Paul Forget
|
Followers (13)
|
|
|
Following (7)
|
Reviews (370)
|
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
Mission Hill Oculus 2006, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$90.00
Oculus is Mission Hill Family Estate’s flagship wine, a Bordeaux inspired blend of 51% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. The grapes are from South Okanagan (Oliver and Osoyoos), hand harvested and hand sorted, fermentation & extended maceration in small French oak fermenters than each component is aged separately in 100% French oak barrels for 14.5 months with alcohol coming in at 14%.
This wine opens up with aromas of black cherry/blackberry fruit, black olive, bitter chocolate, clove, cedar, smoky and a strong nose of tobacco leaf/cigar box. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with layers of rich flavours, well structured, fresh acidity and fine chewy tannins. This blend's finish is very long with flavours of black fruit, tobacco, black pepper and smoky cedar wrap in fine tannins. I am delighted in knowing that I have one bottle remaining in my cellar; Oculus 2006 is enjoyable now but still needs to shed some of its oak and in the process acquiring some further elegance.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Hecht & Bannier St Chinian 2007
Languedoc, France$20.75
Very complex aromatics in this blend; black fruit, savoury, licorice, black pepper with some minerals. Medium to full body, balance acidity and drying tannins. This wine is muscular with generous flavours. I wish I had brought more than this one bottle. Strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
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.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Beringer Merlot 2006, Napa Valley
California, Usa$39.95
Complex aromas of cherries, plums, vanilla and earthy. Full bodied with nicely layered structure, concentrated fruit and grainy tannins.
Long drying finish, lovely wine. Was happy to find a couple more bottles even if this wine was release one month ago. Will lay it down for one to two years.
Tasted December 2010.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Casanova Di Neri Sant'antimo Rosso 2008
Tuscany, Italy$23.95
The Casanova Di Neri Sant'antimo Rosso 2008 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino with the alcohol coming in at 14.5%. The first impression is a great one, the nose is awesome, very vibrant, it really draws you in with aromas of blackberry, sour cherry, plum, cedar, violet and spicy notes. The palate has loads of energy, spicy fruit flavours, fresh acidity and silky tannins. Long sweet and sour edged flavours of berries, cherry and plums with dusty tannins on the finish. A gorgeous wine, really enjoyable and at a great value. Strongly recommended
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2007, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
There is a more modern feel and texture to this Super Tuscan but still truly Italian. On the nose the Sangiovese is coming through with aromas of dried cherry, dark plum, blackberry, soft leather, spice box and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with alcohol coming in at 14.5% , balanced acidity, dusty tannins with good balance between ripe fruit and oak derived characteristics. Clean finish with excellent depth of flavours and a mild tannin finish. This wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 10% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with ageing of 14 months in French oak, 50% new oak and 50% in one year old barrels. A very good value red blend here, and strongly deserving of its number 30 on Wine Spectator top 100 of 2009.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Coriole Redstone Shiraz 2007, Mclaren Vale, South Australia
Australia$17.95
A rich and concentrated nose; dark fruit, cassis, earthy, cedar (lots of it) and licorice. Mouth feel is heavy with too much oak, a bit tart and drying tannins. Finish is long, dry and spicy. Food wine for sure. I would lay this one down for 1-2 years. Was actually much better the next day. Tasted February 2011.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Elderton Ode To Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$39.95
I love this blend. A bit shy on the nose with red and black fruit, clove, vanilla and toasty oak. The palate is rich, smooth and well structure. Medium to full body and great length. Ode to Lorraine is very enjoyable now and will only get better over the next 4-5 years. Tasted in January 2011.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Hazyblur Shiraz 2006, Mclaren Vale
South Australia, Australia$28.95
Great colour, very complex and aromatic nose; smoky, cigar box, blueberries, fruit cake, menthol. Mouth feel is a little disappointing; to much oak, to much alcohol and not enough acidity but nice grainy tannins. Finish is long jammy and cedar. Did not equal previous vintage of this wine. Nice, but I will not rush to buy another bottle.
3.5 Stars
(0)V