California Cruisin': Sante wine tasting May 8, 2008

The Time and Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008  7PM to 10PM

The Event: California Cruisin': a Sante tasting of California wines.

The Venue: Crystal & Currelly Galleries at the ROM

The Target Audience: consumers.

The Availability/Catalogue: the normal Sante catalogue was presented, with all the relevant data about the wines and the grapes. It only lacked for levels of availability and prices. Most of the wines being shown were somewhere in the LCBO distribution system.

The Quote: "The range of wines here is impressive, from Martha's Vineyard at $230 a bottle down to plonk."

The Wines: 27 wineries were slated to exhibit some 100 wines. I did not taste them all. I managed to get a few prices.

 

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

-Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay Napa 2005 $44.95

-Chimney Rock Elevage 2004 $72

-Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stages Leap District 2005 $58

-Cuvaison Brandlin Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $80

-Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 2002 $230

-Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $160

-Nichols Winery Edna Ranch Pinot Noir Clone 777 2001 $52.50

-Nichols Winery Vinas del Sol Merlot 2000

-Robert Craig Mt.Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $98

-Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve 2004 $83

-Hess Collection Artezin Zinfandel 2006 $24

 

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

-Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $39.95

-Cakebread Chardonnay 2005

-Buena Vista Carneros Chardonnay 2005

-Clos du Bois Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

-Cuvaison Chardonnay Carneros 2006 $26

-Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Chardonnay 2006

-Heitz Cellars Chardonnay 2006

-Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

-Ironstone Reserve Cabernet Franc 2005 $32

-Paul Dolan/Parducci Organic Chardonnay 2006

-Robert Craig Affinty 2005 $60.50

-Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $57

-Tangley Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $23

-Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $24

-Thomas Fogarty Gewurztraminer Monterey 2006 $22

-Thomas Fogarty Skyline Red 2005 $19

-Hess Collection Monterey Chardonnay 2006

 

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

-Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $18

-Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2006

-Sterling Napa Valley Chardonnay 2005

-Tangley Oaks Chardonnay 2005 $20

-Trinchero Family Menage a Trois White 2006

 

The Food: Globe Bistro (Chef Ben Heaton) had a lobster seviche in a spoon, Far Niente (Chef Gordon Mackie) had crab cakes, while Reds (Chef Michael Steh) had Berkshire pork belly. The Dairy Farmers of Canada contributed three cheeses. Daniel et Daniel did a table spread of dips and veggies. Starbucks contributed coffees.

The Downside: the evening went by incredibly fast.

The Upside: good crowd control, with no shoving or pushing.

The Contact Person: steve@stevethurlow.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

Sante Toronto Internatrional Wine Festival, 10th anniversary

The Time and Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008   2PM to 5PM

The Event: Sante 10^th Anniversary Toronto International Wine Festival

Trade Tasting

The Venue: The Carlu

The Target Audience: wine trade, media.

The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue had detail about the wineries and about the wines, the agents, and was spiral bound. Unfortunately, there were no details about prices or the levels of availability.

The Quote: "It was a shame that the Lifford tasting is on at the same time".

The Wines: I concentrated on European wines since I had a media pass to the California and Australian Sante wine shows later in the week. The unmistakable highlight of today's show was the very crowded table of Australian Landmark wines, poured by the Australian Trade Commission. They were all worthy wines, definitely 88 points and up. Here's the list that I enjoyed (the Moss Wood was possibly the best wine of the entire afternoon) --

• Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling 2006
• Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon Hunter Valley 2006
• Shaw & Smith M3 Vineyard Chardonnay 2006
• Caves Road Chardonnay 2006
• Yering Station Chardonnay Reserve 2005
• Yering Station Pinot Noir Reserve 2005
• Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Margaret River
• Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth 2004
• Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Katnook Cabernet Sauvignon Odyssey 2002
• Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2004
• Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2004
• Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2005
• Yalumba The Octavius Barossa Old Vine Shiraz 2001
• Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2002
• Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 2002
• Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2004
• Yering Station Shiraz/Viognier 2005
• St.Hallett's Old Block Shiraz 2004
• Alkoomi BlackButt 2004 Frankland

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

-Ascheri Moscato d'Asti 2007

-Taittinger Brut Vintage 2002

-Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1998

-KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2005 $15

-Fita Preta Vinhos Preta 2005 $56.50

 

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

-Ascheri Barolo Vigna dei Pola 2003

-Naoussa Grand Reserve 2001

-Taittinger Brut Reserve

-Taittinger Prestige Rose

-Dom. Machard de Gramont Nuits Saint Georges "Les Hauts Pruliers" 2005

-Dom. Machard de Gramont Nuits Saint Georges Blanc "Creu Fraiche Eau" 2006

-Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007

-KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

-Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2005

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Novas Chardonnay Marsanne Viognier 2005

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Coyam Red 2005

 

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

-Domaine Skouras Viognier 2004

-Miguel Torres Spain Salmos 2005

-Navarro Correas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

-Strewn Chardonnay French Oak 2006

-Tsantali Cabernet Sauvignon Organic 2003

-Vinedos Organicos Emiliana Novas Carmenere Cabernet 2005

 

 

The Food: catered by Daniel et Daniel, with pates, crackers, salmon, and appetizers. Cheeses were from the Dairy Farmers of Canada, and included Niagara Gold.

The Downside: it was lightly attended, perhaps because of the competing Lifford tasting.

The Upside: there was actually food this time instead of just Dairy Farmer Canada cheese and bread.

The Contact Person: steve@stevethurlow.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 91.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

Empson Canada Portfolio Tasting, May 6, 2008

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008  Noon to 5 PM

The Event: Empson Canada portfolio tasting (agent: Woodman Wines and Spirits)

The Venue: Royal Canadian Yacht Club, City Clubhouse

The Target Audience: wine press, private clients and restaurants.

The Availability/Catalogue: everything is available in an assortment of ordering mechanisms.

The Quote: "A great assortment of Barolo 2004 wines". Eight Italian wine producers were in attendance.

The Wines: The wines were mostly Italian, but there were some Oz and Kiwi wines, as well as Ojai from California.

 

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

-Bongiovanni Barolo 2004 ($69.95)

-Einaudi Barolo "Nei Cannubi" 2004 ($105)

 

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

-Bongiovanni Barolo "Pernanno" 2004 ($81.95)

-Conterno Fantino Barolo "Sori Ginestra" 2004 ($117.95)

-Einaudi Barolo "Costa Grimaldi" 2004 ($99.95)

-Marcarini Barbera d'Alba "Ciabot Camerano" 2006 ($21.95)

-Marcarini Barolo "La Serra" 2004 ($64.95)

-Capannelle Chicanti Classico Riserva 2003 ($54.95)

-Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005 Riserva ($69.95)

 

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

-Conterno Fantino Barolo "Vigna del Gris" 2004 ($107.95)

-Toscolo Chianti 2006 ($13.95)

-Monte Antico Rosso 2004 ($14.95)

-Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005 ($44.95)

 

The Food: cheeses, breads and fruits.

The Downside: it conflicted with the German wine show.

The Upside: a good quantity of red wines were available for tasting.

The Contact Person: jason@woodmanwinesandspirits.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Icewine

ICEWINE; extreme winemaking (Key Porter Books, 2007, 192 pages, ISBN
978-1-55263-926-9, $50 CDN hard covers) is mainly by Donald Ziraldo,
who, with winemaker Karl Kaiser, founded Inniskillin Wines in 1974. It
was the first small and new winery in Ontario since 1929. There's a
foreword from Hugh Johnson, an icewine flavour wheel from Shari
Darling, some notes from John Schreiner's book on Icewine, scientific
notes from Karl Kaiser, and recipes from the late Izabela Kalabis-Sacco
pulled together by Lyn Ogryzlo. The promotion bumpf says, "A gorgeous
collection, with full-colour photography and delicious recipes that
explains the art behind Canada's wine delicacy". They forgot to include
that the book also contains a big whack of scientific and technical
data, with copious charts, graphs, and tables, compiled for the most
part by Kaiser. He has all the figures for the history of Inniskillin
icewine, including - on a year by year basis -- harvest brix, harvest
temperatures, acid levels, ABV, residual sugars, all from 1983 through
2006 (the latter was harvested in January 2007). In addition, there are
figures for all of BC, all Ontario productions, Germany and Austria.
Icewine made in other locations, such as New Zealand or New York, are
cryogenic extractions (wines from the freezer). The book is very
detailed with maps and photos, discussing the effects of terroir, grape
varieties, pressing techniques, cork quality. There's a discussion of
VQA and the new sub-appellations in Niagara. Ziraldo has material on
how to properly appreciate and taste Icewine, using Riedal glasses
which he had helped to create. There are cocktail recipes, and 20 food
recipes using icewine or accompanying icewine, using both avoirdupois
and metric measurements for the ingredients.
Audience and level of use: lovers of icewine.
Some interesting or unusual recipes/facts: foie gras with Granny Smith
apples; seared foie gras with icewine-soaked apricots; grilled fig
salad with gorgonzola; truffled cream of cauliflower soup; leg of lamb
with fig compote.
The downside to this book: there's a suggestion of a gift book here,
but no matter.
The upside to this book: there's a separate index for the recipes.
Quality/Price Rating: 89.

www.deantudor.com

German Wine Trade Show, Toronto, May 6, 2008

 The Time and Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008 2PM to 5PM

The Event: Germany Wines with Jazz trade show

The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall

The Target Audience: wine press, sommeliers, LCBO product consultants.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were available in the system, but many were private orders only. The catalogue had all of the salient data, but no prices.

The Quote: "Red production of wines in German now is at 36.8% of the total" (63.2% is obviously white wine)

The Wines: There were not many reds, and only one chardonnay. Gewurztraminer appears to be increasing in variety.

 

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

-Britzingen Gewurztraminer Spatlese 2003 Badenweiler Romerberg

-Deinhard Beerenauslese Rheinhessen 2005

-Dr.Fischer Riesling Spatlese 2006 Ockfener Bockstein ($20)

-Fitz-Ritter Riesling Sekt b.A. Extra Dry ($16)

-Markus Molitor Riesling Auslese 2002 Zeltlinger Sonnenuhr

-Markus Molitor Riesling Spatlese 2005 Feinherb Bernkasteler Badstube

-Markus Molitor Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2005 Wehlener Klosterberg ($385)

-Graf von Schonborn Riesling Spatlese 1991 Hochheim Domdechaney

 

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

-Balthasar Ress Riesling Auslese Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen 2004

-Darting Gewurztraminer Kabinett Durkheimer Nonnengarten 2005

-Gunderloch Gewurztraminer 2006 ($19.95)

-Graf von Schonborn Estate Riesling 1994

-Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Riesling Spatlese Saarburger Rausch 1993 ($34.95)

-Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Spatlese 2006 Grunlack

 

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

-Fitz-Ritter Gewurztraminer Spatlese 2007

-Studert-Prum Maximinhof Riesling Spatlese Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2006 ($23.95)

-Blue Nun Winemakers Passion 2006 Riesling ($13)

-Rappenhof Riesling Auslese 2007 Niersteiner Pettenthal

-Ruppertsberger Linsenbusch Riesling Eiswein 2004 ($49.95)

 

The Food: a continuation of lunch, with more vegetables and cheeses.

The Downside: light attendance, but then that meant more room to navigate.

The Upside: a chance to catch up with non-Riesling.

The Contact Person: germanwinecanada@sympatico.ca

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com

 

 

New Zealand wines at Vintages, May 24, 2008

 The Time and Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008  Noon to 2 PM

The Event: media May 24^th Pre-Release Vintages Tasting of New Zealand Wines.

The Venue: LCBO Summerhill Scrivener Square

The Target Audience: wine press

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are being released on May 24^th at Vintages, about nine days after the New Zealand Wine Fair (see below).

The Quote: "The line tasting is arranged by varietal in the tasting room followed by lunch in the Kitchen Event room." We were to try wines against foods.

The Wines: There were 28 wines, each accompanied by personal tech note sheets.

 

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

-Sacred Hill Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2006 ($19.95)

-Lowburn Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2006 ($38.25)

-Nobilo Icon Central Otago Pinot Noir 2006 ($25.95)

-Goldridge Estate Hawkes Bay Syrah 2005 ($19.55)

-Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($17.20)

 

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

-Brancott B Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($35.15)

-Lawsons Dry Hills Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2006 ($19.50)

-Coopers Creek Gisborne Chardonnay 2005 ($26)

-Pisa Range Black Poplar Central Otago Pinot Noir 2005 ($48.85)

-Craggy Range Sophia Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($61.95)

 

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

-Sileni Estate Cellar Select Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($15.95)

-Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($16.95)

-Craggy Range Te Muna Road Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir 2006 ($46.95)

 

The Food: Daniel et Daniel did the catering. There was butternut squash linguine, with duck confit and shaved Brussels sprouts (meant for the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay), spring risotto with asparagus and fiddleheads and baby snow peas (meant for the aromatic varieties of Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer), roasted lamb chops with Israeli couscous and pistachio (meant for the Pinot Noir), and roast venison with a chestnut-celery root puree (meant for the Bordeaux varieties). Of course, we could mix and match – and we did!

The Downside: too many wines to try to assess with food-wine matches in the allotted time. It would have been useful to have had a bucket for spitting out food.

The Upside: it was fun going back and forth between the foods and the wines.

The Contact Person: rketchin@ketchin.com

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 96.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com