Sante Toronto Internatrional Wine Festival, 10th anniversary

The Time and Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008   2PM to 5PM

The Event: Sante 10^th Anniversary Toronto International Wine Festival

Trade Tasting

The Venue: The Carlu

The Target Audience: wine trade, media.

The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue had detail about the wineries and about the wines, the agents, and was spiral bound. Unfortunately, there were no details about prices or the levels of availability.

The Quote: "It was a shame that the Lifford tasting is on at the same time".

The Wines: I concentrated on European wines since I had a media pass to the California and Australian Sante wine shows later in the week. The unmistakable highlight of today's show was the very crowded table of Australian Landmark wines, poured by the Australian Trade Commission. They were all worthy wines, definitely 88 points and up. Here's the list that I enjoyed (the Moss Wood was possibly the best wine of the entire afternoon) --

• Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling 2006
• Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon Hunter Valley 2006
• Shaw & Smith M3 Vineyard Chardonnay 2006
• Caves Road Chardonnay 2006
• Yering Station Chardonnay Reserve 2005
• Yering Station Pinot Noir Reserve 2005
• Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Margaret River
• Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth 2004
• Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Katnook Cabernet Sauvignon Odyssey 2002
• Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2004
• Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2004
• Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2005
• Yalumba The Octavius Barossa Old Vine Shiraz 2001
• Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2002
• Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 2002
• Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2004
• Yering Station Shiraz/Viognier 2005
• St.Hallett's Old Block Shiraz 2004
• Alkoomi BlackButt 2004 Frankland

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Ascheri Moscato d'Asti 2007

-Taittinger Brut Vintage 2002

-Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1998

-KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2005 $15

-Fita Preta Vinhos Preta 2005 $56.50

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Ascheri Barolo Vigna dei Pola 2003

-Naoussa Grand Reserve 2001

-Taittinger Brut Reserve

-Taittinger Prestige Rose

-Dom. Machard de Gramont Nuits Saint Georges "Les Hauts Pruliers" 2005

-Dom. Machard de Gramont Nuits Saint Georges Blanc "Creu Fraiche Eau" 2006

-Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007

-KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

-Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2005

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Novas Chardonnay Marsanne Viognier 2005

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Coyam Red 2005

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Domaine Skouras Viognier 2004

-Miguel Torres Spain Salmos 2005

-Navarro Correas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

-Strewn Chardonnay French Oak 2006

-Tsantali Cabernet Sauvignon Organic 2003

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Novas Carmenere Cabernet 2005

 

 

The Food: catered by Daniel et Daniel, with pates, crackers, salmon, and appetizers. Cheeses were from the Dairy Farmers of Canada, and included Niagara Gold.

The Downside: it was lightly attended, perhaps because of the competing Lifford tasting.

The Upside: there was actually food this time instead of just Dairy Farmer Canada cheese and bread.

The Contact Person: steve@stevethurlow.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com