Paul Forget
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Followers (13)
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Following (7)
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Reviews (370)
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I was born into a French Canadian family and started tasting wine early with food. My love of wine and food goes hand in hand, when you have a perfect pairing, it is one of those great pleasures in life.
I have recently returned to Ontario, after living in Victoria, BC for the last four years. I worked part-time for the Mark Anthony Group which allowed me to attend many industry tastings, including numerous Import Vintners and Spirits Association tastings.
Before moving to Victoria, in December of 2006, I graduated with a Sommelier Certification from Algonquin College in Ottawa.
What I look for in a wine, above all, is aromatics. The nose should draw you in, not to much alcohol with good acidity, rich and concentrated flavour. For me, great wines are about subtlety, complexity and finesse. A bottle of wine should tell a story, should have a sense of place, terroir, where the grapes where grown. The use of oak should be handled with care.
I love everything about wine and recognize I have a great deal to learn. I enjoyed a great deal of BC wines and I am eager to get more familiar with Ontario wines.
Reviews
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$24.90
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.
4.0 Stars
San Fabiano Calcinaia Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$24.95
Wow, a big wine for sure, almost black in color. The palate is complex with black cherries, dark plums, currents, pencil shaving, leather and earthy. Full bodied, with monster tannins and good acidity. Long earthy, austere tannins and a bit tart on the finish. Nice wine now but will be much better in two or three years.
4.0 Stars
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Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2006, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$27.95
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.
4.0 Stars
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Jean Luc Colombo Les Lauves Saint Joseph 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$31.95
Subdued on the nose. Mouth feel of dark fruit, white pepper and smoky. Lack of complexity, not a lot of fruit here, fresh acidity and well integrated tannins. To simple of a wine for $31.95. Something is not quite right here; this wine may have been slightly oxidized.
4.0 Stars
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Yering Station Village Shiraz/Viognier 2010, Yarra Valley, Victoria
Victoria, Australia$21.95
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Philippine Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2010, Ac
Rhône, France$18.95
Deep purple in color, this Rhône blend opened up with an attractive bouquet of cherry, plumy-blackberry fruit, wood smoke, sweet spices and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, with flavours of dark fruit, strawberry jam and savoury spices, balance acidity and fine grained tannins. Medium finish, not particularly complex but the flavours are very nice and the texture is pure velvet. This is a very smooth, harmonious, easy drinking wine, made to please and at this price, strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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Les Hauts Du Castellas Vacqueyras 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$14.75
What a smooth wine here. The nose is very inviting here; black fruits, plums, cherry, black olives and earthy. Medium to full body, balance acidity with dusty tannins. Long sweet and refreshing finish. Again fine wine from this 2007 Rhône vintage.
3.5 Stars
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Antolini Morópio Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc
Veneto, Italy$34.95
This Amarone opened up with a ripe bouquet of field berries, raisins, mocha covered cherry, vanilla bean and sweet spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, luscious entry, juicy and slightly creamy with fresh acidity and well integrated tannins. This wine's finish is very long, silky smooth with rich fruit concentration and sweet and peppery spices. This wine, even with 16% alcohol is well balanced by good acidity (for an Amarone) and generous fruit concentration, lots of everything but no excess. Loved it at first sip, a real treat and awesome value for such a well made Amarone
3.5 Stars
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Swanson Oakville Merlot 2006, Napa Valley (375ml)
California, Usa$17.90
This 100% Merlot has a classic aroma of cherry, plum, blackberry, cedar, toast and a hint of spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 14.8%), rich and concentrated flavours, well structured by balance acidity and fined grained tannins. Good energy on the finish with soft seductive fruit and cedar and smoke flavours lingering. Time in bottle (375ml bottle also helping) has allowed this wine to come together nicely, somewhere between the style of a California Merlot and Right Bank Bordeaux. What you get from this Merlot is elegance, great flavours and texture, drinking at its best right now. You must remember the movie Sideways line, "I am not drinking any f..... Merlot", well if you are not drinking Swanson Oakville Merlot 2006, you are missing something good. Strongly recommended, enjoyed in June 2012.
3.5 Stars
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