Twisted Pig’s complimentary dessert
Monday, August 17th: Today is our 29th anniversary. We will celebrate with two couples tomorrow who share the same day.
I went to Big Head winery to taste some of Andrzej Lipinski’s new wines.
Big Head Biggest 2023 (carbonic maceration; 32 months in French 500-litre foudres)
44% Cabernet Franc, 33% ,15% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense purple in colour; cedary, toasty, blackcurrant bouquet with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted sweet black fruit flavours; well-integrated oak; firmly structured with ripe tannins. A powerful wine (15.3% alc) with a rich mouth-feel and bright acidity. (95–96)
Lipinski Family Genia 2023 (appassimento)
59% Merlot, 24% Malbec, 17% Petit Verdot. 15% alc.
Dense purple colour; cedary, toasty, floral nose of blackcurrants with oak spice; full-bodied, richly extracted blackcurrant and mulberry flavours encased in ripe tannins with lively acidity and a firm finish. A serious wine that makes a statement as soon as it hits the palate. Rich, textured and mouth-filling. (97)
Lipinski Family Lonia 2023 (appassimento)
33% Malbec, 57% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 32 months in new French oak (15.3% alc.)
Opaque purple in colour; cedary, toasty, blackcurrant nose with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, firmly structured, juicy and fleshy, sweet black fruit flavours; mouth-filling and firmly structured – a powerful wine with muscle and grip. Hold 2–3 years. (97–98)
Lipinski Family Syrah Reserve 2023 (with 10% Viognier, 32 months in 500-litre French oak foudres) – my 100-point wine! Dense purple in colour; spicy, vanilla, toasty nose of blackberry with white pepper and a floral top note; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted black fruit flavours; beautifully balanced and succulent; lovely mouth-feel with a firm finish of ripe fruit and vibrant acidity. (100).
The winery conducted a poll as to what their customers would prefer about the length of the waxing on their corks for the Syrah.
Lipinski Family Blanc de Noir 2021 (Pinot Noir)
Golden straw in colour with a green tint; toasty, apple with oak spice on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced, a biscuity, yellow apple flavour with fresh acidity. Caresses the palate, with great length. (92)
Tuesday, August 18th: Every August 17th or the next day, we celebrate our anniversary with two other couples who share the same anniversary date. This year it was our turn to host the dinner. The two couples stayed at a B&B within walking distance – which was a good thing given the number of bottles opened.
The B&B
We served canapés on the deck with two sparkling wines before sitting at the table for arugula, bocconcini, peaches and tomato drizzled with hot honey. The wine – Kumeu River Chardonnay 2024. Main course: filet steak with mushrooms, new potatoes and green beans. Wines: Ch. Mouton Rothschild 1993, Ch. Leoville-Barton 2005 and Solo Per Amici Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. Cheese platter (to finish the red).
Anniversary dinner wines
Dessert: Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, with Alvear Pedro Ximénez de Añada 2014.
Wednesday, August 19th: The six of us visited Southbrook for a tasting conducted by Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Estate Cabernet Franc 2021, Southbrook Estate Chardonnay 2023 and Poetica Chardonnay 2016 followed by Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and Poetica Cabernet Sauvignon 2020. Plates of charcuterie appeared and then two pizzas! Next wine was Southbrook Whimsy! “The Anniversary” – a solera-style in Madeira mold. Finally, Southbrook Petit Verdot 2021.
Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook
Next visit to Kelly Mason’s vineyard in Lincoln. We started with Mason Vineyard Blanc de Blancs Brut. Then Mason Vineyard Chardonnay 2024, Pinot Noir 2024, Cabernet Franc 2024 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2024, ending with The Farmer’s Wine 2024 – a Lambrusco-style sparkling wine, which Kelly has dubbed “Lambo.”
Kelly Mason
Tasting with Kelly Mason
Kelly Mason’s “Lambo”
Back home to rest and walk Rosie before going over to the Farmhouse Manor to have a pre-dinner wine with our friends – Mure Côte de Rouffach Riesling 2015.
Pre-dinner Riesling
Then on to dinner at The Twisted Pig in Port Dalhousie. By this time, I was wined out and drank water with my deep-fried calamari and plate of mussels. Mike, the owner of The Twisted Pig, sent over a Happy Anniversary platter of desserts. Lovely gesture to round out our communal celebration!
Thursday, August 20th: Dinner: pan-fried salmon with corn. No wine. Giving my liver a day off.
Friday, August 21st: Dinner: chorizo burgers with Rennie Estate Scarpata Cabernet Franc 2022.
Saturday, August 22nd: Dinner: scallops and corn with a bottle of Divergence MRV Bock Vineyard (39% Marsanne, 32% Roussanne, 29% Viognier).
