Edward Rasiulis

Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Grenache/Shriaz/Mourvèdre 2007, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Medium+ ruby to garnet with a purple tinge and a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, dried blueberry & raspberry, slate, peppers (red, black & white), plums, leather & moss. Medium to full body with medium to medium minus tannins, good acidity, medium+ length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol. Tastes more like a wine $10 cheaper.

Interesting Point: Check out my comparison to Turkey Flat Butcher's Block SGM.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ baby back ribs.

Tasted: 27 Jan 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Arcadia Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley

Light gold in colour with medium intensity nose.

Positives: Lemon zest, green apple, celery, kiwi & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: There is nothing wrong with this chard, but I just expected more at this price.

Drink now in its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Villa Mt. Eden Grand Reserve Bien Nacido Chardonnay 2007, Santa Maria Valley

Deep gold in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: A powerful nose showing creme brûlée, buttered popcorn, peaches & cream corn and medium toasted oak. The taste is more refined showing lemon, apple crumble pie, creme brûlée, mango, pineapple, butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn with a medium tossed oak. Full body, good acidity, long finish & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The powerful nose is a little too much that it detracts from the enjoyment of drinking the wine. Pity.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glass.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 Feb 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Château De Landiras 2010, Ac Graves

Dark garnet to ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A juicy & delicious wine from the Graves region.

Positives: Nothing shy about this wine which features cedar, blackcurrants, cinnamon, dark chocolate, Kahlua, raspberry, cigar box, turmeric, graphite, and spinach leaves. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: ‘In 1173, William the Knight Templar, Archbishop of Bordeaux, bought the land of Landiras and the fortress previously built by the lords of Landiras. In 1306, the castle of Landiras was rebuilt on the ruins of the fortress. This château gave its name to the estate, Château de Landiras. Today, a magnificent barbican stands as a testimony of the past fame of Château de Landiras. During the 17th century, the Château used to be the residence of the most important owner of all times, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac, founder of the order The Company of Mary Our Lady. This is the reason why the Château is still a place for pilgrimage.’ (Chateau Landiras)

Drink now or over the next 5 year on its own or pair it with Roquefort cheese

Tasted: 17 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Château Puech Haut Prestige Saint Drézéry 2009, Dop Languedoc

Dark ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: Plums, dark chocolate, bramble fruit, blueberry, cassis, oak, tobacco leaf, radicchio, dark cherry & earthy minerality. This wine is medium to full body, very long length, good acidity & high tannins.

Negatives: There's a lot of heat coming from the alcohol, as well I found this wine too austere with bitter notes.

Interesting Notes: I tried this wine 24 hours later hoping that the wine would mellow out somewhat, but it was the same as I had it before.

Tasted: 16 Dec 11.

Score: 8/10, Value: 6.5/10, Total: 14.5/20

Esporão Tinto Reserva 2008, Alentejo

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

Clos Du Bois Marlstone 2010, Alexander Valley

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

Thymiopoulos Vineyards Yn Kai Oupavós Xinomavro 2010, Unfiltered, Naoussa

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+

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Mendocino County

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with high intensity on the nose. Positives: Lots of black fruits to go with cedar, anise, ribena, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, arugula & a touch of spinach leaf on the finish. Medium body, medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The wine is organic.

Pleasant drinking wine that can be drank now or over the next 2 years on its own or paired prime rib.

Tasted: 31 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fèvre Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru 2008, Ac

Medium straw colour with low intense nose.

Positives: Very easy drinking and good minerality that one would expect from a 1er Cru Chablis that is further enhanced by honeysuckle, lemon, mandarin, stone fruit, granny apple & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the 2010 Concours Vignerons Independants. I was able to pick this wine up for $22.40 which would make it a best buy.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Blue Point oysters.

Tasted: 25 May 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5