A Wine Lover's Diary, part 198 (July 21, 2008)
Monday, July 14: Spent much of the day inputting reviews for the August 2nd Vintages release. Interviewed Rob Jull on the subject of collecting Burgundy for my cellar book. For dinner, Vineland Estate Elevation Riesling 2007 – at 8 per cent alcohol a lovely Mosel-like Spätlese.
Tuesday, July 15: Typed up the interview with Rob Jull. He's probably the most knowledgeable importing agent in Toronto on the subject of Burgundy. Lunch with Vincent Hannah, who deals in bulk wine. It's a seller's market, he says. The wine lakes must have evaporated. He tells me 20 Bees is sold to Diamond Estates for a reported $17 million. What are they going to do with all that wine in tanks? The idea of an Ontario co-operative was intriguing but the wines were just not up to snuff. Watched the All-Star game after a dinner of melon and prosciutto and bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon with a bottle of Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc 2007.
Wednesday, July 16: Spent the morning cataloguing a wine cellar for an insurance claim. Hands sticky with wine as I pull out bottles from the slots. Spent the afternoon typing them up and beginning an evaluation. Tasted two new offerings from Niagara College Teaching Winery.
Dean's List Chardonnay 2007: medium straw colour with a greenish tint. On the nose, spicy, smoky, toasty notes with apple and citrus – very Burgundian in style. Full in the mouth with rich apple, pear and pineapple flavours balanced by tangerine acidity. Medium to full-bodied with deftly handled oak and a nutty finish. Good length. ****½
Dean's List Pinot Noir 2007: a great improvement over the pale and rather insipid 2006 Pinot Noir from Niagara College. Bright ruby-plum colour; minerally beetroot and raspberry bouquet, a real sense of terroir here. Mature plum and raspberry flavours with a note of violets; medium-bodied, forward fruit with mellow tannins, a fine spine of acidity and a lovely mouth feel. ****
Began packing for Germany. I leave tomorrow afternoon.
Thursday, July 17: Last minute tidying up of my desk before this afternoon's departure. Looking forward to tasting a lot of good Riesling.
