Paul Forget

Hewitt Vineyard Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Rutherford, Napa Valley

Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir from 5 to 27 year old vines. Over 50% of this vintage was fermented with wild yeast, with maturation in French oak for 10 months and alcohol at 12.5%

This wine opened up with a sumptuous bouquet of ripe berry fruit, red currants, savoury spices, light floral and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied with a silky smooth texture, a delicious spicy, sweet and sour fruit profile, fresh acidity and fine grained tannins. Very nice finish on this Pinot, quite consistent, smooth with spicy fruit flavours and an underlying minerality. This is a very elegant Pinot Noir, loved the low alcohol, minimum amount of oak, very feminine and pretty.

Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2006, Doca Rioja

An intriguing and mature bouquet on this Rioja, with aromas of wild berries, plums, dried strawberry, Moroccan spices, sandalwood, floral and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with bright flavours, smooth texture, great acidity and fine grainy tannins. This wines finish is long, with great energy, flavourful, with a little bit of alcohol heat lingering. For me, this wine hits all the right notes, starting with a very sensuous bouquet, beautiful, well structured mouthfeel and a long flavourful, smooth and elegant finish. Drinking well now but should improve with a further 2-3 years in bottle. The quality/price ratio is well in your favour.

Mission Hill Compendium 2009, BC VQA Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley

Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Vintage 2004

Fattoi Brunello Di Montalcino 2004

This wine is definitely a little funky at first, after a few swirl, it dissipates and what you are left with is complex aromatics; black cherries, earthy, mushroom, leather and savoury spices. Medium to full body, lively acidity with grainy tannins. Long, silky and savoury finish. A more traditional style of Brunello. Lovely wine. Tasted March 2011

Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2006, VQA Okanagan Valley

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Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia

The 2008 Woodcutter’s is a big, but impeccably well-balance Shiraz. The nose is fragrant with blueberry, blackcurrant, raisin, savoury, violet, clove and smoky. Palate is smooth with generous fruit, balance acidity, well integrated oak and velvet tannins. The finish is long, rich and layered. Very comforting wine here.

Ruffino Modus 2006, Igt Toscana

The nose is very aromatic and inviting; ripe blackberries, black cherries and toasty oak. Medium to full body, richly concentrated mouth feel with smoky bouquet of blackberries, black cherries even slightly jammy fruit with cassis, cedar, chocolate and leather. Acidity is fresh and tannins are grainy. Finish is long smooth with rich flavours. Very enjoyable to people who enjoy their wines fruity with more use of oak. Good value.

Brancaia Tre 2007, Igt Toscana

There is a lot of hype about this wine. Number 10 on Wine Spectator top 100 of 2009. It did not live up to the hype for me. Where is the wow factor? The nose is kind of subdued; dark fruit, leather, burnt toast and earthy. Medium to full body, concentrated flavours, with low acidity and grainy tannins. Rustic old world finish. Could not agreed more with Dan Trcka; first bought this wine in BC in December of 2009, this wine was previously release at the LCBO in May of 2010 than re-release in February of 2011. Had this wine three times all ready and it is just not coming around. And yes what is with the plastic cork.