The Event: California Wine Fair Media Preview Tasting, March 10, 2009

 The Time and Date:  Tuesday, March 10, 2009   5 PM to 8:30 PM
The Event: California Wine Fair Media Preview Tasting
The Venue: Far Niente, Bay St
The Target Audience: wine media
The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are, or will be, available.
The Quote/Background: We tasted the wines single blind (we knew
California and grape variety).
The Wines: Of the 47 wines tried, out of the expected 400 or more at
the April 6 show, I enjoyed the following --

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Landmark Vineyards Overlook Sonoma Chardonnay 2007 – not available
(Lorac Wine Agency)
-Merryvale Vineyards Starmont Chardonnay Napa 2007, $32.95 –
Consignment from Profile Wine Group.
-Kenwood Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2006, $18.95 – Consignment
from Rogers & Co.
-Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2002,
$230 – Private order from Lifford Agencies.
-Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2004, $68.95 – Vintages

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2006, $29.95 – Vintages in
July
-Testarossa Vineyards Castello Chardonnay Central Coast 2007, $29.95 –
private order from B & W Wines.
-Far Niente Napa Chardonnay, $80 – Classics in September 2009
-La Crème Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2007, $31.95 LCBO in June
-Lucas & Lewellen High Nine Pinot Noir Santa Barbara Coast 2006, not
available (Saverio Schiralli)
-Treana Winery Cando Zinfandel California NV, $26.95 – not available
(Noble Estates)
-Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2006, $26.95 – not
available (Select Wines)
-Trinchero Family Vineyards Newman's Own Cabernet Sauvignon 2006,
$18.95 – Vintages in May
-Heitz Trailside Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2002 – Private order
from Lifford Agencies.
-Cuvaison Winery Brandlin Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Napa 2005, $89
– Vintages in October 2009
-JanKris Winery Crossfire 2005 (50CabSauv/25Mer/25Syrah) – not
available (Majestic Wine Cellars)

 

The Food: lamb lollipops, braised ribs, seared tuna, salmon, shrimp,
panko chicken, diverse breads – all after the tasting.
The Downside: some of my white wines were too warm.
The Upside: I was going to be away April 6, and would miss the show.
This was a great opportunity to try some of the wines – and blind too!
The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com