April 2/12: California Wine Fair in Toronto

 The Date and Time:  Monday, April 2, 2012

The Event: California Wine Fair 2012 Canadian Tour: Toronto stop.

The Venue: Fairmont Royal York

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available through the usual distribution channels and/or agencies.

The Quote/Background: There are 3519 wineries in California; about 180 of them participated in the Canadian tour. 90% of US wine exports come from California.

The Wines: There were about 400 wines; I could not taste them all. Prices were sometimes difficult to ascertain. Schramsberg J Schram 2000 Sparkling Brut North Coast $99.95 was my FAVE of the Day!

 

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

 

-7 Deadly Zins 2009 Zinfandel $24.95

-Bogle Vineyards 2008 Phantom $26.95

-Vina Robles 2009 Red4 $17.95

-Elyse Winery 2007 C'est Si Bon $29.95

-Bliss Vineyard 2008 Zindandel

-Silverado Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa Valley $59.95

-MacRostie Winery Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 Sonoma Coast

-Bonny Doon Vineyard 2007 Le Cigar Volant

-CA'Momi Wines 2010 Zinfandel $25.00

-Nichols Zinfandel 1999 Cienega Valley $51.95

-Elyse Winery 2008 Morisoli Zinfandel $39.95

-Grgich Hills Cellar Fume Blanc 2010 Napa Valley $29.95 Vintages June

-Grgich Hills Cellar Chardonnay 2009 Napa valley $54.95 Vintages June

-Ravenswood 2007 Pickberry Red Blend

-Thomas Fogarty 2009 Pinot Noir

-Ramey Wine Cellars Chardonnay 2009 Russian River Valley

-Dry Creek Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $24.95

-Elyse Winery 2007 Tietjen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

-C.G. Di Arie Vineyards 2008 Sierra Legend

-Justin Winery 2009 Isosceles $73.95

-Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc + Viognier 2011 $19.99 Lifford

-Perry Creek Vineyards Cobra Zin Zinfandel 2009 El Dorado $42.95

-Justin Winery 2009 Savant

-Star Lane 2007 Happy Canyon Red $44.95

-Bacio Divino 2008 Pazzo Sangiovese Blend

-Bliss Vineyard 2007 Brutocao Hopeland Ranches

-Bliss Vineyard 2010 Chardonnay $16.99

-Cliff Lede Vineyards 2010 Breggo Cellars Pinot Noir $48.00

-Cliff Lede 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon $74.00

-Simi 2008 Landslide Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon $45.00

-Deerfield Ranch Winery 2007 Red Rex $27.50

-Rosenblum Cellars XXXII Zinfandel Cuvee

-Foppiano Vineyards 2009 Pinot Noir

-Peter Franus 2006 Red Bordeaux Blend

-Thomas Fogarty 2006 Lexington Meritage

-Thomas George 2009 Cresta Ridge Pinot Noir

-World's End 2009 Crossfire Cabernet Sauvignon

-Zaca Mesa Winery 2009 Chardonnay

-Zaca Mesa Winery 2009 Syrah

 

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

-Oakville Ranch Oakville Ranch Cabernet Franc 2007 $94.95

-Foley 2009 Pinot Noir Rancho SR

-Lucas & Lewellen 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $39.95

-Vineyard 7 & 8 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

-Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Mariner $45.00

-Bacio Divino Cellars 2008 Janzen Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon

-Conway Vineyards 2008 Deep Sea Pinot Noir

-Deerfield Ranch Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $29.95

-Deerfield Ranch Winery 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel $56.75

-Nichols Pinot noir 2002 Edna Valley $51.95

-Perry Creek Chardonnay 2009

-Perry Creek Altitude 2401 Petite Sirah 2008 El Dorado

-Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa $19.95 Majestic

-Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008 Napa $19.95 Majestic

-Thomas George 2009 Starr Ridge Chardonnay

-Thomas George 2009 Estate Pinot Noir

-Vina Robles 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

-World's End 2009 Little Sister Merlot

 

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

-Cuvaison 2010 Chardonnay $29.95

-MacRostie 2010 Chardonnay $29.95

-Aquinas 2009 Pinot Noir $17.95

-Freakshow 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon $27.95

-Esser Vineyards 2009 Merlot $16.95

-Pedroncelli 2009 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel $21.95

-Bennett Lane 2006 Maximus $43.35

-C.G. Di Arie Vineyards 2009 Red $40.95

-James Judd & Son Vineyards 2006 Malbec-Verdot $26.00

-Bacio Divino Cellars 2008 Cabernet Blend

-C.G. Di Arie Vineyards 2009 Breakaway Zinfandel

-Carneros Wine Company 2010 Fleur Pinot Noir

-Justin Winery 2009 Syrah

-Laurel Glen Vineyard 2009 Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon

-Paul Hobbs 2009 Chardonnay

-Peter Franus 2009 Brandlin Zinfandel

-World's End 2009 Against the Wind Cabernet Franc

-Zaca Mesa Winery 2010 Viognier

 

The Food: the Luncheon has always been well attended. This year the speaker was Evan Goldstein, MS, who talked about the impact of California wine on the economy. The menu was devised by Collin Thornton, Exec Chef. Wines were provided by host wineries at the tables; my hosts were Perry Creek and Rutherford Ranch. We began with a jumbo sea scallop and arctic char served at room temperature. The meat course was a venison medallion and a shortrib. These were followed by both an Ontario and Quebec cheese platter, highlighted by Monteforte (sic) Tuscano (sic) [it was Monforte Toscano] and petit fours.

The Downside: The Pinot Noir seminar went on without me.

The Upside:  the media room which we had all to ourselves.

The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca

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

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