Dean MacLean at work
Tasted six wines from Henry of Pelham and one from South Africa:
Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut
Pale straw colour; active, tiny bubbles; lightly toasty, apple and lemon-zest nose with a fragrant white blossom lift; light-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and lemon flavours with a suggestion of oak. Sustains well on the palate. (92)
Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2019
Bright, straw colour; toasty, lightly spicy, apple bouquet with a forest floor note; medium-bodied, dry, apple flavour tinged with oak spice; well-integrated oak; long, fresh, lemony finish. (91)
Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Light straw in colour; toasty, apple nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant; apple flavour with a lemony finish; well-integrated oak. (91)
Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir 2019
Dense purple colour; lightly cedary, spicy, blackberry, tobacco and new leather on the nose with a floral top note; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, beautifully balanced, ripe tannins and zesty acidity. Their best yet! (92)
Henry of Pelham Bin 106 Lost Boys Limited Edition Baco Noir 2020
Opaque purple in colour; lightly cedary, , spicy, blackberry nose with pencil lead and vanilla notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, sour cherry and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity. (91.5)
Henry of Pelham Cabernet-Merlot 2019
Ruby-purple in colour; cedary, red and blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury currant and cranberry flavours; well-structured, nicely integrated oak with firm but pliant tannins. (89)
De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2020 (Robertson, South Africa, $19.95, Vintages #403675)
Bright, very pale straw in colour; minerally, green apple nose with a light apple blossom note; medium-bodied, crisply dry, beautifully balanced; clean lines with lots of energy; remarkably elegant with a long lemony-green apple finish and brisk acidity. Chablis style. Great value. (91)
Saturday, November 6th: Deborah and I were invited by our friends Steve and Cathy to join them for a wine dinner at the Hamilton Golf Club, with wines provided by Stephen Cohen of Groupe Soleil (gsoleil@rogers.com) – champagnes from two independent, small growers and the wines from G. D. Vajra in Barolo. We started with oysters, expertly shucked by Dean MacLean, proprietor of The Mermaid and The Oyster restaurant in Oakville.
Here’s the menu:
Champagnes that accompanied the oysters
First course
Second course
Vajra’s red wines
