The Event: Dinner with California wines from Gnarly Head, Aquinas, Pepperwood Grove, and Sebastiani, all from the Select Wines agency.

The Date and Time: Tuesday April 12, 2016, 6:30 - 9PM

The Event: Dinner with California wines from Gnarly Head, Aquinas, Pepperwood Grove, and Sebastiani, all from the Select Wines agency.

The Venue: Carbon Bar

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are in the system

The Quote/Background: Reps from each of the wineries spoke on the tasting nuances with each dish, and there was spirited discussion.

The Wines:

 

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

-Sebastiani Chardonnay Sonoma County 2013, $19.80 LCBO

-Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2013, $37.95  Private Order

 

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

-Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2013, $17.95 Vintages

 

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

-Pepperwood Grove Old Vine Zinfandel California 2013, $13.95  LCBO

-Aquinas Pinot Noir North Coast 2013, $18.95  LCBO

-Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon California 2013, $14.95 LCBO

 

The Food: we had six plates, six wines, plus a dessert of rhubarb sorbet. The first plate was hamachi ceviche, very appropriate with the Sebastiani Chardonnay. Their Cab was remarkable, and still had many years to go, but surprised me with the goat cheese and beet flavours. The Pepperwood was too entry-level for the awesome duck taco, the Pinot Noir was too Californian (off-dry) for the octopus. The Gnarly Heads were excellent with the aged hanger steak and the ribs-brisket-fried chicken!!

The Downside: I was still recovering my palate from the California show of Monday.

The Upside: great chard, cabs and zinfs.

The Contact Person: delucia@selectwines.ca

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com