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Monday, January 6, 2014

Wine Australia Media Preview Tasting, Dec 10/2013

The Date and Time: Tuesday, December 10, 2013   5PM to 7:30 PM
The Event: Wine Australia Media Preview Tasting
The Venue: Vintage Conservatory, Lombard Street
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines will be at the LCBO in Jan and/or Feb 2014 as part of Vintages releases.
The Quote/Background: we were given the opportunity to taste these wines before they hit the market. There were supposed to be 35 wines, but many did not arrive in time. We tasted 21 wines.
The Wines: All red wines were screwcapped, except for the Red Knot which had a zork. I was only able to taste the red wines (six did not arrive).
 
JANUARY MINI-THEMATIC (Jan 5 – Feb 1/2014)
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Peter Lehmann Portrait Barossa Shiraz 2011, $19.95
-Fowles Wine Are You Game Shiraz Victoria 2010, $16.95
-Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz SEA 2012, $15.95
-Robert Oatley Tic Tok Pocketwatch Cabernet Sauvignon Central Ranges 2011, $15.95
-Wolf Blass Eaglehawk Cabernet Sauvignon SXEA 2012, $12.95
-Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz Barossa 2011, $16.95
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz South Australia 2011, $16.95
-Shingleback Red Knot Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2012, $17.95
-Mitolo Junior Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2011, $16.95
-Henry's Drive Vignerons Pillar Box Red Padthaway 2010, $14.95
-Treasury Wine Estates Vin Parfait Red Adelaide 2012, $15.95
-Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz/Cabernet South Australia 2011, $16.95
-Hardys Bankside Shiraz South Australia 2012, $14.65
-Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz SEA 2011, $12.25
 
FEBRUARY VINTAGES RELEASE (Feb 1/2014)
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra, 2010, $29.95
-Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz Padthaway 2011, $16.95 AUD
-Dandelion Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz 2011, $19.95 AUD
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Robert Oatley Signature Series Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2012, $18.95
-Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2011, $19.95 AUD
 
*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache McLaren Vale 2011, $27.95 AUD
-Heartland Stickleback Red South Australia 2010, $14 AUD
 
The Food: light finger foods (spanakopita, pita and dip, cheeses, breads).
The Downside: all eight of the white wines were missing, but were slated to arrive after 7PM – I could not wait for them, since I had another appointment.
The Upside: a chance to re-try some fine Oz reds.
The Contact Person: popoffanne@gmail.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 83.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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