The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy: 21ST Anniversary

The Date and Time: Monday, October 31, 2016  9:30AM – 4PM  [WRITTEN NOVEMBER 10]

The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy: 21 years.

The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall Lobbies

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: The catalogue was for all of Canada, so Vancouver and Calgary along with Montreal were also included. Not all wines were offered for tasting in all locations, so we had to pay attention to the small print as to which wine was where. We had to stay sober as well...Otherwise, there was detail on grape varieties and names of agents and others. Prices were lacking, but we just had to ask. Of course, not everybody knew their own prices – which was a marketing shame...Most wines were seemingly private orders, or perhaps consignment and a few in Vintages. Some wines would be available next year (2017) at the LCBO.

The Quote/Background: Nobody had a firm grip on the numbers of different wines. Some wines never showed up, others were substituted, some were completely new, and vintages varied. Once again, many tables could not pin down even an estimated price. There were many tables of wines with wineries looking for an agent. I could not in all good conscience taste and review these when there were so many other wines in the room that are already here in Ontario and needed to be tasted.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine – WHO COULD IN FOUR HOURS ??? I concentrated only on the oldest reds I could find.

 

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

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'annunziata 2011, $75 Profile

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'annunziata 2010 n/a Profile

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'annunziata 2008 $175 Profile

-Bersano Barolo Riserva 2007, $74  Profile

-Camperchi Toscana IGT Sangiovese 2008, $30  United Stars Corp

-Casetta Flli Barolo Riserva La Serra 2010, $60   Signature

-Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011, $75   Colio Estate

-Gerardo Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Il Bosco 2010, $73.95  Profile

-Gussalli Beretta Franciacorta Cuvee 7 Lo Sparviere, $29.95  Eurovintage

-Cantine Petrosino Terre Siciliane IGP Saluq Shiraz 2012, 7.50E  AMV-Whiz Trading

-Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Riserva di Fizzano 2013, $35.95  Profile

-San Fabiano Calcinaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013, $38  Groupe Soleil

-Statti Mantonico IGT Calabria Bianco 2014, $20 Majestic

-Tenute Piccini Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Fattoria di Valiano 2010, $29  Wine Lovers

-Togni Rocca dei Forti Cuvee Asti, $12.95   Dionysus

-Torraccia di Presura Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2010, $69  The Vine Agency

 

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

-Barone Mantalto Viognier Collezione di Familiglia 2015 Terre Siciliane, +435479, $15.95 Feb 4/17 Vintages

-Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Bianco 2015, $22.95  Family Wine Merchants

-Marchesi Mazzei ChiantiClassico GranSelezione Castello Fonterutoli 2011,$54.95 Profile

-Monte del Fra Bianco di Custoza Ca del Magro 2014, $25  Signature

-Cantine Petrosino Terre Siciliane IGP Brezza Mediterranea 2015, 4.90E AMV-Whiz Trading

-Statti Greco IGT Calabria Bianco 2015, $17 Majestic

-Togni Gran Casale Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2013, $21  Dionysus

-Togni Casalfarneto Anfora Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2015, $14.95 Dionysus

-Torrevento Matervitae Fiano Puglia 2015, $14.95  Majestic

-Ca'Tullio Friuli Aquileia Viola Traminer Aromatico 2015, $18  Signature

-Fazio Erice Pietrasacra 2010 Nero d'Avola, $55.95   Profile

 

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

-Amastuola Salento IGP Bianco 2015, $16  Majestic

-Cusumano Sicilia Shamaris 2015, $14.95   Family Wine Merchants

-Cantine Ermes Sicilia IGT Tenute Orestiadi Ludovico 2009, $19.95  Charton Hobbs

-Feudo Disisa IGT Terre Siciliane Tornamira 2012, $35   Vintage Trade

-Monteci Lugana 2015, $24.95  The Case for Wine

-Statti Lamezia Bianco 2015, $16 Majestic

 

The Food: Cibo Wine Bar did the food very well: some cheeses, meat platters, dried fruit, breads, pasta, olives, arancini, creamy gorgonzola, pickles.

The Downside: for the first time ever I missed the seminar, with John Szabo and some great wines from Puglia.

The Upside: I had a chance to taste some fine wines in the walkabout.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

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

 

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com