APVSA Toronto Tasting Feburary 28, 2008

The Time and Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008 10AM to 6PM
The Event: APVSA tasting (Association pour la promotion des vins et
spiritueux en Amerique du Nord).
The Venue: Delta Chelsea Inn
The Target Audience: wine agents, wine press
The Availability/Catalogue: none of the wines are available in Ontario.
The group is here to try to get some agents to agree to rep the
principal. Some of the wines are available in Quebec. Most of the wines
were French, and there were sales staff available to comment on the
prices and production.
The Quote: "How did those little wines from Australia get into this
show?"
The Wines: All of the wines were from France except for some from
Castilla and La Mancha in Spain, and three wines from Australia. The
problem I had with the wines, and one that must be acknowledged, is
that they were no better than the wines that we already have here.
There really did not seem to be any price advantages, either. These
wines could be made available through Vintages or Consignment. Here
were my faves, regardless of price:

**** Four Stars (90 - 93 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Villebois Val de Loire 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. 13.5%ABV
-Rene Fleck Riesling Alsace 2006. 12.5%ABV
-Rene Fleck Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle Alsace 2006. 13.5%ABV
-Rene Fleck Gewurztraminer 2006 Alsace
-Rene Fleck Muscat Zinnkoepfle Alsace 2005. 13%ABV
-Domaine Baumann Gewurztraminer 2006 Vieilles Vignes Alsace. 13%ABV
-La Grave Figeac 2005 St. Emilion Grand Cru. (next door to Pomerol)
but 18 Euros FOB
-Domaine Jean Gleizes Syrah 2006 Pays D'Oc. 13%ABV
-Simon Roche La Serine des Fees St Joseph 2005. 12.5%ABV
-Alliance Lafoy Syrah Rhone 2006. 12.5%ABV

*** Three Stars (86 - 89 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Rene Fleck Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle 2005. 13.5%ABV
-Domaine Baumann Riesling 2005 Vieilles Vignes Alsace.
-Domaine Baumann Riesling SGN Grand Cru 2005 Alsace. half bottle
-Domaine de Belle Feuille Cote de Rhone Blanc 2005. 14%ABV
80Viognier/20Rousanne
-Domaine Le Portail Cheverny Blanc 2006 Loire.
80Sauvignonblanc/20Chardonnay
-Domaine Le Portail Cheverny Rouge 2006 Loire. 70Pinotnoir/30Gamay
-Alliance Lefoy Cote Rotie 2005 Cuvee JVL.
-Domaine de Belle Feuille Cote de Rhone Rouge 2003. 14%ABV (oaked)
-Vignobles David Prieure La Clastre 2005 Cotes du Rhone 2005. 13.5%ABV

The Food: none.
The Downside: not enough space to sprawl out and write notes. No paper
was furnished, so I used some 3 by 5 cards.
The Upside: a chance to taste some engaging wines not available here.
The Contact Person: for prices, etc, check with Pascal
p.fernand@apvsa.ca
The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

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