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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