Monday, October 12th: Tasted the following wines from Le Vieux Pin and LaStella in the Okanagan.
Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Pale straw in colour; grassy, gooseberry nose with lively acidity; medium-bodied, crisply dry; lemony, grapefruit and green plum flavours. Well-balanced and lingering. (91)
Le Vieux Pin Roussanne 2025
Light gold colour; honeyed peach bouquet with a light floral note; full-bodied (14.6% alcohol), dry; peach and apricot flavours; richly extracted, well-balanced with a long, fresh finish.
Le Vieux Pin Ava 2025
A blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier. Light straw in colour with a hint of lime; peach pit nose with a mineral thread; medium to full-bodied, dry, peach and yellow apple flavours with minerality; medium to full-bodied, dry, peach and yellow apple flavours; richly extracted, beautifully balanced and full in the mouth. (92)
Le Vieux Pin Vaïla Rosé 2025
Pinot Noir. Pale salmon pink; yellow cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour; great length. (89)
Le Vieux Pin Petit Rouge 2025
A blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Purple-violet in colour; toasty, plum and black cherry nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, plum and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity.
Le Vieux Pin Retouche 2025
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple-ruby in colour; concentrated black fruit bouquet with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, firmly structured, plum and blackberry flavours with balancing acidity and well-integrated oak. Hold 1–2 years. (90)
LaStella Allegretto Merlot 2023
Medium ruby-purple in colour; plum and cherry bouquet with oak spice; full-bodied, dry with racy acidity; subtle use of oak; evident but ripe tannins. (91)
LaStella Espressivo 2022
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. Ruby colour; toasty, plum and blackberry bouquet with oak spice; savoury black fruit flavours; firmly structured, well-balanced with lively acidity and well-integrated oak. (90)
LaStella Fortissimo 2021 Selezione di Familia
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Ruby colour with a tawny hue; cedary, black fruit nose with vanilla oak and a tarry note; full-bodied (14.5% alcohol), dry, spicy, smoky, black fruit flavours with ripe tannins and racy acidity. (90)
La Stella Fortissimo 2023 Selezione di Familia
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Ruby in colour; cedary, black fruit nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, cherry flavour with lively acidity, well-integrated oak and great length. Hold 1–2 years. (90)
LaStella Leggiero Chardonnay 2025
Pale straw in colour; spicy, toasty, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced apple, peach and lemon flavours carried on lively acidity. Great length. (92)
LaStella Vivace Pinot Grigio 2025
Straw colour with a coppery tint; leesy, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, peach and apple flavours with lively acidity and good length. (89)
LaStella Lastellina Rosato 2025
Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Pale pink in colour; fresh cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and cherry flavours with zesty acidity. (90)
Tuesday, October 13th: Dinner: pork loin, with One Pound Per Acre Shiraz 2024 (South Australia).
Wednesday, October 14th: Drove into Toronto with John Nadeau to attend the funeral of Franco Prevedello. Had lunch at the Miller Tavern – French onion soup and a bottle of Château Les Tailleades 2024.
French onion soup
Dinner: pasta with bacon and fried onions with a glass of Tawse Rosé 2024.
Thursday, October 15th: Dinner: beef stir-fry with a bottle of Henry of Pelham The Goat Lady Chardonnay 2024.
Friday, October 16th: Dinner with our friends Steven and Dale at oddBird. Both Deborah and I ordered grilled foie gras and pork belly with peach on toast. The wine: Five Rows Pinot Noir 2020 (St. David’s Bench, Niagara).
