Paul Forget

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.

Domaine Cros De Romet Cairanne Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2010, Ac

Deep opaque purple in color, this wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, dark plum, dried herbs, peppery and smoky and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, hot with flavours of black fruit, spices and charred wood, low acidity and firm tannins. This finish is medium length, hot with baked fruit and a stony minerality texture. After tasting a number of 2010 Rhône wines, I started to think that they were (for the most part) un-balanced, lacked finesse, with high alcohol and low acidity. For my palate, Domaine Cros De Romet Cairanne Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2010 has nice flavours but the whole package is over the top for me, the fruit feels baked, the alcohol is crazy high and the lack of acidity is not helping, disappointing.

Le Sughere Di Frassinello 2007, Igt Maremma Toscana

A bit too easy removing the cork from the bottle, wine leak almost to the top of the cork (on two sides). I thought it might have been slightly oxidized, as the wine was much softer than I expected and drinking like it was a much older wine.
This blend opens up with aromas of small berry fruit, plum, fig, dried raisin, soft leather, exotic spices, earthy and violet notes. On the palate, medium-full bodied, silky smooth texture, fresh acidity and fine grained tannins. Very good length on the finish with soft seductive fruit and savoury flavours. This wine has elegance with seamless aromatics and great finesse. It may have been a cork situation here, but I don’t think that this wine would gain much more with age. I am not sure how it would drink in a year from now, but on this day Le Sughere Di Frassinello 2007 was very enjoyable. Tasted June 2012.

Tokara Director's Reserve Red 2006, Wo Stellenbosch

This Bordeaux blend from South Africa as incredible aromatics. Just smelling this wine, I know, this should be something special. On the nose I get blackberry, black currant, cassis, cedar and Christmas cake spices. The aromas follow through beautifully onto the palate, full body, balance acidity and well integrated tannins. The finish is long with freshly roasted coffee, earthy and classic cedar notes .Stylish and very classy wine here.

Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2007, Prädikatswein

Marqués De Cáceres Tinto Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja

This wine opened up with a sensuous bouquet of cherry, blackberry, black plum, incense, toast, sandalwood, cinnamon and vanilla spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, a nice blend of fruit, cedar and spices, mild acidity and grainy tannins. This wine’s finish is long, masculine with a savoury edge and persistent tannins lingering. This wine should acquire additional complexity with a further 2-3 years in bottle, if your impatient (like me) 1-2 hour in your decanter is strongly recommended. I will wait a further 1-2 years before opening my remaining bottle. What I like the most about this reserve 2005 is the aromatics, recommended for fans of Spanish wines.

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Margaret River

Great nose on this Cabernet with aromas of dark plum/cherry fruit, cassis, violet, spicy with forest floor notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with fine texture, spicy ripe berry flavours and fine grained tannins. Great flavours and spicy on the finish, with a bit of heat from the alcohol at the finish. This wine definitely benefited from 2 years in my cellar with the result, a Cabernet with well integrated tannins and robust flavours and texture which you would expect from a good Cab. Very enjoyable and a very good value. Enjoy on October 19, 2012.

Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2008, Luján De Cuyo, Mendoza

This wine opens up with ripe plums, fresh cherries, spices, red currants, light cedar and slight floral tones. Rich and vibrant mouthfeel with fresh acidity, velvet tannins and noticeable alcohol. It states 14.4% on the label but to me, it does feel higher. This Malbec finish is long with Cherry, sweet spices and mocha, leaving a good impression. This wine has so much potential, each glass was getting better and better. Overall great aromatics, very good value, this is a lot of wine for $22, drink now or hold for 4-5 years.

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Paso Robles

Château Du Trignon Le Bossu Gigondas 2007, Ac

This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault with alcohol coming in at 14.5%. This blend opened up with aromas of blackberry, stewed plums, dried herbs and leathery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, little fruit, dried, firm structured with low acidity and dusty tannins. Medium length on the finish, earthy, smoky and spices flavours, dusty tannins and alcohol heat making its presence felt till the end. For me this is not one of their finest wines, from Château Du Trignon that I have had, a little unbalanced for me. This wine needed a little more acidity and a whole lot more fruit, but the aromatics were very sensuous.