TASTING: Foster's California Winemakers on Tour, April 22, 2009

 The Time and Date:  Wednesday, April 22, 2009  2PM to 5 PM
The Event: California Winemakers on Tour – Foster's properties in
California.
The Venue: Baillie Court, AGO.
The Target Audience: wine trade
The Availability/Catalogue: everything was available for purchase. The
catalogue had pix of the winemakers, biographies, and space for the
wines. Prices were on a separate order sheet. Some wines will also be
at Vintages.
The Quote/Background: The promotion concerned seven regions, seven
winemakers, and ten labels (Beringer, TAZ, St. Clement, Cellar No. 8,
Etude, Souverain, Stags' Leap Winery, Sbragia Family Vineyards, Chateau
St. Jean, Greg Norman Calfornia Estates). My two fave wineries were
Chateau St. Jean and Sbragia Family Vineyards.
The Wines: I did not try every wine. Prices are retail.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Sbragia Family Vineyards Home Ranch Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay 2007,
$34.95.
-Sbragia Family Vineyards Home Ranch Dry Creek Valley Merlot 2007,
$34.95.
-Sbragia Family Vineyards Rancho Del Oso Vineyard Howell Mountain 2005,
$74.95.
-Sbragia Family Vineyards Andolsen Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon 2006, $44.95.
-TAZ Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2007, $29.95.
-Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Chardonnay 2007, $21.95. (Vintages Oct.
10, 2009, +421644).
-Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Merlot 2006, $34.95. (Vintages Sept 26,
2009, +67926)
-Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $39.95.
(Vintages June 20, 2009, +977173).
-Chateau St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay
2006, $34.95.

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Stag's Leap Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay 2007, $34.95 (Vintages June
20, 2009, +655381).
-Stag's Leap Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $49.95
-Stag's Leap Winery Napa Valley "The Leap" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,
$99.95
-Stag's Leap Winery Napa Valley "Ne Cede Malis" Petite Syrah 2006,
$89.95
-St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2007, $24.95 (Vintages Sept 12, 2009,
+128934)
-St. Clement Armstrong Ranch Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,
$99.95
-St. Clement Steinhauer Ranch Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,
$99.95
-St. Clement Star Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $99.95
-Etude Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $99.95
-Beringer Alluvium Blanc Knights Valley White Meritage 2007, $34.95.
-Beringer Private Preserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2007, $44.95
-Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,
$89.95.

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Greg Norman North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $24.95 (Vintages June
20, 2009, +8722)
-Etude Carneros Chardonnay 2007, $49.95
-Etude Carneros Pinot Noir 2006, $69.95 (Vintages Oct 24, 2009, +71654)
-Beringer Third Century Central Coast Pinot Noir 2006, $19.95 (Vintages
June 6, 2009, +43786)
-Beringer Napa Valley Viognier 2006, $27.95.

 

The Food: breads, cheese, passarounds.
The Downside: it was a big room with many people crowding the tables.
The Upside: the media has a table to sit down and check the wines on
their own.
The Contact Person: angela.lyons@am.fostersgroup.com
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 89.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com