Edward Rasiulis
|
Followers (15)
|
|
|
Following (2)
|
Reviews (900)
|
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
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+(13)O
Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.95
Light bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
Crisp yet with a nice mild creaminess on the finish.
Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon, green & yellow apple, ginger, clementine and limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: None
Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with orange roughy.
Tasted: 8 April 2014
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17+/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Hess Collection 19 Block Cuvée 2009, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
California, Usa$47.95
Description: Deep ruby with a medium+ intense nose.
This is an investment wine, meaning it should blossom in 5-7 years
Positives: This complex wine features cedar, cherry, plum, blackberry, blackcurrants, sage, pencil lead, turmeric, cassis, mocha, leather & spinach. Medium+ body with green tannins, good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14.2% alcohol
Interesting Point: Decant for an hour. This wine is worth the $10 extra over Hess’s Allomi (reviewed earlier)
Drink now or in the next 12 years on its own or pair it with Kansas City Strip steak.
Tasted: 6 May 2014
Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
3.5 Stars
(0)V
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
(0)V
Burrowing Owl Merlot 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$39.95
Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
Positive Notes: This merlot has nice juicy flavor featuring raspberry, plums, dark chocolate, thyme, sweet basil and vanilla. Full body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: A touch hot on the taste
Drink now on its own or over the next 5 years and pair it with beef Bourguignon.
Tasted: 13 June 13
Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 7.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Thymiopoulos Vineyards Yn Kai Oupavós Xinomavro 2010, Unfiltered, Naoussa
Naoussa, Greece$19.95
Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
A smooth wine with good quality & the nose is to die for
Positives: This complex wine features pine, roses, blackberry, Bing cherry, raspberry, Star anise, Allspice, cinnamon & turn tamarind. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: The name 'Earth and Sky' appears on the label in Greek, German, French, Japanese, English, and what appears to be a pictograph.
Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Ruth Chris steak.
Tasted: 26 April 2014
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20
Top Pick, Best Buy
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Emiliana Winemaker's Selection Syrah 2009, La Quebrada, Casablanca Valley
Chile$18.95
Not impressed. Nothing negative, but nothing positive. That was what I thought when I first opened it 18 Aug 2011. I put the cork in the bottle & decided to open it the next day. The nose was like wooden fire in a clear cold snowy night with cherry kirsh, cola, blackberry, raspberry tea & chocolate mocha. The taste was just as good. It went from a score of 7/10 to 9+/10. Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20.
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
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
(0)V
Coto De Imaz Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$20.95
Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.
A true pleasure to drink and for just over $20.
Positives: This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, coconut, vanilla, nutmeg and some leather. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: I like the classic label.
Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Crusted Black Pepper and Cinnamon seared Pork Loin served with fried yucca drizzled with garlic butter.
Tasted: 18 Nov 2013
Best Buy
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Tar & Roses Tempranillo 2011, Heathcote/Alpine Valleys
Victoria, Australia$15.25
Medium to light ruby with a touch of garnet in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
A nice surprise having a Tempranillo from Australia that tastes like it was from Spain.
Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, lots of sour cherry, blackberry, licorice, rose petals, cloves, rosemary and sage. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None
Drink now or over the 5 next years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.
Tasted: 6 Sept 2013
Best Buy
Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
(0)V