Edward Rasiulis

Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay 2008, Carneros

Positives: Not your typical California Chard, which makes sense as this one comes from the cooler region of Carneros. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, pineapple, chives & limestone. Medium to full body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A little sour.

Drink on its own, but would be better off pairing it with food such as crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 20 Apr 12, Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17+/20

Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

Medium to light garnet in colour and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A typical California Pinot, in a good way, featuring pine, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, pomegranate and an underlying note of smoke reminiscent of autumn leaves on an open fire. Medium to medium minus body, light tannins, medium+ acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Remember to slightly chill a Pinot.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with peppercorn glazed pork pâte.

Tasted: 13 April 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Bordon Gran Reserva 2005

A top notch, youthful Gran Reserva at a good price

Description: Medium garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features sandalwood, cherry, red currants, dried bramble fruit, old leather, shitake mushrooms, vanilla, chalk, and cherry tobacco on the nose. Medium body with dusty tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 of years, on its own or pair it with Braised Beef Roast with Cherry Balsamic Sauce.

Tasted: 20 July 2016 (Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife, without her contribution to my site it would not have the positive impact that it has)

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Dveri Pax Traminer 2007

tasting notes as above

Best Buy

Tasted: 1 Sept 11 Score: 8.5+, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Bachelder Bourgogne Chardonnay 2009, Ac

Nice smooth and well balanced Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon, peach, green apple, dill, oak spice, clementine and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Drinking at it’s peak now

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled free range chicken breast with roasted fennel and lemon marmalade relish.

Tasted: 28 May 2015

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Del Cerro Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2006, Docg

Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium intensity. A pleasant nose that shows distinctive Sangiovese in cedar, oregano, sage, sour cherry, anise, lead pencil, milk chocolate & black peppercorn. The taste is dry, with medium+ tannins & acidity, & medium+ length. The notes on the taste are similar to the nose with addition of spinach leaf. The wine is very smooth & balanced. Nicely aged it's drinkable now or for the next 2 years. Food friendly wine that will pair with any Italian dish with red sauce.

Tasted: 3 Aug 11

Score: 8.5+/10 Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley

Now this is a well balanced Chard that I would have guest to be a Puligny-Montrachet. Light gold in colour with med intensity. Complex nose shows med minus oak & toast, lemon, peach, limestone, Easter Lilly, honeydew melon & cantaloupe The taste is just as complex. Dry, med+ acidity, med body, long length & the alcohol is well checked. No bitterness from over toasting here. Easy drinking wine that shows as the nose with a lot more lemon. This is a food favourite wine that pairs nicely with lobster & drawn butter. Shows nicely now, but can age for another 2-3 years.

Tasted: 6 May 2011.

Score: 9/10 Value: 8.5/10 (I bought it on sale for $26.65 which would give a value of 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20 (18.5/20 on sale).

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Sparkling, Traditional Method, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California

Light turmeric in colour with a medium intense nose.

I like it, but not at the price point. Their regular sparkling is far superior.

Positives: This sparkling wine made in the traditional method shows yeast, crab apples, grapefruit, roasted garlic, cantaloupe, green papaya and flint. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum two years on the yeast

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with prosciutto arugula flat bread pizza.

Tasted: 3 Nov 2013

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Henry Of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir 2010, VQA Ontario

Consistently, Canada’s best Baco Noir is Henry of Pelham’s reserve

Positives: Deep ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. This complex wine features cedar, smoky embers, peppercorns, Gaeta olives, bacon, prunes, dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, black currants, blueberry, chocolate, Portobello mushrooms & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I recommend using a Pinot glass and lightly chill it.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Elk steak with mushrooms and roasted peppers.

Tasted: 13 Jan 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Truchard Chardonnay 2011, Carneros, Napa Valley

Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

The taste comes in layers with a good balance of fruit & oak

Positives: This complex wine features medium smoked toasted oak with lemon meringue, golden apple, clementine, pineapples, ginger, caramel, dill and Allspice. 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 Coquille St. Jacques.

Tasted: 1 July 2014, Happy Canada Day

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4