Edward Rasiulis

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

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Aconcagua Valley

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

Positives: Beautiful ripe, but not cooked Cab aromas featuring cedar, cassis, menthol, nutmeg, cinnamon & cloves followed by some bramble fruit. The taste is just as wonderful. This is a medium to full body wine with a long finish and a good balance of tannis and acidity making the wine feel round and not linear or austere. As with the nose there is a lot going on. The taste is similar as the nose.

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 classic grilled tenderloin steak. The wine is drinkable now, but can cellar for another 3-4 years.

Best Buy

Tasted: 4 Oct 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Beronia Tempranillo 2007, Rioja

Medium bright ruby in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: Sandalwood, strawberry, bacon, basil & cherry notes on the nose & taste. The wine is dry, medium to low tannins, medium acidity, medium body & medium length.

Negatives: Slight wateriness detected on the taste.

Interesting Things: This is one of the best inexpensive & consistent year to year Tempranillo’s. Usually the LCBO will put this on sale for a $1 off.

Drink now on its own or with lamb chops.

Best Buy

Tasted: 17 Nov 11

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula

A solid Chard that won't disappoint Chard lovers of oak influence

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, cream corn, pineapple, mango, ginger, light oak spice, butterscotch, crème brûlée and dill. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14% alcohol and a touch sour on the finish

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Cornish Hen

Tasted: 22 Dec 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+ (Clearance price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2010, Wo Swartland

Medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose. Positives: Smooth wine with notes of light cedar with tamarind chutney, blackberry, black cherry, mulberry, fried peameal bacon & sage. Full body, medium tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A lot of heat on the finish due to the high alcohol.

Interesting Things: South Africa is the place to go for inexpensive Rhône varieties.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with prime rib.

Tasted 18 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Flat Rock Cellars Reserve Chardonnay 2007, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Bright gold colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a nice wine showing lemon/lime, ginger, apple, medium toasted oak, buttery biscuit, roasted marshmallow, mango, pineapple & limestone. Medium to full body, good acidity, long length, balanced & complex. Not your typical Ontario Chard having tropical notes with medium alcohol & I love that.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1. Use the larger Chard glass that would go with California or Australian Chards. I tried it in a cool climate Chard glass & the bitterness really came out. 2. Screw cap. 3. I like the minimalist label.

Drink now or cellar it for another 2-3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 21 Dec 11.

Top Pick, Price Not Withstanding

Best Buy on sale price of $24.70.

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (sale price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Rustenberg R.M. Nicholson 2010, Wo Stellenbosch

Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A lot going on for a wine under $20

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, plums, dark cherry, hickory, cocoa, eucalyptus, pepper, cassis, arugula, radicchio and licorice. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: A touch hot on the finish from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Rustenberg was founded in 1682, but South Africa is still labeled as New World. Decant for 30 min to an hour.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with an aged T-bone steak.

Tasted: 26 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

Keint He Voyageur Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula

A versatile chard that shows good balance between oak, fruit and minerality

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, butterscotch and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: There’s heat from the 13% alcohol

Interesting Notes: Don’t over chill, as the underlying flavours such as butterscotch don’t come up when it’s too cold, and use the larger New World or Montrachet Chard glasses. In addition, I like the aged parchment label.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with grilled shrimp in grapefruit BBQ sauce.

Tasted: 27 Jan 2015

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 16/20

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

D'arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2009, South Australia

Medium ruby to garnet in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Lots of spice going on here along with violets, plums, maple, nectarines, blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco leaves, cigar box & champagne mushrooms. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A touch of heat from the alcohol & some tartness on the finish.

Interesting Note: This GSM is more in line with Cotê du Rhone as I didn't detect the usual jammy notes associated to Australian wines. Use Shiraz/Syrah wine glass if you have them. Finally, from time to time LCBO has this wine on sale.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Chinese dish of beef, mushrooms & broccoli.

Tasted: 7 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4