Trialto Fall Wine Tasting

Towards the end of last month, I was invited to attend the Trialto Wine Group's Fall Tasting event held at their (relatively new) offices in downtown Toronto. In all, there were 18 wines available for tasting along with a selection of cheeses and smoked salmon on crackers.

Many of these wines are readily available from either the General List or the Vintages section at the LCBO; these wines can also be purchased in cases of 6 directly from Trialto. Seven of these wines are available (in cases of 6) exclusively through Trialto on consignment only.

These wines were available at the tasting, but I did not taste them as they were reviewed by me previously:

• Grant Burge 2011 Summers Chardonnay (2010 reviewed here) and 2010 Miamba Shiraz
• 2009 Château Pipeau

The Summers Chardonnay is a personal fave. My favourite wine of the evening was the Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are my wine reviews from the event:

TILIA MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#160945) (XD) - $12.95
Nose a bit closed, but shows dark fruits, violets and iron/metallic aromas. Easy drinking with dark fruits and hints of milk chocolate on the palate. Short- to medium-length finish. Score: 86 pts

ALAMOS MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#295139) (XD) - $13.95
Intense and focused aromas of violet/lavender and dark fruits. Medium-full bodied with lots of spice on the palate that tapers off to a subdued dark fruit finish. Integrated tannins a bit grippy - could use 1-2 years in cellar. Alcohol (13.5%) shows. Score: 88 pts

LAPOSTOLLE CASA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#168732) (D) - $15.95

Intense currant, cassis and mint aromas. Medium-bodied with flavours of oak, spices and raspberry. Integrated tannins a bit green, will reward ageing 1 year. Long finish. The LCBO website states that it is discontinued. You can, however, purchase it directly from Trialto. Score: 88 pts

LAS ROCAS GARNACHA 2009 - Calatayud, Spain (#269977) (D) - $14.60

From old vines 35-45 years old. Plush red fruit aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with more red fruits on palate, joined by cranberry and spice box notes. Tannins a bit chalky. Good acidity with a medium-long finish. Serve slightly chilled. Score: 88 pts

ILLUMINATI RIPAROSSO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2009 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#269985) (XD) - $12.25
Intense and fruit-forward with aromas of cherries, red berries, and some raisin/plum. Light-bodied, very smooth with straight red fruits and red licorice. Crowd pleaser. Score: 88 pts

LIBERTY SCHOOL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#738823) (D) - $19.95

Very intense aromas of smoke, earth and oak. Big wine with big tannins that are well-integrated. Full-bodied with dark fruits and touch of mint on the palate. It's smooth with mouth-watering acidity and has a long finish. Score: 90 pts

TREANA WHITE 2009 - Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA (#011247) (D) - $29.95

Blend of 55% Marsanne and 45% Viognier. Nice floral and tropical fruit aromatics. Off-dry and medium-bodied with complex notes of limestone minerality, orchard fruits and some buttery notes. Oak ageing is evident. Long finish. Score: 89 pts

The following wines are available by Consignment only:

DOMAINE FAIVELEY CHABLIS 2011 - Burgundy, France (#569334) (XD) - $22.95

Nose a bit closed, but shows pear, apple and vegetal aromas with pleasant replays on palate. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Very well-balanced and has a medium-finish. Score: 89 pts

DOMAINE DE LA MORDORÉE 2011 - Côtes-du-Rhône, France (#564715) (XD) - $16.95

Rosé blend of Grenache 40%, Syrah 30%, Cinsault 15%, Carignan 10%, Mourvedre 5%. Shows strawberry, herbal and leafy aromas that come off as Off-Dry. However, the palate is Extra-Dry with loads of minerality and tannin. This is a bigger rosé with a medium-body and a finish that is a touch hot. Balanced with medium-length finish. Score: 88 pts

DOMAINE DE LA MORDORÉE LIRAC 'LA DAME ROUSSE' 2010 - Côtes-du-Rhône, France (#604933) (XD) - $23.95

Old vines consisting of 50/50 Grenache and Syrah. Red wine with lavender, blackcurrant and dark fruit aromas. Medium-full bodied with aromas replays and some spice and sweet vanillan notes on palate. Tannins still a bit tight and should improve in 1-2 years. Quite smooth with a medium-length finish. Score: 90 pts

NOEMÍA A LISA MALBEC 2010 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#) (XD) - $23.95

90% Malbec, 9% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Earthy, barnyard nose. Medium-full bodied with more earthy, savoury dark fruit and cedar flavours. Quite smooth and balanced. Integrated tannins a bit chalky - could use more time in bottle. Score: 88 pts

ARGIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#) (XD) - $45.00

Woodsmoke and oak aromas. Medium-full bodied and very smooth with refined tannins. Palate has more woodsmoke, joined by blackcurrants, dark fruits and hints of coffee. Very nice acidity. Drinking quite well now, will reward with 2+ years ageing. Score: 91 pts