Our tour group at Château d’Estoublon
Monday, May 6th: Deborah and I flew British Air to Lyon to join our tour group for the tour of the Rhône region. Our bus took us to the 5-star Intercontinental Lyon Hotel Dieu, where we will stay for three days. This landmark property was a hospital for more than eight centuries before its unveiling in 2019 as Lyon’s new premier luxury hotel. Continue reading
Tuesday, April 30th: Went to Flat Rock Cellars to taste the newest, unreleased vintages of their single-vineyard Capstone Series wines (Gravity Pinot Noir, The Rusty Shed Chardonnay and Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling) as well as a chance to take an early look at the 2023 vintage in barrel and to experience the new tasting room that overlooks the vineyard.
Flat Rock’s owner, Ed Madronich
We started with a new, experimental wine – Flat Rock Cellars Pinot Noir/Chardonnay 2023 – a Pinot Noir with 20% Chardonnay. Unfiltered, barrel sample. Red berry nose, medium-bodied, dry; spicy, raspberry flavour with a floral note; fresh and fruity. (90) Continue reading
I’ve joined a choir, and they’re having a concert soon. I probably won’t be singing in this one because I’m not that familiar with the songs yet, but come to it anyway if you can.
Chinmay Kulkarni receives his scholarship
Pentâge Winery Viognier 2018 (Okanagan Valley, BC)
Light golden colour; fragrant, minerally, peach pit nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted peach and pear flavours rounded with oak. (89)
Pentâge Winery Hiatus 2018 (Okanagan Valley, BC)
A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Petite Sirah, 15% Cabernet Franc, 11% Zinfandel and 5% Merlot. Opaque purple in colour; cedary, plum nose with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, fleshy, savoury black plum and blackcurrant flavours. Richly extracted, with well-integrated oak. (91) Continue reading
Bill Redelmeier pouring
Saturday, April 13th: Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook invited Deborah and me to a blind of Right Bank Bordeaux reds against two of his wines. All from the 2020 vintage. Continue reading
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