Paul Forget

Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 2008, Coonawarra

I love the sophisticated nose here; with aromas of blackberry, dark plums, cassis, black olives tapenade, smoky and savoury notes. The palate reveals a Shiraz with fresh acidity, silky tannins with savoury, rich and concentrated flavours. Very good length on the finish, with savoury, smoky notes, white pepper and a solid core of ripe dark fruit lingering. The 2008 Bin 128 Shiraz was aged 12 months in French oak hogsheads, with alcohol coming in at 14.5%. A lovely wine to smell with a robust structure yet very approachable right now. Strongly recommended.

Mission Hill Oculus 2006, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

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.

Salcheto Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2005, Docg

It is treat to find a mature vintage of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in our LCBO stores. A very elegant and sophisticated nose here with dark plums, ripe berries, currants, floral, soft leather, spices and earthy. This wine is medium bodied (13% Alc.) and nicely structered with silky smooth tannins, complex mouthfeel and fresh acidity. The finish is long, savoury and slightly tart. 30% of this Sangiovese based wine was aged in French Allier barriques while the remainder matured in Slavonian oak casks. An honest wine here with a real sense of place, great food companion and a superb value. Need I say, strongly recommended.

Avignonesi Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2007, Docg

Wow, what a delicate but intense bouquet on this Sangiovese based wine with aromas of red cherry, dark plum, dried figs, cedar and savoury notes. On the palate, medium bodied (with alcohol at 13.5%), lively acidity, fine tannins and rich flavours. A nice brightness on the finish with bitter cherry and plum fruit and pleasant ripe powdery tannins coding your entire mouth, just how I like them. Drinking well now or over the next 2-3 years.

Hecht & Bannier St Chinian 2007

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.

Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru 1999, Ac

Vintage 1999

Duckhorn Merlot 2008, Napa Valley

This wines opens up with aromas of cherry, plum, spice box, baking spices floral and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, smooth and complex flavours, mild acidity and fine grained tannins. Medium length and a bit hot on the finish but with soft seductive fruit flavours lingering. This wine may not represent value but is another very enjoyable wine from Duckhorn. Definitely more Bordeaux than California in style.

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2007, Igt Toscana

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.

Dominus Napanook 2007, Napa Valley

This was one of those rare occasions, when you think you are opening something special, then it turns out to be a disappointment. This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot with alcohol coming in at 14.1%. On the nose, this wine opens up with aromas of dried fruit, violet, dried sage, earthy, leather and pencil shaving. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, low acidity, silky tannins but no fruit to speak off. Medium length on the finish, smooth but lacking energy and flavours. It's funny that from the very good 2007 California vintage, the fruitiness is all but gone, it was not a problem of oxidation, the cork sealed this bottle very well. Memorable but not in a good way

Marchesi Mazzei Zisola Nero D'avola 2009, Igt Sicilia

This wine opened up with aromas of red fruit, rhubarb, orange zest, beets, violets and herbal notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, juicy with flavours of sweet berry fruit, spices with an underlying minerality, balanced acidity and well integrated tannins. This wine’s finish is short but intense and tangy with herbal notes lingering. This wine is corrected technically, but the flavours are slightly at odds for me, and at $25.95 does not represent a good value.