The September Wine Tasting Club meeting was held at Ruth Warren’s apartment and was hosted by Ruth, along with Pat and Murray Wood. We tasted two white wines and two reds. The two most popular are featured below.
Italy, Attems, Pinot Grigio, 2023
Owned by the famed Frescobaldi family, the Attems winery has a long and treasured history, with nearly a millennium of viticulture under its belt. It is an excellent introduction to a great-quality, northern Italian Pinot Grigio.
The fresh, medium+ intensity nose of this wine is ripe with hints of tropical fruit aromas, surrounding a core of yellow fruit, citrus, pear, and some herbal notes. Vintus has the following tasting notes: Soft straw yellow color. The scent is fine yet richly detailed: white plum, lime blossom and a dash of vanilla. Set apart by its complexity, the wine boasts the perfect balance between citrus acidity and velvety structure. Excellent finish of hazelnut and thyme.
Natalie MacLean recommends food pairings of grilled chicken, summer salads, frittata, basil pesto, salmon burgers, and grilled lake fish. Other suggestions are that it pairs well with stracciatella soup and Montasio cheese.
Of the 11 people at this meeting 9 said they would buy it and 2 thought they might purchase it. It has 12.5% alcohol and cost $19.95 at the LCBO. It was scored at 94 in the Toronto Star.
Australia, Sister’s Run, Epiphany Shiraz, 2021
The Sister’s Run Winery is serious fun. Their talented owner/winemaker, Elena, wears steep cap work boots every day but carries a pair of high heels in her truck, only for emergencies, like last minute invitations to accept trophies at gala wine show dinners and the like. Returning from a “knees-up” at midnight, mid vintage, she banged to kick off one high heel and slip back into a boot just as the cellar crew cried out “Run Sister, Run”. It was exactly then their winemaker and label took flight.
Opulent and engaging with dark fruit richness, dark cocoa, cake spice and toasty oak aromas on the nose. The palate is concentrated and plush, filled with powerful fruit flavours backed by layers of fine tannins making it gratifying and hugely appealing.
Sister’s Run website states that :The balance between richness and tannin, between power and an underlying acid tension and edge, make this red wine almost too drinkable. You could serve this with as much ease alongside an eggplant laksa or a barbecued piece of peppered chicken. Don’t be afraid to cellar some of this wine too. There’s reward ahead. Other suggestions include to match with grilled lamb or beef short ribs.
Nine of the members stated that they would purchase this wine and two thought they might buy it. It cost $17.95 at the LCBO. It was also rated a 94 by Sam Kim, of wineorbit.co.nz, on Jan. 2024 . It has 14.5% alcohol.
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 