pair of Vintage Ports, a Riesling Auslese and a 20-year-old Sauternes. What a finale!!
 Throughout the evening, Chef Arleigh Martin and her talented team graced our palettes with some excellent nibbles that seemed to be tailor-made to pair with the wine. The ambience of DiVino Wine Studio and gracious hosting by Antonio Mauriello rounded out an extraordinary evening. A special and personnel thanks to Pierre Dupont for another outstanding tasting and for his exceptional contributions to the Guild.
The Wines- Intro – Nanbu Bijin, Junmai Ginjo Sake, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Flight I
- Gewurztraminer, Cuvée Laurence, Clos des Capucines, 1998, Domaine Weinbach, Kaysensberg, Alsace, France (13.5%)
- Gewurztraminer, Herenweg de Turkheim, 1997, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Turkheim, Alsace, France (14%)
- Riesling, Cuvée Ste Catherine, Clos des Capucines, 1998, Domaine Weinbach, Kaysersberg, Alsace, France (13%)
- Riesling Spätlese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, 1999, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm, Wehlen, Mosel, Germany (8%)
- Riesling Spätlese, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, 1997, Weingut Dr Loosen, Bernkastel, Mosel, Germany (8%)
- Bonus – Riesling Kabinett, Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen, 1987, Schloss Reinharthausen, Rheingau, Germany (9.5%)
 Flight II
- Nuits-St-Georges, Les Grandes Vignes, 1998, Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils, Nuits-St-Georges, France (13%)
- Chianti Classico, Brolio, 2006, Barone Ricasoli, Gaiole in Chianti, Italy (13.5%)
- Santa Marta, Montecucco, Sangiovese, 2005, Az. Salustri Leonardo, Poggio del Sasso, Grosseto, Italia (14.5%)
- Bonus – Shiraz, Charles Shaw, 2007, Charles Shaw Winery, Sonoma, California (12.5%)
- Shiraz, Eileen Hardy, 2002, Thomas Hardy and Sons, Reynella, South Australia (13.5%)
- Shiraz, Prodigy, 1997, Katnook Estate, Coonawara, South Australia (14.5%)
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vieux Télégraphe, 1995, H. Brunier et Fils, Bédarrois, France (14%)
Flight III
- Riesling Auslese, Nackenheim Rothenberg, 2001, Gunderloch Vertriebgesellschaft Nackenheim, Germany (10%)
- Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, 1988, Château Suduiraut, Preignac, Gironde, France (14.5%)
- Dow’s Vintage Port, 1985, Silva and Cosens Ltd, Oporto, Portugal (20%)
- Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, 1994, Taylor Fladgate and Yeatman, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal (20.5%)
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