The November 7 Event: Taste Napa Valley: a celebration of excellence trade tasting

The Date and Time: Thursday November 7, 2019  2:30 PM to 5 PM

The Event: Taste Napa Valley: a celebration of excellence trade tasting

The Venue: ROM

The Target Audience: wine trade in afternoon, consumers at night

The Availability/Catalogue: wines are available in the LCBO distribution system. The spiral catalogue was sturdy and easy to use with the basics of names and agencies.

The Quote/Background: this is probably the most professional and sophisticated of all the Toronto trade tastings, with serious FBMs and sommeliers.

The Wines: I did not try every wine. I tasted most of the Cabernets and the Chardonnays. I was impressed by the chardonnays; many exceeded the Sonoma profile of greatness.

 

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

-Black Stallion Poseidon Chardonnay 2017 Los Carneros $79.95  Select

-Cain Concept The Benchland Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Napa  Rogers

-Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2016 Napa   Rogers

-Clos Pegase Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa   Azureau

-Frank Family Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Rutherford   AbV Group

-Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Rutherford  $200 Breakthru Beverage Canada

-Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2014 Napa $68 Vintages [my personal fave of the day]

-Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa  Rogers

-Groth Vineyards and Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Oakville $224.95  The Vine Agency

-Groth Vineyards and Winery Hill Family Chardonnay 2018 Napa $64.95  The Vine Agency

-Hoopes Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2014    Wilson Wine and Spirits

-Keenan Winery Chardonnay 2017 Spring Mountain District $50  Profile

-Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa  Profile

-Louis M. Martini Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa   EJ Gallo

-Palmaz Vineyards Amalia Chardonnay 2017 Napa  Profile

-Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa   Rogers

-Revana Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 St Helena   Le Sommelier

-Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Noirs Sparkling 2015 Napa  The Vine Agency

-Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram Sparkling 2010 Napa  $169  The Vine Agency

-Shafer Vineyards Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2016 Los Carneros  Rogers

-Silenus Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2015 Napa   Carpe Vinum

-Silenus Winery Chardonnay 2018 Oak Knoll District Napa  $60   Carpe Vinum

-St.Supery Estate Vineyards Elu Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa   Von Terra

-William Hill Estate Chardonnay 2016 Napa   EJ Gallo

-Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Calistoga   Rogers

 

 

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

-Artesa Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2016 Los Carneros   A Peller

-Black Stallion Bucephalus Red Blend 2015 Napa $199   Select

-Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Napa  A Peller

-Frank Family Chardonnay 2017 Los Carneros  AbV Group

-Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa  Breakthru Beverage Canada

-Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Rutherford  Breakthru Beverage Canada

-Frog's Leap Chardonnay 2017 Napa  Rogers

-Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Oakville  The Vine Agency

-Pine Ridge Collines Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 Carernos  A Peller

-Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Stags Leap District  A Peller

-William Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa   EJ Gallo

-World's End If Six Was Nine Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa $100  Profile

-World's End Rocksteady Red Blend 2014 Napa $80   Profile

 

The Food: Daniel et Daniel with their superb smoked duck breast and meat platters, cheese platters, veggies, breads and dips. But no pate, unfortunately.

The Downside: I wished the catalogue had had a listing of overall prices, but each agency had to be asked.

The Upside: I felt comfortable talking about the wines and using the spittoons.

The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com
AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
AND https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://winewriterscircle.ca
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.