(May 13, 2015) … Tonight at the All Canadian Wine Championships was bring your bottles to the restaurant night and I pull out some old Ontario to see where they were. My first experimental wine was an hommage to our former judging region, Lake Erie North Shore … D’Angelo 2002 Reserve Pinot Noir – what a nightmare of a wine. I remember talking to sal years ago when this wine was released and he said he had built it to age and win competitions, well it has done neither. And I don’t care how much flak I get for saying this, the plastic cork has turned this wine and turned it into something hard to drink, dirty and harsh; there was not a dry eye in the house over this wine, especially who remember trying it in its youth.
Next, a bottle of base model Henry of Pelham 2007 Pinot Noir … This was a real surprise and Eye-opener for those tasters not from Ontario and not exposed to Henry on a regular basis. Aromas proved inviting witb earthy, black cherry, cassis, and hints of pepper; the palate was a more settled down affair with sour cherry, slight cranberry, and white pepper … Still really pleasant, its drink now cause I can’t see this getting any better.
Other wines brought by other people …
I believe the bottle of Quails’ Gate 2013 Pinot Noir, Stewart Family Reserve was a left over from the morning tasting and it was a real gem. Lovely red fruits, hints of violets and white pepper, this is the kind of Pinot you could Lionel Richie – all night long.
My buddy Marty, who knows I’m a Zin-nut brought a bottle of St Francis 
2007 ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel, it did not go with any of the mains this evening but it was still a lovely wine with plum, spice, black cherry, and peppery goodness – this one went fast, so I’m sad to say I only had the half glass.