Tasting: Fosters Wine Estates, 75 wines, Feb 18/10

 The Time and Date:  Thursday, February 18, 2010  2PM to 5PM

The Event: Fosters' Wine Estates Presents 75 Estate Wines

The Venue: Fermenting Cellars, Distillery District

The Target Audience: sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine writers.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are currently available somewhere iin the LCBO distribution system, including Permanent Consignment, Current Consignment, and Upcoming Consignment.

The Quote/Background: There was a charity component in the evening. This has now become an annual event from Fosters, to display their California wines (Stags' Leap, Beringer, TAZ, St. Clement, et al) and their Australian wines (Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Greg Norman, et al).

The Wines: 18 wineries were presented, but I did not taste every wine.

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +352583, $39.95 Vintages ESSENTIAL

-Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2005, not available

-Wolf Blass Black Label Cab Shiraz 2005, +960468, $75.00    LCBO

-TAZ Pinot Noir 2007 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Chardonnay 2008, +158600 $24.95

-Souverain  Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $49.95 cons

-St. Clement Orropas Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +655670, $64.95 Private

 

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium Red 2005, +393447, $49.95

-Beringer Napa Valley Merlot 2005, +919647, $29.95

-Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2005, $24.95 Consignment

-Matua Valley Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2008, +144634, $24.95

-Etude Pinot Gris 2008 Carneros, +142851, $29.00      LCBO

-Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +4994     $99.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +84996, $24.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2006, +32227, $23.95

-Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, +48579, $23.95 cons

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Reserve Shiraz 2003, +585828, $49.95

-Greg Norman Aus Estates Cabernet Merlot 2007, +552075, $24.95 Vint ESSENTIAL

-Greg Norman California Estates North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 +8722     $24.95     

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, +606939, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2006, +390872, $34.95   LCBO

-Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2005, +564278, $107.60

-Penfolds Hyland Shiraz, +611210, $19.95  Vint essentials

-Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2006, +509919, $34.95  LCBO

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Merlot 2006, +655399,  $44.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, +996405, $49.95

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Viognier 2007, +263987, $29.95 Private Order

-TAZ Goat Rock Syrah 2006 Santa Maria Valley, +157339, $34.95

-Cellar No 8 Zinfandel 2007,  $16.95      consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Merlot 2006, $39.95  consignment

-Sbragia Family Wines Dry Creek Single Vineyard Cab 2006, $49.95 cons

-Sbragia Family Wines Home Ranch Chardonnay 2007, +79178    $54.95 LCBO

-St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2008, +128934, $24.95

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium White 2007, +403188, $34.95

-Matua Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2008, +158873, $29.95

-Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet 2006. +466748, $69.95

-Rosemount Estate Show Reserve 'Traditional' 2005. +484097, $34.95

-Saltram No. 1 Shiraz Barossa,$49.95      consignment

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz Viognier 2006, +606301, $27.95

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Barossa Shiraz 2007, +590273   $27.95      LCBO

-Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2006, +422782, $34.95

-Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2005, +510875, $75

-Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah, +590356, $44.95      consignment

-TAZ Pinot Gris 2008 Santa Barbara, $30  Private Order

-Souverain  Alexander Valley Merlot 2006, $29.95      Private Order

-St. Clement Napa Valley Merlot 2006, $39.95    Private Order

 

The Food: some serious cheeses (Manchego, goat Gouda, et al)

The Downside: dim lighting at Fermenting Cellars – this has always been a problem for serious wine tasting.

The Upside: it was a good chance to taste many of these wines since they don't appear to be exhibited elsewhere.

The Contact Person: Kelly.northey@am.fostersgroup.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 85.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com