The Event: Tasting hosted by Rodolfo Opi Sadler, winemaker at Mascota Vineyards (Mendoza, Argentina)

The Date and Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2016   Noon to 2PM

The Event: Tasting hosted by Rodolfo Opi Sadler, winemaker at Mascota Vineyards (Mendoza, Argentina)

The Venue: LCBO Summerhill Kitchen, Scrivener Square

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: three wines are at the LCBO, as noted below.

The Quote/Background: "Opi" spoke to the wines as we tasted them. Most of the wines are aged in all French barrels, with a few in US and French oak. The winery was proclaimed "Argentine Wine Producer of the Year 2014" by the IWSC. Not tasted were the La Mascota Cabernet Franc and Shiraz (lined price at $13.95).

The Wines:

 

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

-La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, +292110 LCBO   14%ABV

-Mascota Big Bat Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $70   14%  TBD

 

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

-La Mascota Extra Brut Trad. Meth. 2013, $19.95 [100% pinot noir]   TBD

-Mascota Opi Chardonnay 2015, $10.95  13.5%ABV TBD

-Gran Mascota Malbec 2012, $23.95  +443333  15%ABV

-Mascota Unanime 2011, $29.95 +466938  60%CabSauv/25Malbec/15CabFr

 

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

-La Mascota Malbec 2014, $13.95   TBD  14%ABV

 

The Food: appetizer platters of parilla (beef ribs, steak, sausage, mango salsa), white sandwiches, empanadas de carne.

The Downside: the winemaker was tied up in traffic, so we had a red and a white wine and the food first, followed by his arrival and discussion.

The Upside: a chance to pair Argentine food with Argentine wine.

The Contact Person: catherine@catchcom.ca; joyce.phillips-nitsos@mondiaalliance.ca; marika.synnett@mondiaalliance.ca.

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com