Wines of Chile Media Preview Tasting, Toronto, for Oct 7 show

The Time and Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009  11AM to 2PM

The Event: Wines of Chile Preview Media Tasting

The Venue: Crush Wine Bar

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: with the exception of a couple of items in the Consignment program, all wines were available (or will be) via Vintages or the LCBO General listings.

The Quote/Background: we were served seven blind flights of wine, arranged by grape variety. 42 wines were tasted, and all will be in the Chilean wine show, October 7, Fermenting Cellar.

The Wines: Here are my rankings --

 

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

-Vina Sena Arboleda Chardonnay 2008 Casablanca, Vintages, $15.95

-Vina Emiliana Organico Novas Winemaker's Selection Chardonnay/Viognier/Marsanne 2007 Casablanca, $18.95 Vintages +63909 March 2010 [nobody could verify if the year will be 2007 or 2008]

 

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

-Vina Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Leyda Valley, +32060, $14.95

-Vina Veramonte Reserva Chardonnay 2007 Casablanca, +49443 Vintages, $14.95, Oct 24/09

-Vina Casa Tamaya Reserva Syrah 2007 Limari, +135418, $15.85

-Vina Nativa Gran Reserva Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Maipo (organic), +975359, $19.99 Vintages Dec 5, 2009.

 

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

-Vina Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier 2009 Rapel, Consignment (Kylix), $14.95

-Vina Cono Sur Viognier 2008 Colchagua, LCBO $9.95

-Vina Santa Carolina Barrica Selection Chardonnay 2007 Casablanca, +981621, $17.95.

-Vina Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Chardonnay 2008 Maipo, +730044, $14.95 Feb 2010

-Vina Veramonte Reserva Pinot Noir 2008 Casablanca, +134973, $15.95

-Vina Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2007 Aconcagua, +614750, $17.95

-Vina Maipo Reserva Carmenere 2008 Rapel, $12.95 Vintages

-Vina Terra Andina Reserva Carmenere 2007 Rapel, $13.95, +128637

-Vina Emiliana Organico Novas Limited Selection Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Colchagua, +14.95 Vintages

-Vina Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Aconcagua, $17.95 Vintages

-Vina Sena Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Aconcagua, $17.95 Vintages.

-Vina Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Colchagua, +322586, $19.95.

-Vina Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 115 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Maule, Vintages +30965, $17.95.

-Vina Undurraga Founder's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Maipo, +726646 Vintages, $36.95.

 

The Food: gourmet, upscale sandwiches.

The Downside: too many writers turned up late, so we started late. Boo…

The Upside: good cross-selection of Chilean wines.

The Contact Person: sandy@forefrontcom.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 87.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com