The Foreign Affair white wines

The Foreign Affair Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Niagara Peninsula)
Very pale in colour, almost water white; grassy, green plum bouquet with a green pepper note; light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, lemon, lanolin and green plum flavours. Drink now. (89)

The Foreign Affair Winery Viognier 2022 (Lincoln Lakeshore)
Pale straw colour; honeysuckle and white peach on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, aromatic, white peach and lemon flavours. Long fresh finish of lemony acidity. A well-balanced wine. Drink now and through 2024. (90)

The Foreign Affair Winery Sussreserve Riesling 2022 (Vinemount Ridge)
Pale straw colour; grapefruit zest nose with a light floral note; light-bodied, just off-dry with a honeyed grapefruit flavour, finishing on a note of lime and apple. Good length. Drink now or 2024/5. Will develop more complexity with age. (89)

The Foreign Affair red wines

The Foreign Affair Winery Merlot 2021 (Niagara Peninsula)
Ruby-purple colour; cedary, plum bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, richly extracted red cherry and red plum flavours; well-integrated oak and supple tannins. Engaging floral note on the back taste; nicely balanced. Drinking well now but will reward cellaring for a year or two. (90)

The Foreign Affair Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
Deep purple colour; cedary, spicy nose of blackcurrant and blackberry with oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, Christmas cake flavours of dried fruits carried on lively acidity and round with barrel-ageing. Lots of flavour in this well-balanced wine. Can be opened now but will soften its firm tannins with 1–2 years cellaring. (89–91)

The Foreign Affair Winery Dream 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
A blend of 50% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon (15% of the Cabernet Franc underwent appassimento – drying of the grapes before fermentation). Dense purple in colour; cedar, toasty, spicy nose of black fruits; medium to full-bodied, richly extracted flavours of blackcurrant and plum backed by oak spice and carried on lively to a finish of dark chocolate and a note of violets. (91)

Flat Rock Cellars have just released their Foundation Series of three 2021 wines, all Vintages Essentials and really well priced.

Flat Rock’s new Foundation Series

Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Pinot Noir 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, $24.95, Vintages Essential LCBO #1545)
Deep ruby in colour; raspberry bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted, black raspberry flavour; beautifully balanced, lovely mouthfeel, long finish to supple tannins. (90)

Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Chardonnay 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, $19.95 – $2 off Limited Time Offer from October 8 to November 4th, Vintages Essential LCBO #286278)
Light straw in colour with a green tint; toasty, spicy, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, apple and vanilla flavours, well-balanced, well-integrated oak with a lemony, Macadamia nut finish. Really good value. (91)

Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Riesling 2021 (Twenty-Mile Bench, $19.95 – $2 off Limited Time Offer November 5th to November 25th, Vintages Essential LCBO #43281)
Pale gold in colour; spicy, aromatic, grapefruit zest nose with a thread of minerality; light-bodied, crisp, lime and grapefruit flavours with a suggestion of Honey Crisp apple on the finish. (89)

Also tasted:

Cascina Chicco Rocche di Castelletto Barolo 2017 (Piemonte, $57.95, Vintages #17697)
Ruby colour with a tawny hue; cedary, black plum and licorice bouquet; full-bodied, dry, beautifully balanced; long in the mouth with mellow tannins, well-integrated oak and refreshing acidity. (92)

Saturday, September 23^rd: Dinner party with winemaker friends. These are the wines we happily consumed. I brought the Vidal Icewine 1976 to go with Deborah’s lemon pie.