Edward Rasiulis

Eikendal Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Wo Stellenbosch

Light gold in colour with medium+ intensity. On the nose I got clove, guava, lemon tart, caramelized sugar, pineapple, peach, pear and light minerality. On the taste, dry, good acidity, balanced, very long length (I stopped timing after 2 minutes) & full body. I tasted guava, lemon meringue, peach, caramelized sugar (slightly burnt), pineapple, limestone, med toast and butter. Overall a medium+ complex wine and an amazing value. This is a Best Buy wine.
Tasted: 26 April 2011
Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4

Trapiche Fincas Las Palmas Malbec 2006, Uco Valley, Mendoza

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

Positives: Lots of bramble fruit, cedar, graphite, blueberry pie, plums & turn tamarind. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: The wine is a little astringent.

Interesting Point: I bought on sale for $14.05, which would make it a best buy.

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

Tasted: 13 April 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Gainey Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, Santa Rita Hills

Description: Gold colour with medium+ nose.

Positives. Unmistakable Chard with medium toast and oak. The nose shows lemon, golden & granny apples with buttery corn. The taste is similar to the nose with creaminess & good acidity. Medium to full body with a medium+ finish.

Negatives:

There is some heat from the alcohol

Little bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Even though this bottle is labeled as having 13.9% alcohol, US tax law gives the wine producer a margin of error for alcohol up to 1.5%. Therefore, this wine may in fact be 15.4%
Tasted 8 Oct 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

La Valentina Spelt Montepulciano D'abruzzo 2005, Doc

Medium minus intensity of garnet to ruby in colour with medium intensity in the nose. The nose shows light oak, sour cherry, mushroom, figs, expresso & light carnations. The taste is dry, medium+ tannins & acidity with medium length. The taste shows as nose with addition of cranberry, blueberry & blackberry. This wine needs food such as lasagna, but it worked well with beef tenderloin. Drink now. Tasted: 31 Aug 11

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Score: 16.5/20.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, South Australia

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

Positives: Classic Cab notes while being restraint from going to jammy in a lot of inexpensive Australian Cabs & the alcohol being under 14%. Wine shows cedar, cassis, blackberry, cloves, leather, turmeric, pencil shavings, ripe tamarind & a touch of eucalyptus. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: GET IT WHILE IT'S AVAILABLE. Now that I got your attention, LCBO has this wine on sale for $13.65.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 30 May 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Abbadia Ardenga Rosso Di Montalcino 2007, Doc

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

Positives: Classic Sangiovese with sour cherry, wood smoke, cedar, raspberry & truffles. The taste is very smooth & easy to drink with medium tannins, good acidity, medium weight & long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with any classic Italian dish with tomato based sauce.

Tasted: 6 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Lailey Vineyard Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara River

Description: Medium straw in colour with medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: An old world style chard showing chrysanthemums, lemon, green apples, mandarine, light oak, limestone & sweat peach on the nose.

Negatives: Not complex while showing a lot of citric flavours. The nose is the best part of this wine.

Interesting Thing: Made with Canadian oak.

Drink now on its own or pair chicken breast in a lemon/basil sauce.

Tasted: 24 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Bodegas Olarra Cerro Añon Gran Reserva 2002, Doca Rioja

Medium minus garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: This is an easy drinking wine that has soft tannins, but still has enough acidity not to make it flabby. Has nice spices of rosemary & oregano. You can drink on its own or pair it with BBQ lamb chops. Drink now.

Negatives: I believe it's past it prime. I would have liked to have tasted it a year or two ago. A little oxidative now.

Tasted: 12 Sept 11

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Simi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

This ruby-red Cabernet Sauvignon gains further complexity through the and from the 14 months it spent in oak. Aromas of black berry, cedar, chocolate & violets with rich flavors of chocolate, black cherry, cedar, vanilla bean & mocha. Complexed wine with long finish. Good on its own or steak.

Best Buy

Tasted: March 2011

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel 2008, Mendocino

Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: This easy drinking Zin features light oak, raspberry, dried figs, dates, raisins, plums, chocolate and a hint of leather. Medium+ body, medium tannins, good acidity and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with BBQ ribs.

Interesting Things: This is a great wine to bring to gatherings or to have as your second bottle for the night. This won't disappoint.

Tasted: 26 July 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+