Edward Rasiulis

Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Barossa

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

A typical Barossa Cab

Positive Notes: Full flavoured cab featuring medium oak, plums, eucalyptus, cherry, black olives, red and black currants, licorice, espresso and slightly leathery on the finish. Full body with medium to Medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Touch hot on the finish

Drink now on its own or over the next 5-7 years and pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne

Delicious Champagne elegance

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, brioche, lemon, green apple, persimmon, white peach, pear, honeydew melon, honeycomb, almonds, and honeysuckle on the nose. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: One of the best values for higher end Champagnes and celebrated this fine Champagne today for getting my first hole-in-one in golf.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Truffle Risotto topped with grated fresh Parmesano-Reggiano.

Tasted: 28 November 2016

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay 2010, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula

Medium+ straw in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Well balanced & made in the Mâcon style.

Positives: Oak is well integrated and features white roses, mandarin, grapefruit, verbena, fennel, lemon grass, lemon rind, green apples, pear and limestone. Medium body with above average acidity for a Chard and a very long length. Don't over chill.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish for me.

Interesting Notes: I used the large warmer or Meursault style Chard glass and the smaller traditional Chard glass and each one were slightly different and I couldn’t decide which one I liked best.

Drink now on or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with creamy seafood risotto.

Tasted: 28 May 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Cálem Colheita Single Vintage Tawny Port 1998, Doc Douro, Btld. 2011

Deep amber colour with high intense nose.

Positives: Its been a long time since I tasted such a beautiful complex & yet smooth Colheita. Plums, raisins, dates, nuts (macadamia, almonds & pecan), sandalwood, good acidity with a long finish.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Tawnies are usually a minimum of 7 years in oak cask before bottling. This one spent 13 years.

Drink now & pair it with dark chocolates with almonds.

Tasted: 20 May 12

Top Pick. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9.5/20, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2008, Napa Valley

Weighty price, heavy bottle, hefty flavour

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, blueberry, plum, raspberry, mocha, cappuccino, Allspice, cherry tobacco, turmeric and vanilla. Full body with medium+ tannin, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: 15.2% alcohol

Interesting Point: Tasted this wine in several style glassware, including the Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux and even the Pinot Noir style. An interesting find with the latter as it eliminated the traditional green notes that initially dominated the finishing notes in the other styles. However, after being allowed to breathe in the Sommelier glass for a while it was elegant, silky and just plain delicious. Decant for an hour.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Porterhouse Lamb Chops with Garlic Herb Mashed potatoes.

Tasted: 16 March 2016

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

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

Kumeu River Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay 2008

Bright gold in colour with medium+ nose.

Positives: Firstly, I like to point out that this is a big complex chard with 13.5% alcohol. This is not a typo, yes 13.5%, not 14.5% or 15.5%. Still can't believe it & thank you Brajkovich family. On with the notes. Classic chard notes tilting more toward citric flavours with minerality & don't expect it to be really buttery. Pity. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity with long length.

Negatives: Too much alcohol. Oh wait wrong wine lol.

Interesting Point: Don't over chill it as you'll loose all the complexity that this wine has to offer.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for up to 5 years. Pair it with my wife's saffron seared scallops. Really you should try it.

Tasted: 12 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Cave Spring Estate Blanc De Blancs, VQA Beamsville Bench

Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simply delightful sparkling that I could just drink everyday. Features lemon, green apple, brioche, some yeast, baked apples, Anjou pear, mandarin & limestone. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at clearance price at LCBO in Brampton for $20.80, which would make this a Best Buy & a Top Pick.

Drink now on its own or pair it with arugula & prosciutto pizza.

Tasted: 18 Nov 12 (congrats to the Argos in making it to the Grey Cup, which I'll be seeing them there ) If they win I'll drink another of this sparkling to celebrate)

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia, 53rd Vintage

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster'S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Complex wine featuring cedar, cassis, violets, blackberry, dark cherry, mint, tobacco, graphite, sandalwood & plums. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This is Wynns' Coonawarra Estate 53 vintage, and once again spectacular especially for being under $25. Taste double to triple that price.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with a nice grilled tenderloin.

Tasted: 26 June 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

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

Château Des Charmes Equuleus Paul Bosc Estate Vineyards 2010, Niagara Peninsula

Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

One of my favourite from Des Charmes, but even better that it's at $30

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, plums, dark cherry, raspberry, red & black peppers, turmeric, Allspice, mocha & leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with braised beef shank.

Tasted: 31 March 2014

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance Price: 9/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc 2009, St. Helena, Napa Valley

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

One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I have ever tried.

Positives: This complex wine features mild oak, lemon-lime, kumquat, peach, gherkins, honeydew, white flowers, Asian pear and clarified butter on the finish. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Not your typical Sauvignon Blanc, which for me is a good thing.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with cherry/grape tomatoes with basil and Bufala mozzarella on a bed of arugula.

Tasted: 15 Nov 2013

Top Pick

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

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