Tasting Vina Maipo Chile wines, Oct 1/2012 at Select

 The Date and Time: Monday, October 1, 2012  10AM to Noon

The Event: Tasting Vina Maipo (Chile) wines with winemaker Max Weinlaub, in conjunction with the launch of the newest "Vitral Reserva" line (www.vinamaipo.com)

The Venue: Select Wines & Spirits Toronto offices

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: Most of the wines tasted were not yet available in the Ontario market, but could be privately ordered. Wines are being submitted to the LCBO.

The Quote/Background: There are seven tiers to Vina Maipo (which was founded in 1948 and bought by Concha y Toro in 1968). It is currently being re-launched. The bottom tier is for bi-varietals, followed by a varietal tier, and then the Vitral Reserva line, the Gran Devocion line, the Limited Edition, the Protegido, and at the top, the Alto Tajamar.

The Wines: Gran Devocion is a tier specializing in syrah bi-blends, with viognier, carmenere, petite syrah, and cabernet sauvignon.

 

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

-Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Syrah Viognier 2009 Maule, est $16.95 (14% ABV)

-Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Syrah Petite Sirah 2008 Maule, est $16.95 (14.5% ABV)

-Vina Maipo Limited Edition Syrah 2009 Maipo, est $29.95 (14.5% ABV)

 

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

-Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Carmenere Syrah 2009 Maule, $16.95 +274100 Vintages (75% carmenere)

-Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Carmenere Syrah 2010 Maule, about $16.95 (90% carmenere; 14.5% ABV).

-Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2010 Maule, est $16.95 (14% ABV)

-Vina Maipo Protegido Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Maipo, est $49.95

-Vina Maipo Alto Tajamar Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Quinta de Maipo, est $99.95 (82% syrah, 14.5% ABV)

 

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

-Vina Maipo Vitral Reserva Chardonnay 2011 Casablanca, $13.95, +270009 LCBO

-Vina Maipo Vitral Reserva Syrah 2011 Rapel, est $13.95.

 

The Food: cheese, fruit, breads, biscuits, empanadas.

The Contact Person: morellato@selectwines.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com