Edward Rasiulis

Les Grandes Serres La Rose D'aimée Tavel 2012, Ac

Deep salmon in colour with a low intense nose.

The high alcohol overwhelms the flavours of this wine

Positives: This wine features strawberry, rose petals & mint. Medium body with average acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork chops.

Tasted: 22 March 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Bonterra Viognier 2010, Mendocino County

Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

Positives: Here's another winner from Bonterra & a very pleasant surprise for producing a quality Viognier for under $20. Featuring peaches, apricots, mangoes, clementines, lemongrass & lemon custard. Medium light to medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This Viognier is more citric & less oily & complex than Condrieu (the benchmark for Viogniers), but still very good for its price. Bonterra produces organic wines.

Drink now & pair it with lemon pepper grilled catfish.

Tasted: 4 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Punt Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napoleone Vineyards, Yarra Valley, Victoria

Opaque ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Nice to see an Australian Cab that has only 13% alcohol, not jammy and easy to drink with or without food. The best part is its new price of $20.75.

Positives: This juicy wine features cedar, blackcurrants, eucalyptus, blackberry, sage, sour cherry, plums and slightly graphite on the finish. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 31 July 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Château D'aquéria Tavel Rosé 2013, Ac

A tasty, juicy & full flavoured dry Rosé that can be paired with a variety of foods

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features fresh cut Carnations, strawberry, watermelon, some minerality on the finish. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Note: From Château d’Aquéria: “The harvest is completely destemmed before being put into the maceration vats for 24 to 48 hours. The grape varieties are then blended two by two, bringing great aromatic complexity to the wine in addition to their own distinctive character. After fully "bleeding" the vats (drawing off the juice), fermentation at regulated temperatures (18 to 20°C) then takes place. The different grape varieties are then all blended together and age for several months before being bottled at the estate.”

Drink now or in the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with pepperoni, tomato and mushroom pizza

Tasted: 28 Sept 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Luca Chardonnay 2008, Uco Valley, Mendoza

Tasted: 9 April 2011
Description: Bright gold colour, med+ intensity with lemon tarts, vanilla, pineapple, mango, white lilies & limestone. Med+ complexity on the nose. On the taste good acidity, full body, some heat in the after taste, long length & balanced. Creamy buttery mouth feel, vanilla, lemon meringue, pineapple, cantaloupe, mango, orange, limestone. More complex on the taste than the nose. Medium oak on nose & taste. Easy drinking Chard from a reliable producer.

Highly recommend.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 18/20. I got it on sale for $23.15, which raised the value to 9.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Edna Valley Paragon Chardonnay 2009, San Luis Obispo County

Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple Chard featuring lemon, lime candy, white pepper, All-Spice, Braeburn apples, golden delicious apple, limestone & a peach finish. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with chicken Kiev.

Tasted: 9 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette De Limoux, Traditional Method, Ap, Midi, France

Nice easy drinking original Champagne with lots of flavour

Description: Medium straw in colour with a low to medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, biscuit, lemon/lime, honeydew melon, Granny Apples, pear, honey and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 of years on its own or pair it with Spicy Linguine with Clam Sauce.

Tasted: 11 June 2017

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Raymond Classic Chardonnay 2010, North Coast, California

Light gold in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very pleasant drinking wine featuring light oak, pineapple, lemon, toffee, orange, banana & apple pie. Medium+ body with good acidity, but still creamy & a long length.

Negatives: Surprising, a little heat coming from the 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Tasted: 15 June 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

D'arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne 2012, Mclaren Vale

Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A full flavoured delicious wine for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, jasmine, apricot, peach, lemon, mandarin, thyme and peach pit. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I tried this wine with two different Riedel glassware: one Viognier and the other Sauvignon Blanc style. The Viognier glass presented a more smooth wine with an unexpected peach pit on the finish. Meanwhile, the Cab Sauv glass was more vibrant and crisp with a less noticeable peach pit finish. Both equally good, just depends on what you’re looking for.

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare in lemongrass marinade.

Tasted: 2 April 2014

Best Buy

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

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

Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

One of the smoothest Chards I’ve tried. This may even please those that are ABCers

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. The wine features oak that’s well integrated, light toast, lemon, pineapple, green apples, peach, limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Works with both Montrachet and Chablis style stemware

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Gouda cheese

Tasted: 10 Sept 2014

Best Buy at clearance price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4