The Crush winemakers (see Saturday)
Monday, June 8th: Tasted six wines from Hester Creek from Oliver, BC.
Hester Creek Ti Amo 2025
A blend of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. Pale straw-ivory in colour with a gentle mousse of fine bubbles; aromatic nose of melon and peach with a tangerine notes; light-bodied, dry, easy drinking, floral, peach flavour, Well made, with balancing acidity, (89)
Hester Creek Riesling 2025
Pale straw in colour with a lime tint; light floral, minerally, grapefruit bouquet; light-bodied, just off-dry with a honeyed grapefruit flavour and lemony acidity. Lovely mouth-feel. (90)
Hester Creek Pinot Noir Rose 2023
Deep salmon pink; raspberry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, mouth-filling flavours of raspberry and strawberry. Nicely balanced and good length. (89)
Hester Creek Viognier 2005
Pale straw in colour; honeysuckle and peach on the nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, elegant peach and rosepetal flavours. Great length. (92)
Hester Creek Cabernet Franc Rose 2025
Pale crimson in colour; cherry bouquet with cedary notes; medium-bodied, just off-dry; with well-extracted cherry and plum flavours. (89)
Hester Creek Petit Verdot Malbec (Columbia Valley Collection)
Dense purple in colour; cedary, black fruit bouquet with vanilla oak spice; medium-to-full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, savoury blackberry and blackcurrant flavours carried on lively acidity; well-balanced and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (90)
Tuesday, June 9th: Tasted six wines from River Stone in the Okanagan Valley.
River Stone Splash 2025 (a blend of Pinot Gris/Sauvignon Blanc/Albarino/Chenin Blanc – fruit from Washington and BC)
Pale straw in colour; spicy, white peach nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry; elegant, beautifully balanced tangerine and peach flavours. Great length. (90)
River Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (“Good Neighbours” series – Washington and BC fruit)
Bright straw in colour; grassy, green pepper and kiwi nose; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted kiwi and gooseberry flavours; beautifully balanced, great length. (90)
River Stone Chenin Blanc 2025 (“Good Neighbours” series – Columbia Valley fruit)
Pale straw colour; minerally, apricot pit and almond on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, firmly structured, white peach and green melon flavours carried on lively acidity. (91)
River Stone Pinot Gris 2025 (“Good Neighbours” series – Yakima Valley fruit)
Pale straw in colour; minerally, spicy peach pit nose; medium-to-full-bodied, dry, peach and green melon flavours; well-balanced and long in the mouth. (90)
River Stone Albarino 2025 (“Good Neighbours” series – Yakima Valley fruit) in colour
Pale straw; minerally, starfruit bouquet; medium-to-full-bodied, dry, richly extracted melon and orange flavours; good mouth-feel, long finish. (92)
River Stone Small Lot Merlot 2022 (Okanagan Valley)
Dense purple in colour; cedary plum nose with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, earthy, black fruit flavours of blackcurrant and black plum; firmly structured, well-integrated oak with balancing acidity, Needs 2–3 years cellaring. (90–92)
Deborah had her book club ladies over for a meeting and dinner. I pulled out a bottle of Big Crush Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 from Australia.
Friday June 12th: Deborah and I drove into Toronto to conduct a tasting at my sister’s retirement residence. I chose these four wines: Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Speck Brothers Family Tree “The Goat Lady” Chardonnay 2022, Pentagram Syrah Rose 2024 from Bulgaria, and Aliança Bairrada Reserva 2023 (Portugal).
Tasting wines
Saturday, June 13th: Deborah and I dropped in on The Crush’s “A Summer Garden Party” at which eleven of The Crush’s winemakers presented their wines.
Unscripted’s wines
Scheule Vineyard Chardonnay
Marlize Byers with her wood-aged Chardonnay
In the evening, we went to a Summer Solstice party. First at the home of Hans Brauwl, where we had sparkling wine (I brought a bottle of Big Head BIGBANGROSÉ) with pizzas and oysters, then across the road to the home of David Bergen for paella. I contributed a bottle of Kemeu River Chardonnay 2024.
My dinner party offerings
Some of the sparkling wines
Ann Sperling’s dessert
