TRADE TASTING: Argentine Wines, Nov 6, 2008

 The Time and Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008   1:30 PM to 6 PM
The Event: trade tasting of Argentine wines, sponsored by the Consulate
General of Argentina.
The Venue: Design Exchange
The Target Audience: wine trade, although it seemed to be lightly
attended. There was a consumer show in the evening.
The Availability/Catalogue: the catalogue was explicit about suppliers
and agents, names of wines, varietals, regions and vintages, but fell
down on the prices. Many were out of whack with reality. Many prices
did not exist at all. I had to ask each agent for prices.
The Quote: "There are 950 wineries in the Argentine, with 685 in the
Mendoza. Canada has the third highest exported figures, after the UK
and the US. Sales to Canada last year were up 49.2%. Malbec represents
33% of sales, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
The Wines: 174 wines were offered, but I did not taste them all.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Bodega Del Fin Del Mondo Pinot Noir Reserva 2007 Patagonia - $19.95
Calibrium
-Luigi Bosca Gala 2 2006 Mendoza [Bordeaux-style blend] – Pacific Wines
and Spirits
-Familia Schroeder Pinot Noir Malbec 2004 Patagonia - $39 Connexion
Oenophilia
-Catena Zapata Chardonnay 2006 Mendoza - Calibrium
-Pascual Toso Pedregal Single Vineyard 2006 - $39 - Eurovintage
-Las Moras Reserve Chardonnay 2007 San Juan - $11.99 – Diamond Estates
-Trivento Golden Reserve Syrah 2006 Mendoza - $24.95 – Select Wines
-Trivento Golden Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Mendoza - $23.95 – Select
Wines

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Dante Robino Sua Sparkling Blackberry 2007 Mendoza - $12.95
Eurovintage
-Pascual Toso Malbec Reserva 2007 Mendoza - $19.95 – Eurovintage
-Chakana Reserve Malbec 2006 - $17.95 – Connexion Oenophilia
-Saurus Patagonia Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $16.95 – Connexion
Oenophilia
-Saurus Patagonia Select Malbec 2006 - $16.95 – Connexion Oenophilia
-Graffigna Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - $18.95 - Corby
-Las Moras Mora Negra Malbec-Bonarda 2006 San Juan - $35 – Diamond
Esttaes
-Trapiche Finca Las Palmas Malbec 1006 Mendoza - $19.95 – Philippe
Dandurand
-Trivento Coleccion Fincas No. 1 Malbec 2006 Mendoza - $24.95 – Select
Wines
-Lagarde Malbec DOC 2006 Mendoza - $20.81 – The Case for Wine

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Dante Robino Sparkling Extra Brut 2007 Mendoza - Eurovintage
-Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda Extra Brut 2007 Mendoza – Pacific Wines and
Spirits
-Las Moras Gran Shiraz 2005 San Juan - $27.99 – Diamond Estates
-Cristobal 1494 Torrontes 2008 Mendoza - $15 - Ruby
-Fam. Zuccardi Fuzion Alta Malbec-Tempranillo 2008 - $10.95 - Dionysus
-Fam. Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2006 Mendoza - $18.95 – Vintages March
2009
-Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Mendoza - $19 – Profile Wine Group
-Dominio Del Plata Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2008 - $13.95 –
Profile Wine Group
-Lagarde Altas Cumbres Sparkling 2007 Mendoza - $12.65 – The Case for
Wine
-Lagarde Chardonnay 2007 Mendoza - $16.04 – The Case for Wine

 

The Food: waitstaff offered empanadas and other two-bite goodies.
The Downside: the seminar was way too general, as if we did not know
anything about Argentine wines.
The Upside: there was an informative seminar about Argentine wines,
although it went on past the time limit because it had to cover so much
ground. We tasted four Malbecs. Best was Reserva del Fin del Mundo,
which had showed aging.
The Contact Person: info@winespeak.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 86.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com