Edward Rasiulis

Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 2008, Barossa Valley,

Description: Veinous in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: There's a lot going here in this complex wine. Violets, cedar, spices, blackberries, coffee, plums, anise, dark chocolate, menthol, smoked bacon, roasted red peppers and sawdust. Full body, medium tannins, good acidity with long length and the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

This wine is a meal on itself, but will also pair nicely with a medium rare T-bone steak. Drink now or cellar for another 5 years.

Tasted: 25 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Mas Des Restanques Vacqueyras 2009, Ac, Vendanges Manuelles

Description: Medium ruby in colour with medium intensity in the nose.

Positives: Lots of cherry, crabapple, raspberry, some earthiness & spruce. This wine is easy going with medium tannins & acidity making this a food friendly wine, such as pairing with rack of lamb or to drink on its own.

Negatives: As with its sister wine (Gigondas, reviewed by me), it has a high alcohol level and feel to it. Similarly, I found this wine a little watery. Not as earthy as other Vacqueryas'. Same thought as the modernist label as the Gigondas.

Interesting Notes: I compared the two wines & found this one far better & less expensive. I recommend this one. It just falls outside my Best Buy by $2.95.

Tasted: 27 Sept 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Mclaren Vale

I don't recall ever having a Pirramimma that I didn't like, and this one keeps the streak alive.

Dark almost opaque ruby in colour intensity with high intense nose. The nose shows a lot Zin characteristics such as raisin, prunes, dates, figs, mocha, cherry tobacco pipe smoke, cedar, vanilla, blackcurrants, white pepper, violets & eucalyptus. The taste is as complex as the nose. The taste is more skewed to what a Cab is. It's dry, medium+ tannins & acidity, full body & powerful with long length, high alcohol but balanced. Notes show cedar, raisins, plum, dark cherry, blackcurrants, dates, mocha, turmeric, leather, vanilla, black & white pepper, eucalyptus & some pencil shavings. This is a smooth wine with a velvet touch on your tongue. Love this wine. There are only 2 negatives. 1) Even though I love the nose, I want my Cab to smell like a Cab, and 2) The high alcohol. Drink now on it's own or with grilled steak. Tasted 24 Aug 11. Best Buy & Top Pick. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 9.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Ross Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Dark garnet to ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A powerful but not jammy Shiraz from Australia featuring cedar, peppers (white, red & black), bacon, plums, mesquite, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, tar, dark cherry & expresso. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Quite a bit of heat coming from the alcohol although it's only listed as 14%.

Interested Point: I purchased this wine at a LCBO store for $21.70, which makes it a best buy at that price).

Drink now on its own or pair it with braised lamb shank.

Tasted: 25 Apr 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley

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

Positives: Big & bold are the best descriptors of this Chard. Medium to medium+ toasted oak, with notes of buttery popcorn, lemon, red candy apples, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla & oak spice. Full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol batman.

Interesting Thing: They use wild yeast or natural grown yeast in their wine making which adds complexity but there's an unknown factor on how these yeast will act in wine processing.

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

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Rudolf Rabl Grüner Veltliner Reserve Vinum Optimum 2009, Kamptal

Bright gold in colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: One of the better Grüner Veltliners you will find featuring pear, white pepper, lime, grapefruit & slate. Medium body with good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair with grilled scallops wrapped in bacon.

Tasted: 24 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Domaine Napa Chardonnay 2008, Napa Valley (Bronco Wine Company)

Medium straw colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: As you take your first sip your entire tongue tingles with a plethora of flavours such as: candy coated apples, woodsmoke, marshmallows, egg nog with cinnamon & nutmeg, lemon, orange, mangos, peaches & cream corn, pineapple & some flint. This chard has medium toast & oak with a long finish, good acidity & is medium to full body.

Negatives: Some heat from the alcohol.

Interesting Things: Unusual straw colour for an oaked chard from California. Use the larger Chard glass to get the full flavours on your tongue.

Drink now or cellar for another 3-5 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter. Taste more like a $40-50 bottle.

Tasted: 1 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 2007

Dark ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Classic Chianti with sour cherry, cedar, dried herbs, blackberry, Conifer spice, red & black pepper. This wine has medium+ tannins with good acidity, medium body & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Pair this wine with traditional Italian tomato based dishes.

Tasted: 29 Oct 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Inniskillin Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula

Light garnet in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Sweet & tart, just like I like my Pinots: (and you thought I was going to say something else?) This Pinot features smoked cedar, cranberry, strawberry, rhubarb, cherry pie, sweet basil, cinnamon & a light earthy taste. Medium minus in body with low tannins, high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch too high in acidity, but still yummy.

Interesting Point: I lucked out getting this wine on sale at an LCBO store for $17.55 , and remember to lightly chill it.

Drink now on its own, however due to the higher acidity this wine will show better paired food such as duck.

Tasted: 28 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

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

Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos 2009, Do Bierzo

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

Positives: Earthy wine featuring mushrooms, twigs, leather, plums, dried foliage, tobacco leaves, sage, blackberries, wild berries, oak & cherry cough syrup. Medium to medium+ body & tannins with good acidity, extremely long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Not sure about the cherry cough syrup notes.

Drink now or for the next 5 years on its own or with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 8 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5