Monday, June 29th: Did some wine evaluations for Grand Cru’s auction and then wrote an article for Grapevine magazine on how to get into wine.

Tuesday, June 30th: Took Pinot to the emergency clinic. She’s having a CAT scan to determine what is causing her pain with sudden movements. Couldn’t really concentrate on much as Pinot will be put under an anaesthetic and I’m worried about her. Picked her up at 5:30 pm to find that they had shaved the back of her head for the procedure. Very modish do. The vet could find nothing on the X-rays but has taken spinal fluid for further testing.

Pinot’s new do

Went to the ballgame with my friend Frank Daley. The security to get into Rogers Stadium is like entering Fort Knox. Jays lost – again. They always do when I go. They should pay me to stay away.

Wednesday, July 1st: Canada Day. Took Deborah to Cibo on Yonge Street for dinner. It used to be Centro (where we celebrated Guy’s bar mitzvah 27 years ago) and then Vita Sociale. I ordered a bottle of Carpineto Dogajolo Rosato 2014, which was delivered by a wine angel who hoisted herself up the face of the glassed-in wine cellar to retrieve it. I first saw this concept at the Auerole in the Mandalay Hotel in Las Vegas, which has a 44-foot high wine cellar. Cibo’s is probably 20 feet. The wine waiter was about to apply a corkscrew to the bottle when I pointed out to him that it had a screwcap.

Cibo’s wine angel

Deborah enjoying Carpineto’s rosé

Thursday, July 2nd: Spent much of the day transcribing the tape of an interview with a bio-chemist in Texas who has invented a product that could… (I say no more at this stage. Watch this space). Then got down to some tasting.

• Bench 1775 Chill 2014 (Naramata, BC): pale straw colour; minerally, pear skin nose; medium-bodied, dry and mouth-filling with apple and pear flavours. (88+)
• Bench 1775 Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (Naramata, BC): pale straw colour with a lime tint; sweaty, grassy nose of grapefruit and green plum; medium-bodied, dry, tart flavours of grapefruit and gooseberry. Good length. (89)
• Bench 1775 Pinot Gris 2014 (Naramata, BC): light straw colour; white peach nose with a thread of minerality; dry, full-bodied, mouth-filling peach flavour with balancing acidity. (89)
• Nugan Estate Third Generation Chardonnay 2013 (South Eastern Australia – $11.95): pale straw colour with a lime tint; earthy, green pear nose with a mineral note; dry, full-bodied-bodied, pear and lemon flavours that linger on the palate. Great value. (87+)
• Huff Estates Pinot Gris 2013 (Prince Edward County – $20): pale straw with a greenish tint; minerally, peach pit nose; full-bodied, dry, white peach and pear flavours; richly extracted with good length. (88)
• Bench 1775 Glow Rosé 2014 (Naramata, BC – 65.4% Malbec, 13.2% Merlot, 5.4% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc): flesh pink colour; minerally, redcurrant bouquet; medium-bodied, dry and soft on the palate with raspberry and cranberry flavours and a warm alcoholic finish. (89)
• Bench 1775 Merlot 2013 (Naramata, BC): deep purple colour; blueberry and dark chocolate nose with an oak note; full-bodied, dry, creamy mouth feel; blueberry flavour with a note of violets and a lively spine of acidity. (90)
• Jim Barry The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (Coonawarra – $16.95): dense purple-ruby colour; cedary, blackcurrant nose and vanilla nose; dry medium- to full-bodied, blackcurrant flavour with a floral grace note and tangy acidity on the finish. (89+)

Friday, July 3rd: Down to the LCBO to taste some general list wines that are about to be released as well as some Australian wines. Noticed this artwork at Union Station. It looks suspiciously like a child picking its nose. Just the thing to greet visitors to Toronto for the Pan Am Games with.

Union Station art

The vet called to say she could not find anything from the spinal fluid test. So nothing learned from a very expensive procedure.