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
Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$39.00
This excellent pale ruby coloured Pinot Noir County opened up with aromas of cranberry, plum, strawberry, cinnamon, spicy and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, light bodied with alcohol coming in at 11.9%, youthful, fresh with bright acidity and light tannins. Very good length on the finish with spicy red fruit flavours and great energy. Great balance with this Pinot, love the low alcohol and ripe red fruit flavours, strongly recommended for fans of lighter Pinot Noir.
4.0 Stars
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Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009, Napa Valley
California, Usa$69.95
Beautiful colour in this Zin, on the nose, this wine opens up with aromas of ripe berries, plum, red currants, figs, fruitcake, black pepper and savoury notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, even at 14.9% alcohol, this wine is well balanced by classic Zin ripe fruit, fresh acidity and smooth tannins. This is definitely a more restrained, less extracted, elegant style of Zinfandel. Is this a great wine? Yes, does it represent a good value? No, not in this market. I don’t feel like I am enjoying a $47.00 wine, it sells for $36.00 in the US which I feel is the appropriate price.
4.0 Stars
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Lealtanza Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$19.95
A nice exotic bouquet on this Rioja with aromas of ripe berry fruit, Asian spices, soft leather and old wood notes. On the palate, medium bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13.5 %), spicy red and black fruit, good acidity and velvet tannins. This wine finish is long, very smooth and somewhat spicy. This is a nice bottle of Rioja for fans of the more traditional style with good value for money. Strongly recommended, enjoyed in May 2012.
4.0 Stars
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Summers Ranch Reserve Merlot 2008, Knights Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$34.95
This Merlot opened up with aromas of black cherry, black currants, prune, roasted coffee, chocolate and smoky cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with alcohol at 14%, juicy, ripe and rich flavours, low acidity and rounded tannins. Not especially complex but the flavours and texture are very nice. You definitely get the California sunshine in this bottle. This is a flavourful Merlot that goes down, almost too easy. Strongly recommended for people who like this rich style of Merlot.
4.0 Stars
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Ridge Lytton Springs 2009, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$50.95
This wine opened up with a sexy bouquet of blackberry-plumy fruit, raisins, grilled toast, cigar, incense and sweet, exotic spices. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, well structured by rich briary fruit, mild acidity and firm but not overbearing tannins. With an excellent depth of flavours on the finish, fine texture, soft seductive fruit and gentle oak spices lingering. This is my go to producer of great zin blend wines and in this vintage; Ridge Lytton Springs 2009 is especially delicious. Very enjoyable.
4.0 Stars
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Hazyblur Shiraz 2006, Mclaren Vale
South Australia, Australia$28.95
Great colour, very complex and aromatic nose; smoky, cigar box, blueberries, fruit cake, menthol. Mouth feel is a little disappointing; to much oak, to much alcohol and not enough acidity but nice grainy tannins. Finish is long jammy and cedar. Did not equal previous vintage of this wine. Nice, but I will not rush to buy another bottle.
4.0 Stars
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Altamira De Los Andes Reserve Malbec 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$22.75
This wine opened up with a very expressive bouquet of blueberry/blackberry fruit, violet, vanilla, tobacco and slightly meaty notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, off-dry, rich concentration of fruit, lively acidity and firm tannins. The finish is very long, fruit focussed with a masculine texture. The high alcohol is surprisingly well integrated; this is a big wine in every sense of the word, big flavours, textured and concentration. This Malbec really needs additional cellar time to fully appreciate the quality of wine that it could be; all those big flavours and tannins needs time to integrate. I would say 2-3 more years will do the job, strongly recommended, score 90 points.
4.0 Stars
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Best's Great Western Bin No. 1 Shiraz 2009, Grampians, Victoria
Victoria, Australia$24.95
I love aromatic, elegant cool climate Shiraz and this one opens up with aromas of plum, black currants, dates, black pepper, spices and floral notes. On the monthfeel, medium-full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 14.5%), lighter fruit and sweet flavours in mid palate, lively acidity and well integrated tannins. This Shiraz finish is long with juicy red and black fruit and vanilla oak flavours lingering. Excellent balance, intensely flavourful and unlikely to disappoint.
4.0 Stars
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Mitchell Mcnicol Shiraz 2003, Clare Valley
South Australia, Australia$45.95
This wine opens up with aromas of sweet berry fruit, dark plum, coco powder, baking spices, eucalyptus and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (alcohol comes in at 14.5%), soft seductive fruit, mild acidity and silky tannins. Very good length and smooth on the finish. This is a wine with lots of detail, fine texture and harmony with oak well integrated. This mature Shiraz is a real treat, strongly recommended.
4.0 Stars
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Mission Hill Quatrain 2006, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$44.95
Quatrain is a poem or Stanza that is always composed of four lines. This wine is similarly composed of four grape varieties: Syrah 41%, Merlot 32%, Cabernet Franc 14% and Cabernet Sauvignon at 13%. Aged in French Oak barrels for 15 months with 45% new oak. Blackberries, black cherry, exotic spices, espresso and dried herbs on the nose. Full body, great structure, fresh acidity, dusty tannins with cherry and coffee mocha finish. Very sophisticated wine here could be lay down for another 2-4 years but why wait? Delicious right now. Tasted February 2011.
4.0 Stars
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