Us in white

Wednesday, July 30^th: A tasting of Lakeview Wine Co. Wines.

Lakeview whites and rosé

EastDell Black Label Chardonnay Sur Lie 2022 (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Straw colour; toasty, apple and pear bouquet with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, peachy-lemony flavours with lively acidity and a long fresh finish. (90)

Lakeview Wine Co. Barrel-Aged Chardonnay 2020 (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Light straw colour with a lime tint; fresh nose of apple and citrus fruits with a touch of oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced, green apple, melon and lemon flavours with well-integrated oak and mouth-watering acidity. (91)

Lakeview Wine Co. Kerner 2022 (Morgan Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore)
A rare German grape for Ontario. Pale lemon colour; spicy, minerally, apricot pit nose; light-bodied, tart, green peach flavour with brisk, lemony acidity. (89)

Lakeview Wine Co. Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Salmon pink; lightly floral, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted raspberry and sour cherry flavours; well-balanced, long finish. (90)

Lakeview reds

Twenty Bees Merlot 2019 (Niagara Peninsula)
Medium ruby in colour with a tawny edge at the rim; spicy, toasty, plum and vanilla notes on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, savoury red plum and pomegranate flavours carried on lively acidity. (89)

Queen Bee Meritage 2019 (Niagara Peninsula)
Deep ruby colour; spicy, toasty nose of blackcurrant, plum and tobacco with vanilla oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, firmly structured red berry flavours with evident tannins; touch of bitterness on the finish. Bordeaux petit château style. (89)

Lakeview Wine Co. Cabernet Franc 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
Deep ruby in colour with a lifted nose of cedar, plum, and vanilla oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, redcurrant and cranberry flavours with lively acidity and a tannic finish. (88)

EastDell Malbec 2020 (Southshore Vineyard Niagara Peninsula)
Purple-ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, blackberry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and black plum flavours with brisk acidity, well-integrated oak and good length. (90)

Wednesday, July 30^th (evening): Summer in white aboard the Empire Sandy, Canada’s largest sailing tall ship. From the pier at the Legion in Port Dalhousie, one hundred and ninety of us – all dressed in white – embarked on a short cruise around Lake Ontario.

We dined on board and bought over-priced wine – The Grange of Prince Edward Almanac White 2024 (winery price – $13.94; Empire Sandy price – $63.64). The food was passable. When we disembarked, a crew member was offering chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Expensive white on board

Chocolate-dipped strawberries

Thursday, July 31^st: Inniskillin’s 50th anniversary event. Lots of speeches but co-founder Donald Ziraldo was nowhere in sight, which had the tongues wagging.

Inniskillin’s 50th anniversary

At strategically placed food stations Inniskillin wines were available for tasting. For instance, smoked meat sandwiches with Inniskillin Illuvia Cabernet Franc 2022.

Ice carver at work

Debbi Pratt reminiscing about her years with Inniskillin

I enjoyed retasting the 1995 Alliance Pinot Noir, which Karl Kaiser made with the Burgundy specialist Bernard Répolt of Jaffelin.

The medal that put Ontario Icewine on the global map

Michael Vaughan and his wife Rosie came to stay.

Friday, August ^st: The four of us dined at Fat Rabbit in St. Catherines – an early dinner, as we had tickets for Tons of Money at the Shaw.

Sliced scallops at Fat Rabbit

Hamburger and steak to follow

Beet salad

Wine with steak at Fat Rabbit – Same River Twice from the Ventoux. Grenache/Syrah. Must have been Heraclitus’s house wine.

Saturday, August 2^nd: A matinee at the Shaw – Blues for an Alabama Sky, which was terrific. After which, we dropped in on Debbi Pratt, who lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, for a glass of wine. Donald Ziraldo was there and he had brought along a bottle of wine his skiing buddy Brad had made in Washington from Red Mountain fruit: an intriguing blend of 40% Valdiguié, 36% Sangiovese, 8% Merlot, 8% Syrah, 5% Barbera, 3% Vermentino. I was blown away by it! Richly extracted flavours of blackberry and plum with beautifully integrated oak. A seamless wine. I would give it 95 points.

Great Washington Wine

Also tasted this week:

Southbrook Triomphe Organic Merlot 2021 ($27.95, Vintages #418830)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, black plum bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted plum and blackberry flavours; well-balanced, with well-integrated oak. (89)

Dam Chardonnay 2022 (Neufeld Vineyard, Niagara Lakeshore – available at Marynissen winery)
Straw colour; apple and green peach nose; medium-bodied, dry, apple and peach pit flavours with bright acidity. (89)

When Pigs Fly Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 (Vinemount Ridge – available at Marynissen winery )
Pale pink in colour; redcurrant bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, fresh, cranberry and sour cherry flavours; well-balanced and easy drinking. (91)

Palatine Hills Rambler’s Schmoozer Cabernet Merlot 2024 (Niagara Lakeshore)
Dense purple colour; cedary, black plum bouquet with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, juicy, well-extracted black fruit flavours; well-balanced with well-integrated oak. (91)

Palatine Hills Overtime Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Niagara Lakeshore)
Dense purple in colour; cedary, blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, savoury black fruit flavours; richly extracted, voluptuous on the palate; firmly structured, well-integrated oak and great acidity! (91)

Palatine Hills Overtime Merlot 2020
Deep ruby-purple with a tawny rim; cedary, plum nose with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, savoury, plum and black fruit flavours with notes of dark chocolate. (89)