Jan 27/11: Rhone Valley wine tasting at George.

The Time and Date: Thursday, Jan 27, 2011  11 AM to 3 PM
The Event: "Come to explore the Wine Region of the Year...Rhone Valley
Wines."
The Venue: George Restaurant
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: tasted wines came from the LCBO and
Vintages listings.
The Quote/Background: Christian Paly, President of Inter Rhône, Arnaud
Pignol, Commissioner General of Inter-Rhône and Olivier Legrand, Export
Marketing Manager of Inter Rhône came to Toronto to meet major
journalists in an informal and friendly Rhône Valley wines tasting.
There was a short slide presentation and some talks on the quality of
Rhone wines.
The Wines:

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau Mas Neuf Costieres de Nimes 2008, +177097, $11.35 - brett
-Dom. Courbis Les Eygats Cornas 2007, +719385, $59

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Jean-Luc Colombo Les Lauves Saint Joseph 2007, +943324, $31.95
-Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2009, +499509, $14.95
-La Vieille Ferme Luberon Blanc 2009, +298505, $11.95
-Ogier Cotes de Ventoux Rose 2009, +134916, $10.95
-Domaine des Carteresses Tavel Rose 2009, +739474, $15.95
-Ogier Cotes de Ventoux Rouge 2008, +569095, $10.95
-Chapoutier Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages 2008, +321539, $17.95
-Domaine Autrand Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007, +200030, $14.95

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2009, +589432, $11.65
-Cuvee Tableau Tavel Rose 2008, +117309, $18.98
-Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2009, +581645, $12.15
-Visan Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007, +179226, $13.95
-Domaine de Pierredon Cotes du Rhone 2008, +175257, $13.95

 

The Food: the tasting was followed by a lunch, and we could re-taste
all the wines that we wanted. With BC rock shrimp (with Belgian endive
and Brazil nut curry) I had Le Vielle Ferme Luberon Blanc 2009. The
duck breast and duck confit duo (with barley risotto and broccoli)
screamed out for the brett-inflected Chateau Mas Neuf 2008. The beef
tenderloin paired very well with the still evolving Les Eygats Cornas
2007. Cheeses, dark chocolate beignets, and coffee completed the long
lunch.
The Downside: we started late because winter blizzards delayed the
principals' arrival in Toronto from New York city, where the Rhone
Valley had just won Wine Enthusiast's "Wine Region of the Year" award.
The Upside: I really liked the Chateau Mas Neuf's price for the brett
component. A little goes a long way, and the wine had sufficient brett
to make it interesting and gamey.
The Contact Person: Johanna.raynaud@sopexa.com
The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 88.

 

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