Edward Rasiulis

Giavi Conegliano Valdobbiadene Brut Prosecco Superiore, Docg

Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Prosecco with pear, peach pit, lemon/lime & apple. This is a lighter style Prosecco with medium+ length & good acidity.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the after taste.

Interesting Things: Try this with Reese peanut butter cups, it's delicious.

Tasted 30 Oct 11.

Best Buy.

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Malivoire Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch 2009, VQA Ontario

Positives: Medium+ intensity on the nose. I found a lot cranberry with plums, blueberry & light earthy notes of fallen leaves. The nose has pretty violets.

Negatives: The acidity is a light bit high & combined with the low tannins makes this wine a little bit astringent.

Interesting items: One of the last true wines that originated here, & it's still tasteful & unique. Make sure you chill it like a Pinot Noir to get the full flavours of the fruit & drink it from a ballon glass (same as you would do Pinot).

Drink now on its own or pair with Thanksgiving turkey.

Tasted: 16 Sep 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2008, South East

Dark, almost opaque ruby to purple in colour. Med+ intensity showing light oak, carnations, loganberry, plum & smoked sausage. The taste is dry, med+ acidity & tannins with long length. The wine is a little astringent and needs to go with food. The taste shows pomegranate, blueberry, loganberry & plums. Med oak & smoked sausage rounds out the palate. Give this wine 3-5 years of cellaring to mellow it out.

Tasted: 25 May 2011

Score: 7/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

Bellingham Dragon's Lair 2006, Wo Coastal Region

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

Positives: Earth notes dominate the nose & taste. Medium tannin, good acidity, full body with medium+ length.

Negatives: There's quiet a bit of heat coming the high alcohol. Mid palate shows some pungency.

Interesting points: I believe the wine is past it's prime & on the downside. Still palatable, but don't expect too much. Sale price helps. Try it with pizza.

Tasted: 17 Oct 11.

Score: 7.5+/10, Value: 6/10 (sale price: 8/10), Total: 14/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

Coopers Creek Viognier 2008, Gisborne, North Island

Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good news, bad news. Good news: This is the best Viognier for under $20 & it's on clearance at LCBO for $12.65. Bad news: I bought the last bottles, so you'll have to wait until LCBO restock it stores, hopefully next year.

This wine features peach, pear, apricot, jasmine on the nose, white pepper, orange rind, mandarin & ginger. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: All sold out at LCBO.

Drink now on its own or pair it with wahoo ceviche.

Tasted: 15 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Mouton Cadet Reserve Blanc 2010, Ac Graves

Medium straw colour with medium intense nose.

Positives: This is an easy drinking wine featuring guava, gooseberry, hay, lime, wet stone & grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Caprese salad.

Tasted: 22 Apr 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 (sale price is 10/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2010, California

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

Positives: Easy drinking California Chard showing light toast & oak, lemon, apple, peaches & cream corn. Medium to full body, good acidity, balanced & moderate alcohol.

Negatives: A little tartness on the finish.

Interesting Things: I always like when Californian Chards are under 14% alcohol & this one is 13%. Not a complex wine but will satisfy those that like unoaked to oaked Chards. It's priced nicely & LCBO usually has this wine on sale a handful of times a year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 9 Jan 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5, Value: 9.5/10 (sale: 10/10)

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Wild Rock Cupids Arrow Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, South Island

Light ruby in colour with a medium minus nose.

Not sure if this was past its prime, but nothing special here folks. You'll find rhubarb, sour cherry, light pine and bitter coffee on the finish.

Tasted: 13 Jan 13

Score: 8/10, Value: 8.5/20, Total: 16.6/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

Familia Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2009, Mendoza

Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: The nose has a sweet peach smell along with lemon, orange, mango, pineapple, dill, butter & light toasted oak. The taste shows similar notes to the aromas with the addition of pink grapefruit rind. Medium body with good acidity & very long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point:

Taste more like a $40 Chard
Use the smaller Chard glasses if you have them.
I was able to find it on sale for $14.05 at a LCBO store.
Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 4 Apr 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Bougrier Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2009

Medium+ straw colour with a medium intensity.

Positives: Sweet peach, nectarine, quince, honey, pink grapefruit & red apricot. Medium minus body, verging on off dry with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: LCBO puts this wine on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with dishes containing pesto or sage.

Tasted: 24 May 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5