18th annual Italian Wine Tasting, Roy Thomson Hall Nov 4/13

The Date and Time: Monday, November 4, 2013  11AM to 5PM

The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy, 18^th edition in Toronto

The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most everything is available via the normal LCBO distribution programs, or by private order. There were a few wineries seeking agents, with "unavailable" products for retail sale.

The Quote/Background: I usually enjoy this show when I do the serendipity approach. This year I tasted just a few whites such as moscato d'Asti at the end. I did not do consecutive tables: I went end to end, getting a walk out of it and meeting new people.

The Wines: I did not try every wine, and retail prices were spotty in their availability.

 

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

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva di Costasera 2007, $64.95 Con Authentic

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 2007

-Ciu Ciu Offida Rosso 2006 Esperanto organic, $38.95 PO Le Sommelier

-Amastuola Puglia IGP Vignatorta Syrah 2010, $14 C&E Worldfinds

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche 2004 Profile

-Benedetti Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Croce del Gal 2006, $115 Tre Amici

-Bersano Vini Barolo Badarina 2008 Profile

-Bersano Vini Moscato d'Asti San Michele 2012 Profile

-Cononica Cerreto Chinati Classico Riserva 2008, $21.95 Frontier

-Cantine di Marco Salice Salentino Riserva 2008, United Stars

-Castorani Iarno Rosso Colline Pescaresi IGT 2009, $62  Vinexx

-Cesari Gerardo Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan 2005 Profile

-Cusumano NOA Sicilia IGP 2010  Family

-Latium Morini Amarone della Valpolicella Campo Leon 2009, BND Wines

-Manfredi Barbaresco Umberto Fiore 2008, $17 LCBO

-Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco Tradizione 2010  Majestic

-Michele Satta Toscana IGT Cavaliere 2006 Majestic

-PWS Barolo Colarej Gemma 2008  Ruby

-Ruffino Brunello di Montalcino Greppone Mazzi 2007   Constellation

-Ruffino Toscana IGT Modua 2010  Constellation

-Luce Brunello di Monalcino 2008  Authentic

-Valentina Cubi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Morar 2006  Vino Allegro

-Moscato d'Asti Castello del Poggio 2012, $11.10 LCBO

 

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

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera 2009, $39.95

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 2007

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vaio Armaron Serego Alighieri 2007 Authentic

-Ciu Ciu Offida Pecorino 2012 Merlettaie, $18.95 PO Le Sommelier

-Ciu Ciu Rosso Piceno Superiore 2009 Gotico, $19.95 PO Le Sommelier

-Amastuola Salentino Primitivo IGP 2011, $16 C&E Worldfinds

-Amastuola Puglia IGP Onda del Tempo 2010, $20 C&E Worldfinds

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche 2005

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche 2006

-Bersano Vini Barolo Nirvasco 2009 Profile

-Cononica Cerreto Chianti Classico 2009, $16.95 Frontier

-Cononica Cerreto Toscana IGT Sandiavolo 2007, $24.95 Frontier

-Castoriani Podere 2008 Riserva Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, $42 Vinexx

-Castoriani Amorino 2007 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, $30 Vinexx

-Cesari Gerardo Amarone della Valpolicella Classico It Bosco 2007 Profile

-Clavesana Siamo Barolo Olo 2009, $40

-De Angelis Rosso Piceno Superiore Oro 2009 Marche, $18.95  Ruby

-Fatt. Cabanon Oltrepo Pavese Cuoredivino La Botte No. 18 2010, $27.95 Glencairn

-Feudo Disia Sicilia IGT Tornamira 2008, $30  Bassoalto

-Gruppo Italiano Vini Santi Amarone della Valpolicella Santi 2008, PMA

-Manfredi Barolo Patrizi 2008  HHD Imports

-Manfredi Barolo Patrizi 2009  HHD Imports

-Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Tradizione 2008  Majestic

-Michele Satta Bolgheri Superiore I Castagni 2006  Majestic

-Pietro Rinaldi Barolo Monvigliero 2009  Connexion

-PWS Barolo Gemma 2009  Ruby

-Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro 2008

-Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale 2009

-Valentina Cubi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Morar 2007  Vino Allegro

-Wineoclock Amarone della Valpolicella 2008  Wine world

-Zeni Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigne Alte 2009, $39.95  Frontier

-Banfi Alta Langa Cuvee Aurora Rose 2009 Sparkling, $23 Authentic

 

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

-Provincia di Pavia IGT Cavit Moscato 2012, $11.95 Noble

-Farnese Fantini Cuvee Cococciola $20 Authentic

 

The Food: cheeses, cold cuts, prosciuttos, meat balls, veggie pastas, breads, catered by Cibo Wine Bar

The Downside: too many wines to try in one day, and there was also a high security level.

The Upside: a chance to taste what I really wanted.

The Contact Person:  p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com