{"id":6422,"date":"2023-08-31T09:29:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T09:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/31\/newsletter-august-2023-vol-23-08\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T09:29:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T09:29:00","slug":"newsletter-august-2023-vol-23-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/31\/newsletter-august-2023-vol-23-08\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter : August 2023 (vol. 23-08)"},"content":{"rendered":"

August 2023 … <\/em>Time to talk about wine again. As I have been slowly watching this vintage in Ontario unfold, I have been talking with a lot of winery principals who are scratching their collective heads with every raindrop that falls; many are going bald from pulling out their hair – but I sense some worry in the air, which leads me to my commentary this week and one simple question: Who’s to Blame?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also in this month’s newsletter 6 wines you need for the holidays, some links to past podcasts and interesting articles – and to some videos that have been posted. Check ’em all out.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, have a great long weekend and drink something grand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading.<\/strong><\/p>\n

_______________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please consider a donation to my Patreon page to support my work – any amount is appreciated: you can find my Patreon page here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Musings from a Wine Soaked Mind …<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe It’s Time to Stop
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So it looks like Niagara is in its third tough vintage in a row. Not that many are easy. But let’s look at the past two: 2021 might have been the worst ever, according to many. While 2022 was short by a mile in terms of harvest (down 40-60% by some estimates) the quality was still there – things are just very limited. And now, 2023 – we’re late and hoping for another 2017, known as the “miracle vintage” for its harvest-saving fall.<\/p>\n

Niagara has not seen a really good vintage since 2020, what some have deemed “The Vintage of the Century” – but has anyone looked at a calendar? Anyone notice we’re only 23 years into the century and we’re already giving Mother Nature a pass for the next 77 years!<\/p>\n

We’ve got to stop talking about 2020 like we’ll never see another one like it, because what you put out into the ether …<\/p>\n

Now I don’t consider myself a very superstitious person, but I’m starting to believe in a power in the universe, and what you put out into it. I’m also a believer of “the jinx” … Or whatever you want to call it.<\/p>\n

Here’s just one example: In 2021, it looked like we were on our way to a repeat of 2020 … Two Guys Talking Wine, my podcast with André Proulx, had Brian Schmidt, the winemaker of Vineland estates as a guest in late-August and he proclaimed 2021 was going to be another great year. Oops. (Take a listen to this clip from the podcast<\/a> where we talk about vintage)<\/p>\n

I’m not sure who pulled the wool over 2022 and which one individual has destined 2023 to the bin, but it sure looks like it might be a collective of people saying “2020 Best. Vintage. Ever”.<\/p>\n

So, let’s stop saying it. Yes, 2020 was a good vintage, a great vintage … Add whatever superlative here; but for God’s sake, let’s let Mother Nature do her goddamn job and stop telling her she can take a break till 2101.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

  _______________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n

  Click on any wine name to see the full review:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2027 Cellars 2020 Cabernet Franc, King Street Vineyard<\/span><\/a> … (****+)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Foreign Affair 2019 Apologetic Red<\/span><\/a> … (****+)    <\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaning Post 2020 Cuvee Winona<\/span><\/a> … (****+)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malivoire 2020 Merlot, Stouck Vineyard<\/span><\/a> … (**** ½)<\/strong>
    <\/strong>
Niagara College 2020 Viognier, Dean’s List<\/span><\/a> … (****)    <\/strong>
                                                    <\/strong>
Stratus 2019 Cabernet Franc<\/span><\/a> … (****+)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

  The Non-Ontario Selection …<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wakefield 2021 Chardonnay, Jaraman<\/span><\/a><\/strong> … (****)<\/p>\n

(Australia)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 _______________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n

— Highlighted Videos This Week —
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ontario Wines …<\/em><\/strong>
Cave Spring 2019 Estate Chardonnay<\/span><\/a>
Westcott 2020 Estate Chardonnay<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

“International Wines” …<\/em><\/strong>
Luca di Tomaso 2019 Montefalco Rosso<\/span><\/a>
Stags’ Leap 2018 Petite Sirah<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/strong>     See the full newsletter with video, side bar links and more – click below:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ontario Reviews: August 2023 (vol. 23-08<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

August 2023 … Time to talk about wine again. As I have been slowly watching this vintage in Ontario unfold, I have been talking with a lot of winery principals who are scratching their collective heads with every raindrop that falls; many are going bald from pulling out their hair – but I sense some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-owr-newsletter-archives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.michaelpinkuswinereview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}