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
Bachelder Oregon Chardonnay 2011, Willamette Valley
Oregon, Usa$29.95
Clear & focused Chard, oh yes it’s also yummy
Description: Bright light yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features a beautiful nose followed up by crisp citric fruits, sweet tropical fruit, spices with oak playing a supporting role. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None
Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glass to bring out the tropical fruit
Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with pecan crusted pan seared Trout.
Tasted: 26 Feb 2015
Top Pick
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5+/10) Total: 18+/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
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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Château Tour Saint André 2010, Ac Lalande De Pomerol
Bordeaux, France$21.75
Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.
For those that like classic Right Bank Bordeaux this one will not disappoint at this price.
Positives: This wine features mild oak, cherry cola, red currants, mulberry, anise, dry herbs & leather. Medium+ body, dusty tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.
Negatives: A little more heat than expected from the 14% alcohol.
Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with prime rib.
Interesting Point: Decant for an hour
Tasted: 31 January 2014
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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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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La Rosa La Capitana Carménere 2009, Cachapoal Valley
Chile$13.95
Opaque ruby in colour medium intensity. On the nose there's cedar, raspberry, mulberry, plum, light coconut & cappuccino. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity with med+ length, med+ body & balanced. The wine shows cedar, raspberry, cherry, plum & cassis. The taste is more expressive than the nose & there's heat from the 14.5% alcohol. Normally I'm not a fan of Carménère as they tend to be linear; however, this is one of the better ones I tasted & if you're a fan of this varietal it's definitely a best buy. Decant it & let it stand for an hour will mellow out the tannins. Goes well with pizza.
Tasted 31 May 2011.
Score: 8.5+, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5
3.5 Stars
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Simon Di Brazzan Merlot Riserva 2010, Igt Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy$24.95
Medium ruby to in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.
A nice easy drinking wine.
Positive Notes: Good flavours featuring light oak, raspberry, plum, cherry, black tea and cocoa. Medium+ body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & an average length.
Negatives: None
Drink now on its own or over the next 2 years and pair it with prime rib.
Tasted: 13 June 13
Best Buy
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4
3.5 Stars
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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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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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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Dopff & Irion Vorbourg Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace Grand Cru
Alsace, France$17.95
Golden honey in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.
Positives: It's been a long time since I tasted a really good Pinot Gris. This features white birch, honey, apricot, white peach, lychee, sweet potato with butter, cinnamon & nutmeg. Off-dry with medium acidity, fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.
Negatives: Danger Will Robinson! This wine is so good it's hard not to drink 2 bottles in one sitting, but the real danger is that's its 14.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: On a blind taste I would have guessed this as a Viognier or Gewürztraminer. Use the Viognier style glass if you have one. Unusual for a Pinot Gris to have 14.5% alcohol.
Drink now or over the next 8-12 years on its own or pair it with a spicy dish.
Tasted: 22 Nov 12
Top Pick & Best Buy
Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Score: 19.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
3.5 Stars
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