Edward Rasiulis
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Followers (15)
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Following (2)
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Reviews (900)
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Certified CAPPS Sommelier since 2008. Lived in the Cayman Islands reviewing wines for under $25. Back home in Toronto, started up Twilight Wines to offer wine & spirit consultation, wine reviews, restaurant management, manage wine events and wine & glassware presentations, plus anything else with wines.
For more wine reviews by me please visit my web site at: www.twilightwines.com
Reviews
La Sauvageonne Pica Broca 2008, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc
Languedoc, France$12.90
Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.
Positives: Cedar, blackberry, Ribena, pomegranate, black & white pepper. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium+ length.
Negatives: A touch on the watery side. This may be past its prime.
Interesting Point: This product is on clearance at the LCBO. Original price was $18.95. This wine is worth buying at its new price.
Drink now on its own or pair it with veal steak.
Tasted: 28 Oct 12
Score: 8/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Stags' Leap Winery Viognier 2011, Napa Valley
California, Usa$34.95
Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.
Positives: A nice Viognier that reminds me more of the Argentine Torrontes. This wine features peach, nectarine, tangerine peel, lemon, grapefruit, limestone and a touch of rosemary. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.
Negatives: None
Drink now or over the next 3 years, on its own or pair it with deviled eggs.
Tasted: 10 Dec 12
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+
3.5 Stars
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Mayu Reserva Carmenère 2009, Elqui Valley
Chile$17.95
Dark ruby with a medium+ intense nose.
Positives: I'm not usually a Carmenere fan because a lot out there is boring. Well this is anything but featuring cedar, bramble fruit pie, tobacco, dried fig, mesquite, spiced apple, peppers (red, black & white), truffles, plums & ripe tamarind. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.
Negatives: There's heat coming from the 15% alcohol.
Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own as a meal or pair it with venison.
Tasted: 16 June 12
Best Buy
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
3.5 Stars
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Esporão Tinto Reserva 2008, Alentejo
Portugal$25.95
Deep purple to ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.
Positives: Notes on the nose are mushrooms, light oak, raspberry, blueberry & cherry. The taste is smooth showing plums, blueberry, sandalwood & rosemary. The wine is medium body, medium tannins with medium+ acidity & length.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Nothing really wows me on this one.
Tasted: 21 Nov 11.
Score: 8.5/10, Value: 6/10, Total: 14.5/20
3.5 Stars
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Piper Heidsieck Brut, Champagne
Champagne, France$71.45
Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose & fine mousse.
The sports car of Champagnes; fast, lean, racy & easy to drink
Positives: This complex wine features light toast & yeast, guava, honeysuckle, pear, green apples, pistachio, tobacco, melba toast & icing sugar on the finish. Light to medium body with good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: $20 more expensive in Ontario than Florida.
Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with raspberry point oysters.
Interesting Point: My wife’s go to Champagne, and if it were priced like Florida this would be a weekly staple.
Tasted: 5 January 2014
Top Pick
Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
3.5 Stars
(1000+)G+(9)O
Fernández De Piérola Reserva 2004
Rioja, Spain$25.95
Medium minus ruby with a garnet rim in colour with a highly intense nose.
Positives: Elegant Reserva featuring sandalwood, cedar, cigar box, plums, dried cherry, incense, cloves, rosemary, leather, blackberry, hickory & earthy notes. Lots of complexity going here. Medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity, long length & the wine is nicely balanced with only 13% alcohol.
Negatives: None.
Interesting Point: Decant this wine as there will be sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I like the classic Spanish label.
Drink now on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.
Tasted: 14 July 12
Top Pick
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
3.5 Stars
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Clos Du Bois Marlstone 2010, Alexander Valley
California, Usa$49.95
A solid well balanced California Bordeaux style wine
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, licorice, anise, cassis, plums, cocoa, dates, leather, arugula and tobacco leaf. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: A little heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: I confess I bought the wine because I liked the sophisticated label. Looked expensive and at $24.95, I figured why not. Yes, the store had confused the lesser Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that was priced at $24.95 with the Marlstone. Their loss my gain. Decanting for 30 min will smooth the wine out.
Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or and pair it with Bison.
Tasted: 22 July 2014
Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
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Morgan Highland Chardonnay 2010, Santa Lucia Highlands
California, Usa$31.95
Bright deep gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
A smooth Chard with good fruit
Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, buttered corn, pineapple, peach, Allspice, yellow apple, apricots and limestone. Full body with good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: None
Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with chicken a la King.
Tasted: 13 June 2014
Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price 9/10), Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
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Château Montus Madiran 2006, Ac Madiran
Southwest, France$34.95
Deep dark ruby with a hint of garnet on the colour & medium+ intensity on the nose.
Positives: A complex & higher end wine from the South of France. Notes of cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, mulberry, raspberry, macintosh apple, leather, pencil shaving, turmeric, all spice, arugula & radicchio on the finish. Full body, medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & alcohol is well integrated.
Negatives: A little astringent & thus needs time to age.
If you're drinking this now, decanter for 2 hours & pair it with medium rare steak.
Tasted: 11 Mar 12
Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Score: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos 2009, Do Bierzo
Galicia, Spain$25.00
Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.
Positives: Earthy wine featuring mushrooms, twigs, leather, plums, dried foliage, tobacco leaves, sage, blackberries, wild berries, oak & cherry cough syrup. Medium to medium+ body & tannins with good acidity, extremely long length & the alcohol is well integrated.
Negatives: Not sure about the cherry cough syrup notes.
Drink now or for the next 5 years on its own or with rack of lamb.
Tasted: 8 Feb 12
Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5
3.5 Stars
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