May 13/10: New Wines of Greece at Metropolitan Hotel

 The Time and Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010  11AM to 4 PM

The Event: New Wines of Greece.

The Venue: Metropolitan Toronto Hotel

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: Most wines were available now (or later in the year) through the normal LCBO distribution channels. A few will have to be privately ordered.

The Quote/Background: John Szabo MS led a 90-minute seminar that featured a comparative tasting of Greek and International varieties. He began with the white Moschofilero (comparing with Alvarinho and Pinot Grigio) and Assyrtiko varieties (comparing with Chablis and Gruner Veltliner). For reds, he had Agiorgitiko (compared with Muga Rioja and Bordeaux Merlot) and Xinomavro (compared with Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir

The Wines: I did not taste all the wines. Some prices were a little vague, and it was difficult to navigate at times.

 

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

-Argyros Vinsanto 1989, over $100 a half-litre  Praxis

-Boutari Grande Reserve Naoussa 2004, $18   Kolonaki

-Domaine Mercouri Red 2007 [refosco,mavrodaphne]  Rubaiyat

-Cava Papaioannou 2001 Peloponnese [cab.sauv.] $27.95 Kolonaki

 

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

-Amethystos Cava Red 2004 [cab sauv] Dionysius

-Antonopoulos Adoli Ghis White 2009, $23.25 Kolonaki

-Ktima Biblia Chora Ovilos White 2009  Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Ktima Biblia Chora Ovilos Red 2008  Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Gentilini Robola of Cephalonia White 2009 Kolonaki

-Domaine Gerovassiliou Red 2005 [syrah,merlot,Grenache] Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Domaine Estate Hatzimichalis Cabernet Sauvignon 2006   Dionysis

-Domaine Katsaros Red  [cab,merlot] Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Kir-Yianni Dyo Elies 2008 [syrah,merlot,xinomavro] Kolonaki

-Papaioannou Old Vines Estate Nemea 2004 organic $34.80 Kolonaki

-Parparoussis Muscat of Rio Patras 2005  Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Ktima Pavlidis Thema White 2009 [sauv.bl.,assyrtiko] $23.25 Kolonaki

-Ktima Pavlidis Thema Red 2008 [syrah,agiorgitiko] $27.45 Kolonaki

-Domaine Sigalas Santorini Barrel White 2009  Kolonaki

-Skouras Megas Oenos 2006 Red $38  Kolonaki

-Domaine Spiropoulos Mantinia 2009 White   Rubaiyat

-Domaine Spiropoulos Porfyros 2006 [cab.,merlot]   Rubaiyat

 

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

-Amethystos Red 2007 [cab, merlot, limnio] Dionysius

-Antonopoulos Malagouzia 2009 White, $19.95 Kolonaki

-Argyros Atlantis White 2009  Praxis

-Domaine Gerovassiliou Viognier 2008 Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Domaine Hatzimichalis Chardonnay 2008   Dionysus

-Domaine Hatzimichalis Kapnias Chardonnay 2008   Dionysis

-Domaine Katsaros Merlot Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Domaine Katsaros Chardonnay Cava Spiliadis Montreal

-Katogi Averhoff Strofilia Red 2007 [agiorgitiko,cab,syrah] Rubaiyat

-Kir-Yianni Paranga 2008 [syrah,merlot,xinomavro] $15.45 Kolonaki

-Limnos Muscat de Limnos Grand Cru White 2009   Kolonaki

-Lyrarakis Vilana White 2009  Churchill

-Mediterra White 2008 Crete  [sauv.bl.,vilana]  Kolonaki

-Tsantali Metohi Chromitsa 2009 White  Praxis

 

The Food: salmon, sushi, roast beef, lamb lollipops, skewered meats, cheese, shrimp, breads, crackers, dried fruit and others.

The Downside: I thought the wines did not show as well as they could have.

The Upside: a very effective seminar, concentrating on just two grape varieties.

The Contact Person: www.allaboutgreekwine.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

 

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