8 years of LCF

Are we here at that time of year again?! I suppose, given how things have been going the last few months, it's cathartic to get this out. Let's get this out of the way ... yes, I'm still freelancing as a business consultant. Yes, I'm growing more anxious by the day as I continue to dip into whatever savings I have left. Yes, I'm having a tough time appearing cheerful and staying patient when people think it's appropriate to continually ask So, was the MBA worth it?

Yes. It was worth it. It was worth all of it - every single fucking second I spent in Spain, every single fucking euro I had to borrow - every single fucking bit of it, good or bad. So can we please leave it alone now? Because if you're not paying my bills, then stfu.

Sorry. I'm not normally like this. And I do realize I'm a bit more acidic than usual, but as they say, turmoil breeds character. Or something like that. I'm sure once everything settles down, I'll look back on these few months and have a good chuckle, but when you're deep in the shit, it's hard sometimes to have perspective. So we think about happier times. Like 12 months ago. Man. 35 days on the road? Taking us across 4 countries, a dozen cities? Christmas in the bosom of a Portuguese family, New Year's deep in the mountains of Austria?! I've said this before, but it bears reminding myself, now more than ever - I'm a lucky man, for having had this experience. For the friendships I've made, for the memories created.

And nothing would make me regret a moment of it. Here's to 8 years of LCF, leading me to this. Only way to go is up!

DF

7 years of LCF

So I've been missing. But LCF turns 7, so a quick update. Been busy, been doing some things. More or less keeping out of trouble, but as they say, it's not creepy if she likes it. 

Man. 7 years. I'm too tired, too drunk at the moment ... too disinterested for reflection, so let's move onto something more interesting. Classes finished last week, but DF never stops hustling. Working with my professor to finish the business case we started writing this summer. A winery in the north of Catalunya, in the mountains and the winds and the sea. Really not that much time to slow down, relax a little, as we finished 4th term. Damn son, only a few more months left. Only a few more months left before we're ejaculated out into the real world, but you know what's funny - that's not even giving me the most anxiety. What's messing with my head most now is this sudden realization that while I'm here in Barna having the time of my life - learning and experiencing all these new things - everything back home has been the same. Things haven't changed, while take it however way you want, I'm a new goddamn person. I don't fit in anymore, at least not back to that life. None of us do, for better or worse, so what now ... what next?

I'll tell you what. I try not to plan anything beyond the next 3 days. That's my trick, to keep me sane. So for now, for the meantime ... I'm focusing on enjoying my holidays. Flying out to Portugal on Monday. Porto for a day, to visit some port producers and taste some things. Driving down to Lisbon to spend Christmas with a buddy's family. Then off to Vienna on Boxing Day, where we'll hopefully get to hit some hot springs, and I get to drink some legit Austrian whites. New Year's Eve at another buddy's cabin, deep in the Austrian forest, before we head to Salzburg - been practicing Edelweiss - and then ending this go-around in Berlin. One night back in Barcelona, before a long flight to Shanghai, where I'll be taking 1 week of intensive courses at CEIBS, and 1 week of family time. Back in Barcelona on January 25th. About 35 days on the road in all. I feel ready. Mind and spirit, body and liver. 

7 years of grind and hustle, leading to this moment. 

DF

Feliz año nuevo!

I'm in Madrid, celebrating my first new years away from home, away from family. And it feels fantastic. It's freezing out, but I'm with classmates and friends, and we're about to head out to Puerta del Sol to wait for the countdown. Got a huge cluster of grapes ready, with a quick bite and beers to drink as we wait in the cold. Going to be a fun night.

I feel in two places, but at home in each. Wishing all the best for the new year to my friends, old and new, in Canada and Spain. Optimism and hope, only the best things in 2014.

DF

As 2013 comes to a close

Reflection time. What a year it's been. Really, what a year. I knew, even in December of last year, that 2013 was going to be a big one, an important one. I had just finished sending off 4 applications to US business schools, with not even a thought about Europe as a possible destination. I was on a high, really, having spent about 6 months preparing my resume, all those essays, my references, even a few 'tell-me-about-yourself' videos. I was optimistic, and at the time, really hoping to go to New York.

The new year started on a bad note. Personal things, you see. Let's just say that I've learned, once and now always, to trust my friends without reservation. Without doubt. It was a long winter, snowy, and through February, I felt rudderless. I was angry that America wasn't working out, and I knew that I had to figure out something - working for another year wasn't an option. Yet where? I wasn't going to entertain the thought of applying to a second-tier school. Never once, for a second, did I consider that. And then, the World MBA Tour came to Toronto in early February. It seems so long ago, I don't even remember if that was when I started looking at Europe. I suppose this place has always been in the back of my head - that I would look to the best schools here if NYU wasn't going to come knocking. I met with IE, HEC Paris, Insead, Esade, among others ... and slowly a new action plan began coming together.

I didn't meet IESE before applying. Truth be told, I didn't even hear about the school. But having a one-on-one discussion with IE's North American admissions gave me a great feel for studying in Spain, and the quality of schools here. I think it was past midnight one of those nights, when I looked up the other Spanish business schools, and somehow, even just looking at the website, something about IESE seemed right. So I applied. Another 3 applications sent out, and amazingly, all 3 asked for an interview. So, a trip to New York to attend IESE's Assessment Day, and it's still true now as it was then - something about the school just felt right. Decision through intuition, and my intuition has never been more spot on.

I got my admissions offer from IESE in mid April. What an amazing feeling. It was early morning, just as I had finished breakfast and was about to go to work. My mom was on the phone with my aunt, and I was doing a routine email check before heading out when the email came in. All I saw was 'congratulations', and I pretty much exploded in screams and fist pumps. My mother didn't get why I was so excited - she didn't really understand the significance of that moment. Reading through 2012, what do I write about the most? Besides bitching about GMAT studying and applications, it's about this dream I had, this goal I was working towards. It was about changing my life. And that acceptance letter was my one legitimate chance to change my life. Of course, being me, I calmed myself and drove to work. I finally said goodbye to Dalbar on July 5, ending nearly 5 years of service with the firm. Lots of projects accomplished, lots of memories there, and lots of important things learned.

So, with acceptance letter in hand (most importantly from IESE but also from the other 2 European schools), I had a great 27th birthday. After my last day at work, I had a great summer wandering around Toronto. Lots of drinks, lots of dinners with friends - spending time with people who mean the most to me, who've been incredibly supportive since before I began the GMAT. So, summer came and went, and I was packing for the first truly big move of my life. I was beginning a life in Barcelona, and I couldn't find a place for my wine stems nor my cocktail gear. Tragic, but I knew that with all the great things Europe was going to offer me, the focus was always going to be on academics and career. And what an incredible 4 months it's been. I've met so many new people, made so many friends - I've seen so many new things, tasted amazing new food and drink. It's been a dream come true.

And what about wine and LCF? Of course, UGC Bordeaux in January, pouring the 2010's. Wines of great breed and elegance. And then a California tasting, giving me the opportunity to meet some of the grand icons of Cali including Gary Eberle and Josh Jensen. What happened that night after the tasting was pretty epic too. My last two trips to Niagara were great, getting to know some new producers, and touching base with old friends. I really miss those tasting trips the most. We tasted some interesting wines during the year. Emptied out some stuff from the cellar, some things I've had since undergrad. Always a great joy to open wines that are still alive, that are fully mature, and that have true character, especially with friends. And here in Barcelona, the journey continues, with a particular focus on Spanish wines. And the cocktails ... my goodness the cocktails. The gin tonics are everything a cocktail should be. Elegant, balanced, complex, and fresh. LCF also did a lot of events in Toronto before I left. Some cocktail events, a restaurant opening, a few tastings ... all those things that inspire me to continue working harder to find those stories, find those new angles to write about. 

Which finally brings me to IESE Wine & Spirits. I've never been very involved in school clubs. I've never found one that really excited me. Well, now I do, and what's even better, I get an opportunity to create a club in my own image. I get to create the mandate, I get to decide how it's run ... it's all my responsibility now. We've already done one (informal) tasting event, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Lots of love from my classmates, which is both confidence-building and incredibly humbling. So it's time to work and get IWS officially on its feet, so we can begin working to bring the wine (and spirits) industry to IESE.

What a year. What a year. Some of my favourite moments, in pictures and words ...

1. The Decision 2013

Not much else needs to be said here. Announcing The Decision 2013 was one of the best moments of my life. It was the culmination of more than a year of hard work and dedication, with the deep satisfaction of knowing that I was about to go on an adventure.

2. A year of personal development

A year of ups and downs - mostly ups. I've learned to be more disciplined, more organized, and also more caring and engaging. That's a good word ... engaging. To be more engaging with other people, and to be more engaged in what I'm doing. I've also learned how much Toronto means to me, how great it is that I had the upbringing that I had. And that yes, there's plenty of people here with more technical ability, more problem-solving and analytical skills - in short, more brilliant people than me. But there's something to be said about living with imagination and romance. Being a dreamer. Do I have those things? Maybe I'm still learning, but compared with 12 months ago, the change in the way I think and do things has been night and day.

3. IESE Wine & Spirits

This is the story that's just beginning. I knew I wanted to be a big part of a wine club here - what I didn't expect coming in was that I'd be the one creating the club. We've already a fantastic first tasting. And now that the club registration process has begun, exciting things are coming in the future.

4. Learning the cocktail

I drank a lot of cocktails this year. Made a lot of cocktails too. I mean, instead of asking a family friend to bring over practical items from Toronto like winter clothing or food, I asked them to bring over my cocktail gear. Priorities, son. Priorities. 2013 was a year of deciding I wanted to learn the way of Japanese bartending, assembling gear like the Yarai, and focusing on the classics.

5. Last dinners in Toronto

We don't go clubbing, but we do a lot of eating and drinking. I suppose we all have our quirks. I do like to keep these things small, because big groups devolve into bad cooking, cheap ingredients, and equally cheap wine. That's not how we roll. So, for my last Christmas in Toronto in a while, we opened a lot of old Rioja, we had a lot of home cooking. As my summer drew to a close in Toronto, we bid farewell to a few bottles I've had since undergrad - a bit sad, but we'll remember those meals with great fondness - wine doing as it should. With my best buddies, a last dinner before I left, a table full of LCJ and sushi. And finally, the night before Barcelona, a quiet thank you to my parents, with old Champagne and Barolo expressing what I never could with words.

6. Memorable wines

A year of simple wines, but a few stand out. A pinot grigio, reminding me to never, ever discount anything because of unjust prejudices. Izumi Ontario sake, always an absolute joy to drink. Pulling a few more of the 2006 LCJ's out to drink, and what beauties. A trio of old Niagara cabernets, full of memories of past dinners and crushes. A humble Bordeaux, but with depth and personality. And how could I forget, the bottle of Bandol that started all of this. 

But the most memorable - maybe not even just of this year, but of my entire wine drinking life - was a pair of wines from the Jura. One red, one white ... wines that excited, that amazed, that completely left me speechless. Confirming, through sheer force of spirit, why I love wine so much. 

7. California Legends and the last Niagara tasting trip

Tastings teach you two things - they sharpen your palate, of course, but they also give you greater insight into the people behind the wines, the human element. The California Legends tasting gave me that, in abundance. What an absolute pleasure and honour to meet so many grand personalities, people who've created the Californian wine industry. Truly legends. My last trip to Niagara allowed me a chance to visit Pearl Morissette for the first time, and meet Francois. What a man. What a man. Integrity and conviction, and a powerful character. This was also a great summer for #TeamLCF. Lots of events, lots of interesting new people met - much appreciation for the love.

8. London

I knew a big part of coming to Europe was going to be the opportunity to travel. What I wasn't counting on was my first destination being London. It was great, to be in one of the great capitals of the world. Lots of interesting things to see, quite nice to be back in an English-speaking country, and great food.

9. Barcelona gin tonics

This I knew about though, about Spanish gin tonics. Again, what was surprising was how good it would be. They truly are masters of gin, but more importantly, Barcelona has an extraordinary cocktail culture. There actually is no such thing as a bad gin tonic here. Yeah, you can roll your eyes about how simple of a cocktail it is, but taste one and tell me you're not amazed at how the gin tonic is elevated to something on an entirely different level here - fresh and bright, yet complex and savoury. Beyond using good spirits and tonic, it's all about the garnishes - matching them to the flavour profiles of the gin, and accentuating those dominant notes. 

10. New York in the spring

I've always loved New York. But now it has even greater significance for me. I was invited to IESE's NY Campus in the spring for the Assessment Day, and it went great. Had a chance to go out to a few of my favourite spots to eat and drink, and also spent some time with an old friend in an amazing, one-off Korean joint. A great, great few days in New York.

11. Eating through Barcelona

Whether it's the wines, the cocktails, the food, or the markets, Barcelona has been an eye-opening few months for this wino. Shellfish like I've never had before, fabulous gin tonics, and while not exactly friendly (or responsible) for a cash-strapped student, I'm plunging into it all headfirst.

12. First day of classes

To end it all off, the first day of classes was the most significant day of the year. Period. It was the official start of this whole adventure, the whole reason why I'm here. I was nervous, I was anxious ... but also incredibly excited. I felt a sense of control and optimism that I was sorely missing in my life. I'm here, in the right place, doing the right things, with the right people. Next year is only going to get better.

DF

6 Years of LCF

I'm deep in the crapper for these upcoming final exams, as we close out our first term here at IESE, so I'll keep it short. Having a lot of problems preparing for these finals. Lots of self-doubt, self-loathing. You get what you put in, and maybe I'm not working hard enough, maybe I'm just not smart enough ... maybe this whole 'intuition' thing these profs keep talking about just isn't happening. Whatever the case, I'm just getting more and more frustrated, more and more resigned to the fact that the bottom ranking of the class just might be where I end up. Bad habits all around, habits that I was supposed to shed here. Will keep trying.

So, 6 years. It's been a real ride, especially the past 12 months. Grateful, and while stress is at an all-time high at the moment, content. I wanted a huge change in my life - now I have it. And it's a worthy reminder, especially now, that I have people who've supported me the whole way, who I can't let down. One last push, I can do this. Many thanks to all. The next year will be an exciting time for LCF. Once we get the first 2 terms out of the way, I'll finally be able to travel more extensively, finally see the Old World. Excited to have you with me.

DF

A year of wine, 2012

It's been an eventful 12 months hasn't it. Start of the year, right away, bang ... the start of 5 tough months of studying and quite possibly making one of the worst mistakes of my personal life. But we got out fine, GMAT and otherwise. Then, a great summer of grilling and old wines from the cellar. And of course, meeting someone in the most unexpected (or maybe least unexpected) of places :)

The past 6 months have been the second half of the whole business school application process - working on the actual applications. It's been rough, but now that it's over, time to reflect a bit? Wine-wise, the theme for this year has probably been frugality. Simple, humble wines, on a simple, humble budget. Some exciting things though, and not all in wine. Generally I like closing out the year with some Burgundy and Champagne. It won't be the case this year. But then again, it's not so much what you drink as who you're drinking with. My most memorable wines of 2012 ...

The Celt Experience - Crafted Ale: Tom Newman sent over a case of his brews - fine ales, showing balance, character, and drinkability on the dinner table.

Mulberry wine: The last of it, from our distant relatives in Ningbo. Way past its best, but a taste of tradition and family history.

Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux, 2012: What a fabulous tasting of 2009 Bordeaux - went in worrying about hype, but the wines were stunning. Truth that Bordeaux still offers excitement like few other regions in the world.

2007 Lornano | DOCG Chianti Classico: A humble chianti, coarse and a bit unruly, but as much character as you'll ever find in a wine.

Tasting at Fielding Estate Winery: My first time meeting Richie Roberts, Fielding's winemaker - the new generation of winemakers pushing the envelope of what Niagara wines can be.

Tasting 2010 Lailey: Proving that he's still showing them how it's done, Derek handles the wines with grace and conviction in a beautiful vintage for pinot noir and syrah.

Saison Dupont: Making me look at Belgian brews in a completely different light; complex and interesting, a style that needs a revival.

C'est La Vie | Vin de Pays: Cheap and cheerful for a friend's birthday, yet utterly, utterly delicious.

2001 Château Les Ormes de Pez | AC Saint-Estèphe: A Bordeaux with some age, for a simple birthday celebration.

2011 Mas des Bressades | AC Costières de Nîmes: Opened in celebration of a successful GMAT; wine never tasted so sweet.

2009 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay | Wolff Vineyard | Edna Valley: Part of a pair of chardonnays drunk over one of the best seafood dinners I've ever had a hand in cooking.

Tom Collins: Learning a new cocktail.

2006 Saint-Émilion: A pair of St-Émilion's that demonstrated why patience is needed.

2010 Vasse Felix Chardonnay | Margaret River: Australia can do it - a wine of purity and elegance.

2005 Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir | VQA Twenty Mile Bench: One of the first Niagara pinot noirs I bought, way back in my undergrad years ... opened to impress a girl. I do believe it worked.

1991 Schloss Schönborn Riesling Spätlese | QmP Hochheimer Domdechaney | Rheingau: An old riesling that touches the heart.

2006 Château d'Aquéria | AC Tavel: The lost bottle of rosé that was found, and drunk alongside it's younger brother.

2002 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Les Lys | AC Chablis Premier Cru: My first old(er) Chablis, showing maturity and why these chardonnays are so special.

2008 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling | VQA Vinemount Ridge: Dude ... you need to drink more!

2005 Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois Vin Jaune: My first vin jaune, an intellectual wine.

2007 Château Soucherie | AC Chaume: From not knowing what Chaume was to falling head over heels in love.

The Gimlet: For the fall, learning the Gimlet.

Catch the Wave, Australian wine tasting: Red syrup all around, but a chance to break the ice, and re-convene a new (and larger) tasting group.

2010 Marcel Lapierre Morgon: What else can I say but merci bien, Marcel.

2010 Tomić Plavac Mali: Tasted with Ludo, Sommelier of the Spoke Club. This is why we need good wine professionals to show us the way.

DF

5 Year Anniversary

I never seem to remember these things on the actual date, but Monday, December 3rd marked 5 years of LCF. I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support along the way - the people I've met, the things I've been able to experience. And I'm looking forward to the next 5 years.

It's a bit too early to start reflecting on the past year and all of that - we still have an entire month left to go. But I have begun prepping for holiday drinking. Last year, I was on a heavy budget, and ended up drinking more cheap Chianti than anything else. More than that, I was just unhappy about how things were going in my life. I feel more optimistic about how things are lately, where things are headed. It's been a journey, these 5 years. Turmoil and chaos, and frightening, frightening chasms of insecurity and depression so deep not a whisper of light can reach it ... but amidst all the doom and gloom, a glimmer of something. Hope? Possibilities? I'm not asking for much, but conviction of purpose, and the courage to see it through. This past year has seen me consumed with getting into business school - I suppose I'm understanding now that I absolutely need this. I have no choice; there is no other way.

The process is not yet over. But there is the consolation that I won't have to endure it alone. I'm grateful for my pretty lady. And grateful to have you - many thanks.

DF

looking back on the best wines of 2011

I'm not a very reflective person, but thinking about favourite wines gives me great satisfaction. It's been yet another year of wine. Lots of wine in fact. More humble bottles, certainly, but no less interesting. I've learned so much, making my Niagara tasting trips. But the highlight of 2011 must be my visit to Champagne in early May, walking some of the greatest cellars in the world. Much to remember fondly back on.

My favourite wines of 2011.

DF

A year of wine, 2011

It's been a year of discovery. New regions, new wines . . . the need to tighten up budgets played a big factor in the wines I drank in 2011, especially towards the end, but budgeting also gives the opportunity to go outside the tried and true.

Looking back, it's been a year of Italian wines. Lots of great discoveries, especially in more obscure whites and reds. We started the year off with a trio of the most amazing vintage ports - a 1994 Delaforce, a 1985 Smith Woodhouse, and a 1983 Gould Campbell. Lots of memories from our 2 weeks in Paris, in late April, from the culture seemingly bursting from every inch of the city to our dinner at Philou, to the bottle of Marcel Lapierre Morgon we drank, a few months after his death.

Mature Champagne, also a highlight. Made all the more meaningful after our visit in May to Champagne, visiting a few houses. Finally walking (and tasting) Clos des Goisses . . . wandering the cellars of Dom Ruinart . . . experiencing at the crass commercialism of Moët & Chandon . . . spending 4 hours in the dining room of the ** Le Parc Les Crayères.

Aside from March's Burgundy tasting, there hasn't been much space in the wallet for any Chambolle-Musigny or Volnay . . . gut-wrenching. But we did manage to drink quite extensively through Le Clos Jordanne, both pinot noir and chardonnay.

My aunt visited us in August, bringing carefully wrapped packages of the most amazing cuts of A5 and A4 grade wagyu beef. To balance it out, she also brought fresh aji and sanma fish. And because she loves me so much, and because she walks through airport security like a boss, she also brought along a bottle of Daiginjo sake. Always regarded as a curiosity in my house, this bottle reminded why, as stupidly clichéd as it is, what grows together goes together. The last few months of the year saw me consumed with (positive) curiosity to learn and taste more of this infinitely delicate, complex, and intellectual drink.

The year ended quietly. I had 2 dozen or so wines prepared for the holidays, and we did succeed in drinking most of them. Humble wines all, save for a bottle of rosé Champagne, and all the 2006 Le Clos Jordanne single vineyard pinot noirs I wanted to drink with some (close) friends. Ended the year at a friends house, where I managed to toe the fine line between tipsy (but still fun), and passed-out drunk.

These are the wines that have taught me the most . . . I think of them as reference points for the palate. They're not the most well-known or heralded wines; certainly not the most expensive. But they've been instrumental in guiding my tastes, and continuing my education in wine. So here's to another year of wine, and may all of 2012's bottles be exciting and TCA-free!

2008 Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir | VQA Niagara Peninsula: Starting the year with LCJ, simple but with character.

1994 Delaforce Vintage Port | DOC Douro: From that grand vintage, still youthful, and delicious with dinner.

1997 Brochet-Hervieux HBH Cuvée Spéciale 1er Cru Brut | Ecueil: A bit of a gamble - a grower Champagne that really doesn't show character until it hits maturity. Rewarded, as the wine is beginning to mature, showing depth and richness.

1985 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port | DOC Douro: Followed up the Brochet-Hervieux with this - so rich, so amazingly youthful for a wine a year older than me. Superb.

2005 Marziano Abbona La Pieve | DOCG Barolo: This producer is a star. Their most humble bottling, no less of that inimitable nebbiolo character.

2008 Marziano Abbona Papà Celso | DOCG Dogliani: I can't say enough about Abbona. Even the humble dolcetto in their hands turns into something profound.

1983 Gould Campbell Vintage Port | DOC Douro: So complex, so much character, so alive. A 50 year wine, as epic as they come.

2003 Azienda Agricola Svoltacarozze di Meoni Sebastiana Vino Rosso | IGT Toscana: A surprise for me, and a learning experience. A superTuscan, primarily cabernet sauvignon. yet somehow still tastes Tuscan. From a hot vintage too, alcohol perfectly integrated, fruit fading but still alive.

2009 Michele Chiarlo Le Marne | DOCG Gavi: Arneis, that beautiful, noble, kingly grape of the north. So rich, so dense, so exquisitely textured.

2010 Marcel Lapierre Morgon: One of the most emotional wine experiences I ever had. Sitting in the most amazing Parisian bistro, my first taste of this jewel of a wine. Intellectual and pure, going right through you.

1996 Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut | Le Mesnil sur Oger: We were sitting in the exquisite dining room of Le Parc Les Crayères in Champagne. Had to take a deep breath after looking at price, but it was worth eating simply for the next 3 days. A grower from the finest village in Champagne, from the finest vintage in the last 20 years.

2000 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses | Mareuil sur Aÿ: My first taste of Clos des Goisses. As Nicoletta, our host, so eloquently put it, If you want to taste Clos des Goisses, you must walk Clos des Goisses.

2009 Pinot Noirs of Lailey Vineyard: This will be an excellent vintage for Niagara pinot noirs. Not super concentrated, but that's not what those wines are meant to be. Absolutely pure, showing what I think of as true pinot character.

2009 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Reisling | VQA Vinemount Ridge: As a riesling fiend, I can't support this guy enough. The most amazing, perfectly extracted rieslings this side of the Mosel.

2007 R de Rieussec | AC Bordeaux Blanc Sec: Dry white Bordeaux, how I love thee. Let me count (the endless) ways.

2007 Château Ferran Blanc | AC Pessac-Léognan: Racy acidity, dry extract you have to taste to believe - I can't wait until these wines turn 10.

Hakutsuru Daiginjo Sake: Sake, a curiosity for this Shaoxing wine drinker, but daiginjo bottles prove that these are as complex and intellectual as any wine.

1999 Charles Ellner Séduction Brut | AC Champagne: What to drink with wagyu, the most amazing beef on earth? High acid, yes. No tannins. Richness, a must. The bubbles just bring it all together. What else, than a bottle of maturing Champagne?

2006 Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir | VQA Niagara Peninsula: The wine now forever immortalized in my heart . . . and my kitchen wall. My first vintage of LCJ in the cellar.

2006 Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay | VQA Twenty Mile Bench: Beautifully alive, still youthful, mineral and all that. A great success.

1996 Château La Gorce | AC Médoc Cru Bourgeois: A previous bottle was terrible. This one was sublime, classic, and mature claret. Just be patient.

2003 Château Dasvin-Bel-Air | AC Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois: At a moment when my confidence in the wisdom of stockpiling so much Bordeaux was at an all-time low, this bottle shows up and proves, in a single taste, how delicious a well-made claret can be. And in the heat-wave vintage too!

Rihaku Wandering Poet Junmai Ginjo | Shimane Prefecture: So delicate, so fine, so intangible - at a loss for words, but I just know it was good.

2004 Terre del Barolo Monvigliero | DOCG Barolo: I want to replace all my classified growth Bordeaux with Barolo. All of it.

2008 Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling | Adelaide: Don't buy Australian red wines. Just don't. Save yourself some money, it's all jam and alcohol. The dry rieslings on the other hand . . .

1997 Nicolas Feuillatte Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs | Ambonnay: For my father's birthday, a vintage blanc de noirs. Still youthful, wound up. Good that I have another bottle put away.

1999 Lornano | DOC Vin Santo del Chianti Classico: My first vinsanto. So complex, so balanced - a great find.

2007 S|K|N Chardonnay | Napa Valley: Yes to sub-$20 Napa chardonnay that's balanced and varietal and delicious!

2001 Señorío De P. Peciña Reserva | DOCa Rioja: A reminder that in traditional hands, nothing . . . NOTHING compares to 10 year old Rioja.

The sakes of Izumi Ontario Spring Water Sake Co.: A surprise, and totally unexpected. Out for a Christmas market day with the office, to stumble on an Ontario sake brewery that makes the most amazing rice wines. Not traditional sake to say the least, but as perfect a rice wine as I've ever tasted.

2006 Valiano Poggio Teo Castelnuovo Berardenga | DOCG Chianti Classico: A conversation and 3 Chianti's. Maybe I need to taste a few more, after months and months of avoiding them. Under $20, these are still true sangiovese wines.

Tamanohikari Omachi Junmai Daiginjo | Kyoto Prefecture: The finest, purest, most ethereal sake I've ever tasted.

2007 Podere l'aja | DOCG Chianti Classico: Yes to Chianti, if they all taste like this. Dusty, earthy, ripe cherries.

Le Clos Jordanne's 2006 single vineyard pinot noirs: What more can be said about these wines; the only thing that was greater than getting to taste them all together was being able to share it with good friends over a great meal to close out the year.

DF

4 Year Anniversary

I don't really know how I feel about LCF turning 4. A lot of wine drunk, certainly. Every bottle, a lesson learned. Let's move on. The end of year makes some people reflective; be glad I'm not one of them. Looking to change some things, break out of the status quo. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.

Many thanks. Much appreciation for the support. And from the top . . .

DF

A Year of Wine, 2010 - Part II

A major part of this year was the wine tastings I attended, and the trips I made to Niagara. January was the UGC Bordeaux tasting of the 2007 vintage. March was the Bordeaux Meets Burgundy tasting. April was spent in Shanghai, where I actually managed to squeeze in a few trips to some wine shops and bars - the tasting notes can be found using the Shanghai or Wine Tasting tabs. July was the Courvoisier tasting, and the unveiling of the Exclusif blend. Last month, finally, was the Macallan tasting

UGC Bordeaux 2007

Bordeaux Meets Burgundy

Courvoisier Exclusif

Macallan tasting

This year, didn't manage to go out to Niagara as much as I liked. A short trip, in May, to taste through some of the 2009 pinot noirs and chardonnays. A more proper trip in November.

Niagara Wine Tour - Nov 2010

These experiences, invaluable in helping me develop a deeper understanding about what's in the bottle. Lots of fun along the way too. Here's to a 2011 filled with more muddy walks through vineyards, more swirling and spitting in moldy cellars, and more learning from the people who make this sublime nectar come to life.

DF

A Year of Wine, 2010 - Part I

Another year of wine, another year of drinking and eating and loving. It's been an interesting year - lots of memorable wines, my longest list so far. That's what makes wine worthwhile to me. When a memory of a wine brings not with it just a lingering recollection of bouquet, flavour, texture, but also of conversation with friends, of long dinners and good nights.

Please click the red links to return to the original post. Many thanks for reading, and may 2011 be yet another wine-filled year for us all.

1999 Château Gazin, AC Pomerol - starting the year off strong, ten year old right-bank claret, cost me dearly but like the right girl, the payoff was mind-blowing

2007 Podari del Nespoli Sangiovese di Romagna di Prugneto, DOC Emilia-Romagna - my first taste of the region, sangiovese at all its rustic finery

NV Michel Brocard Rosé Brut, RM Champagne - a rare grower Champagne of 100% pinot noir, all mushrooms, earth, and love

1995 Remoissenet Pére & Fils Pommard-Épenots, AC Pommard 1er Cru - drunk alongside a 1995 Latour à Pomerol, no contest - Burgundy for the win

1978 Hutcheson Colheita Port, DOC Douro - old Colheita Port, supple, complex, mind-blowing

2006 Château Faizeau, AC Montagne-St-Émilion - an important reminder that merlot is not wimpy, and good Bordeaux doesn't have to cost you your left nut

1985 Coto de Imaz Gran Reserva, DOCa Rioja - screaming in ecstasy

2004 Coto de Imaz Reserva, DOCa Rioja - same producer, drunk alongside the 1985 - student and master, less wrinkles but one and the same

1983 Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett, QmP Winkeler Jesuitengarten Rheingau - unremarkable producer, remarkable wine

2008 Paul Anheuser Riesling Kabinett, QmP Schlossböckelheimer Königsfels Nahe - Nahe is a new region for me - the 2008's are extraordinary in their expression of steely, racy riesling

2007 Max Ferd. Richter Riesling Kabinett, QmP Erdener Treppchen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer - young Mosel, this vintage will be monumental

1992 Château Mouton-Rothschild, AC Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé - not the best wine, but come on . . . it's Mouton

2008 Studert-Prüm Riesling Kabinett, QmP Graacher Himmelreich Mosel - a stunning producer of electric riesling

2008 Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Kabinett, QmP Münsterer Kapellenberg Nahe - my goodness, another 2008 Nahe, mind being blown

2005 Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, Hungary - mushroomy, tense, aromatic - puts some Sauternes' to shame

2008 Staete Landt Riesling Auslese, Marlborough - a German-styled riesling out of New Zealand? And doing it better than some Germans?!

1990 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage Reserve Brut, AC Champagne - 20-year old Champagne, one of the most amazing wines I've ever drank

2003 Château Lagrezette, AC Cahors - held from my time served in university, lots of fond sentiments, drunk for a dinner featuring beef and only beef - and it was really good

1991 Schloss Schönborn Riesling Spätlese, QmP Hochheimer Domdechaney Rheingau - drunk for Rieslingfest, old Rheingau at its most expressive

2008 Giusti Piergiovanni Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, DOC Marche - obscure Italians are the best

1997 Balthasar Ress Riesling Spätlese, QmP Hattenheim Nussbrunnen Rheingau - direct, proper old riesling

2005 Marziano Abona Terlo Ravera, DOCG Barolo - my first Barolo, love/lust at first sight

1995 P.S. Baümler Becker-Erben Riesling Auslese, QmP Wehlener Sonnenuhr Mosel - another bottle of this gem

2004 Evans & Tate The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River - Australians make balanced, varietal cabernet! Australians make balanced, varietal cabernet!

2004 López de Heredia Viña Cubillo Crianza, DOC Rioja - the finest old European producer, period

2005 Poderi Colla Dardi Le Rose Bussia, DOCG Barolo - serious Barolo . . . now we getting serious

2005 Fratelli Revello Vigna Gattera, DOCG Barolo - intense, tight, aromatic - a worthy counterpart to Burgundy

2001 Gemma Giblin Riserva, DOCG Barolo - slightly older Barolo, expressing all that's good and wonderful about nebbiolo

1999 Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve Brut, AC Champagne - another wine I've sat on for years, a dream in its tightness, tensile strength, and purity, drunk 10 years too soon

2004 Lailey Vineyard Wismer Vineyard Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula - Derek made this a dream come true, one of the finest wines I've drank this year

2006 Domaine Machard de Gramont Clos Blanc, AC Pommard 1er Cru - a worthy end to this year of wine drinking, a Pommard showing true to vintage, varietal, and region

DF

3 Year Anniversary

Oh, how could I possibly forget, that December 3, 2010 was the 3rd anniversary of La Cave de Fang. Oops. I will have to have many glasses of wine to make up for this egregious oversight.

I humbly thank all my readers . . . and hope that I continue to get better tasting, writing, and dreaming about wine. Hope the photos get better too. I'm not a person who likes reflecting on things, but the end of the year always makes you wonder what you could have achieved if you weren't so lazy. Or hungover. Well, I'm counting this as an accomplishment.

Here's to experiencing more fine wines, gorging on more great foods, and seducing ever more pretty girls. Three years in, surely two out of three ain't bad.

DF

Walking in the fields, 2009

A highlight of this year was our many trips to Niagara. ROKChoi never fails me, and with camera in hand, we traipsed through rain, mud, ice, and snow to see firsthand the vineyards of the Escarpment and the Peninsula. We were very fortunate to meet many of the producers and engage in dialogue about the vineyards, viticulture, wine philosophy, and of course, the wines. Much appreciation a tous, and we hope to continue our search for the truth and beauty of Niagara in 2010!

Please take a look at our trips we took this year:

March, 2009
October, 2009
December, 2009

Of course, walking the vineyards of Le Clos Jordanne during harvest was eye-opening, and one of the highlights of my wine-drinking career. Our first time seeing the grapes so close to picking, as well as seeing first hand how the grapes are sorted. Exceptional.

I always look forward to tasting the wines of Lailey. A producer with a clear idea of what true taste in wine is, and is a firm proponent of wines which are clearly indicative of what Niagara stands for. After following these wines for a few vintages now, I can honestly say that this is one of the few truly great producers of pinot noir in North America.

Lots of others. Tasting rieslings at Thirty Bench, pinot noir at Flat Rock. One project I'm very excited about is Charles Baker's single vineyard riesling. I can't wait to see where this wine is going.

Before the year is done, I'll raise a glass to the true wines of Niagara, and the people who bring them to us.

DF

A Year of Wine, 2009

This year's been an interesting one, vinously. I got a chance to taste and gain a certain level of understanding for several new wine regions, in particular the rieslings of the Mosel and Rheingau, and white Burgundy. It was also a year where I had the absolute privilege of meeting a lot of people in Niagara, and tasting their wines. Above all, it was a year of great dinners with friends, where we all had a chance to share some great food and wine.

Click on the red links to read the original posts. DF presents, in chronological order, a year in wine...

2005 Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin Montmains, AC Chablis Premier Cru - The wine that proved the beauty of white Burgundy. Tense, mineral, but with a density from the vintage that left me speechless and awestruck.

2005 Couly-Dutheil La Baronnie Madeleine, AC Chinon - A concentrated, powerful wine, with a long life ahead, yet that still contains all the complexities of fine cabernet franc.

2002 R. Lopez de Heredia Vîna Cubillo Crianza, DOC Rioja Alta - How rare is it to find a wine that stays true to both place and time? All the fine complexities of Rioja, but with the lean, tart edge of 2002.

2006 Domaine Fallenc Sainte Marie, AC Corbieres - I hate talking about wine prices here, but this wine far exceeded in expectation, relative to what I paid for it. Rustic and rich, getting better and better with time.

2007 Cusumano Insolia, IGT Sicilia - My first white wine from Sicilia. Rich, round, but with a balance and bitterness that made it perfect for seafood.

2003 Geltz-Zilliken Riesling Kabinett Saarburgur Rausch, QmP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer - Ahh, Zilliken. The source of some of the purest, most ethereal expressions of riesling you'll ever find.

2005 Château La Fleur Jonquet, AC Graves - Again, my first white Bordeaux. A blast of green, but with a concentration of the vintage. Definitely caught my attention. A wine that needs some age.

1986 Balthasar Ress Riesling Spätlese Hochheimer Mirchenstück, Rheingau - Wine of your birth year is always special. Even more so when this is showing perfect maturity, with all the petrol fumes of great Rheingau.

1986 Dow's Colheita Port, Oporto - I fell in love with Colheita Port, hard and fast. Dense, round, and lasts forever.

1994 Schloss Schönborn Riesling, QbA Rheingau - This was a great tasting of two old rieslings from the same estate. Lots of vibrancy, with sharp acidity.

1982 Schloss Schönborn Riesling Spätlese, QmP Rheingau - Mature, honeyed, rich. Who says riesling doesn't age?

2008 Flat Rock Cellars Pinot Noir, VQA Twenty Mile Bench - The wine that reaffirmed why I fell in love with this producer in the first place. The greatest success for them yet - floral, intense, and just incredible.

2004 Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien, AC Côtes du Rhone Villages - I overpaid, but damn, this is delicious. Velvet and silk, all around.

2004 Nevis Bluff Pinot Noir, Central Otago - I was beginning to lose faith in New Zealand, when I came across this. Certainly not inexpensive, but balanced and finally, a wine that shows off what Central Otago can achieve in the right hands.

1995 P.S. Bäumler Becker-Erben Riesling Auslese, QmP Wehlener Sonnenuhr - Oh Mosel, how I love thee. Old, approaching maturity, but showing so much freshness and personality. Transparent minerality, all slate and wet rocks. Delicious, and clearly, in the top three best wines I've ever tasted.

2005 Königschaffhausen Steingrüble Pinot Noir Trocken, QbA Baden - German pinot noir can be tricky, but this was smashing. Warm, but showing great varietal character. Balanced, high-tinged acidity. All love, drunk twice.

2007 Francis Blanchet Cuvée Calcite, AC Pouilly-Fumé - The third wine of our great Oyster dinner, hosted by ROKChoi. Just stunning in the harmony it achieved with our Kumamoto oysters. Rich and creamy, matching the oysters perfectly.

2006 Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir, VQA Twenty Mile Bench - Drunk with a friend, which always makes wine better. Floral, bright fruit, showing beautifully now, but can age for a bit more.

2001 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay, VQA Niagara Peninsula - I love this wine. A surprise find for the winemaker as well. Ripe fruit, fine texture - still young. Surprised?

1982 Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg, Rheingau - The second wine of Dinner of the Harvest. Full maturity, with a rusticity and grip that was spine-tingling.

1983 Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett Winkler Jesuitgarten, Rheingau - The third wine of Dinner of the Harvest. Less rich, but doesn't lack any of the character of old rieslings. Subtle, but with intensity.

1995 Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett Hallgartener Jungfer, Rheingau - Delicious. That's all you need to know.

NV J. Lassalle Brut Premier Cru Chigny-Les-Roses, AC Champagne - Aged 18 months, this shows so fresh, with lively ripe fruit. Good length, texture - confirmed the merits of aging Champagne, even nonvintage.

2000 Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage Porto, DOC Douro - Young LBV is just all love. Rich, concentrated, but with impeccable balance. Tannins coat the palate just perfectly. Can I say arousingly good?

2004 Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula - This vineyard always shows well. Browning a bit, but still showing lively pinot noir character. This is the model for what the Niagara Peninsula can achieve.

2006 Remoissenet Père & Fils Chambolle-Musigny, AC Chambolle-Musigny - A Burgundy to compare alongside the aforementioned Inniskillin, for our Dinner in the Winter. Gamey, subtle, structured - all the hallmarks of a good, young red Burgundy.

2007 Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula - Jammy a bit, but certainly shows the balance that this producer can achieve, even in this kind of vintage. Lots of potential for aging.

2005 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Chambolle-Musigny, AC Chambolle-Musigny - Game, smoke, fresh red fruits. Great wine. Opened 15 years too young, but already it shows why you have to pay for Burgundy.

DF

2 Year Anniversary

December 3, 2009. La Cave de Fang turns two!

Here we go, another milestone. This must be Providence - that today, on our anniversary, also marks the 250th consecutive day of blogging. The streak began on March 29, and has soldiered on amid all the crises of this year.

I'm pleased with how the blog has progressed. Certainly, I hope that the message I'm trying to get across is relevant - the content, the photos, the stories - I hope what I'm saying matters to people. A year. A lot's changed in the past 12 months. My confidence in my palate and tasting abilities have increased, to the point where I'm extremely comfortable standing in front of people and leading them through tastings. And also comfortable enough to hold intelligent conversations with winemakers and people directly involved in wine production, and share my perspective with them.

It's been a difficult, but sometimes satisfying 12 months. My trips to Niagara, in March, and in October, were particularly rewarding. We met some fantastic people, and gained an incredible amount of new knowledge, experience, and appreciation for the wines being made here. And that's my mission for the next 12 months - to spread the word about Niagara wines, and amplify the fact that this is a region where quality and terroir can be found.

I'm grateful for the support, for all my readers. Thank you. In a bid to only bring the best content, I'll be slowing the pace of blogging. Taking some time off, to collect experiences to share with everyone. And that starts tomorrow, on my end-of-year trip to Niagara, to taste the 2008's and see how the 2009's are coming along.

I'm reminded of a scene in The Godfather, Part III. Michael Corleone and his daughter Mary are dancing at a party celebrating him being named a Commander of the Order of St. Sebastian. Led by Don Altobello, everyone clinks their glasses and calls, Cent-ani! Now, I have no aspirations for the blog to go for so long, but in the meantime, please join me in my continued search for truth and beauty, in wine and other pursuits.

DF

A year of wine

I guess it's that time of the year, when we look back at some of the amazing wine experiences of 2008. I've had a lot of fantastic wines, a lot due to the kindness and generosity of friends, and many just of sheer luck. Whatever their provenance, I'm extremely grateful for these experiences - I've learned a lot, improved my tasting abilities, and began writing more in earnest. Thanks for reading, I feel like I've shared these wines with you as well. A year in wine...

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Wines of Provence: Drank many humble, local wines in Nice, and they were perfect in that setting. Simple wines to go with rustic dishes, what could be more fitting? And yes, I drank a fair share of Provencal rosé. Best memory was the red wine I had with my entrecote. The name of the wine? Un verre de vin rouge.

2005 Chateau Morin, AC St-Estephe: My introduction to the 2005 Bordeaux vintage. One of the first 2005's released by LCBO at the time. More importantly, shared it over dinner with a lovely girl. Alas, the affection was one-sided.

2001 Chateau de Monbazillac: Another new region tasted, of the same namesake. An intensely, minerally sweet wine, a reminder that good desert wines don't necessarily have to be from Sauternes.

NV Champagne Drappier Brut, Carte D'Or: We opened this bottle for my mother's birthday. Who says rich and creamy Champagne has to cost over $50?

2006 Flat Rock Pinot Noir, VQA Twenty Mile Bench: What a revelation for me, perception-wise, about Niagara red wines! Earthy, intense, balanced wine that bowled me over.

2002 Marynissen Cabernet/Merlot, VQA Niagara: Likewise, this proves that Niagara can produce wines of density, purity, and longevity. Too bad no one else has figured it out yet.

2001 Beronia, DOC Rioja Reserva: Enjoyed over dinner at a friend's place, with lots of food and laughter. Earthy, complex - the wine that made me pause for a minute amidst all the mirth, in contemplation.

2005 Chateau La Gasparde, AC Cotes de Castillon: What more can I say about this wine, and the Cotes de Castillon. Absolutely my favourite wine of the year. So intense, so rich, so dense, so complex. Inky dark, floral and fresh. Immense aging potential. It blows my mind that this wine is $15. Cotes de Castillon needs to be recognized for the amazing merlot-dominated wines it produces. What a wine!

2003 Couly-Dutheil "La Baronnie Madeleine", AC Chinon: After a few disappoints from the Loire, this was the wine that got me hooked on the region, and restored my faith. Unabashedly green and vegetal, but so complex and interesting. Lots of regional typicity, this is undeniably Chinon.

2003 Marques de Riscal, DOC Rioja Reserva: Wrapped in a net, I was afraid of a gimicky wine, but this was anything but. Rustic, rich, with subtle oak - this is a wine only Rioja can produce!

2004 Castellani Burchina Antiche Tenute, DOC Chianti Superiore: With all the controversy in Tuscany, can we trust sangiovese wines anymore? I'm willing to, based on how this wine drank. Dusty tannins, earthy cherries, the archetype of fine sangiovese.

2005 Cantine Grotta Del Sole, DOC Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio: Of all the places to find a Lacryma Christi, I find this in Yokohama. In Japan, for goodness! So fragrant, high acidity, earthy wines that speak of the hot clay, high altitude, and the rustic Italian countryside.

2006 Thirty Bench Wine Maker's Riesling, VQA Beamsville Bench: My first wine from this estate, instantly mesmerized. Racy acidity, almost aggressive - who else but a visionary could craft such a wine? The saviour of Niagara.

2004 Inniskillin Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula: After some bottle age, what complexities you have developed! Unmistakable Niagara nose of hot clay and cherries, perfectly balanced. I piss on this estate all the time, but this is the one wine they make I absolutely love.

NV Champagne Gardet, Cuvée Foudres Selected Reserve, AC Chigny-Les-Roses: With all the extended time on the lees before disgorging, this wine is like reduced nose of Champagne. So yeasty, so minerally, so.......incredibly unique. Bread, anyone?

1999 Bodegas Lan, DOC Rioja Reserva: Anyone who thinks these wines can't age in the bottle can shove one up their................Absolutely delicious red berries and floral notes, dusty tannins, fine texture. So much life let, this is barely adolescent.

2007 Lailey Pinot Noir, barrel sample: We had good fortune to taste this wine out of barrel in the Lailey cellars. A wine for Niagara history, in the best vintage ever seen. Intense, tannic, but with beautiful balance and fruit. The Lailey style, but speaks so much of Niagara. Thank you for the taste, and for the insight.

1991 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, AC Pauillac: How many times in your life can you say that you've tasted a Premier Grand Cru Classe? This is one of those times. Even in a weak vintage, great Bordeaux always shows its pedigree. It just builds and builds in an arcing crescendo of hot clay, mocha, and dried fruits. So complex, so warm - a wine that entrances you and leaves you with a hauntingly long finish. I'll never forget this wine.

1980 Kopke Colheita Port: Drinking wine older than you should be a mandatory experience for everyone who denies the spirituality of wine. Such a complex wine: caramel, toffee, with a crunch wafer finish. Heady.

2006 Shalestone Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes: What a surprise - great red wine from the Finger Lakes. A surprise, given all the shit we tasted our whole time there. Shit, that the Americans attempted to pass off as wine. But this cabernet franc, well........amazing. Great density, that tightness. Wow! Thank you Rob, you never really know what treasures you'll find when you keep an open mind.

2002 Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken, Ockfener Bockstein, QmP Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: I love these grand statements that white wine can't age, and shouldn't be aged. True Wine Drinkers know better. Intense minerality, great riesling characters, an age-worthy wine that was opened 10 years too soon.

NV Champagne Chapuy, Brut Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru: To celebrate the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. So untrue, that Grand Cru, 100% chardonnay Champagne has to be expensive. A lovely wine for a momentous occasion.

1994 Schloss Schonborn Riesling, QbA Rheingau: With this wine, my love for German rieslings is official. So rich, so complex, but yet, this wine is so alive! And still quite young. Perfect balance in the minerality, citrus notes, acidity, and slight sweetness.

1998 Bolla ''Le Origini'', DOC Amarone Della Valpolicella: Saved for sentimental reasons. Amarone can be too much when young - this is perfect. Dried prunes and currants, great acidity, what a wonderful accompaniment to dinner!

1999 Domaine Huet Brut, AC Vouvray: France produces so many excellent sparkling wines besides Champagne, and I'm going to try them all. This one's been kept for some time. Deep golden, buttery, with lots of citrus zest. Fine mousse, to compete with the best of Champagne.

2005 Lailey Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula: The greatness of Niagara, exemplified. Still tight, still tannic. Great intensity of colour, with brambly complexity. A wine for the cellar, and a great success.

2000 Chateau Franc-Maillet, AC Pomerol: When the esteemed J&PC come over for dinner, what else but the finest Bordeaux will do? An old-fashioned, sensible wine. Lots of vegetal complexities, but with great fruit holding it up. Still tight, but very ripe tannins from a great year.

1999 Chateau Potensac, AC Medoc: A wine from my first serious Bordeaux purchase. Close to my heart. Elegant, classic claret.

1981 Kopke Colheita Port: I have the great fortune to taste not one, but two old ports. A bit tougher than the 1980, but still interesting nonetheless. The finish on these wines......................

2002 Marynissen Cabernet, VQA Niagara: These people should be commended on their ability to coax the most out of their cabernet, in such difficult climates. Rich and fully ripe, but with fantastic green flavours that you find only in the best clarets. The 50% cabernet franc does marvelous work. A wine, again, to cellar away for 7-15.

2005 Thirty Bench ''Triangle Vineyard'' Riesling: Is this a German riesling I'm tasting? Niagara needs to build its reputation on these wines - complex, intense rieslings, with lots of minerality and substance. I will pay any amount of money for these wines. Ageworthy as well.

1 Year Anniversary

Dec 3, 2008. La Cave de Fang turns one!

A lot of things have happened in the past year, hasn't it......but I'm starting to find a voice and style, amidst all the drinking, and cooking, and cursing...

Am I snobbish, of course I am...but then again, I've always been. Thanks to everyone who keeps coming back. And thanks for keeping me entertained with the idea that I may be, just may be a decent writer.

In one year - I want to become more independant, develop my palate, and continue working on my writing. Well............maybe just the bit about drinking more.