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
Lammershoek Roulette 2006, Wo Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$23.95
This blend has wonderful aromatics with bright red fruit, plums, sweet spices, cassis, licorice and a hint of floral tone. This medium to full bodied wine has it all together with lively acidity quality tannins which are now well integrated and layers upon layers of flavours. This finish is long, spicy, toasty with crushed berry fruit. A great deal of skill and effort went into making this wine and it shows. What I like about this wine is its easy drinking and aromatic, which has great complexity and flavour.
3.5 Stars
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Emiliana Winemaker's Selection Syrah/Mourvèdre 2007, Los Robles, Colchagua Valley
Colchagua Valley, Chile$18.95
The nose is a little funky with sweaty feet, earthy, sage, stewed plums and blueberry. On the palate, the elements are well balanced, acidity, tannins, alcohol with good weight as well. Concentrated fruit flavours, fresh acidity and roasted spices on the finish. There is nothing wrong with this wine, no wine faults for sure. But an important part of enjoying wine is the aromatics and this one is not doing it for me, not enough fruit and to much funk.
3.5 Stars
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Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$44.95
My first observation I had while pouring this Brunello was the colour, a pale ruby, much lighter than most Brunello. What it lacked in colour it more than made up in aromas. This had a pure Sangiovese nose of wild ripe berries, sour cherries, baking spices, soft leather and tobacco leaf. The entry is fresh with lively acidity, chalky tannins with sweet and sour notes. This medium bodied wine finish is long, fresh, spicy with sweet and sour notes lingering. Very elegant style, ready to enjoy now or over the next two or three years.
3.5 Stars
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Santa Carolina Reserva De Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley, Chile$17.95
I have enjoyed the last several vintage of this Santa Carolina Cabernet and the 2009 vintage is the best I have had so far. Although not a very deep colour for a Cabernet, it is more like a medium ruby with aromas of dark plum, black cherry blueberry, spice oak and vanilla. The palate has loads of flavours, spiciness, with lively acidity, grippy tannins and noticeable heat from the 14.5% alcohol. Good length on the finish with robust texture and mild tannins. This year the bottle is 35% lighter than the past, a commendation to be awarded for sure. Awesome Cabernet Sauvignon for $18, great value and strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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Peju Merlot 2006, Napa Valley
California, Usa$39.90
A very intriguing Merlot here, pale ruby in colour with watery rim. On the nose, very subtle aromas with ripe plum, vanilla and herbal notes. I have to say the mouthfeel really wakes you up here, with very ripe, rich red and black fruit, raspberry jam flavours, balanced acidity, noticeable alcohol and powdery tannins. Great length on the finish with spicy dark fruit, cedar flavours and persistent tannins. A solid wine, all and all
3.5 Stars
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Pazzo Call Me Crazy Proprietary Red 2007, Napa Valley
California, Usa$44.95
A funky blend of 74% Sangiovese, 8% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Syrah and 6% Viognier with a funky orange label and synthetic cork to match. All wines were aged in new and older French Oak barrels for 21 months, alcohol comes in at 16%. I have really enjoyed this wine the last three or four vintages, but had a hard time to warm up to this 2007 vintage. Call me crazy, but I did find it much sweeter than usual, unless my palate is moving on to dryer wines. This blend aromatics was pretty complex with aromas of dark plums, stewed rhubarb, savoury herbs, blackberry jam and violets. Full bodied mouthfeel, jammy characteristics, low acidity and smooth tannins. The finish is long, savoury with luscious fruit, much better on the nose then mouthfeel. I would have prefered a little more structure, tannins and acidity and a little less fruity characteristic and alcohol.
3.5 Stars
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Salcheto Rosso Di Montepulciano 2008, Doc
Tuscany, Italy$17.95
This 2008 Rosso di Montepulciano is a very fruity and uncomplicated blend of 84% Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Merlot rounding out this blend. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel only, no oak aging here. Very aromatic on the nose, with aromas of fresh raspberry, plums, cranberry and floral notes. This wine is medium bodied, framed by dusty tannins, lively acidity and fresh berry fruit flavours. The finish is medium length and fruity. Without the oak aging, it doesn’t have the complexity of their Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano of course but an enjoyable and easy drinking wine at a very good price.
3.5 Stars
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Valiano Poggio Teo Chianti Classico 2006, Docg, Castelnuovo Berardenga
Tuscany, Italy$13.75
A beautiful brilliant ruby color and a nose that is very Sangievese with aromas of cherry, plum, tobacco, leather and sweet toasty oak. The mouthfeel is well balanced by good fruit and oak structure, silky tannins and a lovely seam of acidity. A very nice long smooth texture and silky finish with a slight sour notes lingering. This is a very well made wine, well priced and very traditional style of Chianti Classico, strongly recommended
3.5 Stars
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Amani Chardonnay 2009, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$17.95
This Chardonnay is very fragrant on the nose with aromas of pineapple, peach, lime, minerals and sweet butterscotch. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, refreshing acidity, well integrated oak and rich, creamy texture. Good weight and length on the finish with tropical fruit, toasty oak and spices, notes lingering. From start to finish, this is a very enjoyable and elegant Chardonnay and a great value.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Ayala Brut Majeur
Champagne, France$60.00
This is a bright and cheerful Champagne using all three grapes allowed within the Appelation; Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Visually, very beautiful bubbles with aromas of citrus notes, green apple, buttered croissant and nutty. Medium bodied, dry and creamy with balanced green apple acidity and some minerality. This Champagne's finish is long refreshing and citrusy. Very enjoyable.
3.5 Stars
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