The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy: 20 years.

The Date and Time: Monday, November 2, 2015  10AM to 5PM

The Event: A Tasting of Wines from Italy: 20 years.

The Venue: Roy Thomson Hall Lobbies

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue:

The Quote/Background: There was a seminar, the first time in years, and it actually started on time! The seminar was on the wines of the viceroys (southern Italy) which was the crossroads of wars and kings (France, Spain, Greece, Hapsburg, Bourbons). It was presented by Prof. Attilio Scienza and moderated by Jamie Drummond (Good Food Media). I folded these eight wines into the ratings below. The Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany, and Emilia Romagna export most of Italy's wines. The southern part, while it produces 28% of all Italian wine, only exports 4.7% of Italian wine.

The Wines: Nobody had a firm grip on the numbers of different wines. Some wines never showed up, others were substituted, some were completely new, and vintages varied. Once again, many tables could not pin down even an estimated price. I did not taste all the wines, concentrating only on the oldest reds I could find. Prices quoted were licensee.

 

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

-Pirro Varone Rosso Camillo 2011 Salento Rosso, $24.05  Le Caviste

-Feudi di San Gregorio Piano di Montevergine 2009 Taurasi Riserva, $79.95  Stem Wine

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo 2008   Profile

-Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Cultus Boni Riserva 2011, $35 Halpern

-Bersano Barolo Riserva 2006   Profile

-Campari Wines Carignano del Sulcis Terre Rare Riserva 2010   Majestic

-Campari Wines Alghero Marchese di Villamarina 2010   Majestic

-Casetta Flli Barolo Riserva 2008   Signature

-Castello di Gabbiano Toscana Alleanza 2012, $39.95   Treasury Wine Estates

-Clavesana Olo Barolo 2011, $36    J Cipelli

-Jorche Primitivo di Manduria Riserva 2010, $30  Le Sommelier

-Luiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ottatuno 2011, $72.50 retail Tre Amici

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva di Costasera 2009 Authentic

-Rivera Castel del Monte Riserva Il Falcone 2009, $25  Lifford

-San Felice Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio da San Felice 2010 Charton Hobbs

-San Felice Toscana Vigorello 2010 Charton Hobbs

-Spadafora Sicilia Sole dei Padri 2008  Grape Brands

-Travaglini Giancarlo Gattinara Riserva 2009   Lifford

-Travaglini Giancarlo Il Sogno 2010  $140   Lifford

-Venegazzu Montello e Colli Asolani Superiore Capa di Stato 2009, $49  Abcon

 

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

-Travaglini Giancarlo Gattinara Tre Vigne 2009   Lifford

-Umani Ronchi Marche Rosso IGT Pelago 2010, $47  Noble Estates

-Spadafora Sicilia Les Jeux Sont Faits 2011  $58.95  Grape Brands

-Torrevento Castel del Monte Vigna Pedale Riserva 2010  Majestic

-Spadafora Sicilia Schietto Nero d'Avola 2011  $29.95  Grape Brands

-Tenute del Cerro Colpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino 2010, $32  Lifford

-Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro Gran Selezione 2010, $46.95 Constellation

-San Fabiano Calcinaia Toscana Cerviolo Rosso 2010, $55  Groupe Soleil

-Rivera Castel del Monte Riserva Cappellaccio 2009, $21  Lifford

-Monte del Fra' Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Lena di Mezzo 2011 $44.95 Vintages  

-Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera 2011    Authentic

-Galasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Corno Grande Riserva 2009, $19.95  HHD Imports

-Masseria Frattasi Taburno Falanghina di Montagna 2014, $19.95  Perugini

-Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva 2009, $38.95 Halpern

-Donnafugata Sicilia Sursur Grillo 2014, $24.99 Lifford

-Cantine due Palme Primitivo Salento IGP 2013, $15.95  Majestic

-Val di Neto Melissa Rosso Superiore Mutro 2008, $24.95   Perugini

-Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 2010   Profile

-Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 2009   Mondo Vino

-Bel Colle Barbaresco Roncaglie 2010   Mondo Vino

-Broccatelli Galli Montefalco del Sagrantino Preda del Falco 2008, $24.95  J Cipelli

-Casetta Flli Barbaresco 2010, $27.95   Signature

-Costantino Terre Siciliane Syrah 2013, $18.95 retail

-Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011, $68   Colio

-Farina Montefante Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 2010  Majestic

-Fazio Erice Pietrasacra 2008 Riserva  Profile

-Venegazzu Montello e Colli Asolani Rosso della Casa 2009, $26  Abcon

 

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

-Librandi Duca San Felice Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva 2012, $17.95  Noble Est

-Le Vigne Biondi Outis 2013, $44.50  Cavinona

-Alois Terre del Volturno IGP Cunto Murella 2011, $25 Vintages April 2016

-Baracchi Toscana IGT Ardito 2011  Liberty

-Umani Ronchi Rosso Conero San Lorenzo 2014 $16.99  Noble Estates

 

The Food: Cibo Wine Bar did the food very well: some gnocchi, cheeses, meat platters, dried fruit, breads, pasta, olives, pickles, and porchetta.

The Downside: My bag was searched on the way INTO the Hall. Security was tight.

The Upside: there were a significant number of wineries seeking Ontario representation, and this is always a good sign.

The Contact Person: p.titone@ice.it

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 88.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com