I attended the Food and Wine show last night. This is one of the largest I’ve been to. The size is quite incredible. The event actually does feature both food and wine. There are even cooking demonstrations and wine chats going on that you can register for as well. The event is held annually at the convention center in downtown Toronto and is easy to get to and from by public transit with Union Station being a close walk. You pay for entry and then buy tickets for food and wine sampling. There are lots of different types of food there but getting enough to be considered a meal might be a challenge and expensive. The wine tastings vary based on the cost of the bottle of wine. There’s lots of room to sit and relax for a few minutes to rest your weary feet.
Unlike some events there is no one book that shows you all the wines at the event for you to make tasting notes for. Frankly it would be HUGE. Couple that with the fact that literature of what you are tasting really varies booth to booth and this is not an easy one to end up with notes for. So be sure and take along something to write on and with.
I really wish more of the booths would provide a simple sheet with what was being tasted at the booth, is it in the LCBO (and if so the LCBO number) and the price. Preferably with somewhere to write tasting notes. Sounds simple enough.
I enjoyed myself and will comment on a few of the wines in this and future posts, but in the end, my summary was that I really didn’t find anything that was earth shatteringly good, or earth shatteringly bad. That said with so many wines being tasted it is a matter of what you choose to taste as to how your experience will be!
Onto a wine! This one was one that stood out for me. This is a well made middle of the road chard. It has been well crafted with balance in mind. On the mid pallet are some lovely chard fruit flavors. On the finish is a bit of oak, some creamyness and medium in length. This is clearly a wine that is responding to the critics that have been going at the overly buttery/creamy chards! Very nice wine. I would give it an 89-90. Finesse is a word that comes to mind for this wine! I woud prefer if it a little longer but quite good none the less!
from the LCBO web site:
GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2008 VINTAGES 138305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Gemtree Vineyards
Release Date: Oct 24, 2009
Tasting Note
Shows sophisticated use of winemaker inputs; fresh and crisp, with oak perfectly integrated and balanced; long, clean finish; well-priced. Drink [until] 2012. Score – 92. (James Halliday, www.winecompanion.com.au, Aug. 2008)
What winecurrent.com had to say:
Gemtree Citrine Chardonnay 2008 McLaren Vale South Australia
13.0% alcohol Gemtree owned by the third-generation-growers Buttery family have been following bio-dynamic principles since 2008. This is flavourful and deftly balanced. Aromas and flavours abound with yellow peach pear honeydew melon lemon-lime tang and spiced yellow plum among them. The prudent barrel treatment, only 30% aged in oak is perfectly integrated while the lively finish is crisp and refreshing with tangy citrus and spice flavour. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour pick up a few. (Vic Harradine) (138305) $17.95 Rating 4.5/5 from Winecurrent
Featured 10/24/2009
