Family Wine Merchants Portfolio Tasting, April 15

The Date and Time: Monday, April 15, 2013  2Pm to 5PM

The Event: Family Wine Merchants Portfolio Tasting

The Venue: Arcadian Loft

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: the wines were heavy on the French, with a smattering across the board from different countries. About a third of the wines were private orders, but the rest were LCBO, Vintages, or Consignment.

The Quote/Background: the catalogue was very well put-together with sufficient background detail.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine. Prices are RETAIL.

 

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

-Best's Great Western Victoria 2010 Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon, $56.95 PO

-Taittinger Brut Reserve NV, $69.95 CON

-Taittinger Brut Reserve 2005, $79.95 Vintages

-Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Laurene 2009 Oregon, $59.95 PO

-Ferraton Pere et Fils 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge La Matiniere, $19.95 Vintages June 8

-Fess Parker Santa Ynez Ashley's Pinot Noir 2010, $67.95 PO

-Fess Parker Santa Ynez Ashley's Chardonnay 2010, $40 PO

-Greywacke Marlborough NZ Wild Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $38.95 PO

-Greywacke Marlborough NZ Pinot Noir 2011, $45.95 PO

-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Brut, $29.95 LCBO

-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Estate Blanc de Blanc Carte Blanche Brut, $44.95 Vintages

-Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve 2009 Riesling VQA, $30 PO

-Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve 2009 Pinot Noir VQA, $40 PO

-Joseph Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Marquis de Laguiche 2010, $101.95 PO

-Torres Penedes Mas La Plana 2008, Vintages $54.95

-Marimar Estate Russian River 2009 La Masia Chardonnay, $48.95 PO

 

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

-Avontuur Estate South Africa 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, $26.95 PO

-Avontuur Estate South Africa 2010 Minelli Pinot Noir Reserve, $33.95 PO

-Best's Great Western Victoria 2010 Great Western Bin O Shiraz, $68.95 PO

-Baron de Hoen Alsace Polo Club Brut NV MC, $14

-Baron de Hoen Alsace Riesling Grafebrebeen Single Vineyard, $36,95 PO

-Domaine de la President 2011 Cotes du Rhone Villages Grands Classiques, $33.95 PO

-Taittinger Nocturne NV, $69.95 PO

-Cusumano Sagana 2010 Sicily [nero d'avola], $28.95 PO

-Ferraton Pere et Fils 2009 Cornas Les Grands Muriers Rouge, $46.95 Classics Oct 21 Online

-Fess Parker Santa Ynez Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2010, $37.95 PO

-Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage 1995 Port, $80.95 Classics May 7

-Gerard Bertrand Reserve Speciale Viognier 2011 Languedoc, $15.95 Vintages

-Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine Rose Brut VQA, $29.95 LCBO

-Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve 2010 Chardonnay VQA, $35 PO

-Henry of Pelham Family Tree White 2010 VQA, $17.95 Vintages

-Henry of Pelham Family Tree Red 2010 VQA, $18.95 Vintages

-Joseph Drouhin Chablis Drouhin-Vaudron 2011, $19.95 LCBO

-Luigi Bosca De Sangre Mendoza 2010, $28.95 PO

-Palliser Martinborough NZ Sauvignon Blanc 2012, $28.95 PO

-Palliser Martinborough NZ Great Paloma Pinot Noir 2011, $72.95 PO

-Te Pa Winery Marlborough NZ Sauvignon Blanc 2012, $31.95 PO

-Torres Penedes Vina Esmeralda 2011, $13.95 Vintages

-Torres Rioja Ibericos Tempranillo, $17.95 CON

-Torres Priorat Salmas 2010, Vintages Oct 12  $35.95

-Jean Leon 2012 3055 Chardonnay, $18.95 Vintages July

-Jean Leon Penedes Vinya La Scala Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2003, $57.95 PO

-Miguel Torres Curico Chile Santa Digna Eselado Rose Sparkling, $19.95 Vintages

-Miguel Torres Curico Chile Las Mulas Sauvignon Blanc, $12.95 LCBO

-Miguel Torres Curico Chile Cordeillaerta Chardonnay 2011, Vintages $18.95

-Miguel Torres Curico Chile Cordillera Carménère, Vintages $19.95

-Miguel Torres Curico Chile Manso de Velasco Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $48.95 PO

-Marimar Estate Russian River 2009 Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir, $55.95 PO

-Waterkloof Stellenbosch Circle of Life White 2011, Vintages $24.95

-False Bay Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2012, $21.95 PO

-Deutsches Weintor Gewurztraminer 2011, $15.95 PO

 

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

-Baron de Hoen Alsace Cremant Blanc de Blancs Mausberg NV, +171785

-Chateau La Roque de By Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2010, $46.95 PO

-Chateau Mont-Redon 2012 Cotes de Provence Rose Riotor, $24.95 PO

-Chateau Mont-Redon 2011 Lirac, $28.95 PO

-Chateau Mont-Redon 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $37.95 Vintages June 22

-Chateau Mont-Redon 2000 Chateauneuf-du-Pape [magnum], $130.95 PO

-Cusumano Jale Chardonnay 2011 Sicily, $19.9 Vintages July20

-Domaine Drouhin 2011 Chardonnay Arthur Dundee Hills Oregon, $38.95 PO

-Ferraton Pere et Fils 2010 Saint-Joseph La Source Rouge, $26.95 Vintages Aug 3

-Fess Parker Santa Ynez Viognier 2011, $24.95 Vintages

-Fess Parker Santa Ynez Parker Station Pinot Noir 2011, $24.95 PO

-Pyren Vineyards Victoria Broken Quartz 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $26.95 PO

-Torres Penedes 2010 Celeste, $21.95 Vintages

-Jean Leon Penedes Vinya Le Havre Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006, $36.95 PO

 

The Food: prosciutto bread sticks, cured salmon, smoked fish, grilled Italian veggies, caramelized tomatoes, breads and crackers, charcuterie tray, cheese (smoked, blue, etc.)

The Downside: the room smelled musty, which was off-putting for about a half hour, and distracted me from proper nosing.

The Upside: a chance to talk with some winemakers.

The Contact Person: giroux.danielle@gmail.com

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

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com