Monday, August 12th: Andrzej Lipinski of Big Head invited me to the winery to see his new tasting room, to taste some of his 2023 wines and to enjoy a pizza on his new pizza patio. Since his first language is Polish, I brought him a copy of the Polish edition of Taste of Evil. I signed it and consulted Mr. Google on how to say “Cheers!” in Polish. It’s “Na zdrowie.”
Together, Andrezj and I, with pizzas, tasted:
Big Head Big Red #10
This is the tenth iteration of this powerful red blend: 50% Cabernet Franc (fresh), 24% Merlot (fresh and appassimento), 12.5% Malbec (appassimento), 5% Petit Verdot (appassimento), 4.5% Syrah (fresh), 3% Cabernet Sauvignon (appassimento), 1% Dornfelder (appassimento). All fruit underwent carbonic maceration. All fruit is from the 2023 vintages except for the Malbec, which is from 2021. Dense ruby in colour; rich nose of blackberry and blueberry with oak spice; full-bodied, richly extracted black plum and blackcurrant flavours ending on a dark chocolate note. Voluptuous and mouth-filling. 14% alcohol. Price: $25. (90)
Lipinski pizzas
Andrzej Lipinski
Then we went into the tasting room for the following wines:
Big Head Chenin Blanc 2023
Straw colour; peach pit nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, peach and apricot flavours carried on lively acidity. A beautifully balanced wine. $24.80 (91)
Big Head White #2
A blend of 45% Sauvignon Blanc (2021 and 2019 vintages), with Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Aromatic bouquet (the Gewurz sings through) with orchard fruit aromas. Full-flavoured peach and floral tones. $21 (89)
Big Head 2023 Syrah (white label – with 10% Viognier)
Deep ruby with a violet rim; spicy, blackberry nose with a note of white pepper; full-bodied, dry, lovely floral and blackberry flavours; beautifully balanced with well-integrated French and Moldovan oak. $45 (93)
Big Head Lipinski Syrah 2023 (This wine is still in oak. I tasted it earlier in the year and noted that it is potentially a 100-point wine! I am even more convinced now. Can’t wait to see it in bottle.)
Big Head Lipinski Red 2023
59% Merlot, 24% Malbec, 17% Pinot Noir. Dense purple in colour; spicy, vanilla and black fruit nose; full-bodied, dry, intense and concentrated black fruit flavours with clove notes; firmly structured but elegant and a long, graceful finish. (92)
Big Head Lipinski Chardonnay 2021
Golden colour with a green hue; toasty, spicy, apple nose; full-bodied, richly extracted apple and peach flavours with beautifully integrated oak. Great length. (91)
Big Head Lipinski Olusia Blanc de Noirs Sparkling
Golden colour with an active mousse of tiny bubbles; cherry put nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lovely mouth feel of tiny bubbles, with a long lemony finish. (90)
Friday, August 16th: Tasted with dinner (hamburgers):
Godelia Mencía 2018 (Bierzo, $18.55)
Opaque purple-ruby in colour; spicy, cedary nose of black plums with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, black fruit flavours carried on lively acidity; well-integrated oak; firmly structured with ripe tannins. Good length. (90)
Malivoire Courtney Gamay 2024 (Beamsville Bench; October Vintages release; $39.95)
Deep ruby in colour; lightly cedary, cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted cherry flavour with fresh acidity; firmly structured and beautifully balanced; great length. (91)
Saturday, August 17th: Today is Deborah and my 27th wedding anniversary. It’s also the annual A Cappella Niagara choir corn roast at the Lions Club just around the corner from our house. This is the first time I get to sing with the choir in front of an audience (a paying audience!). We sang two songs, “It’s a Great Day” and “Sunny Side of the Street.” (No standing O or calls for encore, however.)
At the end of the concert, the barbershop Quartet JAQ serenaded us for our anniversary with “Maybe I’m Right.”
Then we repaired to our friends Sherri and Stephen (another choir member) for strawberry shortcake and cognac.
Also tasted this week: MW Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Westcott Butler’s Grant Old Vines Riesling 2022, Perez Cruz Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Chile).
