Me, Geddy, Joe and Jim

Thursday, January 25^th: Took the train into Toronto to have dinner with three old friends at Prime Seafood Palace, 944 Queen Street West. Joe, Geddy, Jim and I each brought Burgundies, but such was the selection that we didn’t get round to opening my bottle of Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 2009. Joe had bought copies of Geddy’s book, My Effin’ Life, for all of us, which Geddy signed. I told him his title was more fitting for the autobiography of a porn star than a rock star.

The meal was fantastic, starting off with a medley of fish dishes, followed by tomahawk steak and desserts. The wines were out of this world.

Second course

I had to take a picture of the men’s toilet!

Joe was kind enough to invite me to stay the night in Toronto – which was a blessing.

Saturday, January 27^th: Tasted a series of Ravine Vineyard wines:

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Chardonnay 2021 (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Golden straw in colour; baked apple nose with oak spice notes; medium-bodied, dry, crisp yellow apple flavour with vanilla oak notes on the finish. A seamless wine with fresh acidity and well-integrated oak. Drinking well now but will sustain for two or three years. (91)

Ravine Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (Four Mile Creek)
White gold colour; grassy, passionfruit bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively on the palate, New Zealand-style Sauvignon with flavours of green melon and fig; beautifully balanced and long on the finish. Drink now and through 2025. (90)

Ravine Sand & Gravel Redcoat 2021 (Niagara Peninsula)
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc and 12% Merlot; deep ruby in colour; cedary, minerally nose of red plum and redcurrant with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, cherry and redcurrant flavours with a suggestion of oak and dry tannins. For the impatient can be opened now but will reward holding for 1–2 years. (89)

Ravine Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2021 (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, blueberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, plum and blueberry flavours with evident but ripe tannins; firmly structured and well-handled oak. Drinkable now but 1–2 years of cellaring will make for a delicious wine. (89–90)

Ravine Vineyard Merlot 2021 (St. David’s Bench)
Deep ruby in colour; spicy, plum and blackberry nose with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, plum and blackcurrant flavours; elegant with a lovely mouthfeel and ripe tannins. A beautifully made wine with zesty acidity that can be opened now but a year or two of cellar-rest will give you more drinking pleasure. (90–91)

Ravine Vineyard Meritage 2021 (Niagara Lakeshore)
Solid ruby colour; cedary, spicy, blackcurrant and redcurrant bouquet with vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, Bordeaux petit château style; firmly structured, well-balanced, savoury with evident but ripe tannins. Hold 1–2 years. (90–92)

Also tasted this week:

Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2020 (Short Hills Bench, $27.95, CSPC #268391)
Light ruby in colour; cedary, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, black raspberry flavour; well-balanced and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (91)

Henry of Pelham Rosé 2023 (Niagara Peninsula, $14.95, CSPC #613471)
Coral pink in colour; yellow cherries on the nose; light-bodied, dry, grapey, cranberry flavour. Fresh and lively on the palate. Easy drinking. (89)

Henry of Pelham Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Niagara Peninsula, $15.95, CSPC #430546)
Pale straw in colour; grassy, green plum nose; medium-bodied, dry, kiwi and green peach flavours with lively acidity and a lemony finish. (88)

Shannon Ridge High Elevation Chardonnay 2022 (Lake County, California, $24.95, Vintages #36754, to be released March 30^th)
Bright straw in colour; apple bouquet with a toasty, vanilla oak note; medium-bodied, dry, not much complexity. White peach flavour. (88)

Cune Crianza 2019 (Rioja, $17, Vintages #39925, to be released March 30^th)
Deep ruby-purple in colour; cedary, spicy, vanilla, strawberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, strawberry and cherry flavours, well-balanced, lovely mouthfeel; firmly structured with well-integrated oak. Great value. (91)

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2021 (Clare Valley, $25.95, Vintages #998476, to be released March 16^th)
Dense ruby-purple in colour; spicy, blackberry nose with peppery and oak spice notes; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and black plum flavours; well-balanced and firmly structured; lovely mouthfeel and great length. (90)

Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2018 (Tuscany, $75, Vintages #25970, to be released March 16^th)
Ruby colour with a tawny rim; cedary, dried cherry nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, rich and mouth-filling flavours of dried cherries and plum with ripe tannins; firmly structured and beautifully balanced with lively acidity. (92)