The Event: Salud Spain walk-around tasting, put on by Vintages.

The Date and Time: Thursday, October 1, 2015 6PM to 9PM
The Event: Salud Spain walk-around tasting, put on by Vintages.
The Venue: Leon's RoundHouse
The Target Audience: initially, wine writers until 6:30 and then the paying
customers.
The Availability/Catalogue: most wines were available, some as exclusive
orders that night, others are at the LCBO or Vintages. Some wines were just
for tasting, not for ordering.
The Quote/Background: most wines were available for ordering that night,
some as exclusives.
The Wines: I did not try every wine.

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ TINTO PESQUERA CRIANZA 2012 DO Ribera del Duero $32
+341461
-BODEGAS ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ TINTO PESQUERA RESERVA 2006 Ribera del Duero
$95 +432773
-CLUB LEALTANZA RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $39 +293852
-LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $30 +927913
-ALCEÑO PREMIUM 50 BARRICAS SYRAH 2012 DO Jumilla $13.95 +398933
VALUE PRICED
-BARON DE LEY 7 VIÑAS RESERVA 2007 DOCa Rioja $46 +91983
-MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 1986 DOCa Rioja $100 +33332
-CHIVITE COLECCIÓN 125 RESERVA 2010 DO Navarra $38 +702431
-BERONIA GRAN RESERVA 2007 DOCa Rioja $40 +940965
-BERONIA III A.C 2011 DOCa Rioja $80 +433326
-DOMINIO DE TARES CEPAS VIEJAS MENCIA 2011 DO Bierzo $29.95 Vintages
+379891
-ANAYÓN CARIÑENA 2012 DO Cariñena $32 +432047
-CONDE DE VALDEMAR GRAN RESERVA 2007 DOCa Rioja $30 +114504
-BODEGAS TRADICIÓN PEDRO XIMÉNEZ TRADICIÓN 20-YEAR-OLD VOS SHERRY $120
+431965
-TORRES SALMOS 2012 DOCa Priorat $31 +60772
-TORRES MAS LA PLANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 DO Penédes $59 +129676
-BODEGAS TORO ALBALÁ DON PX RESERVA ESPECIAL 1962 DO Montilla-Moriles $205
+424085
-BODEGAS TORO ALBALÁ DON PX GRAN RESERVA 1986 DO Montilla-Moriles $53
+434068
-BODEGAS OLARRA SUMMA 2009 DOCa Rioja $42 +433656
-LAZTANA RESERVA 2009 DOCa Rioja $19 +433649
-OLARRA CLÁSICO RESERVA 2009 DOCa Rioja $18.95 +423541
-LAN VIÑA LANCIANO RESERVA 2010 DOCa Rioja $34 +955096
-ROMPESEDAS 2006 DO Toro $19.95 +425868
-ROMPESEDAS FINCA LAS PARVAS 2006 DO Toro $101 +433755

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating
terms):
-LAN D-12 CRIANZA 2012 DOCa Rioja $27 +431890
-ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ DEHESA DE LA GRANJA TINTO 2008 Vino de la Tierra de
Castilla y León $21.95 +192476
-BODEGAS TRADICIÓN FINO DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry $54 +431957
-BODEGAS TRADICIÓN VORS AMONTILLADO DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry $105
+596940
-FINCAS VALDEMAR CRIANZA 2012 DO Ribera del Duero $27 +432781
-INSPIRACIÓN VALDEMAR GRACIANO 2005 DOCa Rioja $34.95 +423525
-LA TERCERA RESERVA 2010 DOCa Rioja $26 +432443
-CVNE IMPERIAL GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $60 +598268
-VIÑA REAL GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $36.95 +280545
-ALCEÑO SELECCIÓN CRIANZA 2012 DO Jumilla $21 +433334
-ANAYÓN GARNACHA 2012 DO Cariñena $30.95 +424424
-DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2013 DO Bierzo $25 +675207
-DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS VILLA DE CORULLÓN 2012 DO Bierzo $59
+154435
-DOMINIO DE TARES BEMBIBRE 2009 DO Bierzo $47 +433680
-BARON DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $29.95 Vintages
+642496
-HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $25 +431973
-ROLLAND & GALARRETA 2011 DOCa Rioja $26 +434415
-HIRU 3 RACIMOS 2007 DOCa Rioja $157 +434746 Classics 2016
-ROLLAND & GALARRETA 2011 DO Ribera del Duero $28 +434423
-RIOJA VEGA 9 BARRICAS 2011 DOCa Rioja $37.95 +433706
-MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $29.95 +976670
-MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES RESERVA 2009 DOCa Rioja $24.95 +702761
-CHIVITE FINCA DE VILLATUERTA SYRAH 2011 DO Navarra $25 +432005
-JULIÁN CHIVITE GRAN FEUDO RESERVA 2009 DO Navarra $16.95 Vint Essential
+479014
-LUSTAU ALMACENISTA VIDES PALO CORTADO DE JEREZ SHERRY 500mL $37 +431940
-LUSTAU EMILÍN SOLERA RESERVA MOSCATEL SHERRY $36 +433052
-VIENTO ALISEO GRACIANO/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 DO La Mancha $17
+432021
-MUGA RESERVA 2011 DOCa Rioja $23.95 +177345 Vint Ess
-MUGA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL RESERVA 2010 DOCa Rioja $40 +921536
-PALACIOS REMONDO LA MONTESA CRIANZA 2012 DOCa Rioja $21.95 +674572
-ALTO MONCAYO VERATON 2012 DO Campo de Borja $32.95 Vintages +173211
-PHINCAS 2011 DOCa Rioja $31 +431932

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-BHILAR PLOTS TINTO 2012 DOCa Rioja $19 +431908
-ALTO MONCAYO GARNACHA 2012 DO Campo de Borja $49 +396358
-PHINCA ENCANTO RUFETE 2011 DOCa Rioja $32.95 Vintages +424697
-TORRES GRAN CORONAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVA 2011 DO Penédes $19.95
Vint Ess +36483
-DOMINIO DE PUNCTUM EL PAULAR TEMPRANILLO/MERLOT 2014 DO La Mancha $16
+432039
-BODEGAS TORO ALBALÁ ELÉCTRICO DEL LAGAR FINO DO Montilla-Moriles 500mL $14
+434076
-RIOJA VEGA RESERVA 2008 DOCa Rioja $21.95 +423517
-HACIENDA VALVARÉS 2011 DOCa Rioja $19.95 Vintages +423509
-BARON DE LEY RESERVA 2010 DOCa Rioja $19.95 +958868
-MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAN RESERVA 2005 DO Cariñena $16.95 Vintages
+82024

The Food: catered by Daniel et Daniel who, I understand, do the Vintages
events. In addition to the six pass-around platters (ham croquettes,
samosas, tomatoes, salmon, shrimp) there were four food stations:
pomegranate BBQ grilled quail with farro and bacon (my fave), striploin sous
vide with manchego croquette, house-smoked Arctic char with fennel salad,
and beet ravioli with walnuts and cream.
The Downside: OMG the music was loud! I couldn't talk to anyone without
shouting. Do they need this noise to sell wine?
The Upside: the wines and the food were better than I expected.
The Contact Person: prandolph@mcx.es
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 87.

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

Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.