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Sunday, May 6, 2018

The Event: California Wine Tour April 23, 2018 Toronto

The Date and Time: Monday April 23, 2018  1PM to 5PM
The Event: California Wine Tour 2018 Toronto
The Venue: Fairmont Royal York
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: the Media Room opened at 1PM, which gave us a 1.5 hour jump on the big show (thanks!!).
The Quote/Background:
The Wines: I did not taste all the wines. But I did try some from the show room itself, plus what I could glean from the media room. Prices were generally "on demand". The best booth was Nichols, with its older wines, a terrific area.
 
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chandon Brut NV
-Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs NV
-Grgich Hills Estate Merlot 2014
-Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2014
-Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
-Freemark Abbey Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
-Marimar Estate Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir 2013
-Rodney Strong Vineyards Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2015
-Rutherford Wine Company Lander-Jenkins Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
-Schrug Carneros Estate Chardonnay 2016
-Signorello Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
-Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet 2013
-Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 2015
-Bogle Vineyards Phantom [blend] 2014
-Mer Soleil Chardonnay 2015 Reserve Santa Lucia
-Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay 2015
-Wente Vineyards Estate Grown Morning Fog Chardonnay 2016 $19.95 LCBO
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Edna Ranch Chardonnay 2000 $50 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon D'Anbino 2003 $55 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Pinot Noir Paragon Vineyard 1999 $55 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Meritage Ninety Eight 1998 $55 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Silver Fox Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label 2005 $55 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Soleil & Terroir Reserve Merlot Ninety Eight 1998 $35 US
-Nichols Winery & Cellars Soleil & Terroir Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Ninety Eight 1998 $55 US
-Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa
-Clos Pegase Chardonnay 2016 Napa
-Ca' Momi Napa Merlot 2015
-Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Merlot Three Palms Vineyard 2015
-Chalone Estate Pinot Noir 2015
 
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Kunde Family Winery Chardonnay 2016 Sonoma Valley
-Buena Vista Carneros Pinot Noir 2013
-Carol Shelton Wines Rocky Reserve Zinfandel 2015
-Cline Family Big Break Zinfandel 2015
-Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
-Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2016
-Chalk Hill Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2014
-Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2015
-Francis Ford Coppola Archimedes Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Sonoma 2014
-Gloria Ferrer Brut NV
-Hall and Walt Wines Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
-Hoopes Vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
-Hope Family Treana Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
-J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2015
-Long Meadow Ranch Chardonnay 2015
-Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel 2014
-Patz and Hall Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2015
-Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel 2015
-Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Lytton Spring 2015
-St.Supery Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
-Beringer Napa Valley Quantum Red Blend 2015
-Stags' Leap Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 
-Truchard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
-Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
-Emmolo Merlot 2015
 
The Food: uniquely this time the food was mostly related to the "S" word – sliders, sushi and shashimi, all of which was appreciated. Thanks guys!
The Downside: it got crowded really fast, packed within 15 minutes
The Upside: it was good to see the Second Harvest Silent Auction.
The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.
 
Chimo! www.deantudor.com

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