Edward Rasiulis

Fonseca White Port, Duoro Valley

This is a unique experience to try something different, something that taste good, and not expensive. Light gold in colour, with a medium+ nose intensity. Light toasted almonds, baked apples, some honey, raisins, and caraway scent giving that Sherry note. The taste is sweet, but not overly which pairs nicely with fruit and gelato. There is good acidity, long length and body. The alcohol is not overly heavy. Taste is similar to the nose with the addition of ginger which cleanses the palate nicely. Make sure you chill this to about 10-12 °C
Best Buy
Tasted: 23 Aug 11
Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19+/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava

Straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

A quality sparkling wine at bargain basement price

Positives: This wine features light yeast, green apple, grapefruit, almond butter, pear, peach, honeydew melon, lemon, green olives & limestone. Light to Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Grapes are hand picked and harvest starts in August with Macabeo and ends at the beginning of October with Parellada. Second fermentation takes place in the bottle.

Drink now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with hickory smoked peppered bacon.

Tasted: 2 March 2014

Best Buy

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

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

Concha Y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Chardonnay 2008, Maipo Valley

Bright golden in colour with medium+ intensity. The nose shows medium oak & toast, macadamia nut, pineapple, lemon, buttered popcorn & peach. The taste is dry, good acidity, medium+ body, medium+ length, alcohol is well integrated & the wine is balanced. The taste is similar to the nose with pink grapefruit & caramel The after taste has a slight bitterness from the toasted oak & may detract those who are sensitive or adverse to that note in Chards. Use the larger Chard glass for this warm climate Chard. Drink now & on it's own or with the classic crab with drawn butter.

Best Buy.

Tasted 29 July 2011.

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Château Des Charmes Brut Sparkling, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

Solid, easy drinking sparkling wine made in the traditional style at a fair price

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toast, lemon, green apples, pear, lime, peach and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5 of years, on its own or pair it with Seared Scallops.

Tasted: 24 July 2016

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Nino Franco Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Docg, Veneto, Italy

Clear light straw colour with Med+ intensity, small and abundant amount of mousse. On the nose I got apple, Melba toast, candy fruit, pear and limestone. The taste is clean, light to medium body, med+ acidity, balanced with med+ length. The taste is like the nose, but there is a little bitter almonds that takes the points down a notch. Still a good buy. Easy to drink on its own or pair with Bruschetta or smoked salmon.

Tasted: 22 April 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

Katnook Founder's Block Shiraz 2006, Coonawarra, South Australia

Description: Medium ruby going towards garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lower alcohol than your average Australian Shiraz. The nose & taste show a lot of spiciness with white, black & red peppers, eucalyptus, pimento, cedar, plum, blackcurrants, raspberry, leather, tobacco leaves & some slate. There is a lot of complexity for a wine that is under $20. This wine is medium body with mild tannins, good acidity & a long finish.

Negatives: None.

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

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Greg Norman Estates Cabernet Merlot 2007, Limestone Coast, South Australia

A nicely aged and not jammy wine even with a 14.5% alcohol

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features cedar, cherry, plum, mulberry, cocoa, Allspice, turmeric and leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol on the finish

Interesting Point: 8 years and still going strong

Drink now on its own or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Pan Seared Venison with blueberries and shallots.

Tasted: 30 Sept 2015

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Tenuta S. Anna Extra Dry Prosecco, Valdobbiadene

Refreshing & effervescent

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This sparkling wine features orange blossom, honeydew melon, pear, pink grapefruit and thyme. Medium to light body and with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 10 of years on its own or pair it with Spicy Tomato and Bergeron Omelettes.

Tasted: 16 Aug, 2015

Best Buy

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

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

Domaine Allimant Laugner Brut Crémant D'alsace, Traditional Method, Ac, Alsace, France

Simple, yet elegant

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light yeast, hay, lemon, pear, almonds, limestone and jasmine on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years, on its own or pair it with Smoked Salmon.

Tasted: 31 July 2016

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 17.5+/20

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

Sterling Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley

Bright gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Chard featuring medium toasted oak, honeysuckle, lemon, maple, apple, buttered popcorn, sweet corn, vanilla, orange rind, oak spice & marshmallow. Medium+ body with medium acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: Sterling consistently makes good value wines. Use the larger Chard glass if you have it.

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

Tasted: 30 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

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