Chinmay Kulkarni receives his scholarship
Pentâge Winery Viognier 2018 (Okanagan Valley, BC)
Light golden colour; fragrant, minerally, peach pit nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted peach and pear flavours rounded with oak. (89)
Pentâge Winery Hiatus 2018 (Okanagan Valley, BC)
A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Petite Sirah, 15% Cabernet Franc, 11% Zinfandel and 5% Merlot. Opaque purple in colour; cedary, plum nose with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, fleshy, savoury black plum and blackcurrant flavours. Richly extracted, with well-integrated oak. (91)
Pentâge Winery Tempranillo 2018 (Dirty Dozen Vineyards, Okanagan Valley, BC)
Ruby-purple in colour; cedary, strawberry compote nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry; plum and cherry flavours carried on lively acidity. Lovely mouth feel; well-structured with ripe tannins. (90)
Pentâge Winery Pentâge Blend 2016 (Skaha Bench)
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. Deep ruby in colour; toasty, cedary, black fruit nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, blackcurrant and black plum flavours with well-integrated oak. A seamless wine. (90)
Pentâge Winery GSM 2017 (Okanagan Valley)
42% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 28% Syrah. Opaque purple in colour; spicy, cedary, black olive bouquet with a note of cracked black pepper; full-bodied, dry, savoury black fruit flavours with a herbal, saline note on the finish. (90)
Pentâge Winery Icewine 5 Blend 2013 (Okanagan Valley)
A blend of 42% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Viognier, 14% Semillon, 2% Chardonnay, 1% Muscat. Deep coppery amber in colour; passionfruit and honeyed nose; full-bodied, sweet and spritzy with peach and passionfruit flavours. (91)
Thursday, April 25th: Tasted through six wines from Tawse.
Tawse whites
Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Riesling 2021 (Vinemount Ridge)
Pale straw in colour; grapefruit zest bouquet with a light floral note; light to medium-bodied, lime and green peach flavours with a thread of minerality; fresh and lively on the palate, well-balanced with a long, honeyed lemon finish. Drink now but can be held for several years because of the vibrant acidity. (90)
Tawse Carly’s Block Riesling 2021 (Twenty Mile Bench)
Pale straw colour; minerally, lemon blossom, green apple bouquet; light to medium-bodied, just off-dry, honeyed Granny Smith apple flavour with a long, lemon-lime finish. Lovely mouth feel. Reminiscent of a Rheingau Kabinett. Drink now but can be kept for several years. A distinguished Riesling. (92)
Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 (Vinemount Ridge)
Bright, white gold colour; lightly toasty, apple nose with a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, ripe pear and apple flavours; well-balanced with racy acidity and nicely integrated oak. Drink now and through 2025. (90)
Tawse reds
Tawse Growers Blend Pinot Noir 2021 (Niagara Peninsula)
Bright ruby in colour; earthy, raspberry nose with discreet oak and tealeaf notes; medium-bodied, dry, raspberry and red plum flavours with oak spice. An easy-drinking Pinot. Can be opened now but will reward cellaring for 1–2 years. (89–90)
Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 (Vinemount Ridge)
Bright ruby in colour; earthy, barnyard nose with strawberry and raspberry notes with evident oak; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lifted red berry flavours carried on lively acidity. Very Burgundian in style. Lovely mouth-feel, great length with a saline note on the finish. Drinking well now but will enrich its bouquet with 3–4 years in your cellar. (91–92)
Tawse Growers Blend Cabernet Franc 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
Deep ruby in colour with a violet rim; toasty, spicy, blackberry nose with notes of vanilla and pencil shavings; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted blackberry and blackcurrant flavours carried on racy acidity; firmly structured with ripe tannins and a juicy finish. Can be opened now but hold for 1–2 years to allow the tannins and fruit to meld. (90)
Wednesday, April 24th: I attended George Brown College’s student scholarship presentations at 100 Queens Quay East (home of the new LCBO and Farm Boy). I presented Chinmay Kulkarni with the Tony Aspler Award.
Delicious lunch prepared by Oliver & Bonacini.
Mushroom soup
Chicken and sweet potato flan
Other wines tasted this week:
Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Riesling 2022 (Niagara Peninsula, Vintages Essential LCBO #43281, $19.95; $3.00 starting April 22)
Bright, straw colour; grapefruit bouquet with a floral top note; light to medium-bodied, just off-dry with a honeyed lime flavours. Great length. (90)
Flat Rock Cellars Pink Twisted 2023 (Niagara Peninsula, $17.95, LCBO #39974)
59% Gamay, 13% Riesling, 9% Pinot Noir, 8% Chardonnay, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Gewurztraminer. Hot pink in colour; a nose of wild strawberries and cranberries; medium-bodied, off-dry; well-balanced with a lemony finish. (88.5)
Flat Rock Cellars Foundation Pinot Noir 2022 (Niagara Peninsula, Vintages Essential #1545, $24.95)
Deep ruby in colour; strawberry bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, strawberry and raspberry flavours with ripe tannins and nicely integrated oak. (90)
Uggiano Roccialta Chianti Riserva 2020 (Tuscany; $17.95, Vintages #10605)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, spicy cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, savoury cherry and plum flavours carried on lively acidity, Evident but well-integrated oak. (90)
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