Nov 2/10Tasting with Dr. Franco Giacosa of Zonin

2. The Time and Date: Tuesday, November 2, 12:30 – 3 PM

The Event: A tasting with Dr. Franco Giacosa, director of Viticulture and Winemaking for Casa Vinicola Zonin, repped in Ontario by Impress Inc.

The Venue: Mistura

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: scattered, see below

The Quote/Background: Zonin produces wines in seven different regions through nine properties. One of these is Barboursville, Virginia, a former estate of Thomas Jefferson. The company employs 32 winemakers and viticulturists looking after 1800 Hectares. 40% of their wines are exported. Today, there was a sustainable viticulture presentation, for those properties that were "near organic". The company professes to be more concerned about the environment of the estate rather than the vineyard by itself. In collaboration with Professor Denis Dubourdieu (Oenology, University of Bordeaux), Dr. Giacosa has worked on the new MAGIS project to promote viticulture that respects the environment, ensures a sustainable production with healthy and high quality grapes, while reducing and minimizing water, soil, and air pollution. Two of their wines were here, the Aquilis and the Rocca di Montemassi (see below).

The Wines:

 

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

-Rocca di Montemassi Maremma Toscana 2008 (Bordeaux blend) $35 est.

-Principi di Butera Symposio 2007 Sicilia (Bordeaux blend) $30 est.

 

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

-Zonin Chianti DOC 2008, $12.55 GL – declassified Chianti Classico

-Tenuta Ca'Bolani Aquilis Friuli Aquileia 2009 (Sauvignon Blanc), $30 est.

-Rocca di Montemassi Maremma Toscana Le Focaie 2009 (Sangiovese), $16.30 in PQ

-Masseria Altemura Saseo Salento Puglia (Primitivo), $15 est.

-Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico Riserva 2006, $26 est.

 

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

-Zonin Sauvignon Blanc DOC 2009, $11.65 GL

-Zonin Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 2008, $15.95 GL

-Zonin Prosecco NV, $13.95 GL

 

The Food: absolutely scrumptious dishes, including appetizers of cheese balls, Portobello crostini, squash and olives, and chicken. We had these with the General List wines. I then had a scaloppini di vitello followed by a baked apple and pumpkin crumble. Others had Mediterranean sea bass filets or squash gnocchi, and ice cream. And of course all the wines went very well, since they are Italian…

The Contact Person: sebastien.ouellet@zonin.it

The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 90.

 

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

 

 

Dec 11/10: LCBO Vintages Releases - some Tasting Notes

WORLD WINE WATCH (LCBO VINTAGES TIP SHEET) FOR DECEMBER 11, 2010
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By DEAN TUDOR, Gothic Epicures Writing deantudor@deantudor.com.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com. My
"Wines, Beers and Spirits of the Net Compendium" is a guide to
thousands of news items and RSS feeds, plus references to wines, beers
and spirits, at www.deantudor.com since 1995. My tastings are based on
MVC (Modal Varietal Character); ratings are QPR (Quality-to-Price
Ratio). Prices are LCBO retail. Only my top rated wines are here. NOTE:
The LCBO does NOT put out all of the wines of the release for wine
writers or product consultants. Corked wines are not available for re-
tasting.

 

TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Anne Boecklin Reserve Gewurztraminer 2008 Alsace: Gold medalist
shows some good dynamics, off-dry, solid contender, 13.5% ABV. +141226,
$17.95, QPR: 90.
2. Vincent Lacombe Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay 2009: a good
basic MVC from burgundy, 13% ABV, well-worth the money. +185645,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
3. Bougrier Signature Vouvray 2009: an original aromatic wine from
Chenin Blanc grapes, shows both orchard and stone fruit. +106880,
$13.95, QPR: 89.
4. McManis Family Vineyards Viognier 2009 California: very juicy,
upfront but developing still, stainless steel. 13.5% ABV. +658112,
$19.95, QPR: 89.
5. Cooper Creek SV The Limeworks Chardonnay 2008 Hawkes Bay: one for
the woodies, needs balancing. +179804, $19.95, QPR: 89.
6. Eikendal Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2008 WO Stellenbosch: 14% ABV,
MVC, and wood in balance, vanilla. Expressive. +984773, $18.95, QPR:
90.

 

TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Château de Gourgazaud Reserve 2006 Minervois: needs more time to
evolve, but the potential is there as a sort-of combo Bordeaux and
Rhone wine (with the fruit, anyway). Value. +986083, $17.95, QPR; 90.
2. De Martino Legado Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Maipo: good
varietal character, wood tones. The three Cs: complicated,
concentrated, and currently drinking. +205674, $14.95, QPR: 90.
3. Domenico Filippino Nebbiolo 2007 Langhe: great version of a light
Barolo, aged nicely, 13.5% ABV. Long finish. +184952, $15.95, QPR: 91.
4. Juan Gil White Label de Cepas Viejas Monastrell 2009 Jumilla: some
undergrowth, fungal quality shines, toasty, full and warm. +13656,
$14.95, QPR: 90.
5. Bodegas Terras Gauda Pittacum Barrica 2006 Bierzo: black fruit, some
Spanish garrigue tones, soft finish. 60 year old vines. 14.5% ABV.
+190751, $18.95, QPT: 90.
6. Vina Vilanco Crianza 2006 Ribero del Duero: the highlight of the
month, great price, buy it! Delicious, toasty wood, jump-up fruit of
Tempranillo at MVC consistency. +190777, $14.95, QPR: 93.

 

VALUE: "RESTAURANT READY" or "BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE" over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.

 

1. Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Napa, +675025, $29.95 retail.
2. Fog Crest Chardonnay 2006 Russian River Valley, +211292, $47.95.
3. Domaine Marteket de Cherisey Meursault-Blagny La Genelotte 1er Cru
2007, +206250, $74.95
4. Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Montmains 1er cru 2008, +983882, $33.95.
5. Domaine Besancenot Beaune Clos du Roi 1er Cru 2006, +183772, $32.95.
6. Domaine Chante Cigale Tradition Chateauneuf du Pape 2007, +194993,
$37.95.
7. Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa, +149955,
$119.95.
8. Corte Riva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa/Sonoma County blend, +89318,
$77.95.
9. Trapiche Fausto Orellana de Escobar Single Vineyard Malbec 2007
Mendoza, +178145, $39.95.
10. Gemma Giblin Riserva Barolo 2001, +185025, $37.95.
11. Il Poggione Riserva Vigna Paganelli Brunello di Montalcino 2003,
+198416, $59.95.
12. Baron de Ley Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +642496, $29.95.

 

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

Nov 17,2010: ViniPortugal Tasting and Lunch at Salt

The Time and Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010  Noon to 3:30 PM

The Event: Vini Portugal tasting of wines listed in John Szabo's new mini-book on Portuguese wines.

The Venue: Salt, Ossington

The Target Audience: wine sommeliers and media

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available in Canada.

The Quote/Background: John Szabo had prepared a 60-page mini-book with material about the new style wines and changes in the Portuguese wine industry. There was a snappy section on Portuguese wines and food. He gave us a travelogue presentation, then ran through the three large groupings of 25 DOP areas (Atlantic, plains, mountains), and then we tasted some 9 wines in a seminar, followed by more wines with lunch, and other wines afterwards.

The Wines: There were some 27 wines in all to be tasted, although the book had listed 36. Prices are approximate, and come from the book's ranges.

  

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

-Baron de B White 2008 Alentejo, $25 - 40

-Baron de B Red Riserva 2005 Alentejo, over $40 – oldest wine here

-Bacalhoa Moscatel de Setubal 2004, $10 – 15

-Serras de Azeitao Peninsula de Setubal 2009, under $10 – my fave value today

-Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro 2007, $40+

-Cistus Reserva Douro 2007, $15 – 25

-Campolargo Dao 2007, $15 – 25 – my fave wine here

 

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

-Palha Canas Lisboa 2008, $10 - 15

-Vila Santa Alentejano 2007. $15 – 25

-Esporao Reserva Alentejo 2007, Vintages Essentials ($25.95)

-Tinto da Anfora Alentejano 2007, $10 – 15

-Periquita Peninsula de Setubal 2007, $10 - 15

-Redoma Red Douro 2007, $25 - 40

-Batuta Douro 2007, $40+

 

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

-Quinta da Lixa Vinho Verde 2009, under $10

-Quinta de Bons-Ventos Lisboa 2008, $10 - 15

-Prova Regia White Bucelas 2008, $10 -15

-Marques de Borba Alentejo 2008, $10 - 15

-Loios Alentejano 2008, under $10

-Couteiro-Mor Alentejano 2008, $10 – 15

-Redoma White Douro 2008, $25 - 40

-Quinta do Vale Meao Douro 2007, $40+

-Meandro do Vale Meao Douro 2007, $25 - 40

-Peccatore Reserva Douro 2007, $25 - 40

-Vallado Douro 2008, $15 – 25

-Crasto Douro 2008, $10 -15

-Meia Encosta Dao 2008, $10 15.

 

The Food: we were tempted with appetizers such as brandade fritters and Serrano ham croquettes (both with dips). The first course was Atlantic salmon on baby arugula with avocado salsa (2008 Prova Regia Bucelas), followed by a large duck confit ravioli au jus with a cauliflower puree smear (2008 Marques de Borba Alentojo). The main was a braised lamb (neck?) on a bed of truffle mash and root veggies (2007 Meandro do Vale Meao Douro and 2007 Quinta do Vale Meao Douro). Dessert was a poached pear with caramel drizzle and a chocolate cupcake with vanilla gelato (2004 Bacalhoa Moscatel de Setubal). The wines went well.

The Downside: Salt's address was incorrectly listed at Google and on the invite (which was based on Google), so most of us went to the wrong place.

The Upside: quality food and wine matches.

The Contact Person: eho@artscom.ca or john@johnszabo.com

The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 92.

 

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

 

 

TOP FOOD AND WINE BOOKS AS GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAY, part one

MY 14TH ANNUAL SURVEY OF FOOD AND WINE-RELATED BOOKS SUITABLE AS
HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE 2010/11 PARTY PERIOD

 

There are so many new food and wine books out there for people who have
picky tastes!! What to choose? I have cast about for material and have
come up with a decent selection to satisfy any pocketbook, any host,
and any friend. All books and book-like materials that are listed here
are RECOMMENDED, and probably can be purchased at a discount via
Amazon.Ca or Chapters.Ca (with free delivery on a total purchase of
over $25). Price Alert: because of US dollar fluctuations with Canada,
all prices may vary. I have used CAD wherever I know it.

 

 

 

Part One: TOP GIFT IDEAS
========================

 

A. Art/travel/history books might be the best books to give a loved one
(or to yourself, since you are your own best loved one), because most
may cost you an arm and a leg. Books for the coffee table have their
place in the gift scheme: just about every such book is only bought as
a gift! And don't let the prices daunt you. Such books are available at
a discount from online vendors. Because of the "economy", not too many
pricey food and wine books were released last year and this year, and
book reviewers were cut off from many foreign imports and expensive
books.

 

--OPUS VINO (DK Books, 2010, 800 pages, $75 US hard covers) explores
more than 4,000 of the world's most significant wineries, from up-and-
comers to established producers. There's a lot of general information
here about the wine regions of the world, plus many wine labels and
bottles, but the heart of it all is the exposure of some 30 or so new
wine voices – they are all young, judging by their pictures. The two
most prominent for us in Toronto are Lindsay Groves (she wrote the
section on Turkey and Lebanon) and Alder Yarrow (Sonoma and Marin
chapters) of www.vinography.com, probably the best wine blog on the
planet. It is good to have more young people writing about wines with
their fresh thoughts. And to give exposure to countries such as Brazil,
Canada and Mexico. You've got to be young to read the book: it weighs
in at 8 pounds!!

 

--DOMAINE CHANDON COOKBOOK; recipes from Etoile restaurant (Chronicle
Books, 2010, 224 pages, $40 US hard covers) is by Jeff Morgan, although
the preps come from Etoile, the on-site restaurant. There's advanced
log rolling here from Thomas Keller and Karen MacNeil. The Michelin-
starred resto itself is described, and many of the photos here come
from that place. 75 preps are presented, with an emphasis on casual
elegance. It's a pretty book, covering all courses, with am emphasis on
sparkling wine to accompany the plates. Lavish photography and
presentation.

 

--GIFTS COOKS LOVE; recipes for giving (Andrews McMeel, 2010, 184
pages, $32.99 CAD hard covers) comes from the American kitchen
equipment firm, Sur La Table. The book is crammed with recipes and
ideas for food to pack into a jar or can or box or cellophane bag.
There's a primer on preserving and dehydrating, smoked and cured gifts,
baked gifts, confections and drink gifts. I liked the orange cardamom
marmalade. Many useful packaging and gift card ideas too. The material
ranges from entry level to qualified levels. 40 recipes.

 

--ONE BIG TABLE; a portrait of American cooking (Simon & Schuster,
2010, 864 pages, $57.99 CAD hard covers) has been collated by Molly
O'Neill, former food columnist for the New York Times. It's a huge
book, with many archival and current illustration and photographs. The
subtitle says it has "600 recipes from the nation's best home cooks,
farmers, fishermen, pit-masters, and chefs". This is a road trip across
the continental region, and there were more than 20,000 contributed
preps. You could say that these are heirloom recipes, and you wouldn't
be wrong. Despite all this, log rolling was added, with endorsements
from Alice Waters (who else?), Ethan (Joy of Cooking) Becker, and
Thomas (French Laundry) Keller. All preps are sourced, with further
info at www.onebigtable.com. Also a huge list of acknowledgements that
is well-worth reading. A fascinating book for lovers of American
"national community" foods.

 

--OUT OF OLD NOVA SCOTIA KITCHENS (Nimbus Publishing, 2010, 229 pages,
$17.95 CAD soft covers) is by Marie Nightingale. It was originally
published 40 years ago to great acclaim, and here it is back again --
reprinted with a baker's dozen new recipes and an introduction by Chef
Michael Howell (Tempest Restaurant, Wolfville). These are the
traditional foods of the province, displaying Acadian, Scottish and
First Nation roots and cultures. The new preps (in its own, separate
chapter) include spiced Christmas beef, chicken legs with sauerkraut,
curried cider mussels, plus desserts.

 

--FANNIE'S LAST SUPPER; re-creating one amazing meal from Fannie
Farmer's 1896 Cookbook (McClelland & Stewart, 2010, 260 pages, $32.99
CAD hard covers) is by Chris Kimball, host of America's Test Kitchen
(PBS). He also founded Cook's Illustrated magazine. The book
accompanies the film of the same title, which aired in Fall 2010 on
PBS. It includes dishes from the dinner that Kimball cooked, along with
some revised and updated recipes from The Boston Cooking-School Cook
Book. It's an armchair experience as Kimball researches a twelve course
Christmas dinner that Farmer served at the end of the 19th century.
There are lots of historical details behind every dish, and there is a
useful index.

 

--THE FOOD STYLIST'S HANDBOOK (Gibbs Smith, 2010, 264 pages, $50 US) is
something different for the foodie that has everything. The book is a
manual for every picture telling and selling a story about food. It's
meant for culinary students, but it is also an accessible book at an
affordable price. There are lots of photos and ideas on how food
pictures sell food. Topics include how recipe testing works and food
advertising. And there's a huge chapter on tricks of the trade (shaving
cream, grill marks, food colouring, and more).

 

--CHOCOLATE WARS; the 150-year rivalry between the world's greatest
chocolate makers (Douglas & McIntyre, 2010, 348 pages, $29.95 CAD hard
covers) is by Deborah Cadbury, a relative of the Quaker family that
went into the business of chocolate. The major English firms were all
Quaker family enterprises, and their religious passions made them very
philanthropic. English rivals included Fry and Rowntree. When they
tried to move into the American market, they were rebuffed by Hershey
and later, Mars. Eventually, Cadbury won out over many other companies
in England. But it was purchased by Kraft in 2010 for $19.5 billion.
The author writes a spirited and engaging business history, which
should appeal to those food historians among the chocolate fanciers.
And there is the scholarly bibliography of archives, manuscripts,
books, and articles.

 

--A SLICE OF ORGANIC LIFE (DK Books, 2010, 352 pages, $19.95 US paper
covers) is by Sheherazade Goldsmith, a writer who runs an organic farm
in Devon, England. It was originally published in 2007; this is the
paperback reprint. The author is listed as "editor-in-chief" which
seems to imply that other people wrote the material. But I don't see
any other writing references, although there are many acknowledgements
to photographers. The book is in three parts: what you can do to be
eco-friendly if you don't have a yard; what you can do if you have a
patio or a small yard; and what you can do if you have a large yard or
field or even community garden. Under the latter, there are 33
activities, ranging from keeping some chickens (illegal in Toronto),
making simple preserves, nourishing the soil, to using up a glut of
tomatoes, planting a vine or simply creating a pond for wildlife. There
are about 90 activities in the book. At the very least (with no yard),
one can bake bread, check the label, make flavoured oils and vinegars,
and shop ethically. Commonsense will win out. This is a very good book,
with a few recipes (all indexed in italics).

 

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

 

 

Nov 1/10 Major Tasting of Wines from Italy (ICE)

The Time and Date: Monday, November 1, 2010  10 AM to 5 PM

The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy, 15^th annual trade show, organized by ITALIA and ICE.

The Venue: Roy Thompson Hall Lobby

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was another model of almost-perfection: spiral bound, clear writing with everything but price and form of distribution.

The Quote/Background: We can pretty well guess a price, but the method of distribution would have been good to know (Vintages and when?, consignment, private order, not available, only in Alberta, -- something !! )

The Wines: There was a seminar on Prosecco, and I folded my preferences into the listing below. I did not taste all of the wines at the show, there were supposed to be 224 wineries there, which would suggest almost a thousand wines.

 

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

-Bortolin Angelo Spumanti Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry 2009

-Bisol Desiderio & Figli Bisol Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze 2009 ($40)

-Rocca di Frassinello 2007

-Monte del Fra' Scarnocchio Amarone 2001 (Signature)

-Luce 2007 ($99.95)

-Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Rabaja' Riserva 1999 ($85 30.50 Imports)

-Castello di Verduno Barolo Massara Riserva 1999 ($85 30.50 Imports)

-Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Riserva 2007 ($21.95)

-Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2005

-Planeta Merlot 2007 IGT Sicilia

-Sella & Mosca Carignano del Sulcis Terre Rare Riserva 2005 ($44 Majestic)

 

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

-Ruggeri Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Vecchie Viti 2009

-Pietro Rinaldi Barbaresco San Cristoforo 2006

-Le Sughere di Frassinello 2007

-De Angelis Marche Anghelos 2007

-Poderi Colla Barolo Bussia 2005

-Cecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006 ($24.95, Feb 5, 2011 Vintages)

-Le Bertole di Bertolin G Valdobbiadene Spumante Dry Supreme 2009

-Lucente 2008 ($39.95)

-Luce Brunello di Luce 2005 Montalcino ($99.95)

-Cecchi Moreelino di Scansano Val delle Rose Riserva 2006 ($26.95 Select)

-Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2007 Riserva 2006 ($45.95 Halpern)

-Banfi Toscano IGT Belnero 2007 ($25 Authentic)

-Zeni Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigne Alte 2006 ($39 Frontier)

-Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Boscareto 2005 ($65 Classics)

-Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Cerequio 2005 ($65 Charton Hobbs)

-Pietro Rinaldi Barolo Monvigliero 2005

-Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Rabaja' 2003 ($55 30.50 Imports)

-Borgo Scopeto Toscana IGT Borgonero 2005 (Case for Wine)

-Ca' du Rabaja' Barbaresco 2007 ($55 Liquid Art)

-Ca' du Rabaja' Barbaresco 2007 Rabaja' ($65 Liquid Art)

-Donnafugata Contessa Entellina Tancredi 2006

-Donnafugata Sherazade IGP Sicilia Nero d'Avola 2009

-Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2005

-Planeta La Segreta Rosso 2009 IGT Sicilia

-Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2004 Montefante ($59.95 Majestic)

-Frescobaldi Toscana Mormoreto IGT 2007 ($59.95 Schiralli)

-Frescobaldi Toscana Tenuta di Castiglioni IGT 2008 ($59.95 Schiralli)

-Poderi Colla Barbaresco Roncaglie 2006

-PWS Amarone Della Valpolicella Le Arche 2007 ($34.95 Vintages)

-PWS Barolo Gemma 2006 ($29.95 Ruby)

-Rocca delle Macie Sasyr IGT Toscana 2007

-Ornellaia Le Volte IGT Toscana 2008 ($30 Vintages)

 

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

-Nino Franco Spumanti Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore 2008

-Casal Thulero Terre di Chieti Sangiovese 2009 ($7.45)

-Toffoli Prosecco Superiore de Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Spumante Extra Dry Rive di Refrontolo 2009

-Castorani Piccio Syrah 2008 ($13.95).

-Badia a Coltibuono Toscana Trappoline IGT 2009 Bianco ($19.95 Halpern)

-Cusumano Jale Chardonnay IGT Sicilia ($29 Diamond Estates)

-Frescobaldi Pomino Castello di Pomino 2009

-Michele Satta Bolgheri Rosso 2008

-Michele Satta Bolgheri Piastraia 2006

-Streda Belvedere Casanova Streda IGT Toscano 2009 ($17.99 Hobbs & Co)

-Silvio Nardi Sant'Antimo Merlot 2007

-Terre del Barolo Barolo Vinum Vitae Est 2006 ($24.95 GL in 2011)

 

The Food: there were three stations. One had cheeses and prosciutto. The others had bruschetta and crostini with tomatoes or mushrooms or osso buco or squash.

The Downside: too many wines.

The Upside: there was good traffic flow, people minded their surroundings, and spillage was at a minimum.

The Contact Person: b.marassi@ice.it

The Marketing Effectiveness of THIS Event (numerical grade): 84 (too many wines to be really effective)

 

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

 

 

Nov 3/10 - [yellowtail] Reserve lunch and tasting at Buca

The Time and Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2010  11AM to 2 PM

The Event: A [yellow tail] Reserve wine tasting with founder John Casella and Zoltan Szabo.

The Venue: Buca Restaurant, King Street

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: The reserve wines are working their way through the Ontario system. 200,000 cases in total were made for international distribution.

The Quote/Background: John Casella spoke on his company. Eight million cases have been sold in the US (out of 11.5 million total), The grapes come from 39 different regions. The wine is exceptionally fruit-driven, but the Reserve has some advanced levels of complexity, primarily due to wood aging. Zoltan took us through the tasting, which was blind. We were to compare four different Shiraz wines and four different Cabernet Sauvignon wines, all from Australia. Yellow Tail Reserves were part of the mix. I could not identify any wines in each flight, but I did surmise that the most fruity of the wines would probably be the Yellow Tail Reserve – and I was right.

The Wines:

 

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

-Three Rings Shiraz 2007 Barossa (everybody's fave shiraz)

-Yellow Tail Reserve Chardonnay 2009

 

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

-Yellow Tail Reserve Shiraz 2009

-Layer Cake Shiraz 2009 SEA

-Heartlands Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Limestone Coast (my fave cab)

 

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

-Yellow Tail White Sparkler (rince bouche)

-Angove's The Bull Shiraz 2007 SEA

-Mitolo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 McLaren Vale ($65!)

-Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 SEA

-Yellow Tail Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (the fave cabernet sauvignon)

 

The Food: a first rate selection of nodini as an appetizer, followed by a cavatelli pomodori with nova tomatoes and capra di alma (wine: Yellow Tail Reserve Chardo9nnay 2009). Then there was a beef short rib with polenta and grana padano (wine: Yellow Tail Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 and Reserve Shiraz 2009).

The Downside: a bit of a chlorine odour in my corner made me move to another location, but the smell dissipated after awhile.

The Upside: there was a limo livery service to drop us off.

The Contact Person: Nicole Paara npaara@harbingerideas.com

The Marketing Effectiveness of this Event (numerical grade): 91 – it was a good exercise.

 

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