Monday, August 1st: Pinot’s ruptured cyst if healing well but we have to keep her collar on to stop her trying to lick it. She is also on antibiotics.
Got the news today that they are dropping my monthly column from Post City Magazines but they want me to write some features on wine so I’ll still appear in the magazine. That’s the life of a freelance. You never know when editorial directions will change.
Spent much of the day writing the novel. In the evening, opened a bottle of Mount Eden Sauvignon Blanc 2015 from New Zealand (pale straw colour with a green tint; grassy, grapefruit nose with green passionfruit notes; medium-bodied, crisply dry with green plum and gooseberry flavours (90)).
Tuesday, August 2nd: Deborah and I went over to dinner to Guy and Sasha’s. Sasha is expecting a little girl any day now. Sasha made a chicken stir-fry and I opened a bottle of Frei Brothers Reserve Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2014 (dense purple colour; leather, plum and vanilla oak on the nose; full-bodied, fruity-earthy blackberry and plum flavours with a suggestion of tannin to give the wine structure and a warm alcoholic finish (88)). Deborah made strawberry shortcake that was demolished in no time flat.
Wednesday, August 3rd: Deborah left with a girlfriend to spend the night in Picton so I stunk up the kitchen by making a chicken curry. Opened a bottle of Graffigna Malbec Reserve 2014 (purple-ruby colour; cedary, plum and tobacco nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, fruity with a lively spine of acidity (88)).
Thursday, August 4th: A very hot day today. The carpet cleaners came to pick up three Persian carpets for cleaning. The guy showed me evidence of moths and suggested we spray the place before they bring them back. Under the carpets were black moth eggs. Traumatized, I opened a bottle of Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2014 from South Australia (deep purple-ruby colour; herbal, blackberry nose with an light floral and oak nose; full-bodied, spicy blackberry flavour, good fruit in mid-palate with lively acidity and a licorice note on the finish (89)).
Friday, August 5th: A Vintages release tasting today. Will have to pick up a bottle of Guy Champagne to celebrate the baby’s arrival. I scored it 92. It’s released on August 20th.
Best wine at the Vintages release tasting
For dinner with steak a bottle of Clossson Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 (Prince Edward County – ruby colour; minerally, raspberry nose with a light barnyard note; light to medium-bodied, dry, Volnay style with a lovely mouth-feel; raspberry flavour with the fragrance of violets. Judicious use of oak. The best Pinot I’ve tasted from this winery (92)).
