Guest Andy Brown:

I decided to treat myself today.  

A Sterling Silver Striploin steak with baked potato, grilled yam and peas, washed down with a delectable Inniskillin 2009 “Dark Horse Estate” Meritage.  

Don’t have an exact price on the wine but it was in my $40+ section of the wine cooler.  

Whatever, it was worth it.  An excellent complement to the steak.  It is composed of 50% Merlot, 30% Cab Sav and 20% Cab Franc.  The description says the careful crafting of the individual wines “has yielded a deep purple toned wine with ripe cherry and chocolate aromas, firm tannins, and rich flavours of vanilla-infused oak and plums.”  The components underwent extended fermentation in their skins, followed by barrel aging for 12 months in French and American oak.  

Being in the bottle for 11 years did not hurt I’m sure.  I made a special toast to Di who I’m sure instigated this purchase.  She was the real wine aficionado- I can’t think of any of her selections that I did not like.  

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Photos: Andy Brown