A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1031: Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia licence plate

Monday, August 3rd: Dinner: chicken puttanesca tagliatelle (a sous vide meal created by Cacio Pepe (www.caciopepemeals.com), with a bottle of Perez Cruz Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 from Maipo Valley, Chile.

Perez Cruz Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Tuesday. August 4th: Dinner: hamburgers with a bottle of Malivoire Albert’s Honour Old Vines Foch 2022. Continue reading

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A Wine Lover’s diary, Part 1030: Argentinian Reds and an Odyssey

Monday, July 26th: Dinner: barbecued steak, with a bottle of Peller Estates Cabernet Franc 2022.

Tuesday, July 27th: Dinner: pasta, with a bottle of Porta Ravessa Reserva 2015 from the Alentejo.

Porta Ravessa Reserva 2015 Continue reading

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The Crush on King

Dedicated followers of the Ontario wine industry will remember Stoney Ridge Estate Winery in Vineland, where Winemaker Jim Warren worked his magic. Today, the facility is a winemakers’ collective where vintners can make or finish their wines without the expense of building a winery.

If you’re ever visiting Oakville in the Napa Valley, there’s a similar enterprise called the Napa Wine Company which was undoubtedly the model for The Crush on King, Niagara Custom Crush Studio.

In Crush’s bright, contemporary tasting room, you can taste, buy a glass or buy a bottle of 20+ of the resident winemakers’ products.

The current resident winemakers are: Continue reading

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1029: Ballgame, Theatre and an Estate Dinner

Bill Redelmeier welcomes his guests (see Saturday)

Monday, July 20th: Visited my dentist. Great guy but I hate dental visits. This time to mend a broken front tooth. He discovered a small cavity in another tooth, which means another visit on Wednesday. Dinner: beef stir fry noodles with a bottle of Big Crush Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 from Australia.

Tuesday, July 21st: Dinner at Wellington Court with Bill Redelmeier and John Nadeau. Ordered Lake Erie perch (which I read this morning in the Standard is in short supply). John ordered a bottle of Bill’s Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. Continue reading

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1028: Juice and Back to School

Angela Aiello

Tuesday, July 14th: A tasting of The Juice Wine Company portfolio at the Crush on King with co-owner Angela Aiello.

Juice Wine Company Chardonnay 2024 ($33)
Straw colour, fresh bouquet of Granny Smith apple; medium-bodied, dry, Chablis style, with a peachy, apple flavour. (89)

Juice Wine Company Cabernet Franc Rose 2025 ($33)
Pink with a bluish tint; strawberry nose with watermelon; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and pomegranate flavour. (90) Continue reading

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