By DEAN TUDOR

The Time and Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010 9 AM to 4 PM
The Event: the monthly tasting of APVSA (Association pour la Promotion des Vins et Spiritueux en Amérique du Nord).
The Venue: Delta Chelsea Inn in Toronto.
The Target Audience: wine agents in Canada.
The Availability/Catalogue: no wines are currently available in Ontario. The group is here to try to get some agents to agree to rep the principal. Some of the wines are available in Quebec and Alberta.
Most of them are French, and there is sales staff available to comment on prices and production. This road show visits New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, Calgary, Vancouver, Miami, Washington DC, and Montreal (and will also have wines from Italy, Spain and Australia).

The Wines: The problem I had with the wines, and one that must be acknowledged, is that (by and large) they were no better than the wines that we already have here in Ontario. There really did not seem to be any price advantages, either. These 80 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.
Here were my faves, regardless of price (all prices are ex-cellar Euros). I did not try every wine.
See below and two following posts

**** Four Stars (91+/100 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
— Champagne Dehu Père et Fils, Grande Réserve NV, 14 €
— Champagne Dehu Père et Fils, Cuvée Léon Lhermitte NV, 24 €
— Maison Léon Baur, Gewurztraminer 2009 Cuve Vieilles Vignes, Alsace, 5,43 €
— Domaine Henry Natter, Sancerre blanc 2008, 8,80 €
— Domaine AF Gros & François Parent, Richebourg Grand Cru 2007, 112 €
— Domaine AF Gros & François Parent, Pommard 1er cru Les Rugiens 2000, 40 €
— Domaine AF Gros & François Parent, Beaune 1er Cru Les Boucherottes 2008, 20 €
— Domaine Modat Le Plus Joli 2008, Côtes du Roussillon, 19 €
— VTL Export, Villa Blanche, VdP d’Oc 2009 Chardonnay, 2,75 €

*** (88-90/100):
— Conte Estate Over the Hill Reserve Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale [old vines] $ 11.66 Australia
— Maison Léon Baur Pinot Blanc Auxerrois 2009, Alsace, 4,43 €
— Maison Léon Baur Pinot Gris 2009, Alsace, 5,43 €
— Domaine Henry Natter, Sancerre blanc 2009, 6,50 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Echezeaux Grand Cru 2008, 50 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2008, 50 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Monthélie 1er Cru Les Champs Fulliots 2004, 14 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Volnay 1er cru Les Fremiets 2004, 28 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Chambolle Musigny 2007, 22 €
— Domaine André Bonhomme, Vire Clesse Cuvée Spéciale Blanc 2007, 6,10 €
— Château de L’Ille Cuvée Emilie, Corbières blanc 2009, 2,70 €
— Domaine de la Grange, La Grange Terroir, Clos Prat Bibal, Languedoc 2009, 3,28 €
— Domaine de la Grange, La Grange Castalides Réserve, Languedoc, 4,67 €
— VTL Export, Villa Blanche, VDP d’Oc 2009, Syrah, 2,75 €
— VTL Export, Domaine Bergon Grain d’Automne, VDP d’Oc ?, Merlot, 1,80 €

***  (85-87/100):
— Castell d’age Merlot 2006, Baixa, Spain, 5,50 €
— Maison Léon Baur Riesling 2009, Alsace, 5,18 €
— Domaine Bruneau Anjou Blanc 2009, 3,25 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits 2007, 9,50 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Morey Saint Denis 2008, 20 €
—Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2008, 8,50 €
— Domaine AF Gros & Francois Parent, Vosne Romanée Aux Réas 2007, 22 €
— Domaine André Bonhomme, Vire Clesse Jeunes Vignes blanc 2007, 5,50 €
— Domaine des Gandines, Vire Clesse 2009 Terroir de Clesse, 5,30 €
— Domaine des Gandines, Vire Clesse 2008 Les Gandines, 7,45 €
— Chateau du Gaby, Canon-Fronsac 2006, 7,50 €
— Chateau Cailley, Graves de Vayres Toulouze 2006, 4,20 €
— Domaine de la Gayère, Côtes du Rhône 2007, 2,90 €
— Domaine la Ligière, Vacqueyras 2009 Vieilles Vignes, 10,70 €
— Chateau Bellefontaine Vielles Vignes 2009, Costières de Nîmes, 3,745 €
— Domaine Modat Sans Plus Attendre 2008, Côtes du Roussillon, 7,25 €
— Château de L’Ille Cuvée Léonore, VdP d’Oc 2009, 2,30 €
— Château de L’Ille Cuvée Charline, VdP de l’Aude 2009 blanc, 2,30 €
— Château de L’Ille Cuvée Louis, Corbières 2008, 4,96 €
— Château de L’Ille Cuvée Angélique, Corbières 2008, 3,13 €
— Bergerie du Capucin Dame Jeanne, VdP du Val de Montferrand blanc 2009, 4,50 €
— VTL Export, Domaine Bergon Prestige, Petit Verdot 2009, 2,85 €
— VTL Export, Calmel + Joseph, Le Saint Chinian 2008, 3,40 €
— VTL Export, Calmel + Joseph, Le Vieux Carignan 2009, 3,40 €
— VTL Export, Château Haut Vignals élevé en fût de chêne, Corbières 2008, 3,35 €

The Upside: a chance to taste some engaging wines not available here. There is a listing of wines with FOB prices in Euros.
The Downside: selection is eclectic and some bottles arrive haphazardly. Some bottles never arrived at all, but we were not told this until we got there. Some bottles are in the show, but are not listed in the catalogue. It can be frustrating.
The Contact Person: Pascal Fernand
The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 84/100.

Chimo!

Posted By Dean Tudor to Gothic Epicures VinCuisine on 11/17/2010 11:03:00 AM
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.
Creator of Canada’s award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com
www.deantudor.com AND http://gothicepicures.blogspot.com