Winemakers on Tour - tasting seminar focusing on regional variations in Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Date and Time: Thursday, November 17, 2011  2 PM to 5 PM

The Event: Winemakers on Tour – tasting seminar focusing on regional variations in Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Venue: Spoke Club

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers – about 40 people.

The Availability/Catalogue: there is eclectic availability, sometimes with different vintage years. Treasury Estates is the umbrella owner.

The Quote/Background: winemaker Oliver Crawford led us through Margaret River's Devil's Lair, Sue Hodder did the same for Wynn's Coonawarra Estate, while Chris Hatcher had Wolf Blass of Barossa.

The Wines: Only 4 of the 10 wines were completely Cabernet Sauvignon. There were two chardonnays and four shiraz blends (one with Tempranillo).

 

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

-Wynns V & A Lane Shiraz Cabernet Coonawarra 2009, mid-$50

-Devil's Lair Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2008, $99.99

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek 2005, $34.95?

-Wynns Glengyle Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2007, $59.95

 

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

-Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay Adelaide Hills 2009, $19.99

-Devil's Lair Chardonnay Margaret River 2009, $25

-Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz Cabernet Robe/Mt. Benson 2009, $34.95

-Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz Cabernet South Australia 2007, $99.95

-Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz Cabernet South Australia 2006, $99.95 (reception).

-Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2008, $89.95

 

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

-Devil's Lair Dance with the Devil Shiraz Tempranillo Margaret River 2010

 

The Food: bread at the seminar, cheese and charcuterie at the reception later.

The Downside: this was the second of three events today.

The Upside: a chance to hobnob with more winemakers.

The Contact Person: jamie@goodfoodmedia.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

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