Edward Rasiulis

De Toren Z 2008, Wo Stellenbosch

Dark ruby in colour with high intensity in the nose.

Positives: There is a lot going on with this wine both on the nose & taste. They are: cedar, plums, raisins, herbaceous notes, carnation on the nose, bramble fruit, dark chocolate, candy apple, vanilla bean, turmeric, leather , pencil shavings, black olives & hickory. This wine is full body with good acidity, medium+ tannins & a long finish.

Negatives: A lot of heat coming from the high alcohol, and a little to herbaceous on the taste.

Interesting Thing: The wine's nose is a lot sweeter than the taste, which is a little austere.

Drink now or cellar for another 5 years. Drink on its own as a meal or pair it with grilled T-bone steak.

Tasted: 30 Nov 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2010, Ac

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a muted nose.

Now this is an easy drinking wine!
Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackberry, plum, thyme, rosemary, white and black peppers and bay leaves. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length. The 14.5% alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Muted nose

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 4 March 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Hogue Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Wahluke Slope

Medium garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A lighter style of Cab showing medium oak, mushrooms, black currants, spinach, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, sage and an undertone of plums and cherry. Medium body with tight tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat on the finish from the 14.3% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Beef Stroganoff with Shitake mushrooms.

Tasted: 23 April 13

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

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

Tawse Sketches Of Niagara Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Medium straw in colour and medium intense nose.

Always nice to have a good quality Ontario Chardonnay that’s under $20.

Positives: This is a delicate Chard which has several layers featuring light oak, lemon, grapefruit, peat, green apple, wood smoke, limestone and hints of caramel. Medium body, with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops wrapped in bacon served on a bed of wilted spinach with candy tomatoes (my wife’s great recipe).

Tasted: 19 April 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Gabriel Meffre Laurus Gigondas 2009

Medium+ ruby in colour and a medium+ nose.

Selecting the correct wine glass is critical to getting the positives out of this wine. I sampled the wine in several different types of glasses and found it either lacking or hot due to the alcohol. The Sommelier Riedel Syrah glass was the perfect match.

Positives: The wine features cedar, lots of pepper and peppercorns, blackberry, bramble fruit, light tar, espresso, lavender, mushrooms and chalk. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with Veal Marsala.

Tasted: 23 June 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance: 9/10)

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

Treana Marsanne/Viognier 2009, Central Coast

Description: Deep gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This is the closest to a Condrieu without being one that I have tasted to date, and I love Condrieu, so it goes without saying why I made this my favourite wine of the tasting event. The wine is oily and smooth as silk, featuring light oak, Ylang Ylang, pineapple, macadamia nuts, lemon, East Indian mangos, peaches and white pepper.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is so good that I could easily drink two bottles in a night. In Vintages now and I’m slowly buying up the stock.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with seared Chilean sea bass with roasted root vegetables.

Top Pick

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

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

Coto De Imaz Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja

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+

Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2005, Wo Stellenbosch

Unique, interesting; you will either love it or hate it. Full flavoured but highly medicinal in character

Description: Dark cloudy ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features oak, iodine, menthol, blackberry, plums, bell peppers, tar, dark chocolate, cloves, cinnamon, liquorice, fresh herbs, wild flowers, vanilla and leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The iodine reminds me of my grandmother. In the negative she used to put iodine on my cuts, ouch! On the positive, reminds me of my grandmother.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with whiskey glazed pork chops.

Tasted: 25 Feb 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Andrew Rich Cuvée B Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley

Medium minus ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very elegant wine whose style is between old world & new world Pinot. Notes feature pine, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, nutmeg, pistachio, earth tones & suede. Medium minus body with low tannins, medium+ acidity and long length.

Negatives: None.

Drink slightly chilled on its own or pair it with squash soup & roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 May 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Maison Roche De Bellène Rully Les Clous 1er Cru 2011, Ac

Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you want to impress at a dinner party, but not break the bank, this wine will do it

Positives: This complex wine features medium toasted oak with lemon, mandarin, pineapple, peach, apple, caramel, ginger, nutmeg and orange rind on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lobster Thermidor.

Tasted: 29 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4