March 5 tasting of Ventisquero (Chile) wines

1. The Date and Time: Monday, March 5, 2012  2PM to 4:30PM

The Event: tasting of Vina Ventisquero (Chile) wines, represented by RKW Wine Imports in Ontario.

The Venue: LCBO Summerhill store, Kitchen Events room

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: currently, there are two listings in Ontario at Vintages, a carmenere ($17.95) and a sauvignon blanc ($12.95). More will soon be available.

The Quote/Background: Felipe Tosso, the chief winemaker, gave background and presented a tasting of their premium wines, including the Grey line (usually priced at $13.95 for the reds), Pangea, Queulat Gran Reserva, and Vertice. Pangea and Vertice are made in partnership with John Duval of Australia.

The Wines:

 

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

-Vina Ventisquero Vertice Carmenere/Syrah 2007 Apalta Vyd, $29.95

-Vina Ventisquero Pangea Syrah 2007 Apalta Vyd, $50

 

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

-Vina Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011

-Vina Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2010

-Vina Ventisquero Grey Merlot 2009, $13.95

-Vina Ventisquero Grey Syrah 2009

 

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

-Vina Ventisquero Grey Chardonnay 2009 Block No. 7, $19.95

-Vina Ventisquero Heru Pinot Noir 2009

-Vina Ventisquero Grey Carmenere 2009, $13.95

-Vina Ventisquero Grey Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

 

The Food: appetizers and tapas were produced (shrimp and coriander rice rolls, pork corn buns, chicken phyllos, black bean empanadas, and delicious smoked salmon cakes. All came with a variety of dipping sauces.

The Contact Person: osantos@ventisquero.com; mbruni@rkwwineimports.ca

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

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