Monday, September 21st: Tasted through a bunch of wine made at The Crush on King:
Enoteka Niagara Bellevue Red Non Vintage
Deep ruby in colour; high-toned nose of plum and oak spice; medium-bodied,dry, raspberry and plum flavours with a touch of volatile acidity. (87)
The Long Way Home Chardonnay 2023
Straw colour; toasty, leesy apple nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, Chablis-esque crabapple flavour. (89)
The Long Way Home Pinot Noir 2024
Medium ruby colour; lifted raspberry bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, raspberry flavour with a mineral note. (89)
KiMu Wines First Crush Pinot Noir 2023
Deep ruby in colour; creamy, raspberry nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, expressive red fruit flavours perfumed with oak; frsh and lively on the palate; easy drinking. (89)
Schuele Vineyards Chardonnay 2023
Bright straw in colour; lightly toasty nose of lanolin and green plum with a touch of oak; medium-bodied, dry; green peach and melon flavours; beautifully integrated oak and long on the palate. (91)
Shortcut Chardonnay/Pinot Noir 2025
Golden straw in colour; spicy, toasty, apple nose with vanilla notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted apple flavour with well-integrated oak. Think a rich champagne without the bubbles. (89)
Unscripted Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Straw colour; grassy, gooseberry and grapefruit on the nose (varietally correct); medium-bodied, dry, with ripe green plum and grapefruit flavours; well balanced with zesty acidity. (90)
Rennie Cabernet Franc Ripasso 2022
Dense purple in colour; lifted black fruit nose with oak spice notes; full-bodied, dry, juicy and savoury black fruit flavours; firmly structured, lively acidity. (90)
Rennie Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Heron Pond Benchland Vineyard)
Dense purple in colour; cedary, blackcurrant nose with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackcurrant and dark chocolate flavours with evident but ripe tannins. A well-balanced and chewy wine. (91)
Rennie Garrett’s Block Merlot 2022 (Heron Pond Benchland Vineyard – appassimento)
Deep purple-ruby colour; cedary, black cherry nose with a toasty oak note; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and blackcurrant flavours; firmly structure with ripe tannins and balancing acidity. (91)
Tuesday, September 22nd: Tasted Kacaba Cabernet 2025 (72% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Deep ruby in colour; blackcurrant and black plum bouquet with vanilla oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury blackcurrant flavour; well-balanced, nicely integrated oak with lively acidity and ripe tannins. Good value at $16.95. (LCBO #499384)
Wednesday: September 23rd: Dinner: Steak with a bottle of Rennie Merlot 2022.
Thursday, September 24th: Tasted:
Palatine Hills Overtime Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Deep ruby colour with a tawny notes at the rim;cedary, spicy, blackcurrant nose with vanilla oak notes; tracted ripe black fruit flavours with well-integrated oak and a fresh acidic finish. (90)
Palatine Hills Overtime Merlot 2020
Deep ruby in colour, holding to the rim; cedary, spicy, black plum and black cherry nose; full-bodied, dry, savoury blackberry and black plum flavours carried on lively acidity; well-balanced and firmly structured with ripe tannins. Drink now or through 2028. (92)
In the evening Deborah and I went to Ravine Vineyard to see singer Angela Seeger perform a tribute concert of Barbra Streisand songs – which was terrific! Had dinner there before the concert: delicious pizza and a glass of Ravine Gamay Noir 2023.
Angela Seeger
Friday, September 25th: My old friend and CBC colleague Bernie Lucht and his wife Susan came for lunch. We served artichoke quiche, tomato salad and a bottle of Tawse Rosé 2025.
Lunch with Susan and Bernie
Saturday, September 26th: Dinner: linguine pasta with sausage and tomato sauce, plus a bottle of Overtime Cabernet Sauvignon 2020.