On the Road with the Grape Guy

On the Road with the Grape Guy is a on-going feature that follows me from event to event ... I post my thoughts, feelings and reviews of what happened and what I tasted ... basically it is here that I review the events I attend and the things that thrilled me.

Report from - Sante International Tasting ... May 7, 2008

15 May 2008

 

Sante turned 10 this year and to celebrate the occasion both Australia and California were selected as co-featured regions – which means a night was dedicated to Californian wines and another to Australian.  For those who have been living in a cave the past 10 years, Sante is the International Wine Festival of Toronto; think of it as the Toronto International Film Festival of the wine world.  Celebrity winemakers, producers and owners show up to pour and talk about their wines – showcasing wines that will (hopefully) one day grace the shelves of the LCBO – if they aren’t already there.  Hundreds of wines are poured during this week-long event, below are some of my favourites tasted during the media preview: ... (Read more)

 

To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

 

 

Report from - Undurraga Tasting ... May 6, 2008

14 May 2008

 

You have probably heard of Undurraga, or at least seen their name on the shelves before, but of late they have disappeared.  A source told me, “we used to go all the time, when we visited Chile, but they became so bad we couldn’t go back – the quality just wasn’t there anymore.  Too bad too, they were once one of the biggies, right up there with Concha [Y Toro].”  I met that contact at this tasting and he was blown away by the new move toward quality wine Undurraga has taken.

A few years ago new investors and owners, led by Jose Yuraszeck T. came to Undurraga and have changed its landscape drastically, focusing on quality and terroir driven wines over the “just-get-it-out-there” philosophy of the previous regime.  New Winemaker, new lines, new labels … and best of all, new wines makes Undurraga a winery to watch over the next few years and well into the future.  From what I tasted on this night, and if the level of quality continues, they might never be as big as Concha, but their wines will equal some of Concha’s best.

The Best of the Bunch …
There were wines at every price point, from $12 to $60, and wines for every palate in both the white and red category.  But my favourite (and just to prove it I had 3 glasses worth) was the $35 Founder’s Collection 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Big wine at 14% with such elegance of flavour and big time age-ability.  Chocolate, red and black fruit, good use of wood, along with flavours of herbs, vanilla and cinnamon … it’s all here and it’s amazing.


To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

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