The Event: Australia Up Close; Wine Australia celebrates the diversity of fine Australian wine. June 13/17

The Date and Time: Tuesday June 13, 2017  11AM to 4PM

The Event: Australia Up Close; Wine Australia celebrates the diversity of fine Australian wine.

The Venue: Design Exchange

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were generally available at the LCBO or through the agent, with some private orders.

The Quote/Background: Mark Davidson led off the seminar with descriptions of the 10 or so wines for focusing. My ratings have been blended in with the general tastings below.

The Wines: I did not try every wine.

 

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

-Janz Tasmania Premium Cuvee NV $26.95

-Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2014  $34

-Voyager Broadvale Block 6 Margaret River Chardonnay 2014  $55  Rogers & Co

-Pepper Tree Varietal Range Wrattonbully Merlot 2014  $22.95  Azureau

-Pepper Tree Single Vineyard Calcare Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013  $39.95 +493601

-Pepper Tree Single Vineyard Coquun Hunter Shiraz 2014  $70 +483461

-Lake Breeze Arthur's Reserve Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot Malbec 2013 $64.95  Azureau

-Lake Breeze Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $31.95  Azureau

-Lake Breeze Bernoota Langhorne Creek Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $28.95  Azureau

-Voyager Estate Girt by Sea Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2013 $28  +2265217 Rogers&Co

-Voyager Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $70  +2283256 Rogers&Co

 

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

-Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2011 Hunter Valley $29.99  B & W

-Grossett Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2016  $43

-Alpha Crucis Tital McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015  $29.95

-d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie McLaren Vale Shiraz Viognier 2012  $29.95 +936971

-Vasse Felix Filius Margaret River Chardonnay 2016 $24.95  +448415

-Dalrymple Tasmania Pinot Noir 2015  $42.95  +299379

-Peter Lehmann The Barossan Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015  $21.95 +522235 Nov 2017

-Wakefield Jaraman Clare Valley Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014  $24.95 +142398

-Voyager Estate Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016 $24  +2437879 Rogers&Co

-Voyager Estate Margaret River Shiraz 2013 $38  +2265242 Rogers&Co

-Voyager Estate Margaret River Girt By Sea Chardonnay 2016 $28  +2283332 Rogers&Co

-Voyager Estate Margaret River Chardonnay 2014 $46  +2283268 Rogers&Co

 

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

-Alpha Crucus McLaren Vale Fiano 2016  $27.95   Azureau

-BK Wines Skin 'n' Bones Adelaide Hills White 2006  $35

-Spinifex Lola Barossa Valley White 2015  $34

-Brash Higgins ZBO Riverland Zibibbo 2016  $30

-Alpha Box & Dice Golden Mullet Fury Semillon Viognier 2015  $25  Autentic

 

The Food: prosciutto and ham and salami, international cheeses, breads and preserves and different mustards.

The Downside: the seminar started late and went on beyond the time specified. It was also only slightly more than half-full.

The Upside: Mark Davidson is an amazing seminar presenter.

The Contact Person: canada@wineaustralia.com

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

Chimo! www.deantudor.com