A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1018: Strewn, Stonebridge and a Marathon Gamay Tasting

Posted on May 2, 2026 by tonyaspler

Monday, April 27th: Tasted the following Strewn wines:

Strewn Sparkling Blush (Charmat process)
Equal parts Cabernet Franc and Riesling. Deep coppery-pink in colour;
lightly floral nose of strawberries. Petillant, medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and yellow cherry flavours; well-balanced and easy drinking with a touch of sweetness in mid-palate. (89)

Strewn Chardonnay 2025 (Niagara Peninsula)
Pale straw in colour; toasty, apple bouquet with vanilla oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted apple and pear flavours with well-integrated oak and good length. (90) Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1017: Hester Creek, Winemaker’s Cut and a Winemaker’s Dinner

Posted on April 27, 2026 by tonyaspler

Hester Creek wines

Monday, April 20th: Here are the notes on the Hester Creek wines I tasted last week, which are now released.

Hester Creek Character White 2025 (Okanagan Valley)
A blend of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Pale straw in colour; aromatic, spicy, peachy-apple bouquet with a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, apple, lychee and lemon flavours. Well-balanced and lingering. (90)

Hester Creek Pinot Blanc 2025
Pale straw colour; white peach bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, well-extracted peach and lemon flavours. Lovely mouth-feel, great length. (91)

Hester Creek Pinot Gris 2025
Straw colour; floral, peach pit nose; medium-bodied, dry, peach and green melon flavours. Vibrant acidity, good length. (91) Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1016: Harlan Estate, Hester Creek, and Stone Eagle

Posted on April 20, 2026 by tonyaspler

Tasting the Harlan wines

Monday, April 13th: A meeting at Ted Van Geest’s house regarding the Niagara wine project we’ve been working on. Ted always brings out good wines: Cloudsley Cellars Pinot Noir 2017 and Hidden Bench Roman’s Block Riesling 2017.

Cloudsley Cellars Pinot Noir 2017 and Hidden Bench Roman’s Block Riesling 2017

Tuesday, April 14th: Dinner: Tasted wines from Hester Creek Estate in the Golden Mile Bench, Southern Okanagan Valley. They asked me to hold my reviews till the wines are released. In a word, “Terrific.” Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1015: Magnetic Hill and Grapes for Humanity Auction

Posted on April 13, 2026 by tonyaspler

Magnetic Hill white wines

Monday, April 6th: Tasted the following wines from Magnetic Hill Winery in Moncton, New Brunswick. They have a second label, Loose Wire.

Magnetic Hill Terroir Generator Osceola Brut Sparkling 2022
(Osceola Muscat, also known as Muscat de Swenson, is a versatile and hardy grape variety bred by renowned grape breeder Elmer Swenson. Developed from a mix of French and North American grape species, this variety thrives in cooler climates. Named after Osceola, Wisconsin, where it was bred.)
Golden colour, light mousse; aromatic, lavender bouquet; light-bodied, dry, peachy-apricot flavour with a touch of bitterness on the finish; lively acidity masks the touch of sweetness in the wine. (89)

Loose Wire St. Pepin 2024 Cellar Experiment
(This a hybrid crossing by Elmer Swenson of Seyval Blanc with Rosette)
Pale straw in colour; lightly floral, grapefruit best bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, unctuously soft mouth feel; nicely balanced, good length, with grapefruit and lime flavours, finishing with a touch of bitterness (over-pressing?). (88) Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1014: Seder Night

Posted on April 6, 2026 by tonyaspler

Passover dinner menu

Monday, March 30th: Spent much of the day getting papers together for the renewal of my British passport.

Tuesday, March 31st: A meeting at Ted Van Geest’s house (a two-minute walk) to discuss a project for the Ontario wine industry. Ted opened a bottle of Marramiero Incanto Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015. Delicious. Continue reading →

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