Trade Event: Salute Toronto Wine & Food Festival Trade show, May 7, 2009

The Time and Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009  2 Pm to 5 PM

The Event: Salute Toronto Wine & Food Festival Trade show

The Venue: Berkeley Street Event Church

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: the usual fine catalogue was produced, based on the former Sante outline. Prices were missing, as well as certain wines, but that seems to be the norm these days.

The Quote/Background: The audience was a little thin, probably recovering from the Lifford tasting of the day before. Also, "new rules" made 60 or so LCBO product consultants "no shows".

The Wines:

 

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

-Vina Casa Marin Riesling 2007 Chile, $30 (Tannin Fine Wines)

-Chateau des Charmes Viognier 2007 Niagara, $24.95

-Vina Cono Sur Bicycle Viognier 2008 Chile, $9.95 General List

-Kaiken Reserve Malbec 2007

-Rosehall Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $29.95

 

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

-Chakana Reserve Malbec 2006 Mendoza, $17.95 (Connexion Oenophilia)

-Chateau des Charmes Sauvignon Blanc St. David's Bench 2007

-Closson Chase Chardonnay PEC VQA 2007, $38

-Closson Chase Chardonnay Beamsville Bench VQA 2007

-Vina Cono Sur Vision Viognier 2008 Chile, $14.95.

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Heartbreaker Chardonnay Otago 2006

-Graffigna Santiago 2005 Argentina, +114165, $39.95

-The Grange of Prince Edward Trumpour's Mill Estate Chardonnay 2007 Sue Lie, $14.80.

-Huff Estates Riesling Off-Dry VQA 2007, $16.95

-Domaine de Machard de Gramont Nuits St Georges 2006 Blanc, $51.50 (Nokhrin)

-Domaine de Machard de Gramont Pommard 2006, $51.50 (Nokhrin)

-McGuigan Tempuis Two Wild Chardonnay 2007

-Pascual Toso Malbec Reserve 2007, $19.95 (Eurovintage)

-Sogevinus Agnusdei Albarino Rias Baixas 2008 (Amethyst)

-Valdrinal de Santamaria 2008 Bianco (Cellar D'Or)

 

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

-Gibbston Highgate Estate Pinot Gris Otago 2006

-Henkell Blanc de Blancs NV Chardonnay sparkling

-Masi Tupungato Passo Bianco 2008 Argentina, $12.95

-Pascual Toso Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Argentina

-Trapiche Broquel Torrontes 2008, $15.95 August Vintages

 

The Food: unlike the former Sante, there was real food here, with pita breads and dips and meats and Canadian cheeses (Le P'tit St-Damase, Oka Classique, Smoked Aged Cheddar, Le Fleurmier, Oka L'Artisan).

The Downside: not as many wineries as in previous years.

The Upside: a good chance to look at Prince Edward County wines and some Argentine wines. Not many people noticed that there was a whole Malbec show downstairs.

The Contact Person: steve@stevethurlow.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 84.

 

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com