Oct 28/10: APVSA Trade tasting in Toronto

 The Time and Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010   9 AM to 4 PM
The Event: the monthly APVSA tasting (Association pour la promotion des
vins et spiritueux en Amerique du Nord).
The Venue: Delta Chelsea Inn
The Target Audience: wine agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: no wines are currently available in
Ontario. The group is here to try to get some agents to agree to rep
the principal. Some of the wines are available in Quebec and Alberta.
Most of the wines were French, and there is sales staff available to
comment on the prices and production. This road show also visits New
York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Calgary, Vancouver, Miami,
Washington DC, and Montreal. Occasionally, the show will have wines
from Italy, Spain and Australia.
The Wines: The problem I had with the wines, and one that must be
acknowledged, is that (by and large) they were no better than the wines
that we already have here in Ontario. There really did not seem to be
any price advantages, either. These 80 or so wines could be made
available through Vintages or Consignment. In the past, quite a few
have been picked up for sale in Ontario. Here were my faves, regardless
of price (all prices are ex-cellar Euros). I did not try every wine:

 

The Wines:

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Champagne Dehu Pere et Fils Grande Reserve NV, 14 E
-Champagne Dehu Pere et Fils Cuvee Leon Lhermitte NV, 24 E
-Maison Leon Baur Gewurztraminer 2009 Cuve Vieilles Vignes Alsace,5.43E
-Domaine Henry Natter Sancerre Blanc 2008, 8.80 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Richebourg Grand Cru 2007, 112 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Pommard 1er cru Les Rugiens 2000,40E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Beaune 1er Cru Les Boucherottes
2008, 20 E
-Domaine Modat Le Plus Joli 2008 Cotes du Roussillon, 19 E
-VTL Export Villa Blanche VDP d'Oc 2009 Chardonnay, 2.75 E

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Conte Estate Over the Hill Reserve Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale [old
vines] $11.66 AUS
-Maison Leon Baur Pinot Blanc Auxerrois 2009 Alsace, 4.43 E
-Maison Leon Baur Pinot Gris 2009 Alsace, 5.43 E
-Domaine Henry Natter Sancerre Blanc 2009, 6.50 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Echezeaux Grand Cru 2008, 50 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Clos Vougeat Grand Cru 2008, 50 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Monthelie 1er Cru Les Champs
Fulliots 2004, 14 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Volnay 1er cru Les Fremiets 2004,28E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Chambolle Musigny 2007, 22 E
-Domaine Andre Bonhomme Vire Clesse Cuvee Speciale Blanc 2007, 6.10 E
-Chateau de L'Ille Cuvee Emilie Corbieres 2009 Blanc, 2.70 E
-Domaine de la Grange La Grange Terroir Rouge Clos Prat Bibal Languedoc
2009, 3.28 E
-Domaine de la Grange La Grange Castalides Reserve Languedoc, 4.67 E
-VTL Export Villa Blanche VDP d'Oc 2009 Syrah, 2.75 E
-VTL Export Domaine Bergon Grain d'Automne Merlot VDP d'Oc, 1.80 E

 

 

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Castell d'age Merlot 2006 Baixa Spain, 5.50 E
-Maison Leon Baur Riesling 2009 Alsace, 5.18 E
-Domaine Bruneau Anjou Blanc 2009, 3.25 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits
2007, 9.50 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Morey St. Denis 2008, 20 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2008, 8.50 E
-Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent Vosne Romanee Aux Reas 2007, 22 E
-Domaine Andre Bonhomme Vire Clesse Jeunes Vignes Blanc 2007, 5.50 E
-Domaine des Gandines Vire Clesse 2009 Terroir de Clesse, 5.30 E
-Domaine des Gandines Vire Clesse 2008 Les Gandines, 7.45 E
-Chateau du Gaby Canon-Fronsac 2006, 7.50 E
-Chateau Cailley Graves de Veyres Toulouze 2006, 4.20 E
-Domaine de la Gayere Cotes du Rhone 2007 Rouge, 2.90 E
-Domaine la Ligiere Vacqueyras 2009 Vieilles Vignes, 10.70 E
-Chateau Bellefontaine Vielles Vignes 2009 Costieres de Nimes, 3.745 E
-Domaine Modat Sans Plus Attendre 2008 Cotes du Roussillon, 7.25 E
-Chateau de L'Ille Cuvee Leonore V P d'Oc 2009, 2.30 E 
-Chateau de L'Ille Cuvee Charline V P de l'Aude 2009 Blanc, 2.30E
-Chateau de L'Ille Cuvee Louis Corbieres Rouge 2008, 4.96 E
-Chateau de L'Ille Cuvee Angelique Corbieres Rouge 2008, 3.13 E
-Bergerie du Capucin Dame Jeanne VDP du Val de Montferrand Blanc 2009,
4.50 E
-VTL Export Domaine Bergon Prestige Petit Verdot 2009, 2.85 E
-VTL Export Calmel + Jjoseph Le Saint Chinian 2008, 3.40 E
-VTL Export Calmel + Jjoseph Le Vieux Carignan 2009, 3.40 E
-VTL Export Chateau Haut Vignals Eleve en Fut de Chene Corbieres 2008,
3.35 E

 

The Downside: selection is eclectic and some bottles arrive
haphazardly. Some bottles never arrived at all, but we were not told
this until we got there. Some bottles are in the show, but are not
listed in the catalogue. It can be frustrating.
The Upside: a chance to taste some engaging wines not available here.
There is a listing of wines with FOB prices in Euros.
The Contact Person: Pascal p.fernand@apvsa.ca
The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 84.

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