Tasting Victorian wines from Oz, July 9/13

The Date and Time: Tuesday, July 9, 2013  2:30 – 5PM

The Event: A tasting of Victorian wines from Australia, emphasizing diversity and innovation.

The Venue: The Miller on Bay

The Target Audience: LCBO buyers, consultants and wine media.

The Availability/Catalogue: Fewer than half the wines are at Vintages, but all are ready for ordering, to be in the system. Agents included Amethyst, Hobbs, Eurovintage, Rogers and Von Terra,

The Quote/Background: Steven Worley, winemaker at The Hairy Arm Company in Northcote, Victoria, led the seminar. There were four flights: alternative whites, chardonnay, alternative reds, and shiraz. Both the shiraz and the chardonnay were the larger flights. When asked, Steven said that Tempranillo would be the next big grape variety from Oz.

The Wines:

 

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

-Galli Estate Pamela Chardonnay 2010 Sunbury, $44.95 Amethyst

-Soumah Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 Yarra Valley, $29.95 Rogers

-Camelback Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 Sunbury, +287839 Vintages, $32.95

-Yabby Lake Chardonnay Mornington 2010, +138628 Vintages $39.95

-Camelback Shiraz Sunbury 2008, +665125 Vintages $27.95

-Tar & Roses Shiraz Heathcote 2010, +282731 $18.60

 

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

-Fowles Wines Ladies Who Shoot their Lunch Shiraz 2010 +243592 Vintages, $35.95

-Fowles Wines Are You Game? Shiraz 2009 $16.95 at LCBO [value-priced]

-Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio Central Victoria 2011, +282723 Vintages $19.95

-Soumah SV Savarro Savagnin Yarra 2012, $23.95 Rogers

-Soumah Skye Blox Chardonnay Yarra 2012,  $18.95 Rogers

-Soumah Single Vineyard Shiraz Yarra 2010, Rogers $29.95

-Camelback Block Two Shiraz Heathcote 2009, Amethyst $23.95

-Camelback Temp/Gren/Mour Heathcote 2010, +285577, $23.95

-The Trust Shiraz Nagambie 2010, Von Terra $29.95

 

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

-Soumah Single Vineyard Pinot Grigio Yarra 2013,  $19.95  Rogers

-Tar & Roses Tempranillo Heathcote 2011, +280198 Vintages $20.50

-Tar & Roses Sangiovese Heathcote 2012, Eurovintage $23.95

-Camelback Sangiovese Heathcote 2012, Amethyst $19.95

-Tellurian Tranter Shiraz Heathcote 2010, Hobbs & Co  $36.95

 

The Food: many small plates of apps, including chicken, beef, veggie rolls, arancinis, skewers of vegetables and shrimp.

The Downside: it was the day after the downpour, and we kept checking the skies to see if any water would return.

The Upside: good gathering, lots of fine wine, superb ambience generated by organizer Laura.

The Contact Person: laura@amethystwine.ca

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

90.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com