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
Ross Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$24.90
A deep colour with a bouquet of black fruit, blueberry, blackcurrant, damp earth, smoke and fruit cake spices. The mouthfeel is rich with loads of fruit , yet not jammy, smooth texture with velvet tannins. The finish is long, fresh, smoky with excellent depth of flavour. An absolute beauty that is drinking well right now and is a real comfort wine.
4.0 Stars
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Rust En Vrede Estate 2007, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$37.95
The strong Cabernet component comes through on the nose with lovely aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis, pine needles, wood spices, smoke and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with great flavours of black fruit, coffee and savoury spices, light acidity, rounded tannins but hot from the alcohol. Decent length on the finish, great flavours initially but then again, the hot alcohol quitly kills the flavours. There is no doubt that there is a lot of effort that went into making this wine; I just wish the alcohol wasn’t over the top. It makes this wine a little un-balance. I strongly recommend decanting for at least one hour before serving. I was left a bit disappointed, was expecting much better. Tasted October 14, 2012.
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
St. Urbans Hof Riesling Kabinett 2009, Qmp, Ockfener Bockstein
Mosel, Germany$16.25
This medium-dry Riesling Kabinett offers suttle aromas of peach, lime, green apple, wet stone and intense minerality. Slightly sweet and creamy on the mouthfeel but well balanced by racy acidity and low alcohol at 8%. Long creamy finish with interesting tension between tree fruit and minerals.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Summers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley
California, Usa$45.95
This wine opens up with a very sensuous aromas of rich ripe fruit, stewed blackberry, black currants, vanilla and attractive oak notes. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 14.1%) with luscious flavours, balanced acidity, silky tannins with all elements well integrated. Medium length on the finish with fine grained tannins, savoury flavours and very smooth. Strongly recommended.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Quinta Do Vale Meao Meandro 2008
Douro, Portugal$24.95
This concentrated wine is made with premium grapes usually used in the production of Port. The exact blend is 35% Touriga Franca, 25% Touriga Nacional, 25% Tinta Roriz, 5% Sousão, 5% Tinta Amarela and 5% Tinta Cao, aged in second and third year French Allier oak barriques. This wine opens up with aromas of blueberry and blackberry fruit, dried violet, leather, earthy, burnt toast , cedar and dried herb. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (alcohol coming in at 14%), rich, yet well structured with good acidity and firm tannins. The finish is long dry with silky texture and dark fruit and earthy notes lingering. Very traditional and gorgeous wine here, and at this price, a very good value. Strongly recommended
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Benziger Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
California, Usa$29.95
Deep violet in colour with aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla, cassis, leather and smoky. This Cabernet is very dry, full body with alcohol coming in at 14.5%, concentrated flavours, fine acidity and firm tannins. The finish is long with flavours of black cherry, cassis and puckering tannins. Enjoyable now if you don’t mind the tannins but, lacking finesse right now. It should be much better after shedding some of its oak, demands two to three years in the cellar.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Castello Di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
This Chianti Classico Riserva is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo with alcohol coming in at 13.5%. On the nose this wine opens up with aromas of black cherry and blackberry fruit, exotic spices, wood smoke, floral and earthy notes. On the palate, dry with concentrated black fruit, espresso and dark chocolate flavours, hard tannins and balanced acidity. Very good length on the finish with dark berry fruit flavours, savoury notes and firm, persistent tannins. This Chianti Classico Riserva has everything in abundance with fine potential but needs time. I would cellar this wine for 2-3 years, if opened now, decant for 2-3 hours. Tasted June 2012.
4.0 Stars
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Mission Hill Quatrain 2008, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$33.25
This blend opened up with aromas of dark cherry and plum, blackcurrants, pepper, clove, vanilla, tobacco and light smoke. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, intensely flavourful, slightly chewy, balanced acidity and puckering tannins. Good length on the finish with loads of dark fruit, spices and persistent tannins lingering. I usually like Quatrain for its elegance, this 2008 vintage is a little more muscular. My favourite vintage still remains the 2006, where the Syrah was the dominant grape with 41% and where maturation took place in French oak only. Quatrain 2008 is still a nice bottle of wine but as it sheds some of its oak; it should gain more complexity and elegance.
4.0 Stars
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Château Ségur De Cabanac 2004, Ac St Estèphe, Cru Bourgeios
Bordeaux, France$32.70
Again, another wine from Saint-Estèphe which has blown me away. Such rich and masculine aromatics of black fruit, blackcurrants, roasted coffee beans, soft leather, cloves, cedar wood and minerals notes. On the palate this blend has firm texture and tannins but not overbearing with good acidity. Medium length on the finish with layered dark fruit wrap with grainy tannins. The Château Ségur de Cabanac 2004 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Frans and Petit Verdot with alcohol coming in at 13%. Here is a wine with lots of class, elegance and finesse, drinking well right now but with enough "stuffing" and tannins to evolve over the next 3-4 years. Awesome wine and strongly recommended.
4.0 Stars
(0)V