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
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
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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
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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
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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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Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma County
California, Usa$28.25
Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
A solid Chard with good complexity.
Positives: Lots of tropical fruit that blends well with the integrated oak. In addition, there’s sweet spice, some nuttiness, creaminess and minerality on the finish. Full body with good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: Slight heat from the 14.2% alcohol
Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rotisserie Cornish hens.
Tasted: 23 Aug 2013
Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price: 8.5+/10) Total: 17.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
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Treana Marsanne/Viognier 2009, Central Coast
California, Usa$29.95
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+
3.5 Stars
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Pegasus Bay Estate Pinot Noir 2007, Waipara
Wairarapa, New Zealand$48.95
Medium garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
Reminds me of a cold crisp winter night with wood fireplaces burning their logs.
Positives: A nose that I can immerse myself in and the taste is not far behind. This wine features pine, crisp bacon, pomegranate, sour & dark cherry, violets, strawberry & a touch of earthiness. Medium body with light tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None
Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted pig.
Tasted: 26 Dec 2013
Top Pick
Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5+) Total: 18.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
3.5 Stars
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Mckinley Springs Syrah 2006, Horse Heaven Hills
Washington, Usa$27.95
Description: Opaque in colour with medium+ intense nose
Positives: Simply delicious, one of my favourite Syrah’s in a long time. A complex wine featuring cedar, sizzling bacon, boysenberry, ripe tamarinds, cinnamon, sage, oregano, anise, dark cherry, dark chocolates, prunes, arugula and lots of peppers and peppercorn. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: A touch hot due to the 14.9% alcohol
Drink now or over the next 5 years and pair it with Brisket.
Tasted: 2 Mar 13
Top Pick
Score: 9.5/10, 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 Calcaire Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$29.95
Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.
Positives: Medium toasted oak with buttered popcorn, lemon, peach, green apple, grapefruit, pear, cinnamon, butterscotch & limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: A touch too sour in the mid palate.
Interesting Point: Calcaire means limestone or chalk and describes the soil that the grapes come from.
Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.
Tasted 24 Nov 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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Santa Ema Amplus One 2008, Peumo
Cachapoal Valley, Chile$17.75
Deep ruby in colour with an intense nose.
I feel the sale price is the proper price for this wine.
Positives: An intense wine featuring cedar, black currants, peppercorn, cherry, tamarind, leather, tomato leaf, sage & eucalyptus. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.
Interesting Notes: Santa Ema is a sustainable winery. Amplus is Latin meaning: important, honourable, eminent, & distinguished.
Drink now on its own or pair it with mustard crusted lamb chops with mint sauce.
Tasted: 1 May 13
Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5 Total: 17.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+
3.5 Stars
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