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 Fabiano Calcinaia Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$24.95
Wow, a big wine for sure, almost black in color. The palate is complex with black cherries, dark plums, currents, pencil shaving, leather and earthy. Full bodied, with monster tannins and good acidity. Long earthy, austere tannins and a bit tart on the finish. Nice wine now but will be much better in two or three years.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Burge Family Olive Hill 2006, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Australia$34.95
This wine opened up with aromas of blueberry, black cherry, savoury spices, clove, black pepper, tobacco and mocha. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with generous fruit concentration, velvet and creamy texture, balance acidity and silky tannins. This Rhône blend finish is long, peppery, rich flavours and so smooth. A beautifully complex, well structured and balanced wine, even with alcohol at 15.8% (the alcohol is barely noticeable). It would have been interesting to taste this wine 2 years ago, Burge Family Olive Hill 2006 is delicious right now or continue to cellar for 2-3 years. Very enjoyable, enjoyed in August 2012.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Philip Togni Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley
California, Usa$59.95
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Torres Salmos 2007, Doca Priorat
Spain$31.00
This wine is a blend of Grenache, Carinana and Syrah with a fantastic and very inviting bouquet of strawberry, cherry pie flavour, vanilla bean and toasty notes. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 15%), flavours of strawberry jam and minerals notes on the mouthfeel, balanced acidity and silky tannins. Medium length on the finish, fruit driven, well integrated oak flavours and drinking at its best.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley (375ml)
California, Usa$27.95
I enjoy the option of having a quality wine in a half size bottled (375ml) like this Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the benefits of smaller bottles is that they age quicker, tannins soften sooner, which means that the wine is ready to enjoy earlier. This wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon grape at 93%, with Cabernet Franc at 4% and Merlot at 3% in a supporting role. This wine opens up with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrants, clove, dry herbs, vanilla and espresso notes. A full bodied (with alcohol at 14.1%) and robust mouthfeel yet approachable with balanced acidity and silky tannins. This Cabernet finish is long with dark fruit, roasted coffee and chocolate flavours all wrapped up in fine grained tannins. An excellent and very enjoyable cabernet
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Le Vieux Pin Epoque Merlot 2006, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$37.95
Beautiful aromatics, full body Merlot with crushed berries, smoky, black pepper and cedar. Grainy tannins, great concentration and texture, a true comfort wine.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Burrowing Owl Merlot 2007, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$39.95
Beautiful aromatics, medium to full body, field berries, savoury, cedar and smoke with well integrated tannins. But how is it that I bought this wine for $28.00 in BC (the most taxed Province for alcohol) but is sold at the LCBO for $40.00. Not great value
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Torbreck Roussanne/Marsanne/Viognier 2008, Barossa Valley
Australia$19.95
Very intriguing nose, lots going on there; pears, minerals, sage, anise & hay. The palate…so disappointing not much fruit here, hard and lacking acidity to have a balance wine for me. More acidity would have given this wine a lift and made it more refreshing. I also would not have guess that Viognier was in this blend at all. Had this wine with pork tenderloin with a cream sauce wasn’t a great match. At the end of the day I was expecting better.
4.0 Stars
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D'arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2007, Mclaren Vale
South Australia, Australia$54.95
This Shiraz opens up with aromas of ripe berry fruit, black plums, black currants, violet, mint, cedar and savoury notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied (14.5% alcohol) rich and fruit driven with good acidity and grainy tannins. This wine will leave you with a very good impression, long finish with layers of creamy richness, fined grained tannins and savoury notes lingering. This Shiraz is well structured and very tasty, drinking well right now but has all the elements to improve over the next 3-4 years. Very enjoyable, enjoyed August 2012.
4.0 Stars
(0)V