May 29 - APVSA tasting in Toronto

 The Date and Time:  Monday May 29, 2012  11AM to 5 PM

The Event: the monthly APVSA tasting (Association pour la promotion des

vins et spiritueux en Amerique du Nord).

The Venue: Delta Chelsea Inn

The Target Audience: wine agents.

The Availability/Catalogue: no wines are currently available in

Ontario. The group is here to get some agents to agree to rep the principal. Some of the wines are available in Quebec and Alberta.

Most of the wines were French, and there is sales staff available to comment on the prices and production. This road show also visits such places as New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Calgary, Vancouver, Miami, Washington DC, and Montreal. Occasionally, the show will have wines from Italy, Uruguay, Spain and Australia. Sometimes spirits and VDN are also available.

The Wines: The problem I had with the wines, and one that must be acknowledged, is that (by and large) they were about the same as wines that we already have here in Ontario. There really did not seem to be any price advantages, either. But these 40 or so wines could be made available through Vintages or Consignment. In the past, quite a few have been picked up for sale in Ontario; these were mostly the good value or unique wines. Here were my faves from today, regardless of FOB cost which must be requested due to competitive pricing. I did not try every wine.

 

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

-Domaine des Hauts Perray Coteaux de Layon 2010

-Clos D'Elle Mas de Blanger Syrah Pays D'Oc 2009, 3.30 E

-Champagne Barnier Cuvee Exquise 2006

-Champagne Barnier Brut NV

-Domaine des Fontaines Bonnezeaux 2009

 

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

Rating terms):

-Chateau Fontbaude Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux 2009 Vieilles Vignes [organic]

-Chateau Fontbaude Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux 2007 [organic]

-Chateau Coutelor La Romarine 2009 Sainte Foy Bordeaux

-Chateau La Roche Bordeaux 2009 Les Canons de Guyenne

-Les Caves Poussin Vouvray 2008 Demi-Sec, 3.50 E

-Les Caves Poussin Vouvray 2008 Sec, 3.50 E

-Chateau Laroque Bergerac 2007 [organic]

-Domaine Grand Jean 2009 Gers

-Clos D'Elle Mas de Blanger Chardonnay Pays D'Oc 2010

-Clos D'Elle Mas de Blanger Cinsault Pays D'Oc 2011, 2.80 E

-Champagne Couche NV

-Champagne Selection Couche NV

-Champagne Barnier Rose Brut NV

-Chateau Soutard Les Jardins 2008 St-Emilion

-Domaine Mazilly Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2009

-Domaine Deliance Givry 1er Cru 2009

 

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

-Chateau Fontbaude Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux 2009 [organic]

-Chateau Les Graves David Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux 2009

-Chateau Laroque Bergerac 2009 [organic]

-Chateau de Coustelle 2009 Canon-Fronsac

-Domaine Grand Jean L'Oublie 2008 Gers

-Chateau Lafitte 2011 Cotes de Bordeaux

-Domaine Marsoif Bourgogne 2010 Tonnerre

-Domaine des Perelles Beaujolais Chardonnay 2011

-Domaine de L'Echelette Macon Cruzille 2010

-Domaine des Hauts Perrays Cabernet d'Anjou 2011

-Domaine des Fontaines Cabernet d' Anjou 2011

-Domaine de la Brossette Touraine Rouge 2010 [organic]

-Domaine de la Ville Rouge Crozes-Hermitage 2010 Terre d'Eclat

-Domaine Bulliat Morgon 2010

-Domaine Bulliat Fleurie 2010

-Domaine Verret Chablis 1er Cru 2008 Beauroy

-Domaine Verret Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre 2010 Chardonnay

-Domaine Marsoif Petit Chablis 2011

-Domaine Breliere Rully 1er Cru 2010 [organic]

-Chateau Saint Esteve Corbieres 2009

-Chateau Saint Esteve Corbieres 2010

 

The Food: Some really great, piping hot gourmet pizza.

The Contact Person: Pascal p.fernand@apvsa.ca

The Marketing Effectiveness/Execution of the Event (numerical grade):

84.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com