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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

TRADE TASTING: Vina Carmen, Chile, October 27, 2008

The Time and Date:  Monday, October 27, 2008  2Pm to 3:30 PM
The Event: a tasting of Vina Carmen wines (Chile) with senior winemaker
Sebastian Labbe who was in town for a few days. He spoke on the Chilean
wine scene in general, and then moved on to his own company. Vina
Carmen wines regularly get 88 to 93 points in diverse publications.
"Wine and Spirits" magazine had named them winery of the year for 2007.
The agent is Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants, www.awsm.ca
The Venue: LCBO Scrivener Square, Private Tasting Room
The Target Audience: wine media.
The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are here or will be.
The Quote: "The Carmen newer plantings are in Limari and Pumanque, and
there we will be using new ripeness assessment concepts."
The Wines:
 
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Carmen Reserve Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $16.85 +439166
GL – formerly known as Grand Vidure, and a personal fave of mine. 60%
Carmenere and 40% cabernet sauvignon, vinified separately.
-Nativa Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $19.95 Vintages – soon to be
spun off into its own organic wines winery
-Vina Carmen Gold Reserve 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon – n/a, from single
vineyard vines planted in 1957.
-Vina Carmen Gold Reserve 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon – $49.95, very Euro
 
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Carmen Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Casablanca, $18.95 – 45% BF
-Vina Carmen Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $10.95 +789890 GL – 10%
syrah added.
-Vina Carmen Reserve Petit Syrah 2004, $18.95 – woody nose
-Vina Carmen Late Harvest Muscatel 2007 - $15 half-bottle, 15%
botrytised
 
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Vina Carmen Classic Chardonnay 2007 Casablanca, $9.70 +235663 GL
 
The Food: bread and water
The Contact Person: pdelpeschio@awsm.ca
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.
 
 
 
 

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