April 19, 2010: 30th Annual Canadian Tour for the California Wine Fair

The Time and Date: Monday, April 19, 2010  2:30PM to 5 PM
The Event: The 30th Annual Canadian tour for the California Wine Fair
The Venue: Fairmont Royal York
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was very well done,
informative, and with all the basic data except for prices.
The Quote/Background: There were over 120 wineries, many with over 4
wines each.
The Wines: I could not taste everything. Luckily, I had some wines
during an earlier press preview, but only about 15% of the total.
Today, because I was not impressed with the Chardonnays at that earlier
press preview, I did as many Chardonnays as I could handle. Plus some
other wines.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Galante Blackjack Pasture Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Carmel Valley, $100
-Hahn Family Meritage 2008 Central Coast
-Hess Collection Su'skol Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Napa
-Nichols Winery Merlot 2000 Paso Robles, $37.95
-Nichols Winery Chardonnay Paragon Vineyard 2001 Eden, $42.04 licensee
-Rutherford Wine Co. Scott Family Estate Chardonnay 2008 Arroyo Seco

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Andretti Chardonnay 2008 Napa Valley
-Artesa Winery Chardonnay 2007 Carneros
-Chappellet Mountain Cuvee 2007 Napa, $36.95
-Christine Andrew Viognier 2007 Lodi, $25
-Cuvaison Chardonnay S Block 2008 Napa
-Galante Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Carmel Valley $71.20
Licensee
-Galante Rancho Calante Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Carmel Valley $44.98
licensee
-Heitz Chardonnay 2007 Napa
-Hess Collection Select Chardonnay 2008 Mendocino
-J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay 2008 Arroyo Seco
-Landmark Vineyards Overlook Chardonnay 2007
-Murrieta's Well Meritage White 2007 Livermore, $34.95
-Murrieta's Well Meritage Red 2007 Livermore, $34.95
-Nicols Winery Silver Fox Cabernet Sauvignon/Black Label 2000 Paso
Robles, $50
-Oakville Ranch Chardonnay 2007 Oakville
-Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 California
-Rutherford Wine Co. Round Hill Chardonnay 2008 California
-Schug Carneros Chardonnay 2007
-St. Clement Chardonnay 2008 Carneros
-Stag's Leap Wine Cellars KARIA Chardonnay 2007 Napa
-Stonehedge Winery Gewurztraminer 2008 Mendocino
-Truchard Vineyards Chardonnay 2008 Carneros

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Francis Ford Coppola Presents Diamond Collection Gold Label Chardonnay
2008 Monterey
-Liberty School Chardonnay 2007 California
-Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Chardonnay 2008 Santa Barbara County, $22
-Lucas & Lewellen Viognier 2008 Santa Barbara County
-Starmont Chardonnay 2007 Napa
-Miner Family Viognier 2008 California
-Parducci Chardonnay 2008 Mendocino
-Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa
-Rutherford Wine Co. Lander Jenkins Chardonnay 2008 California
-Signorello Vineyards Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay 2008 Napa, $60
-Stag's Leap Winery Viognier 2008 Napa
-Stag's Leap Winery Chardonnay 2007 Napa

 

The Food: cheeses and breads, some pate, fruits.
The Downside: too many wines were shown – it gets bigger every year,
and the only way to go through it is by variety.
The Upside: a good show to peruse if you go for only one variety or
region. It should be a show over two days.
The Contact Person: calwine@sympatico.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 87.

 

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