Edward Rasiulis

Château D'aquéria Tavel Rosé 2011, Ac

Deep pomegranate in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour going on here featuring strawberry, sour cherry, lavender on the nose, candy apple and pomegranate. Medium+ body, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14% alcohol.

Interesting Things: One of my favourite rosés.

Drink now and although it’s fine to drink on its own, I would pair it with food such as pork chops with a spicy edge.

Tasted: 1 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, South Island

Medium light ruby and garnet with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of juicy fruit featuring cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, Macintosh apple rhubarb, pipe tobacco, pine needles and forest leaves. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity, and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5 alcohol.

Interesting Point: I'm somewhat surprised that a cool climate Pinot reached 14.5% alcohol. Remember to slightly chill Pinot.

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

Tasted: 25 Sept 12

Best Buy (Especially at the sale price!)

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

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

Porca De Murça Reserva Tinto 2008, Doc Douro

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

Positives: Easy to drink featuring notes of pine needles, blackberry, raspberry, truffles, cloves, blackcurrant, cassis & radicchio. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Has some bitterness (mustard greens) & a touch watery. Nose is better than the taste. Drink now on its own or pair it with tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 6 June 12

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

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

Ravine Vineyard Meritage 2010, VQA St. Davids Bench, Niagara Peninsula

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

Easy drinking with a slightly sweet taste, but not jammy.

Positives: Light oak with lots of sweet cherry, blackberry, raspberry, mulberry, graphite, mocha, leather, turmeric and lavender. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with T-bone steak.

Tasted: 13 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

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

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

Ghost Pines Winemaker's Blend Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma/Monterey/Napa Counties

Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity.

Really nice to drink, not too creamy, not too citric, and not too oaky, just right, and being under $20, priced just right. Actually better than just right as I would pick this as a $30-$40 Chard.

Positives: Medium toasted oak, with vanilla, lemon, green & MacIntosh apples, slight apple pie, pear, cashews, pineapple, cantaloupe, sweet corn & limestone. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Louis P. Martin is the son of Napa pioneer Louis M. Martin.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with snow crab legs and drawn butter.

Tasted: 11 March 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 (sale: 10/10), Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Sacred Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011, Marlborough, South Island

Value to quality you can’t beat it for a good Pinot Noir

Description: Light garnet with a slight cloudiness in colour, which may be a result of the wine being unfiltered, with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light pine and smoke, fresh carnations, beets, wild strawberry, sweet cherry, plums, barnyard and mushrooms. Light body and tannins with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with .

Tasted: 12 Aug 2014

Amazing Buy & Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Solar De Castro Vendimia Seleccionada 2009, Doca Rioja

Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring oak, black cherry, shiitake mushrooms, green tea, lavender & leather. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with pork souvlaki.

Tasted: 7 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Mcmanis Family Vineyards Viognier 2011, California

A nice smooth somewhat creamy Viognier featuring lemon, orange zest, apricot, peach, white pepper and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with scallops.

Tasted: 20 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2010, VQA Okanagan Valley

Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is an improvement over the 2008 vintage that I reviewed awhile ago. This is a nice balanced Chard that features medium toasted oak, butter popcorn, lemon meringue, clementines, spiced apple cider, guava, pineapple & peach. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting point: Use the larger Chard glasses. I have put my review of the 2008 vintage below so you can compare.

Drink now or over the next 3-4 years, on its own or pair it with snow crab & drawn butter.

Tasted: 18 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Girard Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Chard that has a nice balance between the oak, fruit & minerarilty. This Chard has nice creamy butteriness, lightly to medium toasted oak, lemon, juicy apples, pineapple, honeydew melon, limestone, peach, tangerines & some coconut. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Interesting Points: I like the minimalist label. Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or cellar it over the next 3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 8 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4