Sept 28/10: Tasting Stem Wine Group's Portfolio at ACC Real Sports Bar

The Time and Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010   3PM to 10 PM
The Event: 5th annual Stem Wine Group "Family of Wines" Gala Tasting
The Venue: ACC Real Sports Bar
The Target Audience: wine media, restaurants, private clients.
The Availability/Catalogue: everything is here or will be via
consignment and private orders. The catalogue was a model of
efficiency, with a quick section on how to use the guide. All prices
were given, as well as the terms. The wines were listed by region and
producer, in table order. Helpful cards were placed at each table, with
more details about each wine. This really saved me a lot of time, and I
am sure the patrons appreciated it.
The Quote/Background: Partners Robert Tome and Tony Macchione have
assembled a good portfolio of wines, specializing in sought after wines
from Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, and other regions of Italy. There are
also a select few wines from other European countries plus the New
World.
The Wines: I did not try all the wines, there were over 135 of them.
Fifteen owners or export directors came from abroad for this event.
Prices are retail, but due to a strong Canadian currency, they are also
lower than last year, in general.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Boroli Barolo Villero Riserva 1998, $120.
-Zyme Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2003, $159.99
-Villabella Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Fracastoro 2003, $69.99
-Villabella Passito del Fiordilej 2007, $26.99 (375 mL)
-Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 2005, $109.99
-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 2004,
$219
-Collemattioni Brunello di Montalcino 2005, $64.99
-Andeluna Cellars Grand Reserve Pasionado 2005 Mendoza, $49.99
-Andeluna Cellars Grand Reserve Pasionado 2005 Mendoza, $49.99
-Andeluna Cellars Malbec 2009 Mendoza, $16.99
-Villa a Sesta Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, $34.99
-Tenuta Monteti IGT Tuscany 2005, $49 [petit verdot blend]
-Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco 25th Anniversary 2006 Umbria,
$99.99
-Henri Abele Brut Champagne Traditionnel NV, $54.99

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Andeluna Cellars Malbec Reserve 2006 Mendoza, $22.99
-Henri Abele Rose Champagne Traditionnel NV, $69.99
-Boroli Barolo Villero 2004, $99
-Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio 2007, $21.99
-Villabella Villa Cordevigo Bianco Veronese 2007, $34.99
-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2004, $149 (other bottle sizes
available, from 375 mL to jeroboam 3 L)
-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 2004, $219
-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 2003, $199
-La Fattoria de Magliano Poggio Bestiale IGT 2007, $54.99
-La Fattoria de Magliano Perenzo Syrah IGT 2007, $56.99
-Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Rosso 2006 Riserva Umbria, $59.99
-Masciarelli Castello di Semivicoli Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 200, $38.99
-Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2004 Villa Gemma, $79.99
-Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico 2005, $89.99
-Bodegas Darien Rioja Seleccion 2003, $39.99
-Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2006, $57.99
-Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2008, $225
-Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2009 Russian River, $69.99
-Andeluna Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Mendoza, $22.99

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Valgrande 2006, $36.99
-Delibori Vignetti Cantine Amarone della Valpolicella 2006, $32.99
-Tenuta Monteti Caburnio IGT 2006 Tuscany, $19.99
-Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Rosso 2007 Umbria, $22.99
-Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi 2005, $49.99
-Bodegas Darien Rioja Crianza 2005, $21.99
-David Franz Lehmann Barossa Benjamin's Promise Shiraz 2005, $51.99
-David Franz Lehmann Barossa Georgie's Walk Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,
$51.99
-Michael Sullberg Merlot 2007 Central Coast, $16.99
-Hart & McGarry Chardonnay Napa Valley 2008, $26.99
-Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $55.99
-Cant. Produttori Colterenzio Koro 2009 Alto Adige, $23.99
-Zyme Il Bianco 2008 Veneto, $42
-Tombaco Ca'Del Doge Primitivo IGT 2009 Puglia, $11.99
-Feudi di San Gregorio Rubrato Alianico 2008 IGT Campania, $21.99

 

Try http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com/2009/10/tasting-4th-annual-stem-
wine-group.html for a commentary on last year's tasting, and
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com/2008/12/trade-tasting-stem-wine-
group-gala.html for a look at what I thought about 2008's tasting.
My ratings are fairly consistent.

 

The Food: it is always about the porchetta! But there were also a
Parmigiano-Reggiano wheel, mushroom risotto with truffle oil, sausages,
shrimp, crab cakes, beef salad, mushroom tarts, plus coffee.
The Upside: there was a jazz-pop guitar group that not only got larger
but also louder as the day unfolded. I left at 7PM, just after the big
crowd came.
The Contact Person: robert@stemwinegroup.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

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