SherryFest Toronto, October 10/13: report

 The Date and Time: Thursday October 10 2013  10 AM to 5 PM

The Event: SherryFest Toronto

The Venue: Gardiner Museum

The Target Audience: wine trade and select consumers

The Availability/Catalogue: This was a continuation of SherryFest in New York. The 11 producers had agents in Ontario, so bottles were available through the LCBO or by private order.

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar, repeated in the afternoon, but I declined since it seemed to be quite similar to previous sherry seminars offered in Toronto.

The Wines: I tasted nothing sweet until the very end.

 

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

-Alexander Jules Fino Bottled May 2013, $40 US retail

-Alexander Jules Manzanilla Bottled May 2013, $40 US retail

-Alexander Jules Amontillado Bottled May 2013, $40 US retail

-Barbadillo Solear Manzanilla en Rama Saca de Verano 2013 The Vine

-El Maestro Sierra Amontillado 1830 $175 Terra Firma

-El Maestro Sierra Oloroso Extra Viejo $175 Terra Firms

-Fernando de Castilla Antique Palo Cortado $55 The Vine

-Fernando de Castilla Classic Manzanilla The Vine

-Fernando de Castilla Classic Pedro Ximenez The Vine

-Hidalgo Napoleon Amontillado VORS Noble

 

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

-Barbaradillo Principe Amontillado The Vine

-Barbaradillo Amontillado VORS [40 years old] The Vine

-El Maestro Sierra Fino +309898 $17.95

-El Maestro Sierra Amontillado 12 year old +310458 $22.95 375mL

-El Maestro Sierra Palo Cortado Terra Firma

-Fernando de Castilla Antique Fino The Vine

-Fernando de Castilla Antique Amontillado The Vine

-Fernando de Castilla Antique Oloroso The Vine

-Gonzalez Byass Leonor Palo Cortado $18 Woodman

-La Gitana Manzanilla +745448 $14.95

-La Gitana Pastrana Manzanilla Pasada Noble Estates

-Hidalgo Wellington Palo Cortado VOS

-Osborne Fino Quinta $8.95 half; $16 full bottle PMA

-Sanchez Romate Fino Marismeno $15 Majestic

-Sanchez Romate Amontillado NPU $18 Majestic

-Tradicion Amontillado VORS $100 30-50 Imports

-Tradicion Palo Cortado VORS $100 30-50 Imports

 

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

-Barbadillo Solear Manzanilla The Vine

-Tio Pepe Fino En Rama $20 Woodman

-Hidalgo Napoleon Amontillado Noble

-La Guita Manzanilla +337022 $14.95

-Tradicion Fino 30-50 Imports

 

The Food: excellent cheeses and sausages and Serrano hams from Pasquale Brothers, Scheffler's, CanDisPro and Serrano imports.

The Downside: I just had a long day at Taste Ontario, and my palate wasn't as sharp as it could be. I tasted nothing sweet.

The Upside: a really good show for Toronto. It is sherry's time!!

The Contact Person: sherryfesttoronto2013@gmail.com; Derek@thevineagency.ca

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 90

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com