Monday, July 20th: A winerytohome tasting at Doug Towers’s with David Lawrason. For dinner with grilled salmon, Joie En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2012 from BC (golden straw colour; high-toned nose of tropical fruit and vanilla oak; full-bodied, mature, dried peach flavour, intense (89)).
Tuesday, July 21st: Wrote my 680News wine reviews and sent off my monthly column to Lexpert about atmosphere and timing being the most essential elements in the enjoyment of wine.
Wednesday, July 22nd: Went for a blood test this morning. Wrote up my Wines of the Week and sent off my Post City Magazines column (the difference between Syrah and Shiraz). In the evening, conducted a tasting for members of our condo (30 people altogether). The wines:
- Tenuta San Giorgio Banero Prosecco Extra Dry (Veneto)
- Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier 2014 (Chile)
- Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014 (New Zealand)
- Trapiche Malkina Rosé 2014 (Argentina)
- Miguel Torres Las Mulas Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013 (Chile)
Thursday, July 23rd: Wrote another chapter in the new novel. For dinner, lamb chops with a bottle of Lavau Côtes du Rhône Villages 2011 ($12.90, LCBO #421024). Purple colour with a floral, blackberry nose lifted with a spicy oak note. Medium-bodied, dry and savoury with herbal, cherry flavours and supple tannins. Good value. (88+)
Friday, July 24th: A Vintages release tasting. For dinner with pasta salad I opened a bottle of Château Timberlay Merlot-Cabernet Bordeaux Clairet 2014 (Bordeaux getting on the rosé bandwagon. Pale ruby colour with a nose of raspberries. Medium-bodied, dry with raspberry and redcurrant flavours and not a suggestion of tannin (87)).
Saturday, July 25th: A family day today. My sister Shirley was in town and she wanted to meet my son Guy’s fiancée, Sasha. I took them all to lunch at Terroni on Yonge Street, along with my nephew David (who is also my godson) and his fiancée, Mary. Then in the evening Guy and Sasha had arranged for Deborah and me to meet Sasha’s parents for the first time. We had dinner at an Indian restaurant, The Copper Chimney on Avenue Road. Zoya and Valentin are Ukranian and Valentin and I spent a good deal of the time talking about our mutual passion – fishing. Only he’s crazier about it than I – he keeps his fishing tackle in a roof-rack holder for easy access. We’re going to get on well.
