May 16 - Zinfandel's ZAP arrives in Toronto

The Date and Time: Wednesday, May 16, 2012   1PM to 4:30 PM

The Event: ZAP: Zinfandel Advocates & Producers' trade and consumer tastings.

The Venue: The Fifth Grill and Social Club

The Target Audience: wine trade in the afternoon, consumers at night.

The Availability/Catalogue: this was a "taste and try before you buy" event offered by the LCBO. Operators were standing by to take orders.

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar about Zinfandel, with winemakers from Storybook, Ravenswood, Ridge, and Peachy Canyon.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Easton Estate Bottled Zinfandel Shenandoah 2004, $37.95

-Tin Barn Zinfandel Russian River Gilsson Vineyard 2009, $36.95

-Peachy Canyon Vortex Zinfandel 2009 Paso Robles, $43.95

-Perry Creek Cobra Zinfandel El Dorado 2009, $38.95

-Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel Sonoma 2008, $59.95

-Gann Family Zinfandel 2006 Sonoma, $36

-Seghesio Family Cortina Zinfandel 2009, $45.95

-Storybook Mountain Robert Biale Zinfandel Grande Vineyard Napa 2009, $45

-Storybook Mountain Antaeus Estate Blend Zinfandel Napa 2008, $54

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Hess Family Artezin Wines Zinfandel Mendocino 2010, $25.95

-Carol Shelton Wild Thing Old Vines Zinfandel Mendocino 2008, $24.95

-Carol Shelton Karma Zin Old Vines Rue Vineyard Russian River 2007, $39.95

-Carol Shelton Manga Zin Old Vines Lopez Vineyard Cucamonga 2008 [organic]

-Delicato Brazin Bold Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2008

-Delicato Brazin Bold Old Vine Zinfandel Monte Rossi Vineyard Lodi 2008, $39

-Delicato Brazin Bold Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2010, $18

-Tin Barn Zinfandel Sonoma Los Chamizal Vineyard 2009, $36.95

-Easton Estate Old Vine Rinaldi Vineyard Zinfandel Fiddletown 2009, $37.95

-Peachy Canyon Westside Zinfandel Paso Robles 2008, $24.95

-Perry Creek Zinman Reserve El Dorado 2009

-Perry Creek Altitude 2401 Legacy Zinfandel El Dorado 2008, $30

-Ravenswood Chauvet Zinfandel Sonoma 2008, $59.95

-Ridge Geyersville Zinfandel Alexander Valley 2010, $48.95

-Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2008, $46.95

-Ridge Ponzo Vineyard Zinfandel Russian River Valley 2009, $36.95

-Rock Wall Jessie's Vineyard Zinfandel Contra Costa 2009, $27.95

-Rock Wall Obsidian Zinfandel Red Hills Lake County 2010, $24.95

-Gann Family Zinfandel 2007 Sonoma, $39

-Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Red Label Amador 2008, $26

-Scott Harvey Old Vine Reserve Zinfandel Amador 2009, $37

-Seghesio Family Zinfandel Dry Creek 2010, $39

-Seghesio Family Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 Sonoma, $59

-Storybook Mountain Eastern Exposure Estate Zinfandel Napa 2009, $62.95

-Storybook Mountain Reserve Zinfandel Napa 2008, $59

-Storybook Mountain Mayacamus Range Estate Zinfandel Napa 2009, $46.95

-Terre d'Oro Deaver Vineyard Zinfandel Amador 2007, $39.95

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Easton Estate Zinfandel Amador 2010, $22.95

-Hope Family Candor Lot 3 Zinfandel California NV, $21.95

-Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zinfandel Paso Robles 2010, $17.95

-Perry Creek Zinman El Dorado 2009, $18.95

-Ravenswood Zinfandel Sonoma 2009, $23.95

-Rock Wall Monarch Street Zinfandel 2010, $24.95

-Scott Harvey Inzinerator Zinfandel 2008, $22

-Seghesio Family Rockpile Zinfandel 2010 Sonoma, $49

-Sanctuary Zinfandel 2007 Mendocino, $35

 

The Food: sausages, cheeses, breads, fruit, crackers.

The Downside: there were more wines than advertised, principally because the trade show tried to show off everything they could manage. Some wines were simply not available to consumers at night.

The Upside: a chance to taste a single varietal from California, through 20 wineries and over 40 wines.

The Contact Person: brianne@calwine.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com