World Chardonnay Day in Toronto: May 22, 2014

The Date and Time: Thursday, May 22, 2014 2Pm to 5PM

The Event: World Chardonnay Day

The Venue: Allen's (patio)

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: domestic wines from the wineries, imports via agency licensee programmes.

The Quote/Background: this is a sort of preview of the Rebirth of Cool Climate Chardonnay – one world, one grape, one weekend (July 18-20, 2014). Tickets are available at coolchardonnay.org; the event is in Niagara. 55 winemakers will be present, as well as chefs and food.

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

-Southbrook Whimsy! "Damy" Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara biodynamic

-Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay 2010 VQA Niagara

-Jean Leon Vinya Gigi Chardonnay 2012 Spain

-Sumaridge Chardonnay 2011 South Africa [my fave]

-Creation Wine Estate Chardonnay 2012 South Africa

-Flat Rock Chardonnay Rusty Shed 2011 VQA Niagara

-13th Street Sandstone Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 VQA Niagara

-Cambria Chardonnay 2012 Katherine's Vineyard Santa Maria Valley California

-Murphy-Goode Chardonnay 2012 Santa Barbara

-Cave Spring CSV Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara

-Cave Spring Estate Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara

-Chateau des Charmes Chardonnay 2012 Paul Bosc Vineyard VQA Niagara

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

-Trivento Golden Reserve Chardonnay 2012 Mendoza

-Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2012 Chile

-Laroche Chablis St. Martin [Chardonnay]

-Southbrook Triomphe Chardonnay Organic 2012 VQA Niagara

-Southbrook Poetica Chardonnay Biodynamic 2011 VQA Niagara

-Sperling Vineyards Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2012 VQA Okanagan

-Flat Rock Estate Chardonnay 2010 VQA Niagara

-Catena Chardonnay Mendoza

-Catena Alta Chardonnay Mendoza

-13th Street June's Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara

-Torres Milmanda Chardonnay 2011 Spain

-Jean Leon 3055 Chardonnay 2013 Spain

-Torres Gran Vina Sol [Chardonnay] 2012 Spain

-Gerard Bertrand Domaine de l'Aigle Chardonnay 2011 Limoux

-Normal Hardie County Chardonnay 2012 VQA PEC

-Normal Hardie Niagara Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara

-Clos du Bois Calcaire Chardonnay 2011 California

-PlumpJack "Adaptation" Chardonnay 2011 California

-Malivoire Small Lot Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara

-Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara

-Bachelder Chardonnay 2011 VQA Niagara

-Bachelder Chardonnay 2012 VQA Niagara

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

-Grant Burge Summers Chardonnay 2012 Australia

-The Dreaming Tree Chardonnay 2012 California

-Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2010

-Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2012

-Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay 2013 New Zealand

-Flat Rock Chardonnay Unplugged 2012 VQA Niagara

-Malivoire Moira Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 VQA Niagara

-Chateau des Charmes Chardonnay Musque 2012 VQA Niagara


The Food: nothing for awhile, then crackers and finally some salmon canapes.

The Downside: for awhile, there was no list of wines. There were also additions and withdrawals, for "cool" also means "laid back".

The Upside: There were 21 domestic and 21 imported wines (mostly New World) poured

The Contact Person: trish@coolchardonnay.org

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com