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
Domaine Des Bosquets Gigondas 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$31.95
This is a very ripe example of Gigondas made for the North American palate. On the nose, this wine opens up with aromas of blueberry-blackberry fruit, stewed plum, ground coffee, underbrush, dried herbs, violet and minerals notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, balance acidity, velvet tannins and solid core of ripe fruit. The finish is long with good depth of flavours and chest warming, slightly hot. Not exactly elegant with 15% alcohol, but very rich and enjoyable.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley,
South Australia, Australia$24.95
On the nose, this wine opens up with ripe blackberry, plums, savoury, coffee and cedar aromas. Big and rich flavours on the mouthfeel, cherry pie, chocolate, clove with sufficient acidity and ripe tannins. The finish is long, velvety, savoury with sweet flavours lingering. A classic example of the “Barossa Style”, big fruit and big alcohol but well balanced and well made. Very enjoyable.
4.0 Stars
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Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia
Australia$29.95
Very expressive nose of blackberry, blueberry, dark plum, mint, vanilla and leather. This Cabernet is full body with rich dark fruit flavour, sweet oak characteristics and grainy tannins. Would like to try this wine again in 5-6 years. Solid buy.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
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
(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
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
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
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
(0)V