April 13, 2010: Hobbs & Co Portfolio Tasting

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010  2PM to 7PM
The Event: Annual Portfolio Tasting 2010 for Hobbs & Co.
The Venue: Lobby, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
The Target Audience: customers and wine trade.
The Availability/Catalogue: wines are in the system, or in transit, or
available by private order. The catalogue of about 70 wines was well-
framed with details about each, including availability and price,
tasting notes, and the like. A model for all catalogues (agents: pay
attention – catalogues sell wine!).
The Quote/Background: wines were arranged by region, and several
principals attended (from Ontario, Portugal, Australia, and Spain).
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines. Prices are RETAIL.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Palatine Hills Estate Chardonnay 2008 VQA, $9.75.
-Palatine Hills Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 VQA, $39.95
-Quails' Gate Estate Chardonnay 2008 VQA Okanagan, $19.99
-Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 VQA Okanagan,
$44.99
-Chalkers Crossing Hilltops Riesling 2004 New South Wales, $18.50 –
nicely aged
-Domaine Francois Lichtle Gewurztraminer 2008
-Salcheto Vino Noble di Montepulciano 2005, $36.95

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Palatine Hills Estate Proprietors Reserve Merlot 2007 VQA, $39.95
-Featherstone Estate Rose 2009 VQA, $16.30
-Quails' Gate Estate Merlot 2007 VQA Okanagan, $27.70
-Clairault Wines Semillon/Sauvignon 2008 Margaret River, $24.35
-Tinpot Hut Syrah 2007, $28.95
-Franschhoek Chenin Blanc 2009, $14.55
-Juno Wine Co. Cape Maidens Shiraz 2007 Paarl, $15.95
-Hartenberg Estate Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2005, $20.55
-Herdade do Perdigao Terras de Monforte 2006, $15.95
-Bod. Barreda Torre de Barreda Amigos 2006, $23.15
-Dom. Francois Lichtle Riesling 2009, $20.99
-Dom. Emmanuel Fellot Vieilles Vignes 2009 Cote de Brouilly, $20
-Chat. Gaudrelle Sec 2006 Vouvray, $25.40
-Dom. De Bachellery Chardonnay 2009, $16.15 – aromatic
-Chat. Damase Bordeaux Superieur 2005, $21.95
-Salcheto Vino Rosso di Montepulciano 2007, $22.99
-Alpha Zeta "A" Amarone 2006 Veneto, $53.99

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Quails' Gate Estate Chenin Blanc 2008 VQA Okanagan, $19.99
-Langtry Estate Guenoc Chardonnay 2007 California, $20.85
-Valle Andino Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Chile, $12.85
-Clairault Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Margaret River, $24.35
-Swings and Roundabouts Shiraz 2007 Margaret River, $22.75.
-Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough, $21.95
-Tinpot Hut Pinto Gris 2008 Marlborough, $21.85.
-Landskroon Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2009 WO Paarl, $15.15
-Juno Wine Art House Shiraz/Mourvedre 2007 WO Paarl, $16.95
-Herdade Sao Miguel Das Missoes Riserva 2008 Alentejo, $15.95 +155796
-Herdade do Perdigao Villa Romanu Branco 2007 Alentejo, $16.25
-Herdade do Perdigao Villa Romanu Tinto 2008 Alentejo, $16.85
-Bod. Real Bonal Macabeo 2008, $15.15
-Bod. Barreda Torre de Barreda Tempranillo 2008, $17.45
-Chateau de Montmirail Cuvee de Beauchamp 2007, $32.30
-Salchetto Chianti Colli Senesi 2008, $22.99
-Streda Belvedere Chianti 2007, $18.95

 

The Food: a nice variety of cheeses and terrines, breads, with Black
River Cheese Company from PEC supplying two aged cheddars.
The Downside: I went to participate in the tasting competition, but got
scared off by the serious, sweaty tasters concentrating on their five
wines.
The Upside: Wines of South Africa (Laurel Keenan) made it out to the
show, one of her first shows back after motherhood (twice).
The Contact Person: inquiries@hobbswines.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

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

 

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com