A whole lot of tasting going on…

Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Riesling 2016 (Niagara): Pale straw in colour with a spicy, minerally, grapefruit nose with a honeyed note; light to medium-bodied, just off-dry with grapefruit and honey flavours and fresh citrus acidity giving the wine great length. Drinking nicely now but will hold for several years. (90)

Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir Estate 2016: Medium ruby in colour; a nose of raspberries and moist earth; medium-bodied, dry, well-textured and firm with raspberry and strawberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Hold 1–2 years. (89)

Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2017: Opaque purple in colour, this richly extracted Baco Noir behaves more like a vinifera than a hybrid. Spicy, slightly herbal on the nose, it shows blackberry fruit with vanilla oak notes. Medium-bodied and dry, jammy flavours of black plum and prune accented with vanilla oak fill the mouth. (89)

Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay 2017: Straw-coloured with a complex nose – minerally, lightly toasty, apple and grilled nuts lifted with oak spice. Medium-bodied, dry, beautifully balanced apple flavour with well-integrated oak notes with lively, lemony acidity. Very Burgundian in style. Drinking well now or within the next two years. (91)

Henry of Pelham Gamay 2016: Ruby-purple colour with a violet rim; spicy, earthy cherry bouquet with just a suggestion of vanilla oak. Light to medium-bodied, fruity and fun black cherry flavour with a hint of tannin on the finish giving structure and added interest to the wine. Drink within the next twelve months and serve lightly chilled. (89) 

Black Hill Estate Winery tasting:

Black Hills Estate Winery Alias 2017 (Okanagan): A blend of 24% Chasselas/18% Riesling, 17% Muscat/ 15% Gewurztraminer/12% Pinot Blanc/9% Pinot Gris/5% Schonburger. White gold in colour; a complex nose of lychee, rose petal, grapefruit and lime; medium-bodied, just off-dry, a cornucopia of spicy, orange, melon, apple and lychee flavours. Harmonious and fun to drink. Enjoy now. (88.5)

Black Hills Estate Winery Roussanne 2016: Bright, very pale straw in colour; minerally, floral and Asian pear on the nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, lemon and pear flavours with an intriguing touch of bitterness on the finish for added interest. Lovely mouth-feel and texture with a firm finish. Drink now until 2021. (88) 

Black Hills Estate Winery Viognier 2017: Bright, pale straw colour; delightful minerally, floral, white peach nose; medium-bodied, dry, grapey flavour with pink grapefruit acidity. Great balance and lovely mouth-feel and generous mid-palate fruit that lingers on the palate. Drink now through 2020. (90)

Black Hills Estate Winery Cellar Hand Punch Down Red 2016 (Okanagan): 67%Merlot/17% Cabernet Sauvignon/10% Carmenere/6% Syrah. Deep purple-ruby in colour; spicy, slightly earthy nose of black cherry; medium to full-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours with a cedary note and lively acidity. Ripe tannins. Drink now or hold 1–2 years. (88) 

Black Hills Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2017: bright ruby colour; a nose of Morello cherries and pipe tobacco with oak spice and vanilla notes; medium-bodied, dry, succulent sour cherry and raspberry flavours; beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and fresh acidity giving the wine a long finish. Can be opened now but will reward two years in the cellar. (90)

Black Hills Estate Winery Syrah 2016: Dense purple-ruby in colour; spicy, floral, blackberry bouquet with a peppery, herbal note and a suggestion of oak; medium to full-bodied, dry, juicy blackberry and black plum flavours with a black licorice note and lively acidity. Give it 2 or 3 years for the elements to come into balance and this will be a stunning wine. For the impatient, it’s still drinking well now and the mouth-feel will captivate you. (89–91)

Orofino tasting:

Orofino Scout Vineyard Riesling 2016 (Similkameen Valley): White gold colour; minerally, slightly reductive nose of apple and citrus fruits; medium-bodied, dry, crab apple and lemon-lime flavours with lively acidity that actuates a long, harmonious finish. A touch of honeyed sweetness and a floral note in mid palate adds to the total effect. Drinking nicely now but will hold for several years. (90)

Orofino White Bridge 2017: A blend of Pinot Gris, Muscat and Riesling. Very pale straw colour; spicy, aromatic nose of orange blossom with a note of wet stones; medium-bodied, dry, kiwi and apple flavours. A well-balanced wine drinking beautifully now. (89)

Orofino Home Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014:  Deep ruby colour; lifted nose of ripe cherries and violets with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted flavours of savoury black raspberry and cherries. Firmly structured and well-balanced with evident but ripe tannins. Drink now but will reward a year in cellar. (90)

Orofino Home Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016: Medium ruby colour; lightly floral, raspberry nose with a forest floor note and well-integrated oak; very Burgundian in style – medium-bodied, dry, raspberry flavour with a spicy note. Elegant and well-balanced. Drink now or hold for a couple of years. (92)

Orofino Scout Vineyard Syrah 2011: Deep purple in colour; spicy, lightly peppery nose of black fruits with toasty oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, savoury-herbal, blackberry with vanilla oak flavours carried on fresh acidity. Great length. Drink now or within two years. (91)

Orofino  Scout Vineyard Syrah 2017: Deep purple colour; cedary, lightly peppery nose of black fruits with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry and savoury, black plum flavour; firmly structured, lively acidity with an herbal note on the finish. Drink now or through 2020. (90)

Miscellaneous wines:

CedarCreek Platinum Pinot Noir Block 2 2016 (Okanagan): Ruby colour; minerally, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, raspberry flavour; beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak. (91)

Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2018: Very pale in colour with a lime tint; grassy, grapefruit bouquet with a reductive note; medium-bodied, dry, citrus, lime and grapefruit flavours carried on lively acidity. (89)

Quails’ Gate Chenin Blanc 2018 (Okanagan): Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, quince nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, quince and pear flavours with a light floral note and mouth-watering, lemony acidity. (89)

Mission Hill Reserve Viognier 2018 (Okanagan): Pale straw in colour; spicy, peach and lemon bouquet; dry, elegant, white peach and lemon flavours. A well-balanced wine. (90)

Mission Hill Pinot Gris 2018: Bright straw in colour; minerally, peach pit nose; medium-bodied, dry, white peach and pear flavours with a note of wet stones and lemony acidity. (88.5)

Mission Hill Reserve Shiraz 2016: Opaque purple-black colour; savoury, spicy nose of white pepper and blackberries; medium to full-bodied, dry, well-extracted rip black fruit flavours with balancing acidity. (91)

Peller Estates Vidal Blanc Icewine 2017: Bright and shining deep golden in colour, this is a perfect example of a Niagara Vidal Blanc Icewine. It offers an intense, spicy bouquet of mango and honey with a thread of minerality. Full-bodied and rich on the palate, sweet and luscious flavours of honeyed tropical fruits and raisins fill the mouth. The sweetness is beautifully balanced with citrus acidity to give a long, lingering finish. (95)

Baron de Hoen Gewurztraminer Reserve 2017 (Alsace – $16.95, Vintages #635698): Bright, pale straw colour; aromatic, rose petal, lychee and grapefruit, bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, spicy, lychee and rose water flavours. (89)

Simi Dry Sonoma County Rosé 2018 ($19.95): Salmon colour; a nose of banana and strawberry with a spicy, floral note; medium-bodied, dry, fruity, cherry flavour; nicely balanced with fresh acidity. (90)

Flat Rock Twister Rosé 2018 (Niagara): Deep pink in colour; minerally, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, cherry flavour with a touch of sweetness. (88)

Domaine Laroche Saint Martin Chablis 2018 (Burgundy – $38.95): Bright golden straw in colour; minerally, green apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, fresh, flinty, lemony, green apple flavours with lively acidity. (89)

Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Vau de Vey 2015 (Burgundy): Light golden colour; minerally, high-toned, lemon and green apple bouquet with forest floor notes; medium-bodied, dry, lemony and green pineapple flavours with zesty acidity. (90)

Serenity Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (Niagara – $16.95, LCBO #688549): Bright pale straw colour; grassy, guava and grapefruit nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry with green fig and lemon flavours. (89)

Château du Vieux Puit 2015 (Bordeaux): Deep ruby in colour; cedary, floral, red berry nose; medium-bodied, dry, ripe plum flavour with lively acidity. (89)

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