The Event: Savour Australia Toronto

The Date and Time:  Monday, May 16, 2016  11:30AM to 4PM

The Event: Savour Australia Toronto

The Venue: Verity (seminar) and George (trade show)

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: as always, some wines are at the LCBO, others are by private order or consignment, etc. The catalogue was arranged by producer, and retail prices were noted.

The Quote/Background: The seminar stressed historical evolution and modern changes in new grapes and techniques. Twelve wines were presented, and their ratings were folded into the listing below. John Szabo and Oz winemakers commented.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine (there were over 100 of them).

 

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

-Kilikanoon Mort's Reserve Watervale Riesling 2006 Clare Valley, $50 Charton Hobbs

-Cirillo 1850 Steingarten Shiraz 2014 Barossa, $35  Bokke

-Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2013 Margaret River, $96  Terra Firma

-Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Margaret River, $68 Terra Firma

-Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2014 Margaret River, $39.95  Terra Firma

-Alpha Box & Dice Xola Aglianico 2011 McLaren Vale, $45

-Ulupna Royal Phoenix Shiraz 2009 Goulburn Valley Victoria, $55   United Stars

-Ulupna Late Harvest Shiraz 2012 Goulburn Valley Victoria, $29   United Stars

-Alpha Box & Dice Apostle Shiraz Durif 2012 McLaren Vale, $50

-Moss Wood Chardonnay 2014 Margaret River, $64.95  Terra Firma

-Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2013 Margaret River, $45   Vinexx

-Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012 Margaret River, $70   Vinexx

 

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

-Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz 2013 Margaret River, $36  Terra Firma

-Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2015 Margaret River, $26.95  Terra Firma

-Leeuwin Estate Art Series Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 Margaret River, $26.95  Terra Firma

-Moss Wood Pinot Noir 2014 Margaret River, $55  Terra Firma

-Moss Wood Amy's 2014 Margaret River, $37.95  Terra Firma

-Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 Margaret River, $30  Terra Firma

-Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc 2015 Margaret River, $20   Vinexx

-Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2013 Margaret River, $45   Vinexx

-Voyager Estate Girt by Sea Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 Margaret River, $28 Vinexx

-Kilikanoon Mort's Block Watervale Riesling 2015 Clare Valley, $19.95  Charton Hobbs

-Hollick Bond Road Chardonnay 2014 Coonawarra, $25.95  Lifford

-Cirillo 1850 The Vincent Grenache 2015 Barossa, $30  Bokke

-Hollick Cabarenet Sauvignon 2013 Coonawarra, $35  Lifford

-Hollick Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Coonawarra, $75

-Fowles Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz 2012 Strathbogie Ranges Victoria, $34.95

-Ochota Barrels I Am The Owl Syrah 2015 Adelaide Hills, $60

-Ulupna Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2015 Goulburn Valley Victoria, $23   United Stars

-Ulupna Limited Edition Shiraz 2014 Goulburn Valley Victoria, $32   United Stars

-Ulupna Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Goulburn Valley Vic, $32  United Stars

-Franklin Tate Estates Alexander's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Margaret River, $41.95  Wine Guru

-Franklin Tate Estates Alexander's Vineyard Shiraz 2014 Margaret River,$41.95 Wine Guru

 

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

-Franklin Tate Estates Chardonnay 2015 Margaret River, $17.95 +453373

-Cirillo 1850 Ancestor Semillon 2011 Barossa, $36  Bokke

-d'Arenberg The Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2012 McLaren Vale, $35

-St.Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2013 Barossa, $80  Select

-Soumah Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 Yarra Valley, $34.95    Von Terra

-Soumah Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2015 Yarra Valley, $34.95    Von Terra

-BK Wines Skin 'n' Bones White 2015 Adelaide Hills, $50

-Jauma Like Raindrops Grenache 2015 McLaren Vale, $60

-Brash Higgins Nero d'Avola Amphorae Project 2015 McLaren Vale, $55

-Fowles Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Chardonnay 2014 Strathbogie Ranges Victoria, $34.95   Von Terra

-Stonier Chardonnay 2015 Mornington Peninsula Victoria  $35  Select

 

The Food: cheese, breads

The Downside: the red wines in the seminar, at my table at least, were served too cold.

The Upside: a good chance to taste Oz wines that sell for over $20 in Ontario.

The Contact Person: anne.popoff@wineaustralia.com

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

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com