17th Annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, Metro Centre

The Date and Time: Thursday, November 17, 2011   6PM to 9 PM

The Event: 17^th Annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, Metro Centre

The Target Audience: VIPs on opening night, trade.

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available from respective agencies or at Vintages or LCBO.

The Quote/Background: I only had time to visit a few agents – I chose the Fine Wine and Intervin Tasting Room and MCO.

The Wines:

 

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

-Cassini Cellars Collector's Series Syrah 2009 British Columbia, $45.95, +255752 Vintages January 2012

-Silkscarf Ensemble 2008 Okanagan, $90

-Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne

-Rene Mure Gewurztraminer Signature Alsace, $17.95 +61218 V

-Chateau Pontet Caillou Pessac-Leognan 2008, $27.95 +244095 V

-Quevedo Colheita Port 1996, $50.55 (Nokhrin)

 

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

-Oak Bay Family Reserve Pinot Noir VQA 2008 British Columbia, $19.95, +267146 Vintages January 2012

-Aces Wine Seven Deuces Red 2009 British Columbia (merlot, shiraz, cabernet), +273631, $29.95 Vintages January 2012

-Vignoble Roger Domaine des Aspes Viognier 2009 D'Oc, $15.95 +712638 V

-5 Stones Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Margaret River 2010, $23.95 +108001V

-Chateau Calissanne Rouge Ctx d'Aix en Provence 2008, $16.95 +61283 V

-Rodrigues Wild Blueberry Newfoundland, +337824 V $16

-Martin Berdugo Crianza Ribera del Duero 2006, +246926 V, $18

-Perry Creek El Dorado Zinman 2007 California, +980896 V $19

-Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Washington State, +237784 Vintages, $20

-Quinta de Lubazim Lupucinus Reserva 2007 Douro, $22.65 (Nokhrin)

-Gloria Reynolds Adega Tinto Real VR Alentejano 2006, $13.50 (Nokhrin)

-Chateau Reynier 2009 Bordeaux Superieur, $14.50 (Nokhrin)

-Vincent d'Astree Esprit Terroir Premier Cru Brut NV Champagne, $55 (Nokhrin)

 

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

-Blackwood Lane Vicuna Roja 2008 British Columbia, $47.95 +254193 Vintages

-Lulu Island Cabernet Sauvignon VQA 2009 British Columbia, $19.95 +254219 Vintages

-Eau Vivre Pinot Noir 2008 British Columbia

-5 Stones Shiraz Margaret River 2010, $25.95 +111120 V

-Chateau Haut-Rieuflaget Grand Juan Bordeaux 2008, $13.95 +226134 V

-Bod. Dehesa de Luna Castilla 2008, $18.25 (Nokhrin)

-Joel Duffau La Mothe du Barry Bordeaux Superieur 2009, $13.50 (Nokhrin)

-Quinta de Lubazim Lupucinus Colheita 2010 Douro, $17.50 (Nokhrin)

 

The Food: none

The Downside: this was the third event of the day for me.

The Upside: a chance to catch up with agents

The Contact Person: vin@vaxxine.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com