Wednesday, March 11: Took the Megabus into Toronto for a tasting of Pinot Noir wines scheduled to be featured in The Pinot Affair at 10 Ontario wineries, April 24–26. The event was held at Chez Nous Wine Bar, 798 Queen Street East.
Cave Spring Cellars Pinot Noir Niagara Escarpment 2018
Medium ruby colour; lifted, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, dry, raspberry and cranberry flavours; firmly structured with good length. (89)
Cave Spring Cellars Pinot Noir Dolomite 2018
Medium ruby colour; earthy, raspberry with a light note of violets; medium-bodied, dry, cherry with a mineral note; well-structured, a little tight at the moment but showing good fruit concentration. (90)
Cave Spring Cellars Pinot Noir Estate 2018
Medium ruby colour; minerally, cherry and cherry pit nose; medium-bodied richly extracted cherry flavour; beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak. (91)
Malivoire Mottiar Pinot Noir 2018
Medium ruby colour; lightly earthy, cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, cherry and red plum flavours; firmly structured with chalky tannins on the finish. (89)
Rosehall Run JCR Pinot Noir 2010 (barrel sample)
Ruby-garnet colour; high toned, cherry with evident oak on the nose; medium-bodied dry, fruity with a coconut note, sour cherry. (87)
Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir 2018
Ruby red colour; cherry nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, Volnay-style, elegant, well-extracted cherry and cranberry flavours. (90)
Mystery wine: Hidden Bench Pinot Noir Estate 2017
Medium ruby colour; lightly minerally, cherry and red plum bouquet; medium-body, dry, rhubarb and cherry flavours with lively acidity and a firm tannic finish. (90)
Tawse Quarry Road Pinot Noir 2017
Ruby with a tawny rim; lightly cedary, cherry and raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, well-balanced and firm. Beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and an intriguing floral note. (92)
Flat Rock Nature Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby colour; lifted, dried violet, strawberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, richly extracted and beautifully balanced with a long finish. (92)
Flat Rock Nurture Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby colour; spicy, lightly cedary, cherry-red plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, well-extracted cherry flavour with a lovely mouth-feel. Beautifully balanced. (92.5)
Flat Rock Ultra Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby colour; lightly cedary and floral with a raspberry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted and elegant; full on the palate, beautifully balanced and firmly structured. (92.5)
Megalomaniac Sonofabitch Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby with a tawny rim; lightly floral, cherry nose; medium-bodied, full on the palate with cherry and plum flavours and well-integrated oak. (90)
Megalomaniac Reserve Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby colour; lightly spicy, raspberry with a note of violets; medium-bodied, richly extracted, full on the palate. Beautifully balanced and firm. (92)
Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby with a tawny rim; lightly spicy, lightly cedary, dried cherries on the nose; medium-bodied, sweet plum and cherry fruit; well-balanced and firm. (89)
Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir Speck Family Reserve 2017
Medium ruby colour; lightly spicy, lightly cedary, cherry with a touch of oak on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, richly extracted, firmly structured. Reminiscent of a Chambertin! Lovely mouth-feel. (92)
Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Tradition 2017
Medium ruby with a tawny rim; lightly cedary, cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted and firmly structured cherry and red plum flavours; mouth-filling. (89)
Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Limited Edition Jordan Vineyard 2017
Medium ruby colour with a mature rim; lightly cedary nose of black raspberries with well-integrated oak; medium-bodied, dry, beautifully balanced and elegant; fresh acidity. Lovely mouth-feel with a firm finish. (92)
Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Le Grand Réserve 2015
Medium ruby with a tawny rim; lifted, raspberry, forest floor bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured drying, rusty note. Firm finish. (88)
Hidden Bench Locust Lane Pinot Noir 2016
Ruby with a tawny rim; lightly cedary, plum and dried cherry nose with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, sour cherry with lively acidity and a firm finish. (89)
Hidden Bench Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Ruby with a tawny hue; tea leaf, dried cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lovely mouth-feel, firmly structured and ready. (90)
Wescott Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir 2016
Solid ruby colour with a tawny rim; lightly cedary, toasty, dried cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours with oak spice and a creamy finish. (89)
Other Ontario wines tasted since the last diary entry:
Red Stone Riesling 2018: Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, grapefruit and honey nose with a light petrol note; light to medium-bodied, off-dry, honeyed grapefruit and lime flavours. Sustains well on the palate ending on a taste of apple. (89)
Tawse Riesling 2018: Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, citrus nose; light to medium-bodied, dry, grapefruit flavour with a fresh, lemony finish. (88)
Red Stone Cabernet Franc 2017: Deep ruby-purple colour; cedary, plum bouquet with a licorice note; medium-bodied, dry, red berry flavours with lively acidity and a touch of tannin on the finish. (89)
Red Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2016: Deep purple colour; spicy, cedary, blackcurrant and plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, floral, cassis and mocha flavours with a firm tannic finish. (90)
Red Stone Syrah 2017: Deep purple in colour; cedary, spicy, herbal, blackberry nose; medium-bodied, lively acidity, firmly structured with flavours of savoury, blackberry and plum. (88.5)
Tawse Pinot Noir Tintern Road Vineyard 2016: Medium ruby colour with a tawny rim; raspberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, sour cherry and raspberry flavours with mellow tannins. (89)
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