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Monday, February 9, 2009

TRADE TASTING: Australian Wine Masterclass, Jan 29/09, Crush Wine Bar

 The Time and Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009  11:30AM to 2:30PM
The Event: a Masterclass Australian wine presentation from Mark
Davidson.
The Venue: Crush Wine Bar
The Target Audience: wine writers, sommeliers, agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: all the wines were available in some form,
either by consignment or LCBO. There were some private orders.
The Quote/Background: there were about 45 wines poured to several dozen
people. Half of the wines were talked about by Davidson while we were
in sitdown mode; the other half were in a freepour mode at the bar.
The Wines: all of the wines were $20 or more in price, from specified
regions (not SEA), and exhibited distinguishing characteristics. I did
not taste every wine. Here are my scores for the wines I did taste:
 
**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Heggies Chardonnay 2006 Eden Valley SA (Charton-Hobbs, $24.50)
-Yering Station Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Yarra Valley Victoria (Trilogy,
$75)
-Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2006 Tasmania (Churchill Cellars, $39.95,
+34199)
-Yalumba Tri-Centenary Grenache 2005 Barossa Valley (Mark Anthony,
$44.95)
-Alkoomi Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Frankland River WA (Merchant Vintner,
$21.95)
-Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Margaret River, $55
-Yering Station Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 Margaret River, $75
-Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2002 Barossa, $79.95
-Grant Burge Old Vines Shiraz 2006 Filsel Barossa, $36
-Jacob's Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Coonawarra, $40-45.
 
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Ferngrove Southern Riesling 2008 Great Southern Western Australia
(Kylix, $29.95)
-Skillogalee Riesling 2008 Clare Valley (WineWorld Cellar, $21.95,
+224070)
-Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling 2007 Barossa (Corby, $35-40)
-Hungerford Hill Chardonnay 2007 Tumbarumba NSW (Kirkwood Group, $25)
-Stonier Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 Mornington Peninsula Victoria (Select
Wines, $44.95)
-Gemtree Cadenzia 2007 McLaren Vale (Vergina Imports, $40)
-Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth Cabernet Merlot 2005
Coonawarra (Kylix, $110) – 9% merlot, 14.7%
-Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2004 Barossa (B&W Wines, $65-70)
-E & T Chardonnay 2007 Margaret River, $22
-Wyndham Estate Black Cluster Shiraz 2005 Hunter Valley, $69.95
-Shotfire Quartage 2006 Barossa, $24.95
-Wirra Wirra Church Block 2007 Cab Shiraz Merlot McLaren Vale, $23
-Alkoomi Blackbutt 2004 Frankland River WA, $49.95
 
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Suckfizzle Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Margaret River WA (HHD Imports,
$39, +53538)
-Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Coonawarra SA (Charton-Hobbs,
$30, +590471)
-Wirra Wirra Woodhendge Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale (HHD Imports, $36)
-Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2005 Grampians Victoria (Kylix, $65)
 
The Food: charcuterie plates, cheese plates, breads and biscuits
galore, waiter-passed plates of tartare, lamb lollipops, et al.
The Downside: the bar was way too crowded with people just standing
around and eating, occasionally tasting. The whole purpose of the
freepour was to taste the remaining wines, and I found it awkward to
plough my way through. When I ate, I stepped aside to the back, and I
wished others had done so too.
The Upside: there was no pressure from agents, and I got a chance to
taste a wide variety of higher end Oz wines.
The Contact Person: marnie.williamson@austrade.gov.au
The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 88.
 
 
 
 

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