Monday, September 29th: Dinner at John Nadeau’s. He prepared shrimps in a curry sauce and for the meal, baked trout. I brought over a bottle of Demazet Côtes du Rhône Armoiries 2022.
Wednesday, October 1st: Visited York Vineyards, Marty Werner’s sparkling wine facility on the St. David’s Bench – the only Ontario winery that produces exclusively méthode traditionelle sparkling wines. The vineyards (6 acres) were planted in 2017 to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Aligoté.
York Vineyards Brut Nature (100% Pinot Gris, amphora-aged; $95)
Pale straw in colour with a lime tint; active mousse of tiny bubbles; leesy, lemony nose; light-bodied, crisply dry, lemon-lime and white peach flavours with a note of dried herbs. (91)
York Vineyards Brut (100% Pinot Gris with amphora and oak ageing; $65)
Pale straw with a lime tint; medium-bodied, crisply dry, toasty, green apple flavour; beautifully balanced, lovely mouth-feel and great length. (92)
York Vineyards Rosé (100% Pinot Noir; $85)
Coppery-pink in colour, light-bodied, elegant, cherry and strawberry flavours; a beautifully balanced, harmonious wine with a lovely mouth-feel. (94)
York Reserve Brut (60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, aged for 8 years; $120)
Pale straw in colour; lively mousse of tiny bubbles; toasty, honey and red apple on the nose; firmly structured and elegant, bready, red apple flavour with a lively spine of lemony acidity. Great length. (95)
York Vineyards Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay, aged over 8 years on the lees; $160)
Pale straw with an active mousse of tiny bubbles; toasty, apple bouquet with a top note of white flowers; light-bodied, lemony, green apple flavours; beautifully balanced; amazing length, long lemony, apple finish and fairly dances on the palate. (96)
(This selection of sparkling wines is the best I’ve tasted in Canada!)
Sunday, October 5th: Flat Rock Cellars sent me samples of their latest release:
Flat Rock Cellars Amplify Dry Riesling 2023 ($24.95, LCBO #47948)
Pale straw in colour with a lime tint; minerally, citrus nose and a light floral top note; light-bodied, crisply dry, grapefruit and lime flavours with lively acidity and an engaging note of bitterness on the finish for added interest. (89)
Flat Rock Cellars The OC 2023 (Oaked Chardonnay; $34.96, LCBO #47947)
Yellow straw colour; toasty, spicy, apple bouquet with vanilla oak highlights; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted apple and pear flavours carried on racy acidity. Well-balanced, creamy mouth feel. (92)
Flat Rock Cellars Unite Pinot Noir/Chardonnay 2023 (an unusual co-fermented blend! $34.95, LCBO #47974)
Bright ruby in colour; raspberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, rich mouth feel of red apple and red berry fruit. (89)
Flat Rock Cellars Hexa Pinot Noir 2020 ($69,95, LCBO #47949)
Ruby colour; toasty, raspberry bouquet with a note of violets; full-bodied, richly extracted red berry and strawberry flavours; firmly structured with evident but ripe tannins. A delicious wine with an overlay of new oak. (94)
Also tasted this week: 13th Street Burger Blend (Gamay Noir/Pinot Noir), Speck Brothers Family Tree The Bootlegger Baco Noir 2023, Leyda Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2024 (Chile).
