The Event: Australia Today 2014 Trade Show and Seminar, Feb 6/14

The Date and Time: Thursday, February 6, 2014  12:30 Pm to 5 PM

The Event: Australia Today 2014 Trade Show and Seminar

The Venue:AGO

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most of the wines are landed at the LCBO or in Consignment. The balance were private orders (PO) with estimated prices.

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar at 12:30, with an extensive waiting list so it was jam packed. John Szabo and Mark Davidson led the presentation which stressed evolving classics of distinct wines (chardonnay, pinot noir, and shiraz), primarily from Victoria. There were also "focus" tables in the trade area, showcasing old vines and chardonnays.

The Wines: I have folded in the seminar wines with the trade wines. I did not try every wine.

 

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

-Yering Station Reserve Chardonnay 2012 Yerra Valley

-Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010 Mornington, $50

-Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir 2009 Mornington

-Fowles Wine Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz 2010 Strathbogie Ranges, $35

-Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2008 Eden Valley

-Camelback Sunbury Shiraz 2008 Victoria, $24.95

-Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009 Margaret River, $32

-Hardy's Heritage Reserve Bin Chardonnay 2011 Pemberton and Yarra, $30 PO Mondia

-Mitolo Wines Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 McLaren, $52.95

-Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2012 Adelaide Hills, $40 PO Select

-Schild Estate Edgar Schild Reserve Grenache 2012 Barossa, $54 PO Halpern

-Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2012, $24.95 Lifford

-Saltram Winemakers Reserve Select Shiraz Tempranillo 2010 Barossa, $44.95

-Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Margaret River, $49.95

-Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache 2012 Barossa, $24.95

-Penfolds Magill Estate Estate 2010 Barossa, $119.95 PO Treasury

-Yabby Lake Block 1 Chardonnay 2012 Mornington Peninsula, $85 PO Von Terra

 

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

-Wolf Blass White Label Chardonnay 2012 Adelaide Hills

-Yering Station Village Pinot Noir 2011 Yarra Valley

-Jamsheed Garden Gully Syrah 2012 Great Western, $60 PO Living Vine

-Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005 Canberra District

-Brothers in Arms Side by Side Malbec 2012 Langhorne Creek, $37.75 PO Sylvestre

-Brothers in Arms No. 6 Shiraz 2009 Langhorne Creek, $26.65 PO

-Brothers in Arms No. 6 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Langhorne Creek, $26.65 PO

-Stella Bella Chardonnay 2010 2009 Margaret River, $32

-Grant Burge Fisell Shiraz 2011 Barossa, $32.95 PO Trialto

-Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Barossa, $32.95 PO Trialto

-Heggies Eden Valley Chardonnay 2012, $34 PO Charton Hobbs

-Ringbolt 21 Barriques Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Margaret River, $44.95

-Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2013 Adelaide Hills, $14.95

-Jamsheed Garden Gully Riesling 2013 Victoria, $40 PO Living Vine

-Jamsheed Beechworth Syrah 2012, $60

-Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Shiraz 2011 Clare, $39.95

-Mitolo Wines G.A.M. Shiraz 2010 McLaren, $39.95

-St. Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2010 Barossa, $45

-Robert Oatley Signature Series Chardonnay 2012 Margaret River, $17.95.

-Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2012, $42.95 Lifford

-Shaw + Smith Shiraz 2010, $42.95 Lifford

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2010 McLaren, $34.95

-Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Coonawarra, $27.95

-Vasse Felix Heytesbury Cabernet Petit Verdot Malbec 2010 Margaret River, $94.95

-Yalumba The Y Series Vermentino 2011 South Australia, $19.95

-Yalumba Menzies The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Coonawarra, $44.95

-Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Shiraz 2009 Barossa, $67.95 PO B&W

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2012 Adelaide Hills, $22.95

-Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2008 Tasmania and Adelaide Hills, $125

 

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

-Stonier Chardonnay 2012 Mornington Peninsula, $30

-Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir 2012 Yarra Valley, $29.95

-Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Prodigal Grenache 2012 Clare Valley, $29.95 PO Charton Hobbs

-Hardy's Tintara Shiraz 2012 McLaren Vale, $30 PO Mondia

-Henry's Drive Morse Code Chardonnay 2010 Padthaway, $13.95 PO Christopher Stewart

-Henry's Drive H Syrah 2012 Padthaway, $26.95 PO Christopher Stewart

-Jamsheed Harem Le Blanc Plonk Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Victoria, $26 PO Living Vine

-Jamsheed Harem La Syrah 2013 Victoria, $26 PO Living Vine

-Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Covenant Shiraz 2012 Clare, $39.95 PO Charton Hobbs

-Nugan Estate Alfred Dried Grape Shiraz 2012 SEA, $26.95

-Shingleback Davey Estate Shiraz 2011 McLaren, $24.95 PO Lifford

-Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2011 Margaret River, $27.95

-Hill Smith Estate Chardonnay 2010 Eden Valley, $19.95

 

The Food: international cheeses and breads, and panforte.

The Downside: we had to wait a half hour for the seminar to begin, but after tasting the wines I slipped out early to catch the show at 2PM.

The Upside: the seminar was extremely valuable, at least for letting me taste 12 wines ahead of the show itself (some of these wines were not even in the show).

The Contact Person: emily.england@wineaustralia.com; angela.slade@wineaustralia.com; popoffanne@gmail.com.

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com