The annual Wine Spectator Top 100 packed them into DeVines last weekend! 60 participants, stand up, all ready to sample some of the wines that made the annual WS Top 100 list.
As usual, I was there to give a hand, pour and try to speak some words of wisdom!
Reception Wine was the NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige. $33 Cdn, nice entry-level bubbly from Napa but not a top wine by any means. Poor sell at end of the evening. Oh, #48.
1) 2007 Bodegas Norton Malbec Reserva, Mendoza. #90 and great value for under $20. Cherry, nice mouthfeel, smooth old school. Spice, herbal finish, very nice, and flew off the shelf.
2) 2006 Zenato Amarone, Veneto. # 36, $50 Cdn, very flavorable, fine tannins, raisiny nose, sure has a touch of sweetness. Excellent and much admired by many in the room.
3) 2008 Orin Swift Saldo Zinfandel, California. Very strange looking label, like a clothes tag. Dark ruby in color, big nose, black fruits. Velvety fine tannins, blackberry/loganberry. Nice and smooth but too high alc for my taste (15.5%). Did not move at all, $47 Cdn. #69.
4) 2008 Two Hands Bella`s Garden Shiraz, Barossa. #2 and I was not going to like this! However, I did find it quite drinkable. Berries, vanilla, too young, ripe fruit and luckily not quite over the top. Shiraz drinkers hummed and aghed.....$65 ouch. Not that Mollydooker look-alike fruit bomb I was expecting.
5) Dow`s 2007 Vintage Port. #14, $100 Cdn, Delicious and can see Roy`s enthusiasm.
It is drinking nice already, Mr Hersh! Plum, extra smooth tannins, wonder what will happen here? The 375 ml was not available, pity.
No notes on the 2007 Frescobaldi CC (#65) or the 2008 d`Arenberg Stump Jump (#63).
