Monday, December 5th: A meeting with Steven Campbell at his Lifford office on Jarvis to discuss a Grapes for Humanity fund-raiser tasting: a vertical of Château Latour going back to 1945 and conducted by the president of Latour, Frederic Engerer in late October 2017. There will also be an auction; one item is a bottle of 1900 Latour. The event will be held in Vancouver.
The rest of the day I worked on my book which is about 15–20,000 words off finishing. Opened a bottle of Quails’ Gate Cailleteau Gamay Nouveau 2016 (medium ruby colour; cherry nose with a vanilla note; light to medium-bodied, fresh and lively on the palate, fruity with a touch of sweetness and easy drinking. More fun than all the Beaujolais Nouveaux I tasted from Burgundy or the Italian Novelli (88.5)).
Tuesday, December 6th: An 8:30 am appointment at Sunnybrook. My ophthalmologist discovered a tear in the retina of my right eye during a routine eye examination and referred me to a specialist, who performed laser surgery. An impressively quick in-and-out procedure. My eye turned beet red but the doctor says it will go back to normal in a few days.
Deborah requested I make a cheese soufflé for dinner. For the first time I used whole wheat flour, as we had no white flour. Concerned that it would not rise properly – but it did. Opened a bottle of Mascota Vineyards OPI Chardonnay 2015 from Argentina (straw colour; minerally, earthy, apple and citrus nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, herbal, apple, pineapple and yellow plum flavours (89)).
Wednesday, December 7th: A meeting with Tim Lilleyman of the Royal Winter Fair, John Switzer and Paul Miles of IWEG to discuss the Fair’s wine competition. Got lost in the Enercare Centre and couldn’t find the Royal Winter Fair offices. All the doors were locked and there was no information booth to direct me. Ended up half an hour late for the meeting. And had to pay $14 for parking for 45 minutes. Then I couldn’t find the car in the parking lot.
Thursday, December 8th: Worked on the book and then lunched at Nota Bene with Deborah and Angela Aiello to discuss next year’s Ontario Wine Awards. Ordered a bottle of Malivoire Small Lot Gamay 2015 for my burger. Dinner: moules marinères with a bottle of Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2015 from BC (bright straw colour; grassy, green plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, grapefruit and green plum flavours with lively acidity (88)).
Friday, December 9th: Worked on the book and then to my doctor for a flu shot. Last year, I got the shot then I got the flu. Hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.
