Jan 25/11: Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux parades 2008 wines in Toronto

The Time and Date: Tuesday January 25, 2011  2 PM to 4 PM
The Event: Discover Bordeaux 2008; Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux
Taste and Buy, sponsored by LCBO Vintages.
The Venue: Four Seasons Hotel
The Target Audience: trade show in afternoon, consumers at night,
purchases only on the spot.
The Availability/Catalogue: there were over 100 wines from over 70
chateaux available for instant purchase in three-bottle lots.
The Quote/Background: It was a mixed vintage, with many green flavours
scattered through the cabernet franc- and sauvignon-based Left Bank
wines. St. Julien was a shade higher. The merlot wines were more
successful (St. Emilion and Pomerol).
The Wines:  I did not try the Sauternes. Prices are retail.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Smith Haute Lafitte 2008 Blanc, $115
-Latour Martillac 2008 Blanc, $147
-Pape Clement 2008 Blanc, $265
-Angélus 2008, $299
-Canon La Gaffelière 2008, $85
-Pape Clement 2008 Rouge, $175
-Beychevelle 2008, $59
-Gruaud-Larose 2008, $95
-La Gaffelière 2008, $79
-Cantemerle 2008, $38
-Citran 2008, $25
-Dauzac 2008, $62
-Lascombes 2008, $79
-Malescot Saint-Exupery 2008, $59
-Prieure-Lichine 2008, $65
-Leoville-Barton 2008, $149
-Léoville Poyferré 2008, $84
-Pichon Longueville Baron 2008, $115

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Figeac 2008, $109
-Clos Fourtet 2008, $72
-Troplong-Mondot 2008, $115
-Gazin 2008, n/a
-Lagrange 2008, $59
-Batailley 2008, $55
-Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2008, $109
-Lafon-Rochet 2008, $54
-Rahoul 2008 Rouge, $25
-Domaine de Chevalier 2008 Blanc, $119
-Larrivet Haut-Brion 2008 Rouge, $49
-Malartic-Lagraviere 2008 Blanc, $99
-Pape Clement 2008 Rouge, $175
-Trotte Vieille 2008, $99
-Clinet 2008, $219
-La Conseillante 2008, $109
-Fourcas-Hosten 2008, $26
-Chasse-Spleen 2008, $39
-Belgrave 2008, $35
-La Lagune 2008, $85
-La Tour Carnet 2008, $45
-Durfort-Vivens 2008, $49
-Giscours 2008, $59
-Kirwan 2008, $69
-Marquis de Terme 2008, $45
-Rauzan-Segla 2008, $99
-Haut-Bages-Liberal 2008, $44
-Beaumont 2008, $22
-Langoa-Barton 2008, $59
-Talbot 2008, $65
-Clerc Milon 2008, $59
-D'Armailhac 2008, $52
-Lynch-Bages 2008, $189
-De Pez 2008, $39

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chantegrive Blanc 2008, $33
-Chantegrive 2008 Rouge, $25
-Rahoul 2008 Blanc, $25
-Bouscaut 2008 Rouge, $35
-Carbonnieux 2008 Blanc, $55
-Carbonnieux 2008 Rouge, $49
-Domaine de Chevalier 2008 Rouge, $65
-Fieuzal 2008 Blanc, $75
-Fieuzal 2008 Rouge, $42
-Haut-Bailly 2008, $95
-Haut-Bergey 2008, $39
-Larrivet Haut-Brion 2008 Blanc, $62
-Latour-Martillac 2008 Rouge, $45
-Malartic-Lagraviere 2008 Rouge, $59
-Smith Haut Lafitte 2008 Rouge, $79
-Beau-Sejour Becot 2008, $75
-Canon 2008, $99
-Dassault 2008, $49
-Grand Mayne 2008, $64
-Cos-Labory 2008, $49
-La Couspaude 2008, $65
-La Dominique 2008, $59
-Berliquet 2008, $49
-Larcis Ducasse 2008, $125
-Beauregard 2008, $49
-Poujeaux 2008, $39
-Greysac 2008, $26
-La Tour de By 2008, $28
-Brane-Cantenac 2008, $59
-du Terte 2008, $45
-Labegorce 2008, $39
-Ferriere 2008, $39
-Branaire Ducru 2008, $63
-Saint-Pierre 2008, $65
-Lynch-Moussas 2008, $45
-Grand Puy Ducasse 2008, $49
-Ormes de Pez 2008, $38
-Phelan Segur 2008, $49

 

The Food: cheese platters, breads, dried fruit, grapes.
The Downside: a mouth full of tannin after it was all over.
The Upside: a chance to re-evaluate the 2008 Bordeaux vintage.
The Contact Person: trina.hendry@lcbo.com
The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 92.

 

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