Tasting KWV Wines of South Africa, Sept 23/13 at Biff's

7. The Date and Time:  Monday, September 23, 2013   6PM to 9PM

The Event: Tasting KWV of South Africa wines with Richard Rowe, chief winemaker, followed by dinner paired with wines.

The Venue: Biff's Bistro, Front Street

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are here at LCBO or Vintages.

The Quote/Background: Richard Rowe spoke about the changes in South Africa and at KWV.

The Wines: We tasted 11 wines. The Classics wine series is currently being proposed, coming in at $11.95 or $12.95 depending on currency.

 

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

-KWV Café Culture 2013 [tank sample, current vintage 2012 is $12.95]

-KWV Cathedral Cellars Chardonnay 2012, $14.95 Vintages

 

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

-KWV Classic Sauvignon Blanc 2013, $12.95

-KWV Classic Chardonnay 2013, $12.95

-KWV Cathedral Cellars Sparkling 2010 [2009 vintage $12.75]

-KWV Roodeberg Rose 2013, $12.95 [coming next year]

-KWV Cathedral Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $15.95 Vintages Essential

 

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

-KWV Chenin Blanc 2013, $9.45 LCBO [new vintage]

-KWV Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $12.95

-KWV Classic Pinotage 2012, $12.95

-KWV Cathedral Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 [new vintage], $15.95

 

The Food: we ate off a small menu. I had the steak tartare with lentils, the roasted lamb sirloin, and the yoghurt panna cotta. Before dinner we had a variety of five cheeses from France and Quebec (Bleu de Bresse, goat Riopelle from PQ, goat Pave from PQ, Cantal, and Mimonette) plus fruit. We got pours of whatever wine we wanted. I tried the Café Culture with the panna cotta, a terrific match surprise.

The Downside: it was my third winetasting of the day, and second meal.

The Upside: a chance to talk with Richard Rowe.

The Contact Person: rsandham@thekirkwoodgroup.com

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

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com