Edward Rasiulis

Gloria Ferrer Carneros Pinot Noir 2010, Carneros

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

Classic Carneros Pinot with piquancy & smoothness

Positives: This wine features pine, cranberry, bramble, cherry cola, beets, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, Christmas cake with a light smoked note. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with seared Ahi Tuna.

Tasted: 24 June 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Mud House Pinot Noir 2009

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

Positives: A simple fruit forward Pinot featuring pine, Bing cherries, sour cherries, cranberry, pomegranate and finishing with a bit of earthiness. Medium to medium minus in body & tannins with good acidity & a fairly decent length.

Negatives: A little too much tartness at the back of the throat. There's quite a bit of heat coming from the listed 13.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Chill this more than you would normally chill a Pinot to bring out the fruit & lessen the affect of alcohol. Try around 10-12 C.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roast duck.

Tasted: 31 Oct 12 Happy Hallowe'en

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Domaine Eden Chardonnay 2009, Santa Cruz Mountains

Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Even at the clearance price it’s still over priced for the quality.

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, apricots, peach and limestone Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Burnt butter and overly fermented citrus notes.

Interesting Point: I like the colonial style label.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with seared garlic and butter scampi.

Tasted: 23 Aug 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Amity Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Light to medium garnet with some ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a big Pinot, but it's also not from California. Very smooth & very easy to drink a bottle or two in one sitting. Low tannins, medium alcohol & medium acidity makes this wine really easy to drink on its own or pair it with duck. The notes show floral notes of violets, roses, cloves & pine. The earth notes are well integrated with cherry & raspberry. Light to medium body & medium+ length. Simply delicious.

Negatives: None

Best Buy

Tasted: 19 Nov 11. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Santa Barbara County 54%/Monterey County 46%

Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Kendall-Jackson produces solid Chardonnay’s from the entry level to their high end, and is probably one of my top 10 go to Chards.

Positives: Nicely balanced Chard that has medium buttered toasted oak with oak spice, cloves, lemon, crème brûlée, Easter Lilly, butterscotch, marshmallow, pineapple, peach, orange, apple crumble pie and a touch of limestone. Full body with good acidity and a very long length. Nice to see a quality Chard being under 14% alcohol.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 10 May 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

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

Château Croix De Thomas 2008, Ac St Georges St émilion

Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nicely balanced wine. Red & black fruits intertwined with earth notes, medium+ tannins & good acidity. Some spice notes are detected in the middle during its long length. Easy drinking wine.

Negatives: Slightly watery finish.

Interesting Things: If you can’t afford the higher end Right bank Bordeaux, this is a very good entry level.

Drink now or cellar for 2-4 years. Pairs nicely with grilled lamb & squash.

Best Buy.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Crossbarn Chardonnay 2008, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Valley

Gold colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Well balanced Chard that is smooth & easy to drink. Paul Hobbs has done a wonderful job with his entry level Chard which exhibits classic Chardonnay notes of lemon, apples, nectarines, pineapple & limestone. In addition, you'll find some creaminess from the butter popcorn, peaches & cream corn. This Chard is medium+ body & length, well balanced especially between the oak & the fruit.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: Paul Hobbs is one of the masters in producing excellent California Chardonnays & this one is half the price of his mid to higher end wines. The bottle has a cork screw so drink now or cellar for next 3 years.

Drink on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 3 Nov 11.

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Ribera Del Duero Crianza Pesquera 2009

Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

This will only please a discernable few.

Positives: Heavy into the tertiary tasting field with oak, mushroom, underbrush, espresso, thyme, with black olives, dark cherry, sour cherry & black currants. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Note: I like the Spanish bottle and label.

Drink now or over the next 5 years with food such as the Spanish dish Pringá.

Tasted: 20 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 8.5+/10) Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

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+

M. Chapoutier Rasteau 2009

Medium minus ruby in colour with medium minus nose.

Positives: Not much but there is a lot of oak & some dark cherry & licorice. Medium body with medium+ tannins & acidity with medium length.

Negatives: Very bland. Nothing special here.

Interesting Point: This low rating maybe due to a defective bottle as normally M. Chapoutier is one of my favourite French producers.

Tasted: 22 June 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 15.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5