Monday, June 13th: Picked up from the Fedex office two samples of Martin’s Lane Winery Pinot Noir 2012 and 2013 that Mission Hill had kindly sent me. Wrote my Post City column and then worked on the novel. For dinner with barbecued hamburgers, Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (Argentina, $19.95): dense purple colour; earthy, spicy, black fruit nose with a cedary note; full-bodied, dry and savoury with balancing acidity and well-integrated oak. (89)

Tuesday, June 14th: Down to the lab to taste the next Vintages release wines I’d missed on Friday. Then the tedious chore of inputting into the computer for the database.

Wednesday, June 15th: Lunch with Hans Gerhardt at Cibo to discuss a wine project. Ran into Franco Prevedello there (who used to own the restaurant when it was Centro) and, coincidentally, Otta Zapo, the owner of L’Avenue Bistro on Bayview Avenue, where I dined tonight with Julian Hitner and Malcolm and Jane Roberts. (Malcolm was instrumental in arranging a visit to Château de Fargues for our group in May).

Malcom brought along a bottle of Drappier Pinot Noir Brut Nature, Julian a bottle of Bouchard Père et Fils Meursault Perrières 2010 and I a bottle of 2006 Château Ronan. Otta brought over a half bottle of Zind-Humbrecht Vieilles Vignes Gewurztraminer 2010.

Walked back home from the restaurant with Julian.

Thursday, June 16th: Today is the trade and consumer tasting for the Ontario Wine Awards, re-branded as Winetario. The event, in partnership with the Iyellow Wine Group, is being held in the vestibule of George Brown College. Nineteen wineries are participating, showing their medal-winning wines and others they want to promote.

Friday, June 17th: A Vintages Essentials tasting today – 136 products, although they didn’t put out a sample of Louis XIII cognac. French fries on the way home and prepared myself for a Junior Diabetes Foundation charity tasting in Rosedale. We tasted the following wines:

• Konzelmann Pinot Blanc 2013
• McMichael Collection Chardonnay 2014
• Jackson-Triggs Delaine Fume Blanc 2012
• Tawse Pinot Noir Tintern Road Vineyard 2013
• Pillitteri Cabernet Franc 2010
• Creekside Broken Press Shiraz Reserve 2012

Saturday, June 18th: Spent much of the day preparing for a dinner party for six. One of our guests brought a magnum of Château Latour 1996 and a half bottle of Château d’Yquem. I opened a bottle of Taittinger 2008 and Taittinger Brut Réserve with the hors d’oeuvres, Stratus White 2012 with pear and arugula salad followed by mushroom risotto with black truffle, the Latour with barbecued butterflied leg of lamb with scalloped potatoes and green beans. Cheeses and fig tart (with the Yquem). A great meal.