Monday, November 27^th: A quiet day, racking up the paces as I walk Pinot. She has two favourite routes. One is along a path by the Martindale Pond that leads ultimately to Henley Island. There is a large open area for dogs there and Pinot enjoys socializing. The other is the Waterfront Trail that runs long Lake Ontario.

Opened a bottle of Guillaume Aurèle Viognier 2015 ($13.65 – Pays d’Oc: bright straw in colour with a spicy melon nose; medium-bodied, dry, slightly acetic (87.5)).

Tuesday, November 28^th: The most exciting thing today was paying a whack of household bills and grocery shopping. Deborah is in Toronto working a booth at the One of a Kind Show. For dinner, a bottle of Torres Altos Ibericos 2014 (100% Tempranillo from Rioja – $12.95: deep ruby colour; cedary, cherry nose with floral and sandalwood notes; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and blackcurrant flavours, elegant and savoury with a lovely mouth-feel and lively acidity. Great value (89)).

Wednesday, November 29^th: A beautiful fall day, sunshine and blue skies. Pinot must have thought it was Spring because she kept dragging me out for long walks. And then the dog walker arrived (we want to familiarize Pinot with the new dog walker) and she went out again. For dinner with meat pie, Gérard Bertrand Grenache/Syrah/ Mourvèdre Corbières 2014 ($16.95 – deep purple-ruby; cedary, herbal, blackberry bouquet; medium-bodied dry, savoury, firmly structured with black fruit flavours and notes of pencil lead. Lively acidity (89)).

Thursday, November 30^th: The kitchen is finally finished and looks terrific. We can now start moving stuff off the living room carpet.

To celebrate I opened a bottle of Château des Charmes Vidal Icewine 2016 ($46.95 – old gold colour; rich, spicy, tropical fruit and honey bouquet; full-bodied, and unctuous on the palate with sweet, honey mango and caramel flavours carried on balancing acidity. Great length (93)). For dinner with roast chicken, a bottle of SonVida Malbec 2013 from Mendoza, Argentina ($29.95: dense purple colour; cedary-herbal, savoury nose of blackberries; medium to full-bodied, dry, blackberry and dark chocolate flavour with lively acidity and well-integrated oak (90)).

Friday, December 1^st: Another day filled with walks with Pinot. The house is empty without Deborah who will be away till Sunday. For dinner opened a bottle of Tarapaca Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Maipo Valley, Chile – $17.95: dense purple colour; a nose of blackcurrants with vanilla oak; medium to full-bodied. Dry cassis flavour carried on fresh acidity to a firm finish).

Saturday, December 2^nd: Noticed on Facebook that my friends and latter-day neighbours Adam and Pam were touring Niagara wineries. On the off-chance that they would check FB I replied inviting them over to see the new house. They called and Ubered over. I heated up a batch of egg rolls and opened a bottle of Bersano Nirvasco Barolo 2008 which we demolished along with the remains of the Tarapaca from last night. They Ubered back to their hotel in Niagara.