Edward Rasiulis

Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

High quality Cab at half the price of a comparable Napa Cab

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blueberry, plum, blackcurrants, Allspice, cassis, espresso, eucalyptus, pepper, pencil shavings and cigar box. Medium+ body with crisp acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Herb Garlic and Black Pepper Crusted Kansas City cut strip steak.

Tasted: 10 March 2016

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 19/20

Top Pick

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

Krug Grande Cuvée Brut

Distinctive, elegant, sophisticated & amazing

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This complex Champagne features toasted brioche layered in Kerrygold butter followed by jellied fruits, marzipan, golden apples, hazelnuts, almonds, tangerines, barley sugar, gingerbread, honey & sweet spices. Full body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Every Krug after 2011 has a specific ID that you can check for the bottles detail at www.krug.com. This bottle’s ID is 411048

Drink now or in the next 20 years on its own or pair it with chicken Brûlée Pâté

Tasted: 4 Dec 2014 (My 6th Year Wedding Anniversary)

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2005, Napa Valley

Probably the best red wine I’ve ever tasted

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, black cherry, plums, butter toffee, sea grape, caramel, medjool dates, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, espresso & Cherry Bonbon pipe tobacco throughout. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak from Mario’s; The Tasting Room and my wife’s grilled peppers, green beans and mushrooms

Thanks to Roberto from Blackbeard’s for suggesting it

Top Pick

Tasted: 12 March 2015 (HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Score: 10/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

Beronia Gran Reserva 2006

Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

This is reminiscent of the smell of smoke from wood burning fireplaces while on an evening walk.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, plum, figs, dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, mocha, vanilla, coconut, rosemary, sage, blueberry, mulberry and pipe tobacco. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Very youthful for a Gran Reserva

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 3 April 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay 2009, Napa Valley

Lemon gold in colour with medium to medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: Wow! The taste just keep coming in waves. Medium toasted oak with lots of butter, butterscotch, lemon meringue pie, apple, ginger, limestone, peach, mango, tangerine, pineapple, Jicama, naseberry & lemon grass on the finish. The wine is highly complex, full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High alcohol.

Interesting Things: This is my wife's wine of choice for our New Years Eve dinner & wholeheartedly agree.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5-7 years. Drink on its own or pair it with roasted hens.

Tasted: 31 Dec 11

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8/10, Score: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Hutcheson Colheita Port 1999, Doc Douro, Matured In Wood, Btld. 2010

This is pure unadulterated pleasure, and one of my highiest rated wines. Vibrant golden brown with garnet, light+ intensity. Figs, dates, almonds, toffy & raisins predominate on the nose. Silky smooth taste. Dates, mocha, chocolate, wood spice, almonds, some orange peel & figs on taste, as well as woodspice and toffy. I love having this with chilled black chocolate with almonds. For under $30 for 12 yr old is very nice & makes it a Top Pick. Good complexity on nose & taste.

Top Pick

Tasted: 27 Aug 11

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5+/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Romain Duvernay Vacqueyras 2009

Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, plum, licorice, blackberry, dark chocolate & dried earth. Medium+ body & tannins with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: There's some heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Very food friendly as the flavours are all subdued.

Drink now or over the next 4 years & pair it with Beef Wellington.

Tasted: 22 June 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17+/10.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2008, Napa Valley

Weighty price, heavy bottle, hefty flavour

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, blueberry, plum, raspberry, mocha, cappuccino, Allspice, cherry tobacco, turmeric and vanilla. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: 15.2% alcohol

Interesting Point: Tasted this wine in several style glassware, including the Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux and even the Pinot Noir style. An interesting find with the latter as it eliminated the traditional green notes that initially dominated the finishing notes in the other styles. However, after being allowed to breathe in the Sommelier glass for a while it was elegant, silky and just plain delicious. Decant for an hour.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Porterhouse Lamb Chops with Garlic Herb Mashed potatoes.

Tasted: 16 March 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Barossa

Medium to medium+ ruby to in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A typical Barossa Cab

Positive Notes: Full flavoured cab featuring medium oak, plums, eucalyptus, cherry, black olives, red and black currants, licorice, espresso and slightly leathery on the finish. Full body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Touch hot on the finish

Drink now on its own or over the next 5-7 years and pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 13 June 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Sequillo Cellars Red 2009, Wo Swartland

Description: Deep ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose

Positives: A complex wine that needs time to decant and it’s a steal at the clearance price. The wine features medium smoked oak, boysenberry, bramble fruit, tamarinds, cinnamon, sage, oregano, anise, dark cherry, spinach, tobacco leaves and arugula. Full body with high tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Too astringent if you just open it and drink on its own.

Interesting Notes: Naturally produced with no fining or filtering. This is a good wine to give to a discerning fan of wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with T-bone steak, medium rare.

Tasted: 16 Feb 13

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (10/10 clearance price), Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5