The Event: #Garnachaday celebrations in Toronto and Montreal and other cities.

The Date and Time:  Thursday, September 15, 2016   5Pm to 9PM

The Event: #Garnachaday celebrations in Toronto and Montreal and other cities.

The Venue: Archive, Dundas Street West

The Target Audience: wine writers and bloggers

The Availability/Catalogue: wines are in Ontario via agents or LCBO.

The Quote/Background: Garnacha (Grenache in France) comes in red and white. There is a garnacha blanca that is either light or full-bodied. There is a garnacha that is made into rose. Red garnacha can be fresh or it can be robust. It is mostly grown in Carinena, Terra Alta and Campo de Borja, with smaller amounts in Calatayud and Somontano. Total plantings worldwide are about equal to syrah/shiraz.

The Wines: I tasted 10 wines and added one more that I had recently sampled.

 

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

-LAFOU ELS AMELERS GARNATXA BLANCA Terra Alta 2015 Connexion Oenophilia  $28.95

-MENGUANTE SELECCION GARNACHA 2012 Carinena Vinexx +313833 Vintages $16.95

-COTO DE HAYAS FAGUS SELECCION ESPECIAL 2014 Hobbs & Co $29.95

 

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

-BESO DE VINO OLD VINE GARNACHA 2014 Carinena Noble Estates $9.95 +253591 LCBO

-Anayón Garnacha 2012 +424424 Vintages $21.75

-VILA-CLOSA GARNATXA BLANCA 2015 Terra Alta  That's Life $16.02

-LAS ROCAS OLD VINES 2013 Calatayud Glencairn Wine Merchants $22.95

-LEGADO DEL MONCAYO OLD VINES 2015 Campo de Borja Wineonline.ca $12.95

-CRUZ DE PIEDRA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2014 Calatayud Rogers & Company $12.00

-MARIN OLD VINE GARNACHA 2010 Carinena Eurovintage Wines & Spirits $12.95

 

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

-CASTILLO DE MONSERÁN 2015 Carinena Mark Anthony Group  +73395 LCBO $9.95

 

The Food: charcuterie plates; codfish fried cakes; prosciutto fried cakes; cheeses.

The Downside: there were no notes, prices, etc., and I had a hard time deciphering the labels, but Sopexa later sent me a list so that I could get the spelling right.

The Upside: a great selection, all price categories, and terrific food.

The Contact Person: frederique.charron@sopexa.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 86.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com