TASTING: Sonoma County Vintners in Toronto, Sept. 21, 2009

The Time and Date: Monday, September 21, 2009  1:15PM to 5:30 PM

The Event: Sonoma in the City, annual tour of the Sonoma County Vintners to Toronto.

The Venue: Arcadian Court

The Target Audience: wine trade in the afternoon.

The Availability/Catalogue: good solid small catalogue of 100 wines with the essentials (all but prices). Most wines available via normal distribution channels.

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar at 1:15 which was informative – all about Sonoma Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in terms of their terroir. Only 8% of Sonoma is under vine. There are 450 wineries, 1800 growers, and 13 AVAs.

The Wines: I did not taste all of the wines.

 

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

-Buena Vista Carneros Chardonnay 2007, $29.95

-Landmark Vineyards Grand Detour Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast.

-Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay 2006, $40.

-Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee 2002, $35

-Landmark Damaris Reserve Chardonnay 2007, $60

-Pezzi-King Zinfandel 2006 Old Vines, $33 (16.2% ABV)

-Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma County, $18.95.

 

 

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

-Gary Farrell Chardonnay 2007 Russian River, $47.95

-La Crema Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley, $38.95

-La Crema Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma Coast, $29.95

-Chalk Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $50

-Chateau St. Jean Merlot 2006 Sonoma County, $34.95

-Flowers Andreen-Gale Chardonnay 2006, $89

-Flowers Perennial 2007

-Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs NV

-Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi NV

-Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2007, $34.95

-Rodney Strong Chardonnay Sonoma County 2008

-Rodney Strong Symmetry 2006, $69.95

-Sbragia Family Chardonnay Home Ranch 2007, $40

-Sbragia Family Andolsen Cabernet 2006

-Schug Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma Valley

-Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Sonoma County, $26.95

-Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Ranches

-Thomas George Estates Viognier 2008

-Souverain Chardonnay 2007 Alexander Valley

 

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

-Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma County, $19.95

-Flowers Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma Coast, $66.

-Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir 2006, $29.95.

-MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2007 Sonoma Coast, $19.95

-Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay 2007 Alexander Valley, $29.95.

-Ferrari-Carano Merlot 2006 Sonoma

-Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Alexander Valley

-Deerfield Ranch Red Rex 2005

-Deerfield Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

-Davis Bynum Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley

-Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Alexander Valley

-Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley

-Murphy-Goode Chardonnay 2007, $19.75

-Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel 2006, $39.95

-Sebastiani Chardonnay 2007 Sonoma County, $22.85

-Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Alexander Valley

 

The Food: cheeses, four kinds of terrines, veggies and dips, breads and crackers, bottled water.

The Downside: some tables I wanted to see at the same time got slammed by a roving band of a dozen scented wine servers from a bar that will remain unnamed.

The Upside: bottled water a plus.

The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com