NOVEMBER: Toronto Gourmet Food and Wine Expo, 13th Annual

The Time and Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007, 6 Pm to 10 PM

The Event: the opening of the 13th Annual Gourmet Food and Wine Expo, at the
Metro Convention Centre. Tonight was VIP and trade night.

The Venue: Metro Convention Centre South.

The Target Audience: knowledgeable consumers and the wine trade, wine press.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were available for sale at the LCBO
wine store on site. Otherwise, the wines were usually part of the General
Listing or Vintages operations.

The Quote: "I put my bag down for a minute, next to my leg, while I tasted.
When I went to get it, it was gone - the thief made off with my tasting
notes!! I hope that he can read my writing..."

The Wines: I tasted a few wines in the Chile area, the host country. They
had put on a show of music and dancing, along with some empanadas for the
starving media...Most of my time was at Churchill Cellars for their trade
tasting of partial portfolio wines. Another part of my time was at the New
York area tasting some wines with Robert Ketchin, from Finger Lakes and Long
Island. In Toronto they only exhibit at this show and in the spring show at
the Airport.

**** Four Stars (90 - 93 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Robert Mondavi Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Vintages +255513, $37.75)

-Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Vintages +954834, $24.95)

-Mission Hill Chardonnay Reserve 2005 VQA Okanagan (+545004, $22.15)

-D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2006 (Vintages +936971,
$27.95)

-Blackstone Zinfandel 2004 (+26247 Private Order Churchill, $21.95)

-Chateau Au Pont de Guitres 2003 Lalande de Pomerol (+45666 Vintages,
$27.95)

-Dr.Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2006 Finger Lakes ($21.50, Hobbs & Co.)

-Jamesport Vineyards Chardonnay 2005 Long Island ($24.90, Private)

*** Three Stars (86 - 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 VQA Okanagan (+545004- it says --
$22.15)

-Chivite Gran Feudo Reserva 2003 (Vintages +479014, $15.75)

-Segura Viudas Lavit Brut Nature 2003 (Vintages +277269, $14.75)

-Chateau de Campuget Viognier Marsanne 2006 (Vintages +662775, $16.95)

-Robert Mondavi Napa Fume Blanc 2005 (Vintages +221887, $24.75)

-Casa Larga Riesling 2006 Finger Lakes ($22.80, Private)

-Chateau Lafayette Reneau Riesling 2006 Finger Lakes ($23.60, Private)

-Castello di Borghese Chardonnay 2006 Long Island ($21.70, Private)

-Osprey Dominion Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Long Island ($19.95, J. Hanna)

-Lamoreaux Landing Dry Gewurztraminer 2006 ($28.60, MCO)

-Raphael Merlot 2001 Long Island ($42.95, Private)

-Fox Run Cabernet Franc/Lemberger 2006 ($19.75, Lorac Wines)

-Peconic Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Long Island ($33.30, Private)

The Food: empanadas for the press (from the Jumbo Empanada people) and some
cheese with M+G Kitchens shortbreads (chai, smoked paprika, coconut curry,
Moroccan spice, herbes de Provence) at the Churchill Cellars area.

The Downside: my wine notes were stolen. Also, it was very warm and very
crowded.

The Upside: a chance to taste New York wines.

The Contact Person: carly@churchillcellars.com or ketchin@kethin.com at
705-444-5255

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

Chimo!
www.deantudor.com