2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula, Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery: Another one of my favorites of the night, this pale straw showed plenty of varietal typicity, with its cat spray and grapefruit flavors and aromas; Kim mentioned a note of "garlic perspiration," while Joel found it to be "very French." It had the requisite acidity that one would expect from sauvignon, and a nice finish. Excellent stuff! 

2002 Gewurztraminer, Niagara Peninsula, Daniel Lenko Estate Winery: This pale to medium straw had a pretty litchi peachy bouquet that followed through on the palate with plenty of nice fruit, with the emphasis on "fruit." There was good acidity and a nice finish here as well, and it was well received by all.

Joel was particularly interested in everyone's impressions of whether one or the other of these was a better match with Sally's delicious crab cakes. The verdict was pretty much an even split; oddly, perhaps, I didn't have a favorite with regard to the food pairing, but I preferred the sauvignon on its own.


Salad - Greens topped with crumbled Canadian bacon, shredded Canadian cheddar and drizzled with olive oil.

2000 Sandstone Gamay Noir Reserve, Niagara Peninsula, 13th Street Wine Corporation: Jay took one whiff of this ruby dark garnet, and exclaimed, "It smells like Côte Rotie!" Damned if he didn't have a point, what with the smoky plum and blackberry bouquet shaded with hints of bacon. The medium bodied flavors were much the same, but didn't deliver the density that seemed to be promised by the nose. Still, it was a quite interesting wine, one that I wouldn't mind sipping again, when I had more time to linger over it.

2000 Baco Noir Reserve, Ontario, Lakeview Cellars: Now here was a wine that we could sink our teeth into! Another ruby dark garnet in color, this was all oak, smoke and bacon (Canadian, of course), on the nose; the oak took over on the palate at first, in an attempt to subjugate the plum and black cherry fruit, but with air, the wood settled down, and a nice note of coffee emerged, making it even more enjoyable. It had more oomph than the Sandstone Gamay, and was another one of my favorites of the evening. Jason didn't care for the "excessive" oak at first, but seemed to moderate that opinion as it toned down. Sally had the most interesting comment regarding this, saying, "It tastes like a Canadian pinotage."


Main Course - Roast Beef Rib Eye, wild rice and vegetables, haricots verts almondine.

2000 Meritage, Niagara Escarpment Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Kacaba Vineyards: This ruby dark garnet featured soft notes of oak over raspberry and cherry flavors and aromas, with some smoky notes that came out with air. Medium full bodied, at best; a pleasant red, but nothing special.

2000 Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery: There was a little more depth to this ruby dark garnet than the Kacaba, and less noticeable oak at first, but some blondish wood does came out as it opened, blending into the soft red currant and raspberry character of the wine. Another pleasant, unexceptional quaff. 

2001 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Lailey Vineyard: Finally, the only one of the Bordeaux varietals tasted here with any guts or bite, this slightly cloudy dark garnet had "some structure and length," according to Jayson. The cassis and black currant bouquet showed a nice kiss of sweet oak, and these impressions carried over onto the palate, with some tannins that could use a few years to mellow. Easily the best wine of the flight, but not quite among my favorites of the evening. Still, all three went well with the marvelous beef rib eye and supporting cast. 


Dessert - Lemon Soufflé Tart.

1999 Kiralyuduar Tokaji Furmint Lapis: Jayson and Laura brought along this pale gold, off-topic libation, thinking that it might be sweeter than it actually turned out to be; there wasn't a lot on the nose, other than a hint of matchstick that blew off, leaving little else. In fact, this wine wasn't very sweet at all, tasting something like underripe apricot and pear. While this was much appreciated by most in attendance, my brief notes don't do it justice, and I would have liked to have been able to spend some time with it to get to know it more intimately, as it was obviously a wine of substance.

2001 Twenty Valley Select Late Harvest Vidal, Ontario, Cave Springs Winery: Named for Cave Springs' Inn on the Twenty restaurant, this pale gold gave off a nice apricot and vanilla nose, which modulated into medium sweet flavors with a little hint of lime. Not bad, but overpowered by the following selection. 

1999 Indian Summer Riesling, Select Late Harvest, Niagara Peninsula, Cave Springs Winery: We picked up four or five of these medium gold delectables during our first tour of Niagara a few years back, and I have to say that they certainly have benefited from the intervening time in the cellar. The apricot and honey flavors and aromas have developed a good dose of petrol, while losing a certain sugary quality that they had back then; this one had a nice viscosity and a long, lingering finish. The petrol blew off some, but not completely; I'd expect this quality might continue to develop and intensify with more time in the bottle. Another one of my favorites of the night. 


Alan Kerr aka Canadian Zinfan would have been proud of the showing of these fine wines, but alas, he was unable to attend, due to an eye-opening sojourn in Cuba, which is, of course, another story entirely. As always, many thanks to Joel and Sally for throwing on such fine affair, and thanks as well to those in attendance for showing up and sharing great food, excellent wine and best of all, friendship.

Reporting from Day-twah,

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