Edward Rasiulis

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

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

Mas Des Restanques Gigondas 2009, Ac

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Nice red fruits on the nose & taste with some sandalwood & Macintosh apples.

Negatives: A little austere right now with noticeable heat from the high alcohol. I found it a little watery.

Interesting Notes: Has elegant potential so lay it down for another 5 years. Interesting modern label to try to appease the nouveau wine drinker. Too bad I’m somewhat of a traditionalist.

Tasted: 26 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

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 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

Château La Bienfaisance 2010, Ac St Emilion Grand Cru

An enjoyable wine, not sure I would pay the full price for it, but I might think twice when I try it again in 5 years

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackberry, blackcurrants, mulberries, plums, Allspice, licorice, green twigs and leather. Medium to medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Note:

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with roasted venison tenderloin.

Tasted: 27 Sept 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price: 8.5+/10), Total: 17+/20

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

Morgan Highland Chardonnay 2010, Santa Lucia Highlands

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

Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2008

Rich gold in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positive: A complex wine featuring medium toasted oak, buttery cheddar croissant, lime, musky wood spice, butterscotch, pecans, apricots, quince & limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity, alcohol is well integrated & long length.

Negatives: A little bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: I recommend the larger Chard glass as it cuts the bitterness that a smaller glass will accentuate. I lucked out & bought this wine at LCBO for $28.05.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or paired with surf & turf.

Tasted: 11 May 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (on sale: 9+/10), Score: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4