The Event: the 12th annual Italian wine and grappa tasting, organized by the
Italian Trade Commission.
The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall Lobby
The Target Audience: wine media, buyers, and sommeliers.
The Availability/Catalogue: as usual, the Italians listed every single wine
available in all of Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, along with
grape varieties and vintage. But, as usual, no prices or availability.
Agents were listed for each province, where appropriate. For some reason,
the catalogue was printed on clay-coated paper stock, which added to the
weight: it was exactly one pound. The catalogue also said that the Consulate
General of Italy supported the show in Edmonton, but the rest of the book
said that the wines were poured in Calgary. That's a long way to pour wine;
they must have used an oil pipeline... Only four producers brought older
wines with them, and they were phenomenal (see below).
The Quote: "There are very few white wines here. Is there no longer a push
on pinot grigio? Proseccos were in abundance."
The Wines: I did not taste every wine, and I did not taste any grappa (for
the 12th year in a row) since my palate was fatigued near the end.
**** Four Stars (90 - 93 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Caldora Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 (Appellation Wines)
-Collemassari Montecucco Vermentino Irisse 2005
-Collemassari Bolgheri Vermentino Grattamacco 2006,
-Allegrini Amarone 2003
-Allegrini Valpolicello Classico 2006,
-Donnafugata Sicilia Sedara 2005 (Nero d'Avola) (Maxxium)
-Castello di Nieve Barbaresco 2004. (Brunello)
-Donnafugata Contessa Entellina Mille e Una Notte 2004 (Maxxium)
-Masi Toscana Rosso Poderi del Bello Ovile Serego Aligheri 2004 (Maxxium)
-Castell'n Villa IGT Santacroce 1997.
-Castell'in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva 1986
-Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Toscana Le Volte 2005 (Authentic)
-G.Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan 2000 (Mondia Alliance)
-Eredi di Settimo Aurelio Barolo Rocche Riserva 1999 (VinVino)
-Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2005
(Authentic)
-Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Ornellaia Superiore 2004 (Authentic)
-Cinzia Binda Moscato d'Asti Bosio Bosco dei Signori 2007 (really fresh!)
($16.95, La Vita)
*** Three Stars (86 - 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Val d'Oca Pinot Grigio Marca Trevigiana "Pigia" 2006 (Brunello)
-Alessandria Fratelli Barolo San Lorenzo 2003
-Ampeleia Maremma Toscana 2004 ($35, Kylix)
-Valle dell'Acate Insolia Vittoria 2006 Sicilia (Brunello)
-Planeta IGT Merlot 2004 Sicilia (Halpern)
-Roberto Sarotto Barolo Briccobergera 2003
-Roberto Sarotto Barolo Riserva Audace 2000
-Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2004 (Majestic)
-Masottina Prosecco Spumante di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Extra Dry 2006
(TWC Imports)
-Planeta IGT Chardonnay 2006 Sicilia (Halpern)
-Badia a Coltibuono Chgianti Classico Cultus Beni 2004 (Halpern)
-Barale Fratelli Barbaresco Serraboella 2004 (Marco Taloni)
-Cascina Gilli Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco 2006 (sparkler)
-Valle dell' Acate Il Frappato Vitoria 2006 (Brunello)
-Valle dell'Acate Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classic 2005 (70% Nero d'Avola, 30%
Frappati) (Brunello)
-Domodimonti Picens Marche 2004 (Brunello)
-Domodimonti Il Messia Marche 2005 (Brunello)
The Food: roast beef on crostini with sauces, gourmet potato chips, mushroom
risotto, Parmigano Reggiano wheels, prosciutto, roasted peppers, artichokes,
breads.
The Downside: very crowded with more than the usual gawkers and
gatecrashers: who ARE these people?
The Upside: a good range of red wines were presented.
The Contact Person: toronto.toronto@ice.it
The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.
Chimo!
www.deantudor.com
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