Category Archives: Wine Lover’s Diary

A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1022: Salmon, Oysters and Crocodiles

Posted on June 8, 2026 by tonyaspler

Monday, June 1st: Opened a bottle of Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2024 from New Zealand – the first from a case. What a great wine. Happy I bought a dozen. Tuesday, June 2nd: Dinner: roast chicken with Peller Estates JEP … Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1021: An Embrace, a Farce, a Launch and a Competition

Posted on June 1, 2026 by tonyaspler

Monday, May 18th: Dinner: shrimp in cream sauce with rice. And a bottle of Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2025. Tuesday, May 19th: Dinner: chicken wings with a bottle of Stratus White 2010.

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1020: London and a Dinner Party for the Ages

Posted on May 24, 2026 by tonyaspler

Sunday, May 10th: London. Deborah and I are staying at the house of our friend Livia Prior in Hampstead. We took her to dinner at a local Lebanese restaurant, coincidentally named Oliviya. We started with Chateau Ksara Blanc de Blancs … Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1019: Tuscan Anniversary Trip

Posted on May 17, 2026 by tonyaspler

Monday, May 4th: This is the 20th year of the Pauwels-Aspler food & wine tour in Europe. Deborah and I flew to Florence airport to rendezvous with our group for the bus transfer to Siena. Our initial base was the … Continue reading →

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A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1018: Strewn, Stonebridge and a Marathon Gamay Tasting

Posted on May 2, 2026 by tonyaspler

Monday, April 27th: Tasted the following Strewn wines: Strewn Sparkling Blush (Charmat process) Equal parts Cabernet Franc and Riesling. Deep coppery-pink in colour; lightly floral nose of strawberries. Petillant, medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and yellow cherry flavours; well-balanced and easy drinking … Continue reading →

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