April 29/11: APVSA Hits Toronto for big French wine tasting

. The Time and Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2011   10AM to 6PM
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 such
places as 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. Sometimes spirits are
also available, and VDN.
The Wines: The problem I had with the wines, and one that must be
acknowledged, is that (by and large) they were about the same as wines
that we already have here in Ontario. There really did not seem to be
any price advantages, either. But these 40 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. They were mostly the good
value or unique wines. 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):
-Dom. Joseph Scharsch Riesling de Wolxheim 2009 Alsace, 4.70 E
-Dom. Piquemal Cotes du Roussillon Villages Les Terres Grillees 2005
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Corton Les Renardes 2009 Grand Cru, 40 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Ladoix 1er cru Les Crechons Blanc 2009, 17
E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Corton Les Rognets 2008 Grand Cru, 34 E

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Dom. Joseph Scharsch Grand Cru Altenberg Riesling de Wolxheim 2008
Alsace, 7.40 E
-Dom. Jacky et Pascal Preys Touraine Fie Gris 2009 Vieilles Vignes,
3.30 E
-Dom. Jacky et Pascal Preys Silex Cuvee 2009 Vieilles Vignes, 3.90 E
-Dom. Henri Beurdin et Fils Reuilly Blanc Cuvee L'Orme au Loup 2009,
4.10 E
-Dom. De la Chaise Touraine Blanc Sauvignon 2010, 2.85 E
-Dom. Jacques Rouze Quincy Domaine des Croix 2010, 4.60 E
-Maillard Christophe Muscadet Sevre et Maine Cuvee Camille 2009, 3.75 E
-Dom. De Chevilly Quincy 2010, 4.65 E
-Menard Gaborit Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie Cuvee Prestige 2010,
2.95 E
-Chateau Fontbaude Cotes de Castillon Vieilles Vignes 2008, 4.75 E
-Chateau Goubau 2008 Cotes de Castillon, 7.50 E
-Chateau d'Esteau Haut Medoc 2005, 7 E
-Chateau d'Esteau Haut Medoc 2006, 6 E
-Chateau d'Esteau Haut Medoc 2008, 6 E
-Chateau La Mongie Cuvee Harmonie 2007 Bordeaux, 2.50 E
-Dom. Ruet Cote de Brouilly 2009, 4.30 E
-Dom. Perrin Volnay 2008, 10.45 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Ladoix 1er Cru Les Joyeuses 2008, 15 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Ladoix Le Clos Royer 2008, 13 E

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Dom. Joseph Scharsch Pinot Gris Clos Saint Materne 2009 Alsace, 7 E
-Dom. Joseph Scharsch Riesling de Wolxheim 2009 Alsace, 4.70 E
-Dom. Jacky et Pascal Preys Sauvignon Les Pillotieres 2009, 2.70 E
-Dom. Henri Beurdin et Fils Reuilly Blanc 2009, 4.05 E
-Maillard Christophe Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sablons 2009, 3.07 E
-Menard Gaborit Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie 2009, 2.5 E
-Chateau Fontbaude Cotes de Castillon 2008, 3.75 E
-Chateau Goubau Les Charmes de Goubau 2008 Cotes de Castillon, 3.50 E
-Chateau Goubau La Source 2008 Cotes de Castillon, 4.75 E
-Chateau La Mongie 2008 Bordeaux Superieur, 2.50 E
-Dom. Ruet Morgon 2009, 4.30 E
-Dom. Ruet Beaujolais Villages Blanc 2009, 4 E
-Dell'Ova Freres Chateau de la Grange Fitou 2008, 3.50 E
-Dom. Perrin Pommard 2008, 13.24 E
-Dom. Perrin Volnay 1er cru Les Mitans 2008, 16.03 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Ladoix 2009, 12 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Clos de Nuits Villages 2009, 12 E
-Dom. Michel Mallard et Fils Aloxe Corton 2008, 16 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