California Wine Fair, April 8/13

 The Date and Time: Monday, April 8, 2013    11 AM to 5:30 PM

The Event: California Wine Fair, Toronto

The Venue: Fairmont Royal York

The Target Audience: trade and wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: variable availability, some at LCBO, some private orders, some consignment.

The Quote/Background: There were lots of wines. I mostly confined myself to the Media Room, but at 2:30 I ventured out to the larger trade room to catch a few more wines.

The Wines: Of course, I did not try every wine (about 400 of them?)…

 

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

-Fog Crest Estate Chardonnay 2010 Russian River Valley

-Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV

-Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi Brut NV $26.95 LCBO

-Heitz Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa Rutherford

-MacRostie Winery Chardonnay 2011 Sonoma Coast

-Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Chardonnay 2011 Sonoma Coast

-Sebastiani Chardonnay 2010 Sonoma County

-Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa

 

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

-Bogle Vineyards Phantom 2009 California

-Cline Cellars Cashmere 2011 California

-Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Landslide 2009 Alexander Valley

-Conway Vineyards Bien Nacido Chardonnay 2009 Santa Barbara County

-Conway Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Rutherford

-Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry 2009 Napa

-Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2010 Chalone

-Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Rutherford

-Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Happy Canyon

-Don Sebastiani & Sons Project Paso Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Paso Robles

-Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2010 Napa

-Ehret Family Bellarina Meritage 2008 Knights Valley

-Ehret Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Knights Valley

-Elyse Morisoli Vineyard Zinfandel 2008 Rutherford Napa

-Eos Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Paso Robles

-Eos Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Paso Robles

-Jekel Vineyards Chardonnay 2010 Monterey

-Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Alexander Valley

-Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre Meritage 2006 Alexander Valley

-Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2010 Napa Valley

-Heitz Ink Grade Vineyard Zinfandel 2009 Napa

-Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa

-Heitz Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Napa

-Hartford Court Chardonnay 2011 Russian River

-Justin Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 Paso Robles

-Justin Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Paso Robles

-Justin Vineyards Isosceles 2010 Paso Robles

-Kenneth Volk Chardonnay 2009 Santa Maria Valley $23.95 LCBO

-Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 2009 Santa Barbara County

-Nichols Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Paso Robles

-Nichols Winery Chardonnay 2002 Edna Valley

-Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa

-Schug Carneros Estate Chardonnay 2011 Carneros

-Signorello Estate Padrone Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa

-Villa Mount Eden Pinot Noir 2009 Sonoma Coast

-Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot 2008 Napa

-Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay KARIA 2010 Napa

-Wild Thing Zinfandel 2009

 

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

-Benovia Chardonnay 2011 Russian River

-Buena Vista Pinot Noir 2011 Carneros

-Bonterra Organic Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Mendocino

-C.G.Di Arie Interlude 2009 Sierra Foothills

-Blackstone Syrah 2011 California

-Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2011 California

-Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend 2010 North Coast

-Primal Roots White Blend 2011 California

-Revolution Red Blend California

-Cuvaison Chardonnay 2011 Carneros Napa

-Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa

-Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Blend (50 – 50) 2009 Paso Robles

-Ehret Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Knights Valley

-Ehret Family Bella's Blend 2008 Knights Valley

-Eos Estate Chardonnay 2011 Paso Robles

-Esser Chardonnay 2011 Monterey

-Foppiano Vineyards Petite Sirah 2010 Russian River Valley

-Ironstone Obsession RED 2011 California

-J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay 2011 Arroyo Seco

-J. Lohr Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir 2011 Monterey

-Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir 2009 Carneros

-Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir 2011 Russian River

-Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon Three Vineyards 2010 Dry Creek Valley

-Peju Merlot 2009 Napa

-Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2012 California $19.99 Consignment Lifford

-Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Vine Lodi 2010 California

-Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Central Coast

-Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Alexander Valley

-Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa

-Schug Carneros Estate Pinot Noir 2010 Carneros

-Silver Oak Twomey Cellars Merlot 2008 Napa

-39 North Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Mendocino

-St. Supery Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Napa

-Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay 2008 Santa Cruz Mountains

-Thomas Fogarty Gewurztraminer 2010 Monterey

-Trefethen Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 Oak Knoll District Napa

-Trinchero Folie a deux Chardonnay 2011 Russian River

-Kunde Family Estate Chardonnay 2011 Sonoma Valley

-Waterstone Merlot 2009 Napa

-Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Napa

-Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato 2011 California

-Sequana Pinot Noir 2009 Russian River Valley

-Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa

-Stonestreet Monument Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

 

The Food: In the show, there were room-temperature international cheeses, dried fruits, strawbs, breads, veggies and drips, crackers, pates and terrines.

The Downside: it was difficult to hear many of the pourers in the large trade show.

The Upside: the media room was quiet

The Contact Person: paula@praxispr.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com