In search of the Gewürztraminer grail

Today seemed like a good day to go wine tasting. The hordes were packing the malls so the wineries were quiet. The trip had two main objectives; to find some really good Gewürztraminer, of which the cellar is currently bare, and to check out the 2000 reds at Marynissen.

The morning started at Marynissen and as usual they made us most welcome. They have not yet released any 2002s but we tasted most of the available whites from 2001 and reds from 2000.

( Tasting notes )

I asked about 2002/3. The 2002 reds are still in barrel but apparently are stellar across the board. Mention of 2003 brought the predictable grimace. Spring frosts cut production to 3000 cases compared to an average of 10,000 and the quality is likely not there either.

( Next stop - Hernder )

( Henry of Pelham )

( Final stop - Stoney Ridge )

The trip confirmed once more that there are excellent wines to be had in Ontario and at modest prices compared to imports of equal quality but one does have to seek them out. My guess is that of the wines I bought today, only the Baco will ever be available at the LCBO. I am also beginning to think of shrinking my already short list of wineries worth a visit even further. Marynissen, always of course, Henry of Pelham for the Baco and 13th Street when they have anything in stock stay on the list. Others, I think I would need a recommendation to bother with.

Ten famous Belgians

Here we go! In honour of ladyalice and littlemissk I give you the first annual, never to be repeated, Ten Famous Belgians Quiz.

All you have to do is submit the names of ten famous Belgians. They must be famous, they must be Belgian and they may not be fictitious. The results will be used to compile the canonical list of Famous Belgians thus ending years of undergraduate frustration whenever the Ten Famous Belgians game is mentioned.

[Poll #223102]