The Event: New Wines of Greece Tasting

The Date and Time:  Tuesday, May 5, 2015   11:30 AM – 3:30 PM

The Event: New Wines of Greece Tasting

The Venue: 99 Sudbury Glass Factory

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were available in Ontario through the normal distribution channels of LCBO and consignment with a few private orders. There were also two aisles of wineries seeking representation. The catalogue was arranged by winery, with those in the Ontario market place listed first. Wine description and agencies were listed, but not prices.

The Quote/Background: It was good to see that Greece is still a major player in the wine business, and it will continue to grow after the Danforth LCBO gets its renovation to have a Greek corner.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine, just some from most producers.

 

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

-Dom. Porto Carras Chateau Carras 2006   Connexion Oenophilia

-Hatzimichalis Cabernet Sauvignon 2009    Dionysus

-Glinavos Dryades 2007    Intra Vino

-Argyros Estate Assyrtiko 2014  Kolonaki

-Biblia Chora White 2014   Kolonaki

-Boutari 1879 2007    Kolonaki

-Papaioannou Microclima 2005    Kolonaki

-Parparoussis Muscat of Rio 2010  Kolonaki

-Santo Santorini Grande Reserve 2012  $34.95 Kolonaki

-Santo Vinsanto 2007  $26.95 Kolonaki

-Sigalas Vinsanto 2005   Majestic

-Dom. Spiropoulos Ode Panos 2013 Sparkling    Rubaiyat

-Cavino Domaine Mega Spileo 2009   $24.95   United Stars

-Cavino Namea Grande Reserve 2008  $17.95   United Stars

 

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

-Troupis Fteri Moschofilero 2014   Bozven Imports

-Moraitis Paros Reserve Red 2009  Celebrity Wines

-Hatzimichalis Prima Terra Red 2009    Dionysus

-Alpha Estate Xinomavro Reserve Old Vines 2010     Eurovintage

-Alpha Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2014     Eurovintage

-Argyros Santorini Assyrtiko 2014  Kolonaki

-Biblia Chora Ovilos White 2013   Kolonaki

-Biblia Chora Areti Red 2009   Kolonaki

-Gerovassiliou White 2014   Kolonaki

-Panagiotopoulos Merlot 2009   Kolonaki

-Panagiotopoulos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008   Kolonaki

-Papaioannou Terroir 2004    Kolonaki

-Dom. Tselepos Amalia Sparkling   Kolonaki

-Lyrarakia Okto White 2014   Majestic

-Ktima Pavlidis Thema White 2014  Majestic

-Mercouri Estates Foloi 2014    Rubaiyat

-Santo Santorini 2014   $17.95 Kolonaki

-Samos  Anthemis 2007 $22.95  United Stars

-Samos Vin Doux 2012 $14.95   United Stars

 

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

-Troupis Mantinia 2014   Bozven Imports

-Domaine Costa Lazaridi Amethystos White 2014, $19.95 Cons   Dionysus

-Glinavos Poeme Brut 2009 Sparkling, $17    Intra Vino

-Parparoussis Gifts of Dionyssos 2014  Kolonaki

 

The Food: phenomenal, with fresh oysters, fresh scallops, and cooked shrimp, plus smoked salmon, croquettes, liver pate, arancini, bottled water, and sliders. On the side there were cheeses and charcuterie from the Cheese Boutique. First rate.

The Downside: it was hot and sweaty inside – this has ALWAYS been the case for years, with other wine trade tastings here. 99 Sudbury needs to take up a collection of admission charges to pay for a fan...

The Upside: the quality of Greek wines gets better every year; the reds were very much pretty good (as indicated by scores).

The Contact Person: gathanas@allaboutgreekwine.com

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

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com