Michael Pinkus Wine Review - On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from - Chilean Preview Tasting - September 12, 2007

02 Oct 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

As with my fetish for Franc, I make no bones about my love for Chilean wine; Chilean Merlot is where I first began my love affair with red wine and thus, as with all our first loves, Chilean wine holds a special place in my heart (and on my palate). So wouldn’t it just figure that I’d screw up my scheduling so that I am nowhere near Toronto for the Chilean Wine Fair (October 3, 2007) - details of which can be found below; but before you go off and check that out, let me tell you about the Preview Tasting held at the Boiler House Restaurant in Toronto’s distillery district. This preview had an unusual twist … each flight was served blind (we knew the grape variety but not the producer); with a total of 8 flights, some with as many as 9 wines and some with as few as three. There were most definitely some surprises, some “aha!” moments and some real revelations; so let’s take a brief look at some of the wines of Chile, flight by flight ... (Read more)

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Report from - Concha Y Toro Tasting - September 10, 2007

01 Oct 2007

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

No winery says Chile to me like Concha Y Toro … their Casillero del Diablo has found a spot on my wine rack year after year, and I have been buying their “Trio” series of wines since its introduction into the Ontario market; in fact, after this tasting, I went home and pulled my 2002’s off the shelf to drink them (more on that later). So when Concha Y Toro invited a few of us for a sampling of the new line-up of Trio and Terrunyo wines I jumped at the opportunity.

The tasting was held at a marvelous little restaurant on Yonge Street, just north of Lawrence, called, appropriately enough, Trio – a little Italian joint that makes some awesome food. I’m also told their thin crust pizza is to die for, and if their Osso Bucco, flank steak, calamari and other delights sampled this afternoon were any indication I’ll be back to try that pizza.

But enough about the food, let’s talk about the wine here ... (Read more)

Check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog and all the other feature articles click here.