The Twelfth Annual Stonefields Dinner

For the 12th Annual Stonefields Dinner, host Michael Barnstijn created a dinner with wines around the theme of "Non continental Europe." Paired with the food from chef Yasser Quahawish from Artisanale in Guelph, it was, as usual, a stunning evening with great food, great wine and fabulous company.

• 2008 Domaine Chandon (Australia) Vintage Brut 88 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Bright and fresh with tart citrus fruit and minerals. The palate showed razor sharp acidity with flavours of white flowers, minerals and lime and had a medium finish with tart white citrus fruit and minerals. There is a bit of unintegrated alcohol that lingers but is not too obtrusive. This is a great aperitif sparkler.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Colville Bay Oysters, Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar, Les Cochons tout Ronds

• 2007 Jansz Wine Company Vintage Cuvée 91 Points

  Australia, Tasmania

  This was a big step up from the Chandon Australia….
  Powerful nose of lemon, caramel, toffee and obvious autolytic notes. The palate is very smooth and creamy…wow, this is great. Flavours o lemon, lime, biscuit, minerals and orchard fruit transition to a medium+ finish that complex and balanced. Great showing.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Nyetimber Rosé 90 Points

  United Kingdom, England, Sussex, West Sussex

  The nose was a touch closed on this…had to really work to get coax the nose out. Aromas of strawberry, cherry and minerals were present. The palate showed more tart red fruit character with cranberry, lemon, unripe strawberry, minerals and steel. The finish was medium and complex.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Terrine de foie gras with Rhubarb en gelee and polestar miche

• 1969 Chateau Musar Blanc 92 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Served at room temperature
  Quite dark colour
  The nose is very nutty with salted caramel, toffee, preserved lemon and earth. The palate is quite complex…showing hazelnuts, minerals, lemon, earth, salted carmel, saline notes, and a definite oxidative profile. The finish is really long…quite expansive.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1800 Joubert Family Wine Muscat of Alexandria Jaubert 99 Points

  South Africa

  This is the private wine of the Joubert family. This Muscat d'Alexandrie was produced in 1800 and left in barrel until roughly twenty years ago when the family started drawing off very small quantities (6-250mL bottles per year). So technically it is not a true 1800 wine but given that such small quantities have been drawn and then topped off in an almost solera type system, the wine in my glass here is at least 95% 1800 wine….and it is absolutely spectacular.
  The nose is utterly insane! So powerful with christmas cake, nutmeg, toffee pudding, spice cake, marmalade, brûlée, and burnt orange.
  The palate is so viscous but there is perfect balancing acidity. Flavours of toffee, cardamon, spice cake, preserved grapefruit, brown sugar and asian 5 spice are so integrated, layered and beguiling that it stops you in your tracks. The finish is never ending……………..
  Still tasting it 3-4 minutes later. WOW. I really should score this 100.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Peasant broth, and plantain winter truffle

• 2011 Alheit Vineyards Cartology Bushvines 92 Points

  South Africa, Western Cape

  Only had a very small pour of this…..but very similar to the bottle that we had a few days earlier.
  Very open and lifted nose mixing pure lemon fruit with nutty elements.
  The palate balanced pure lemon fruit with minerals and almond notes.
  Finish was long and balanced.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Sadie Family Palladius 92 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland, Malmesbury

  Golden colour
  This was rich with lemon, vanilla, nutmeg, pineapple, wool, acacia, and honey….a touch tropical in its fruit profile but done in a very restrained way.
  The palate was equally complex with notes of vanilla, lemon, wood spice, lime zest white flowers, pineapple, and guava. The oak is present but integrated. What really makes this wine is its great minerality and its great balancing acidity. The finish is medium + with layers of flavour and the only quibble I had was the fact that there was a little bit of unresolved alcohol on the finish. Very nice wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Homard chaud froid and whole circle farm carrots

• 1998 13th Street Chardonnay Temkin-Paskus 91 Points

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA

  This was a very pretty wine. Notes of lemongrass, green apple, minerals, lemon and lime….very lifted.
  The palate is lively with great acidity, green fruit and a mineral driven edge.
  The finish is medium+ and balanced. Nice wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Nose was very rich….lemon custard, white flowers, subtle integrated oak character
  The palate was lush with pure lemon, pineapple guava, mango, vanilla, spice, and white flowers. There is good balancing acidity but for my taste, I think it needed a touch more.
  The finish is medium length but there is a bit of heat that is distracting and the oak becomes more present and dominates just a touch too much.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay White Bones Adrianna Vineyard Gualtallary 91 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Gualtallary

  Nose of lemongrass, lemon, apple, pear and minerals.
  The palate is driven by citrus flavours again but very mineral driven with notes of steel lingering as well.
  The finish is medium+ with good complexity and a lingering mineral note that is quite nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Domaine Chandon Étoile Tête de Cuvée 88 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  This had a rather simple nose….
  The palate had a steely and mineral character with citrus fruits.
  The finish was medium

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Griottines

• 1795 Barbeito Madeira Terrantez 93 Points

  Portugal, Madeira

  Nose is all dried lemon peel, brown sugar, flowers, dried orange peel, spice, and a definite rancio character.
  The palate very complex showing marmalade, orange peel, spice cake, burnt orange creme brûlée and dried flowers. There is a noticeable kick in terms of alcohol and the acid is still quite racy.
  The finish for me is where this wine feel down a bit for me…..it was only medium and did not have the expansiveness and power of the other old Barbeito Terrantez that I have tried (1899).
  Nonetheless….this was a real treat and pretty to go back to over the course of the evening.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Lotte, leek, and onion fondant tartlette

• 2009 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Treinta y Dos 88 Points

  Argentina, Patagonia, Río Negro

  There are bright sour cherry and raspberry notes on the nose transitioning to similar tart red fruit flavours and minerals on the palate. This is very fruit forward and shows medium length on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Marcassin Pinot Noir Blue-Slide Ridge Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  The nose is spicy with candied notes of cola and cherry…quite ripe
  The palate is pruney and has notes of cherry, spice and cola that are all overlaid with obvious alcohol.
  The finish is medium in length but again does not integrate the alcohol well at all.
  This is just too hot for me and stylistically not what I look for in Pinot Noir.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Kegou Caille, Ris de Veau en Sarcophage

• 1994 Harlan Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very powerful nose……cassis, blackcurrants, earth, blackberry, cedar, and bitter chocolate. This is definitely a riper style of cabernet but quite pretty.
  The palate shows similar dark black fruits augmented by cassis, leather and cedar but the alcohol is distracting and quite obvious.
  The finish is medium+ in length and quite complex but again the alcohol is not integrated and is distracting.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Wow…..this is so complex…..leather, cedar, blackcurrants, earth, forrest floor and sweet cherry
  The palate is equally stunning……sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, leather, earth, black currants, black cherries, sweet cassis and a definite Brett presence (which I love)
  The finish is long, layered, integrated.
  1994 Dominus does it again.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1994 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  From Magnum
  This was a very nice wine…and still so young
  Dark ripe fruit mix with cassis, spice and nice secondary elements of subtle earth and leather.
  The palate is balanced and integrated yet still quite primary in nature….blackberries, black currants, black cherries and spice are augmented by some nice secondary nuance.
  The finish is medium+ in length with good complexity. Wonderful wine.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with British Columbia Chanterelle Mushrooms

• 1941 Inglenook Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Transparent in colour….garnet to a tawny edge.
  Still very much alive though it has undoubtedly faded from its peak. My hunch is that it would have been at its best 10-15 years ago as the tertiary notes were definitely taking over in this wine.
  The nose was dominated by a medicinal note, mint, backing spice and a dusty character.
  The palate showed some cherry fruit with notes of brown sugar, dried flowers and dried plums.
  The finish was medium+ and showed good complexity
  It is very difficult to score this…..what a treat to try such an historical wine and to see it still alive and kicking.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1975 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This is dead ringer for aged bordeaux…
  Pure black and red fruits augmented by leather, cedar and earthy notes.
  The palate again shows such purity….brown sugar, dark black cherries, currants and berries mix with earth, cedar leather and saddle notes.
  The finish is medium+ and very complex. Great wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Noon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Big nose of mint, eucalyptus, dark fruit and spice.
  The palate shows candied cherries, black fruits, eucalyptus and mint with a great spicy character. This wine is 16.1% alcohol and I just do not understand where they hide it as the wine has such balance and no overt alcohol.
  The finish is medium+ in length with good complexity and balance. Nice wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Cerf de Boileau, cedar down farm salsify and Sauce Poivrade

• 1986 Penfolds Grange 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Really surprised this is a 1986…..so young and primary.
  The nose shows pure dark fruit, mint, eucalyptus, spice and plum.
  The palate adds savoury elements to the dark fruit, mint, pepper, smoke, eucalyptus, spice and plum and is so integrated and balanced.
  The finish is long, layered and gorgeous….. wow. Almost 95 points.
  Wish I had this in my cellar.

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Torbreck RunRig 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Oh wow…this is so smokey and shows notes of obvious stem inclusion. The nose has notes of creosote, blue fruit, pepper, and spice….very northern rhone-esque
  The palate is so pretty….spice, smoke, blue fruit, pepper, stems and a glycerol component.
  The finish is long, expansive, integrated and o so beautiful. Spectacular wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Noon Shiraz Reserve 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Pure dark fruit on the nose…..
  The palate shows blackberry, black cherry, mint, eucalyptus, spice and prune.
  The finish is long and very complex.
  Again….I love how Drew Noon is able to hid the alcohol on these wines as they are all 15.5+%. The balance they are able to achieve is amazing…talented winemaker.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with cheese from Quebec - Le Fou du Roy and Magie de Madawaska

• 1969 Chateau Musar 91 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  The nose shows black tea, mixed nuts and some sweat, earth and incense.
  The palate again shows black tea, cherry, wet leaves, forrest floor and sweat. This is quite developed and might have been better a few years back.
  Finish is medium+ in length with good complexity.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Noon Eclipse 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Great purity.
  Nose of dark fruit, spice and liquorice.
  The palate is so balanced with dark cherry fruit, spice, eucalyptus and integrated alcohol (15.9%)
  The finish is long. I think this will continue to get better as the fruit is still quite primary. Give it time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Paired with Helge's Cassis Sorbet, Chestnut Chocolate Gateau, Bizjack Farms Summer Peach Preserve

• 2010 Mullineux Chenin Blanc Straw Wine 92 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland

  This is pure tangerine…..
  This jumps out of the glass and is so inviting on the nose with its pure fruit and lush character.
  The palate shows tangerine, orange, lemon, citrus peel, honey and marzipan with a long finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 94 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia

  What a way to end an evening….orange marmalade, brûlée, lifted orange peel, spice, marzipan, honey and spice all wrapped in long opulent and layered finish. Great wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Another great Stonefields Dinner.