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
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia
Australia$22.95
This deep colour Shiraz mix power with elegance and smoothness. Very intense aromatics with cherry, ripe plums, crush raspberry, black pepper and licorice. Medium to full body, rich and concentrated flavours, balanced acidity and fully rounded tannins. Long, spicy, crushed berries and cedar on the finish. A very enjoyable wine to enjoy now, but will hold at lease five years. Strongly recommended.
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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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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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
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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
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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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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Vineland Estates St. Urban Riesling 2008, VQA Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada$19.95
New Release September 18, 2010.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
4.0 Stars
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