Paul Forget
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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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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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Ontañon Reserva 2001, Doca Rioja
Spain$24.95
This wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, dark plum, Asian spices, incense, leather and black pepper. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, firm structure, concentrated flavours with balanced acidity and considerable tannins. This wines finish is long with loads of black fruit, bitter chocolate and woody tannins. I really enjoyed the aromatics and mouthfeel, but even if this Rioja is almost nine years old the tannins still need time to soften up a bit. The finish is too tannic and tangy for me at this time. Give this wine another year or two.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
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
(0)V
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
(0)V
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
(0)V
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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Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate 2006, Santa Cruz Mountains
California, Usa$73.95
Ridge Zinfandels have been one of my favourite Zins for quite some time now, but this is my first experience with a Bordeaux blend from this vineyard. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon at 56%, Merlot at 42% and as a supporting role, Petit Verdot at 2% with alcohol coming in at 13.7%, surprisingly low for a California wine. The best part of this wine is the aromatics, with aromas of red and black fruit, cassis, savoury and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with chalky tannins, very thin in mid palate with sharp acidity. Medium length on the finish with red cherry fruit, tart, dry with persistent tannins lingering. With these tannins you would think that this wine needs time to come around, but there isn’t enough fruit and structure for this wine to improve. At this price, not a good value, next time, I will stick with there lovely ripe zinfandels.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$47.95
This is the essence of finesse and elegance with sensuous aromas of plums, figs, dried berries, sandalwood, soft leather and violets. Silky smooth on the palate, the alcohol is at 14.5% but it's so well integrated into the wine that it is barely noticeable, balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. The finish is long, savoury and so incredibly smooth. A beautiful lighter style of Brunello Di Montalcino.
4.0 Stars
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Poggio Valente Morellino Di Scansano Riserva 2006
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
A very aromatic wine here with red and black fruit, licorice, new leather, smoke, forest floor and hints of violet aromas. With alcohol coming in at 14.5%, this medium to full body mouthfeel with balanced acidity and woody tannins. The finish on this wine is long with persistent tannins, austere and a bit tart. Great potential with nice aromatics but clearly needs time before it reaches its full potential, best after 2013-14.
4.0 Stars
(0)V