Edward Rasiulis

Domaine Troterau Quincy 2009, Ac

Description: Light gold with a slight green tinge in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delightful Sauvignon Blanc with no notes over competing with one another. Notes of gooseberry, melon, cantaloupe, honey, wet stone, lemon/lime, pear, herbal tea & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Quincy is located in Loire Valley.

Drink now on its own or have it with regular potato chips.

Tasted: 28 Feb 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Mausberg Brut Crémant D'alsace, Traditional Method, Ac, Alsace, France

Simple but elegant

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light yeast, brioche, white peach, green apples, pears and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage.

Tasted: 13 Aug 2017

Best Buy

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

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

Three Rivers Chardonnay 2008, Columbia Valley

Rich gold with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Yummy! I would rate this a two bottle per person to drink in a day/night, (three if you start in the morning). This may not have a balanced fruit to mineral ratio to make it a high scoring Chard, but if you just want to enjoy a wine, not care about the technical scores and just get hammered, this one’s for you. Medium+ oak with a medium toast, Paula Deen buttery delight, butterscotch, toffee, coconut, lemon meringue pie and roasted marshmallows. Full body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14.3% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use the large Chard glasses and don’t chill it too much.

Drink now on its own or pair with lobster and drawn butter, or surf and turf.

Tasted: 22 Jan 13

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvèdre 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Inky blood ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

Description: Very Zin like character in both flavour & power. Notes of plums, raisins, mocha, dark chocolate, blueberry, black cherry, blackberry, sweet peppers, Christmas cake, figs, cinnamon & nutmeg. This wine is full body with low tannins, medium acidity & long length.

Negatives: 16% alcohol! That's getting to close Port.

Interesting Things: Good wine to give those who don't like tannins or austere red wines & like it a little sweeter. Nice on a cold winter day.

Drink now as a meal of its own or pair it with T-bone steak. This can age for another 3 years.

Tasted: 3 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

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

Château Rousseau De Sipian 2006, Ac Médoc

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

Positives: Cedar, blackberry, plum, cassis, anise, turmeric, pencil shavings & leather. In other words classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium body with medium tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Flavours are somewhat muted.

Interesting Point: Found this wine on sale at LCBO for $16.15.

Drink now on its own or pair it bacon, mushroom burger.

Tasted: 31 Mar 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (sale price 9.5/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009, Maipo Valley

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

Positives: Classic Cab Sauv notes of cedar, blackberry, anise, cassis, cloves, pencil shavings, leather, turmeric, tamarin & some tobacco leaf on the finish. Well balanced wine, medium+ body & length, good acidity & medium tannins.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Santa Rita is a well established winery that consistently produces good wines at all their price points. This one is the second level on their pricing scale of wines found in the LCBO. Best part is they usually have sales a couple times of year. This ones on sale for $11.95 until the beginning of January. Nice thing about this wine is its ready to drink now & it taste as if you’re drinking a bottle double its price.

Drink on its own or pair it with any beef dish.

Tasted: 20 Dec 11

Best Buy (amazing buy at the sale price).

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay 2010, Central Coast, California

Medium gold in colour a medium intense nose.

Positives: A well made inexpensive Chard from California, a goal that I try to search out because I do favour their well made Chards. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon zest, juicy apple, cinnamon, pineapple, peach, lemon custard, guava, apricot & limestone. Medium bodily with good acidity & length.

Negatives: Slightly sour on the taste.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass & look for LCBO to have specials on this wine throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with garlic buttered escargot.

Tasted: 19 Sept 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Callia Alta Malbec 2011, San Juan

Medium minus ruby with a touch of purple in colour and a medium to medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: This is a lighter style of Malbec. Notes of cedar, blackberry, plums, mulberry, raspberry, fried peameal, tobacco leaves, anise, cassis, spinach leaves & a touch of spice. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, medium+ length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Touch too green.

Interesting Points:

A somewhat complex wine that is difficult to find at this price.
This has a screw cap
I like the classic label, looks more expensive than it really is.
Drink now or over the next 2-3 years. Pair it with veal sandwich or drink on its own.

Tasted: 16 Mar 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Pierre Sparr Réserve Pinot Gris 2009, Ac Alsace

Deep straw with pink tinge in colour & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: What a delicious wine featuring peach, pear, pink grapefruit, lemon/lime, lychee, beeswax ending off on a creamy finish. Off dry, medium+ body with medium to medium+ acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: This is another two bottle wine that you can drink in a seating. The back label gives a lot of detail about this wine that would benefit consumers. Use the Viongier/Chardonnay glass if you have them.

Drink now on its own or pair it with shrimp tempura.

Tasted: 15 Apr 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Perrin Réserve Rosé 2011, Côtes Du Rhône

Watermelon in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Although the nose might be mute, the taste isn't, featuring strawberry, cranberry, watermelon, lime & Macintosh apple. Medium minus in body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I found drinking from a Riesling glass was the best option as other grape style glasses showed more tartness.

Drink now on its own or bring to a BBQ party, just bring several bottles as people are going to drink it down like water.

Tasted: 5 Sept 12

Best Buy

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

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