Peter Dim rolling out the barrel
Friday, November 3rd: Dropped into a new wine bar/wine store in Port Dalhousie on Lock Street. Robbie, the young owner – he also has a location in St. Catharines at 39 James Street – was awaiting the arrival of two empty barrels from Peter Dim. Peter farms 22-acres of vines just outside of the village of Jordan. He produces Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet. A couple, already seated, offered me a glass of his Dim Wine Co. West Bank Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. And very good was it too.
Other wines tasted:
Little Engine Gold Chardonnay 2020 (Naramata, BC)
Bright, golden straw colour; very Burgundian in style – slightly reductive, toasty, nutty apple bouquet; medium-bodied, ripe peach and apple flavours; well-integrated oak notes and a lovely mouth feel. (92)
Little Engine Pinot Noir 2020
Ruby colour; raspberry and tea leaf nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, raspberry flavour, well balanced. Volnay style. (91)
Domaine Berger-Rive Manoir de Mercey 2020 ($29.95, Vintages #52957, to be released Dec. 16th)
Pale straw in colour; slightly reductive nose of yellow apple with oak spice; medium-bodied, crisp, apple and green pineapple flavours; mouth-filling, well-balanced, with great length. (90)
Mt. Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Napa Valley)
Dense purple in colour; cedary, blackcurrant and black plum bouquet with oak spice and a note of vanilla; full-bodied, fleshy and richly extracted with blackcurrant and licorice flavours; voluptuous on the palate, lovely mouth feel, firmly structured with ripe tannins, and great length. A gorgeous wine! (93)
Durant & Booth Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Napa Valle; $37.95, Vintages #16565; to be released Dec. 2nd)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, blackcurrant nose with oak notes; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackcurrant and dark chocolate flavours; round and full on the palate. (91)
Boeckel Alsace Riesling 2021 ($16,95; Vintages #29823; to be released Nov. 18th)
Old gold colour; minerally, grapefruit and lime zest bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, floral, grapefruit flavour with lemony acidity. Elegant and beautifully balanced. (91)
Henry of Pelham Chardonnay Speck Family Reserve 2022 ($34.95, CSPC #616466)
Straw colour; minerally, slightly reductive, toasty, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavour with oak spice. Very Burgundian (Maçonnais) in style. Well-tempered oak notes on the finish. (90)
Speck Brothers Family Tree The Bootlegger Baco Noir 2021 (Short Hills Bench, Niagara, $17.95)
Deep purple in colour with a violet rim; spicy, mulberry nose with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied dry, plum and blackberry flavours with mellow tannins, juicy and delicious. (90)
Speck Brothers Family Tree The Padré Cabernet-Merlot 2022 (Niagara Peninsula, $17.95, CSPC #18667)
Deep ruby colour; cedary, spicy, plum and blackcurrant nose; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, ripe black fruits carried on lively acidity; good value. (89)
Township 7 Benchmark Series Riesling 2020 Fool’s Gold Vineyard
Pale straw in colour; aromatic, floral, grapefruit nose with a honeyed note; fresh, tangerine and lime flavours rounded out with oak. Lively on the palate, great length. (91)
Township 7 Seven Stars Vega 2021
The lovely sparkler was made from Viognier. Active mousse. Floral, white peach nose; light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, elegant, peach and apple flavours with a thread of minerality. A long, fresh, lemony finish. (90)
Township 7 Seven Stars Sirius 2016
A traditional blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fermented together. Bright, straw colour. Active mousse of tiny bubbles. Citrus and green apple and baked bread nose; rich mouth feel with a touch of honey in mid-palate; beautifully balanced with a rich mouth feel. (92)
Township 7 Benchmark Series Viognier 2021
Fool’s Gold Vineyard, north Oliver. Honeysuckle and peach bouquet with a peach pit note of minerality; medium-bodied, dry, floral peach and apricot flavours carried on zesty acidity. (90)
Chombart & Speck Cave Mystère Merlot 2020 (Bordeaux, $19.95 CSPC #17232)
Dense purple-ruby in colour; smoky, cedary, blackcurrant and plum bouquet; full-bodied, charred oak flavours of black fruits, firmly structured with ripe tannins. (89)
Reminder: the password for the Reviews page is drinkme
