Edward Rasiulis

Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010, Napa Valley

Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Good balance between creamy & minerality. The wine features light toasted oak with lemon, pineapple, green & yellow apple, vanilla & limestone. Medium to full bodily with good acidity, long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This will appease a good cross section of Chard drinkers.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with scallops in angel hair.

Tasted: 27 June 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Seguin Manuel Vieilles Vignes Chassagne Montrachet 2010, Ac

Straw with light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An expressive wine featuring lemon, peach, pineapple, flint, green apple, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with high acidity a long length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish

Interesting Notes: Coming to LCBO July 6

Drink now and suggest pairing this with wahoo escovitch.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009, Napa Valley

Light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful nose. This is an elegant Zin featuring blackberries, figs, raisins, raspberries, red currants, plums, fennel seeds, lead pencil & cracked black pepper. Medium body with low tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the 14.9% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Don't expect your typical jammy Zin. This is smooth & elegant, like a well aged Scotch. This winery does not use herbicides or insecticides on their grapes.

Drink now on its own or pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 13 July 12

Top Pick

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

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

Badger Mountain Vintner's Estate Organic Syrah 2008, Columbia Valley

Medium+ ruby in colour with a high intensity nose.

Positives: The taste of this complex wine washes over the palate in waves. Look for dark cherry, tamarind, rhubarb, blackberry, mulberry, plums, red currants, licorice, black pepper, capers, celery & earth notes. Medium body, medium+ acidity & very long length.

Negatives: Due to its complexity some notes may not be for everyone, but I really liked it.

Interesting Point: Washington's first certified organic winery in 1990.

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal Parmigiana.

Tasted: 22 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia

Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A solid Cab showing cedar, blackberry, eucalyptus, olives, blackcurrant, coffee, spinach, graphite, leather, turmeric, green tea and tamarind. Full body with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slightly on the green side and too astringent for me. Needs time to mature.

Drink now, but pair it with a protein dish. Better to age this for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 27 Jan 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 117+/20

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

Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Foch Reserve 2010, Okanagan Valley

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

Unusual try a Fosch from BC rather than Ontario.

Positive Notes: Intense flavours of plums, dark cherry, mulberry, raspberry, pastrami, fennel & pomegranate. Medium+ body with good acidity & length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or over the next 3 years and pair it with venison.

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

Bishop's Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Paso Robles

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

This is produced more in the Australian Barossa Cab style.

Positives: This is a softer style cab featuring light cedar, bramble pie, blackberry, blueberry, ripe tamarinds, plums, dark cherry, mocha, black pepper, light tar and menthol. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a fairly length.

Negatives: A touch sweet for me.

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

Tasted: 13 June 13

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

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

Baron De Ley Gran Reserva 2001, Doca Rioja

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

Positives: What a devine nose. I just want to get an oxygen mask & substitute the oxygen for the aromas of this wine. Notes of cedar, sandalwood, cigar box, cherry, cloves, cinnamon & suede. The taste ain't bad either featuring cedar, dark & sour cherry, raspberry, strawberry, cassis, cloves, leather, arugula & spinach. Medium to medium+ body, medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & a touch of heat from the alcohol.

Negatives: Surprisingly astringent for a 2001 Grand Reserva. Decant for at least an hour & during that time just inhale the aromas. The taste catches up to the nose.

Drink now or over the next 2 years & pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 19 Mar 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Château La Fleur D'arthus 2008, Ac St émilion

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

A fine St. Emillion featuring wet cedar, blackberries, red & black currants, licorice, graphite, spinach, radicchio, all-spice & red peppers. Medium body with high tannins & acidity with a long length.

Negatives: A little astringent now.

You will be rewarded with another 4-6 years for the wine to mature.

Tasted: 2 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2006, Doca Rioja

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

A classic Rioja Tempranillo for under $25

Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, pastrami, plum, Allspice, dark cherry, dark chocolate and some leather on the finish. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 12 Sept 2013

Best Buy

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

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