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Friday, August 2, 2024

REPORT ON THE ICONS OF THE OKANAGAN VALLEY WINE TASTING

REPORT ON  THE ICONS OF THE OKANAGAN VALLEY WINE TASTING

The Date and Time: Tuesday March 26, 2024  7P - 9P
The Event: ICONS of the Okanagan Valley - Taste and Buy Event with Checkmate Artisanal Winery and Martin's Lane Winery
The Venue: Lena, Yonge Street
The Target Audience: the private collectors group of Mark Anthony, wine media and sommeliers
The Availability/Catalogue: all wines were available in Ontario by consignment.
The Quote/Background: The fact of dratted construction outside did not deter many people from attending this business casual tasting event. Seven wines were presented, which was a good number for holding our attention and gives us enough space to evaluate and taste properly. Eventually, it got really crowded -- as I left...
The Wines: at least I was able to taste each and every wine at this event. Wines are available by consignment.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Checkmate Fool's Mate Chardonnay 2019, $101.95 con
-Checkmate End Game Merlot 2019, $101.95 con
-Martin's Lane Simes Vineyard Riesling 2022, $59.95 con
-Martin's Lane Simes Vineyard  Pinot Noir 2018, $101.95 con   [my fave, being one year older]

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Martin's Lane Dehart Vineyard  Pinot Noir 2019, $101.95 con
-Checkmate Knight's Challenge Chardonnay 2019, $101.95 con
-Checkmate Attack Chardonnay 2019, $101.95 con

The Food: there was the inevitable cheese platter and biscuits with slices of murcia al vino, bella vitano, manchego, and a slab of blue Valdeon. Some plattered pinchos (canapes) such as patatas bravas with spiced tomato and milk mayonnaise, jambon-wrapped dates with blue cheese and marcona almonds, lamb skewer asado with onion salsa, and avocado guac on sourdough toast.
The Contact Person: privatecollectors@markanthony.com
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.



Dean Tudor,  Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.com
http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures

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