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

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

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

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia, 53rd Vintage

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster'S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Complex wine featuring cedar, cassis, violets, blackberry, dark cherry, mint, tobacco, graphite, sandalwood & plums. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This is Wynns' Coonawarra Estate 53 vintage, and once again spectacular especially for being under $25. Taste double to triple that price.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with a nice grilled tenderloin.

Tasted: 26 June 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

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

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

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+

Tarras The Canyon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, South Island

Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Not a typical Central Otago due to its muted flavours, and I would have preferred this wine to be under $25.

Positives: Pine notes give to cranberry, pomegranate, cherry, mulberry, blackberry and earthly notes of forest underbrush & smoked ambers. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: Decant for an hour and chill it to 15C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared tuna with tomato, scallop & chilly pepper couscous.

Tasted: 2 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5 Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne

Delicious Champagne elegance

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, brioche, lemon, green apple, persimmon, white peach, pear, honeydew melon, honeycomb, almonds, and honeysuckle on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of the best values for higher end Champagnes and celebrated this fine Champagne today for getting my first hole-in-one in golf.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Truffle Risotto topped with grated fresh Parmesano-Reggiano.

Tasted: 28 November 2016

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5