Edward Rasiulis
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Following (2)
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Reviews (901)
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Certified CAPPS Sommelier since 2008. Lived in the Cayman Islands reviewing wines for under $25. Back home in Toronto, started up Twilight Wines to offer wine & spirit consultation, wine reviews, restaurant management, manage wine events and wine & glassware presentations, plus anything else with wines.
For more wine reviews by me please visit my web site at: www.twilightwines.com
Reviews
Domdechant Werner Hocheimer Kirchenstueck Riesling Auslese 2003, Prädikatswein
Rheingau, Germany$23.65
Bright gold in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.
Positives: Dried apricot, mango, beeswax, honey, peach compote, lemon/lime candy, nutmeg & tangerine. Medium sweet, medium+ body with medium acidity, long length & low alcohol.
Negatives: None.
Interesting Points: It's unusual to find Riesling with this somewhat muted nose. If you like aged Riesling but don't like the classic petrol note, this wine is for you. Be careful when drinking this wine as you can easily drink a bottle very quickly so I suggest you get 2 bottles. Make sure you don't over chill it to get the most out of what this wine has to offer.
Drink two bottles on its own or pair it with jerk pork & chicken.
Tasted: 14 April 12
Top Pick
Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Hartford Four Hearts Vineyards Chardonnay 2009, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$49.95
Bright old gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
Not for the faint at “heart”. Sorry couldn’t resist. Big, heavy, bold & utterly delicious.
Positives: This complex wine features medium+ toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, lemon meringue pie, roasted marshmallows, crème brulee, walnuts, butterscotch, pineapple, orange & tangerines. Full body with good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: The wine is unfined & unfiltered.
Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with turkey for Christmas.
Tasted: 21 Dec 2013
Top Pick
Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Château La Fleur D'arthus 2008, Ac St émilion
Bordeaux, France$30.40
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
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$29.95
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+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009, Napa Valley
California, Usa$69.95
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+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2010, Sonoma Coast
California, Usa$64.95
Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
Premier price for a premier wine
Positives: This complex wine features medium light toasted oak, Easter Lilly, lemon, lemon meringue, orange, pineapple, mango, peach, light caramel, ginger, dill, vanilla and some limestone on the finish. Full body with good acidity & a very long length.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: The winery uses gravity to move the flow of the grapes and its juice.
Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with lobster cooked on a beach.
Tasted: 23 May 2014
Top Pick
Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 9/10, (Clearance: 9+/10) Total: 19/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008, Napa Valley
California, Usa$19.95
Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
This is an intense Zinn without any jammy qualities. Cedar, pine nuts, vanilla bean, menthol, smoked hickory, cassis, cloves, blueberry, nectarines, boysenberry, dark chocolate, cherry cola & mocha. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.
Negatives: Holy 16% alcohol Batman! Lots of heat coming from it. Good medicine. If it wasn't for the high alcohol this would be an exceptional Zinn.
Interesting Point: Rutherford Ranch is a consistent producer of good wines.
Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs based in an Italian tomato style sauce.
Tasted: 15 Sept 12
Best Buy, Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Domaine De La Côte De L'ange Châteauneuf Du Pape 2010, Ac
Rhône, France$37.95
Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.
An elegant Cháteauneuf-de-Pape
Positives: The dominance of Grenache shows up strongly here. This features light oak, mushroom, thyme, sage, black cherry, black currants, raspberry, plums, incense, forest underbrush and leather. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: A little hot from the 15.5% alcohol.
Interesting Point: Use a Syrah glass if you have one.
Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with an aged rib eye steak.
Tasted: 1 Aprl 13
Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Palmina Larner Vineyard Malvasia Bianca 2010, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
California, Usa$27.85
Medium straw in colour with an intense floral nose.
Can’t miss wine that one must try. So easy to drink that one can drink 2 bottles in one sitting and not realize it.
Positives: A perfect summer sipper featuring Ylang Ylang, lychee, peach, anise, lemon, orange, pink grapefruit and fennel on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None.
Interesting Notes: A cross between Viognier, Muscat and Gewürztraminer. Malvasia is predominantly grown in Italy, but this rare find in California is a gem.
Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Cayman style Wahoo Ceviche.
Tasted: 11 May 13
Top Pick
Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 18/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Tarras The Canyon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, South Island
Central Otago, New Zealand$38.50
Medium minus garnet to ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.
Not a typical Central Otago due to its muted flavours, and I would have preferred this wine to be under $25.
Positives: Pine notes give to cranberry, pomegranate, cherry, mulberry, blackberry and earthly notes of forest underbrush & smoked ambers. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.
Negatives: None
Interesting Notes: Decant for an hour and chill it to 15C.
Drink now on its own or pair it with seared tuna with tomato, scallop & chilly pepper couscous.
Tasted: 2 May 13
Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5 Total: 17+/20
Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+
4.0 Stars
(0)V