Monday, December 15^th: Tasted Hester Creek Undici 2022, an Okanagan Valley salute to Super-Tuscan blends: 61% Sangiovese, 19% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Dense purple-ruby in colour; toasty, vanilla and blackberry bouquet; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, spicy and savoury plum and currant flavours carried on lively acidity. (Undici is Italian for “eleven.” I asked Susan Burns at the winery what was the significance of the wine’s name. She emailed me back: “The 11 is significant as it represents Vineyard 11. It is our furthest south vineyard at the north end of Osoyoos. It’s known for its hot, dry location, and we source our big reds from here. The sandy soil absorbs the heat very well. With that being said, it cools off very quickly as well. The Sangiovese loves it down there! We call it Vineyard 11 because that vineyard consistently produces fruit that is 11 out of 10.”)

Also tasted this week (at dinner): Angus The Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (Central Victoria), Trius Showcase RHS Merlot 2012 Clark Farm Vineyard (Four Mile Creek, Niagara), Speck Brothers Family Tree “The Goat Lady” Chardonnay 2024 (Niagara Peninsula), Torres Celeste Verdejo 2024 (Rueda).

Sunday, December 21^st: The last night of Hanukkah. We lit the candles in memory of those who were slaughtered by ISIS terrorists.