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
San Guido Le Difese 2009, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
From the makers of Sassicaia, this delicious blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 % Sangiovese was aged 12 months in French and American oak. What superb aromatics with aromas of plum, wild berries, black fruit, freshly ground espresso, sweet and savoury spices, leather and tobacco notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (14% alcohol), plumy-wild berry fruit, silky tannins and balanced acidity. This wine's finish is long, fine grained, tasty, savoury with very good energy. What you get from this wine is elegance and finesse with lots of details. I wish I had bought more than this one bottle, at this price what a fantastic value. Enjoy in April 2012.
3.5 Stars
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Ramón Bilbao Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$27.95
This wine has a complex sensuous bouquet of wild berries, stewed fruit, Asian spices, cedar and leather. On the palate this wine is medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 13.5%) with elegant smooth texture, fresh acidity and silky tannins. This Gran Reserva finish is very smooth, spicy and savoury. This wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Grenache, aged 30 months in American oak casks. Once bottled it is further aged 36 months at the vineyards underground facility before release. This is a very aromatic and elegant, mature and sophisticated wine, ready to enjoy on it's own.Strongly recommended
3.5 Stars
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Cicchitti Edición Limitada Malbec 2008, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$24.95
Lots of sugar diamonds on this synthetic cork. Pretty nice aromatics of cherry, dark plums, ripe berry jam, vanilla, smoky and savoury. The palate is smooth with luscious fruit, fresh acidity and soft tannins. The finish is medium length, velvety and slightly sweet. What this wine lacks in finesse is made up in sheer fruit power. The wine is marketed as extra-dry, I think its more closer to medium. I think most people will like this wine's easy drinking and crowd pleasing style. Be careful as you get closer to the bottom of the bottle, this Malbec had tons of sediments. I cannot remember the last time I saw so much sediment.
3.5 Stars
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Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2008, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$34.95
Intense ruby in color, this wine opened up with aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, cassis, vanilla, gentle oak spices and earthy/minerally notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, bone dry, fresh acidity, dusty tannins with flavours of dark fruit and spices. Great length on the finish with intensely masculine and rich, concentrated flavours. A serious and very enjoyable wine that is just as good as their 2007 vintage.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Saint Andéol Séduction Cairanne Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$17.95
What a charming southern Rhône blend here (60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan), with attractive aromas of cherry, plums, baking spices, licorice and black pepper. This blend is medium bodied (with 14,1% alc.), very ripe fruit and rich mouthfeel, balance acidity, oak well integrated with dusty tannins. This wine is sweet, spicy with excellent depth of flavours and mild tannins on the finish. This Côtes du Rhône Villages is uncomplicated, youthful, fresh with bright flavours and a great value. Strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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I Campi Campo Vulcano Soave Classico 2009, Doc
Veneto, Italy$15.75
This wine is a blend of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebiano and opens up with aromas of citrus fruit, almond, floral and mineral notes. On the palate, very fresh, light bodied (with 12.5% alc.), bright acidity which is well balanced by good fruit concentration. The finish is clean, refreshing with flavours of pears and citrus fruit, with a bit of honey, which makes it slightly creamy. A very nice wine here.
3.5 Stars
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Château Le Castelot 2006, Ac St émilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux, France$28.90
This Merlot has very intense and masculine aromatics, with aromas of dark fruit, spice box, cedar, underbrush and leather. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13%), dry, finely textured with fresh acidity and firm tannins. The finish is medium length, savoury spices and leather notes with fine grained tannins. A very serious and enjoyable Merlot, to drink now or cellar mid-term 1-2 years.
3.5 Stars
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Kim Crawford 'sp Spitfire' Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Wairau Valley, Marlborough
Marlborough, New Zealand$24.95
On the nose, a very fresh and intense aromatics with aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit, sweet tropical fruit, minerals and hints of fresh herbs. The mouthfeel is almost creamy (partly barrel fermented?) with loads of energy, refreshing and food friendly acid with flavours of citrus and sweet tropical fruit flavours and minerals notes. This Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc finish is fresh and lively, very refreshing. A definite food wine
3.5 Stars
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Aphillanthes Plan De Dieu Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2009, Ac
Rhône, France$22.95
A beautiful lively violet in colour with aromas of red plums, blueberry, white pepper, violets, underbrush, incense and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium to full bodied, bright and spicy flavours, fresh acidity, fine grained tannins but the surprising alcohol at 15% dominates everything else. A good length on the finish with spicy red fruit flavours and chest warming heat. An enjoyable wine overall, however I wish that the alcohol would have been about 1% less, it would have made this wine more balanced, more elegant. Recommended
3.5 Stars
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Pirramimma Shiraz 2009, Mclaren Vale, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$24.95
Deep opaque violet in color, this Shiraz opened up with aromas of black fruit, chocolate, freshly roasted coffee beans, toasty, vanilla and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, robust, well structured by rich and concentrated flavours, low acidity and grainy tannins. Generous and intense flavour concentration on the finish. This is a big Shiraz in every way, big alcohol with equally big fruit concentration and oak treatment with still makes this wine balance. If opening this wine today, pair it with BBQ beef or lamb, but it certainly would improve with a further 4-5 years in your cellar.
3.5 Stars
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