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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Event: Tasting of Taylor Fladgate Ports, March 5, 2009, at Reds

The Time and Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009  11AM to 3PM
The Event: The Essence of Port – a tasting and luncheon of The Fladgate
Partnership ports. Adrian Bridge, Managing Director, led the tasting.
He also commented on the industry in general and some newer products
such as crusted ports, pink ports, kosher ports, and organic ports.
The Venue: Reds Bistro and Wine Bar
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: all ports tasted are available in the
system, or soon will be.
The Quote/Background: The Fladgate Partnership has been awarded more
100 point wines than any of its competitors. It is the leading supplier
of port in the major premium global markets, with 90% of its production
being exported to France, the UK, North America, and other countries.
Its current labels include Fonseca (repped by Family Wine Merchants in
Ontario) Taylor and Croft (both repped by Whitehall Agencies).
The Wines: we had reception ports, the formal tasting led by Adrian
Bridge, and the dessert ports – 11 in all.
 
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Vintages +149047, $68.95.
-Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas 2005 Vintage Port, +403873
Vintages Online, $65.
-Taylor Fladgate Vintage 2003 Port, +951962 Vintages Online, $129.
 
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Fonseca Quinta do Panascal 2001 Vintage Port, +585893 Vintages,
$64.95.
-Croft Quinta da Roeda 2005 Vintage Port, +650556, $58.95.
-Fonseca Vintage 2003 Port, +673095 Vintages, $127.95.
-Croft Vintage 2003 Port, +673103 Vintages, $123.
 
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Croft Pink Port, $19.95 from Whitehall – a new category launched in
2008, a rose port for cocktails or straight.
-Fonseca White Port, +276816 LCBO General, $13.95.
-Fonseca Bin No. 27 Reserve Vintage Character Port, +156877 Vintages,
$16.95.
-Fonseca Terra Prima Organic Reserve Port, +67132 Coming to market,
$23.
 
The Food: solid bistro food, with upscale variations on Caesar salad
with white anchovies, grilled chicken supreme, Atlantic salmon,
striploin, crème brule, chocolate mousse. Desserts were accompanied by
three ports, while the main foods had Henry of Pelham Sauvignon Blanc
2007 ($15, tamed zest) and Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Chile
($22.95, extractive and dense cassis).
The Downside: unfortunately, the event went past its scheduled
finishing time. That, plus the fact that some people had to leave
early, meant that there was a rushed tasting of the final three ports
which came with the desserts – Taylor Fladgate 20 year old, Fonseca Fin
27, and Fonseca Terra Prima.
The Upside: a great opportunity to learn from and speak with a CEO of
one of the world's finest port producers.
The Contact Person: Fonseca – linda.robinson@familywinemerchants.com
Taylor Fladgate & Croft – stephen.marentette@whitehall.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.
 
 
 
 

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