March 22/12: Vinho Verde Tasting at George/Verity

The Date and Time: Thursday, March 22, 2012  2:30PM to 6PM

The Event: a seminar and tasting of Vinho Verde wines

The Venue: George (for the seminar) and Verity Club (for the walkaround tasting).

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers.

The Availability/Catalogue: most of the wines were not generally available. Some producers had no agents, some agents had no product. Prices were speculative, for the most part. It did not help that we had no catalogue of producer labels, and that we had to write down this kind of information.

The Quote/Background: Evan Savioloidis, with his loud clear voice, gave a good talk on what Vinho verde was all about, and the newer styles that are coming onstream. We had a brief tasting of four styles: one classic at 11.5%ABV, one made from the Loureiro grape (to drink with food), one made from the Alvarinho grape (very aromatic, a sipper, 12.5%ABV), and one made from the Espadiero grape (a rose, 12%ABV). You can forget about low alcohol versions; they are all going to be 12 or more percentage ABV. The seminar was mobbed with 60 attendees and SRO.

The Wines: I did not try every wine.

 

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

-Quinta de Carapecos Escolha 2010, $15

 

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

-Soalheiro Alvarinho 2011

-Estreia Loureiro Grande Escolha 2011

-Estreia Alvarinho 2011

-Solar de Loureido 2011

-Terras de Gerras 2011

-Menancos Alvarinho/Trajadura 2011

-Terras de Moncao Alvarinho 2011

-Solar de Serrade Alvarinho 2011

-Quinta de Gomariz Loureiro 2011

-Quinta de Gomariz Alvarinho 2010

-Quinta de Gomariz Rose Espadeiro 2010 and 2011

-Quinta de Carapecos Alvarinho 2011, $13

-Quinta de Carapecos Alvarinho/Trajadura 2011, $13

-Quinta do Arcas Conde Villar Alvarinho 2011

-Quinta da Lixa Terras do Minho 2011

-Quinta da Lixa Alvarinho/Trajadura 2011

 

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

-Quintas do Homem Vale do Homen Verde Branco 2011

-Vianna Loureiro 2011

-Quinta de Gomariz Grande Escolha 2010

-Quinta de Carapecos Espadeiro Rose 2010, $13

-Quinta de Carapecos Eiva dos Mouros NV

-Quinta do Arcas Conde Villar Loureiro 2011

-Quinta do Arcas Conde Villar Vinho Verde 2011

-Quinta do Arcas Conde Villar Rose 2011

-Arca Nora 2011

-Quinta da Lixa Vinho Verde 2011

-Quinta da Lixa Loureiro NV

-Aveleda Vinho Verde Fonte, $8.95

-Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde, $9.95

 

The Food: from George, we had appetizers such as prosciutto, cod cakes, cured salmon, chicken skewers, cheeses and breads.

The Downside: there was no catalogue of wines being poured.

The Upside: a chance to re-connect with Vinho Verde.

The Contact Person: mvickell@national.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 83

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