Edward Rasiulis

Estancia Reserve Pinot Noir 2009, Santa Lucia Highlands

Reminds me when I was a kid and eating candy apples at the EX

Description: Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features pine, wild cherry, raspberry, nutmeg, cloves, and the nose is reminiscent of the smell of smoke from wood burning fireplaces on a crisp autumn night. Medium+ body with light tannins, good acidity, a long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled medium rare Wagyu striploin .

Tasted: 8 Aug 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Amani Chardonnay 2009, Wo Stellenbosch

Gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This wine shows a beautiful Chard aromas and bouguet of medium toasted oak, butter, lemon & butterscotch ice cream. The taste is creamy with medium tasted oak, lemon, peach, pineapple, orange rind, & green apple. The wine is medium to full body, a very long length & good acidity.

Negatives: There's a little too much tartness on the taste.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glass as smaller glassware will accentuate the tartness. This wine is not for everyone, only for die hard Chard lovers.

Drink now with rich foods such as crab with drawn butter which will help dissipate the bitterness.

Tasted: 4 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Domaine Sergent Oak Aged Madiran 2008, Ac

Medium ruby with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots going in this wine. The nose brims with cedar, sandalwood, leather, pencil shavings, cinnamon, sage, cloves, plums, blackberry & expresso. The taste has similar notes as the nose but with mint, red currants & pomegranates. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity with a very long length.

Negatives: Quiet a bit of heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: This wine won gold in Paris in 2010. I would encourage everyone to try to explore wines that come from areas around the world that are generally not accessible unless you visit the specific location. Lucky the LCBO has brought us wine from Madiran.

Drink now or over the next 3 years. It's enjoyable on its own but would pair even better with rack of lamb or grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 19 May 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Fess Parker Viognier 2010, Santa Barbara County

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

This wine straddles between very good and excellent.

Positives: Light oak with a creamy texture featuring lemon, peach, apricot, honeysuckle, honey, wildflower, pineapple, pear, peach pits, & lemon grass. Medium body with good acidity and a long finish.

Negatives: A touch bitter on the finish, and a little hot from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: “ His name may be fading into the past, but in the ’50s and ’60s, Fess Parker was hugely famous for playing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on television. He turned his earnings on shows like that and others into this highly successful winery. He died in 2010.” LCBO

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with French cut pork chops stuffed with cheese and sundried tomatoes.

Tasted: 3 March 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

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

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

Trius Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Pale gold in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

A solid Ontario sparkling wine.

Positives: This sparkling features lemon/lime, brioche, baked apples, pear, toasted almonds & grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with squash or pumpkin soup.

Tasted: 11 July 2013 (Happy Birthday Mom)

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

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

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

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