Edward Rasiulis

Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Chardonnay 2008, VQA Niagara On The Lake

Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity that shows medium minus oak & toast, lemon, fresh Macintosh apples, mango, pineapple, honeydew flower & fortune cookies. Taste is dry, medium+ acidity, med body, long length & balanced. The taste is more complexed than the nose as the flavours come in layers. The initial taste shows lemon & pink grapefruit, followed by apples & pineapple then you get hit by a wave of lemon meringue pie, finishing of with lemon zest. If you have different style of wine glasses such as Riedel, use cold climate Chard glasses instead of the big California Chard glasses. Drink now or in the next 2 years. Drink on it's own or with Sea Bass infused with a Chardonnay sauce.

Best Buy.

Tasted 10 July 2011.

Score: 9/10, value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Strewn Three Terroir 2006, Niagara On The Lake

Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour. Med+ intensity. The nose is simply delightful. Med oak with cherry pipe tobacco smoke, dill, black olives, strawberries & oyster mushrooms. The taste is dry, med+ tannins & acidity, balanced, long length & med body. On the palate there's med oak, bing cherries, strawberries, raspberry, dill, Macintosh apple, pencil shavings, leather, steamed artichoke & slate. This wine is simply marvelous & I especially like that it's under 13% alcohol, which is good on it's own or with tenderloin steak.

This is a top pick & an excellent representation of Niagara wine.

Tasted 1 June 2011.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling, Anderson Valley, Mendocino

Gold in colour with fine mousse and a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I just love this sparkler, which is one of my top 10 in this category. The clearance price even makes it more attractive. This easy drinking creamy sparkling wine serves up lemon, apple, biscotti, lemon curd, pink grapefruit, yeast, limestone and a touch of rosemary.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything, but if you need something, I paired it with Beausoleil cocktail oysters and it was heavenly.

Tasted: 9 Dec 12

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Mckinley Springs Syrah 2006, Horse Heaven Hills

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+

Pegasus Bay Estate Pinot Noir 2007, Waipara

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

13th Street Premier Cuvée 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Traditional Method

Consistently a quality Ontario sparkling wine

Description: Straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features mild toast, Easter Lily, lemon drops, ginger, pink grapefruit, green apples and limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this sparkling wine has been aged three years and made in the traditional method, not a lot of yeast and brioche notes, which should please those that want quality Champagne style but don’t like those notes.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with delicate cow’s milk cheeses

Tasted: 5 Oct 2014

Best Buy at the clearance price

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9+/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling, Traditional Method, Sonoma County, California

Blush in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Simply delicious & easy drinking. Raspberry, lemon tart, pear, light yeast, flan, molasses & ginger. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Made in the traditional method. Drink now on its or or pair it with quail eggs & caviar. This wine was ranked #78 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list of 2009.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Frei Brothers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Alexander Valley

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

This smooth & velvety wine shows multiple layers of flavours that are usually found in California Cabs priced over $40

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, black currants, mulberry, anise, cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, turmeric, pencil shavings, cinnamon, cloves, arugula, oregano & leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat from the 14.2% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled rib-eye steak.

Tasted: 5 July 2014

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Joseph Drouhin Pouilly Fuissé 2012

Not a complex wine, but what it has to offer is very good

Description: Light gold colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak with oak spice, green and yellow apple, lemon tart, and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 5 Aug 2014

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 10/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Jansz Premium Sparkling Rosé, Traditional Method, Tasmania

Pale salmon in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If I tried this sparkling blind I would have said that’s it’s made in the classic champagne method. The wine features toasty brioche, strawberry, apple crumble pie, pink grapefruit, lemon, orange rind & limestone. Medium body with good acidly & fairly long length.

Negatives: Some sour notes on the finish. Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese & tomato omelette.

Tasted: 29 Apr 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4