Edward Rasiulis

Peninsula Ridge Reserve Syrah 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula

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

This is one of the better Canadian Syrah I have tasted to date.

Positives: This easy drinking wine has a beautiful smoky-violet/sandalwood nose combining on the taste with pepper, rhubarb, cured meats, tobacco leaf, forest greens & sour cherry. Medium body with medium minus tannins, medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Surprisingly I get some heat from the 12.5% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Peninsula Ridge’s Antipasto Platter consistent of House smoked duck, Pingue’s prosciutto, Mennonite summer sausage, rabbit rillette,citrus marinated olives and grilled vegetable salad.

Tasted: 26 July 2013
Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

White Oak Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

This is quite an elegant and polished Chardonnay.

Positives: The wine features medium minus toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, ginger, dill, peach, pineapple, clementine and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight heat coming from the 14.4% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 7 Oct 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Lawson's Dry Hills Pinot Noir 2010, Marlborough, South Island

Light ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

So delightful, it's easy to be on your 2nd bottle before realizing it

Positives: This wine features smoked cedar, cherry, cola, beets, raspberry, peat moss & violets. Medium minus body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Ahi Tuna.

Interesting Point: Reminder to chill it to about 15C

Tasted: 4 February 2014

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

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Ltd. Edition Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2012, Barosa Mclaren Vale

Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A good balance between the Rhone & Ausy style SGMs

Positives: This wine features integrated oak, vanilla, plums, tamarinds, blackcurrants, mint, sage, oregano, peppers (red, black & white), blueberry pie, shitake mushrooms, burnt rubber & leather on the finish. Full body with round tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted rack of lamb & mint sauce.

Interesting Point: Wolf Blass special edition Yellow Label is celebrating 30yrs in Canada.

Tasted: 11 January 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Michael David Incognito White 2011, Lodi

Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Smelling this wine reminds me of spring flowers blossoming

Positives: This wine features lots of floral aromas such as jasmine, Easter Lilly & white Paeonia. The taste has lemon/lime, honeydew melon, tangerine, green mango & peach. Medium+ body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the aftertaste

Interesting Point: This winery not only has great wines but the coolest names

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

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Best Buy

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

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

Barco De Piedra Tinto 2011

Deep ruby in colour with a low to medium intense nose.

Not a traditional Tempranillo but it’s smooth and easy drinking

Positives: This wine features integrated oak, blackberry, cherry, licorice, dried herbs & a slightly musty nose. Medium body & tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Pisto Manchego.

Tasted: 16 January 2014

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

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

Steller's Jay Sparkling Brut 2008, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.
A lighter vintage style Champagne that’s easy to drink and it’s good

Positives: This creamy sparkling wine features light toast, brioche, Anjou pear, baked apple, pink grapefruit and lemon filling. Medium body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Aged en triage for a minimum 3 years, then hand riddled and disgorged.

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or and pair it with oyster Rockefeller.

Tasted: 8 June 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Aimery Grand Cuvée 1531 Crémant De Limoux

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, brioche, Granny apples, pear, white peach, pink grapefruit and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: "The history of the Languedocien vineyards goes back to the 5th century BC, when the Greeks introduced the vineyard and its cultivation practices. But it was in 1531 that the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St Hilaire, a neighbouring commune of Limoux, produced the first sparkling wine in the World ... The First Bubble of the World had just been born." (Sieur D'Argues)

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Lemon Butter Poached Crab Meat and Octopus Salad.

Tasted: 26 March 2017

Best buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Trius Red 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good quality Ontario Bordeaux style for under $25

Positives: The wine features oak, twigs, blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, cherry, blueberry, turmeric, anise and leather. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Decant for an hour and I like the long neck bottle.

Drink now or over the next 5-8 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 8 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Château Des Charmes Méthode Traditionnelle Rosé 2010, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

A simply delightful sparkling wine, which is not surprising from Château Des Charmes

Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This sparkling wine features brioche, yeast, strawberry, raspberry, nectarines, clementines and Cambozola. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: In experimenting with different Champagne/Sparkling wine glasses, the thinner, longer style ones gave this sparkler a sharper note that may not be inviting to some pallets.

Interesting Note: Bottle fermented and aged on sur lie (on the yeast) for two to three years

Drink now or in the next 3 years or pair with Smoked Salmon Bruschetta.

Tasted: 28 Sept 2014

Best Buy on sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4