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
Erasmo 2006, Maule Valley, Unfiltered
Maule Valley, Chile$21.95
This wine opened up with a lovely bouquet of ripe berry fruit, stewed plums, fresh herbs, tobacco leaf, vanilla and toasty cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with rich and concentrated flavours, fresh acidity and firm, dusty tannins. This wine's finish is long, robust with great depth of flavours. I love the intensity and texture of this Bordeaux blend. The oak is well integrated at this stage and the flavours are maturing nicely. Ready to go with any red meat off the BBQ, a very good value and strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$24.95
Greeny yellow in color, this wine opened up with a very intense bouquet of passion fruit, fresh squeezed grapefruit/lime fruit with a stony mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with an intense citrus/lemonade flavours and lively acidity. This Sauvignon Blanc finish is long, edgy, clean and refreshing. It is best enjoyed with food like chicken, pasta in a cream sauce or a nice summer salad. Just as enjoyable as their 2011 vintage, strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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Cusumano Noà 2008
Sicily, Italy$22.95
Shockingly dark color (charred barrels?), this wine opened up with aromas of black plums, blackberry jam, dried figs, damp earth, liquorice and spices. On the mouthfeel, full-bodied, bold flavours, creamy texture, balanced acidity and sweet grainy tannins. Very good weight and length on the finish with flavours of smoky black fruit, liquorice, spices with and underlying earthiness and those same grainy tannins lingering. Quite an interesting, robust and flavourful wine here, a candidate for short term ageing, 1-2 years. Pair with BBQ red meat, pasta, tomatoes and sausage, strong cheese or pizza after a 1 hour decant. This is a very enjoyable, great value and a made to please blend, strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Chardonnay 2009, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara
California, Usa$19.25
This Chardonnay opened up with aromas of pineapple, peach, apple, crème brulée and light citrus notes. On the mouthfeel, a full bodied wine with alcohol coming in at 14.2%, rich, buttery with a sweet caramel flavours and low acidity. The length on the finish is good with a mixture of citrus and tropical fruit flavours and light minerals notes. Overall, this Chardonnay is enjoyable but I felt it could have been much better. For my palate this wine feels a little heavy, the product of too much toasty oak. When I think of cool-climate wines, I look for a wine with a vibrant energy and better acidity.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz 2010, Barossa, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$22.95
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Matchbook Tinto Rey 2007, California
California, Usa$21.95
This wine opened up with aromas of cherry, blueberry, soft leather, gentle wood spices and cigar box notes. On the mouthfeel, a medium-full bodied wine with soft seductive fruit, finely textured, balanced acidity and silky tannins. This blends finish is moderately complex, very smooth with mature, spicy flavours. This is a very interesting wine with aromatics similar to a Spanish wine but with a riper, and rounder, more velvety texture. Had I tried this wine about a year ago; it would have most likely had a little more structure and tannins. Very enjoyable wine served slightly chilled, over the next year or so.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Des Aubuisières Cuvée De Silex Vouvray 2011, Ac
Loire, France$14.75
This wine opened up with aromas of peaches, apple, citrus fruit, minerals and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, off-dry with a mouth coating sweetness of ripe tree fruit and honey but well match by lively acidity. This Vouvray’s finish is long, with a beautiful rich honeyed texture and light mineral notes. Well made wine, very enjoyable and a superb value. Strongly recommended.
3.5 Stars
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