Edward Rasiulis

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+

Pedroncelli Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel 2009, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

A beautiful medium ruby colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is a smooth, not jammy Zin, considering the 15.2% alcohol. The wine features cedar, plums, raisins, dark cherry, raspberry, Christmas cake, chili peppers, All-spice & black peppers. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat from the 15.2% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I really like the rich looking label/bottling. Made more in an old world style wine, not a fruit bomb, and easy to pair with different styles of food.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Tasted: 5 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Carpenè Malvolti 1868 Brut Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Docg

Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse.

Easy drinking Prosecco that’s DOCG and well priced. Can’t go wrong with this one.

Positives: This sparkling wine features pear, apple, pistachio, peach and limestone. Medium minus body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was started in 1868 by Antonio Carpenè producing his Prosecco.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 14 Sept 2013

Best Buy

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

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

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

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

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Aconcagua Valley

Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: The Max Reserva Cab is a fairly complex wine and unusual for such complexity at under $20, and even better when the LCBO puts it on sale a couple of times throughout the year. The 2010 vintage features cedar, cassis, menthol, cloves, dark cherry, pencil shavings, leather, spinach leaves, red & black currants. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: The Max Reserva Cab is consistently year in & year out a best buy.

Drink on its own or pair it with a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 6 Sept 12

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

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

Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma County

Medium straw to light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
Positives: Lots of flavour and good balance between tropical and citric fruit featuring medium+ toasted oak, lots of butter, lemon, butterscotch, mango, pineapple, cinnamon apple, marzipan and limestone. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.
Negatives: A little sourness on the finish.
Interesting Things: Always nice to see a California Chard under 14% alcohol and not lose the creaminess. A day later the taste was equally good with less sourness on the finish.
Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled pork tenderloin with a peach & mango glaze.
Tasted: 3 Aug 12
Best Buy
Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

The taste is more expressive than the nose.

Positives: A well-integrated Chard balancing the oak, fruit & minerality. Medium toasted oak, light butter with lemon, green & golden apples, pink grapefruit, melon and limestone. Medium body to medium+ with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon/pepper grilled tilapia.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Château De Berne Terres De Berne Côtes De Provence 2011, Ac

Light salmon colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: The mouth explodes full of flavour such as strawberries, rhubarb, sour cherry, white pepper, lemon/lime & apricot pit. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish.

Interesting Point: Ok I have to admit that I bought this wine because I loved the bottle, and it didn't disappoint.

Drink now on its own or pair it with French cut pork chops stuffed with goat cheese, spinach & red peppers.

Tasted: 11 July 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Marqués De Riscal Reserva 2007

Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Consistently reliable good taste.

Positives: Cedar, sandalwood, plums, cherry, a touch of vanilla bean, leather, cinnamon, all spice, red peppers, black olives & raspberry. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Check out my review 25 June 2012 for the 2006 vintage. You'll notice that it's $2 more for the 2007. One of my favourite labels; very classic looking.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 24 April 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4