A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 954: Festive Entertaining

Thursday, December 12^th: Sue-Ann Staff and her husband Rob invited us to join them at Bistro Risposta in Campbellville. For Sue-Ann’s winemaker dinner. Outside we were treated to a glass mug of mulled cider. Inside, a wheel of parmesan and freshly cut prosciutto.

• 2020 Fancy Farm Girl Frosty Fizz (bread with house made cheese and honey)
• 2020 Riesling Loved By Lu (beet salad or mushroom soup)
• 2019 The Louie Pinot Gris (risotto)
• 2020 Gritstone Cabernet and 2018 Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc (salmon or beef)
• 2017 Howard’s Vidal Icewine (deconstructed Tiramisu and gelato)

Saturday, December 14^th: My friend Tod dropped by and I opened a bottle of Dobbin Estate Riesling 2019. Deborah and I threw a dinner party for our friends Sherri and Stephen who leave next week for a month in Portugal. Deborah made French onion soup and I barbecued a flank steak, served with roasted vegetables.

The wines: Henry of Pelham Cuvee Catharine sparkling wine; Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Vineyard Chardonnay 2021, Antinori Tignanello 2010, De’Ricci Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015.

Sunday, December 15^th: Ann Sperling and Peter Gamble invited us to dinner with Meg McGrath and Laura and Casey Hogan (winemaker at Southbrook). Casey brought a freshly baked sourdough loaf; Meg brought her famous chicken liver pâté, and Deborah made her bacon and brown sugar treats on Salteen crackers (known as bacon crack!)

Other wines tasted this week: Godelia Mencia 2018 (Bierzo, Spain: $21.95, Vintages #368043)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty nose of blackberries and plum; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted flavours of black fruits carried on lively acidity. Firmly structured with ripe tannins and well-integrated oak. (92)