More of my impressions than true notes-
Last night my girlfriend and I had a fabulous meal at Mortons of Chicago here in Sacramento. As ususal we brought our own wines with us. We started out with a 375 of Inniskillin "ICE SPARKLING WINE", this wine was great and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. We then opened a bottle of 93 Silver Oak , This was very close to getting poured down the drain. It had a very sour taste and the dill was almost overwhelming on the palate. I am trying to rid my cellar of all my previously foolish Silver Oak purchases from my wine youth. We followed the Silver Oak with the 95 Caymus SS, WOW! this wine definitly took me by surprise. I would have to say that this is the last great SS bottlings Caymus has done. We decanted this wine for about an hour and a half. We finished up the evening with a bottle of 93 d'Yquem, this is definitly an off year for this wine so that gives me a great reason to consume early. I thought it was an incredible Sauterne but just slightly lacked what d'Yquem is all about to me.

Winebrat,

If you have never had had it, try the Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine. "Awesome". IMHO Inniskillin is making some of the best non European Ice wines.

IW

Winebrat,
THe last time I had the '95 Caymus SS (2 years ago ) I ranked it in my top 10 'amazing wine experiences' - it remains there to this day.
Inniskillin made a 98 'oak aged' Riesling Ice Wine that was a HIGHLIGHT on my Niagara trip in July. I didn't try the Sparkling Ice Wine you listed, but it sounds yummy - they are an excellent winery for Ice, great consistancy, I'd gamble on them any day.
I like Inniskillin here in BC ( they produce here too ), where they are doing fabulous Ices - my top pick! However there were several(5) Ice wines in Niagara I really loved!!
Cheers,
Mishy

winebrat
I wonder if some if the impression of the Silver Oak was due to the fact that it followed the Inniskillin? Did your palate have sufficient time to adjust from the sweetness of the ice wine to the dryness of the S.O.?

Merris- Yeah my palate was very clean when we tried it. The wait staff had the exact same impression.

IW and Mishy- I have had the Inniskillin Vidal ice wine on many occasions. I some day want to try the Cab Franc ice wine they make. Any impressions?

Winebrat,

I have never had the Cab Franc Ice wine. If you try it let me know how it was and what the price is. Thanks.

IW

Board-O loves a cab franc icewine, but I don't think it's Inniskillin, I think it's either Vineland Estates or Hillebrand (the first, I think)

IW- I saw it yesterday at The Wine Bank here in San Diego for $65. I think I will pick one up on Monday. I will let you know my opinon.

Temporarily in San Diego

Winebrat,

Hope your having a good time here in Lo Cal. While San Diego can't offer the quantitiy of quality restaurants as the Bay Area, I hope you find a few you like. Anyway our weather is a lot better!

If you have a sweet tooth you must try Karen Krasne's Extraordinary Desserts 2929 Fifth Ave. Sometimes there is a line to get in but what a pig out on the sweet stuff.

If you're looking for any San Diego dining advice post and I'll try to help.