Edward Rasiulis

Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: I have to admit I favour Russian River Chards due to their complexity and their buttery creaminess without the sour notes on the finish. This Chard doesn't disappoint and it taste more like a $40 wine. Besides being yummy, this wine features medium toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, lemon rind, clementines, honeydew melon, marshmallows, lemon meringue pie, spiced apples and pink grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity, alcohol that is under 14%, which is always a bonus, and a very long length, unusual for a Chard priced at this range.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This wine appears to be on clearance price with the regular price of $23.95.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crabs and drawn butter. Double yummy!

Tasted: 29 Oct 12

Best Buy & Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Okanagan Valley, B.C.

Light straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose

Positives: Classic and not overpowering notes of Sauvignon Blanc, featuring guava, lantana, gooseberry, hay, cucumber and dill. Light body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

Best Buy

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

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

Carpenè Malvolti 1868 Brut Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Docg, Veneto, Italy

Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse.

Easy drinking Prosecco that’s DOCG and well priced. Can’t go wrong with this one.

Positives: This sparkling wine features pear, apple, pistachio, peach and limestone. Medium minus body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was started in 1868 by Antonio Carpenè producing his Prosecco.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 14 Sept 2013

Best Buy

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

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

Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives. A perfect Chard nose, unfortunately the taste falls shy, but still good. Medium creamy, toasted oak with lemon, butterscotch, Anjou pear, Macintosh apples, nutmeg, cinnamon & limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives. There's is a slight bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Don't use the large Chardonnay glass as the bitterness will be over whelming.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 22 Feb 13

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

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

Francis Coppola Sofia Blanc De Blancs Sparkling 2011, Monterey County, California

Light gold in colour with highly intense nose.

Positives: A simple sparkling wine featuring pineapple, melon, cantaloupe, grapefruit & a perfume nose. Light body with good acidity & average length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Interesting Point: Francis Ford Coppola's Sophia line all have pretty labels & this also comes dressed in a light pink plastic wrap which makes it an eloquent way to bring this to someone's home.

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon or any cured meat.

Tasted: 26 Aug 12, Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Reyes D'aragon Brut Reserva Cava 2009, Spain

Yellow colour with fine mousse and a highly intense nose.

Positives: You get a lot for your money in this easy drinking Cava. This sparkler features brioche, baked apples, clementines, macadamia nuts, melon, & lemon. Medium body with a nice creamy feel, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight oxidative nose with slight wateriness on the taste.

Drink on its own as an aperitif or pair it with a variety of olives and Spanish prosciutto.

Tasted: 26 Oct 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Monasterio De Las Viñas Reserva 2006, Do Cariñena

Dark ruby in colour with medium intense nose.

High quality wine that’s smooth, delicious & under $15

Positives: This wine shows rustic earthy flavours like cedar, Champagne mushrooms, spice box, black tea, olives, mingled with violets, cherry and plums. Medium body and tannins with good acidity a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: I love the smoky black bottle that is reminiscent of vintage port bottles.

Drink now on its own or pair it with cured meats.

Tasted: 7 July 2013

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Raymond Reserve Selection Chardonnay 2010, Napa Valley

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Easy drinking & delicious Chard, some would say soft, is not overly complex, but has lots of mango, pineapple, peach, toffee, creme brûlée and a limestone finish. The wood is nicely integrated. Full body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: The 14.5% alcohol gives it a little bit of heat on the finish.

Interesting Point: Worth the $5 extra to buy this over Raymond's entry level Chard that I reviewed on June 16, 2012.
Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 7 March 2013

Best Buy

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

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

Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Merlot 2010

Unfortunately not complex enough to warrant the high price

Description: Medium+ ruby to garnet in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, Bell pepper, cherry, plum, raspberry, anise and cloves. Medium+ body with medium+ tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.5% alcohol

Interesting Note: Screw top for an expensive wine & it’s not from Down Under.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Spicy Grilled Pork Chops.

Tasted: 5 April 2017

Not recommended

Score: 8/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

Gloria Ferrer Va De Vi Ultra Cuvée, Sonoma County, California

Medium straw with a cooper tinge in colour, full mousse and an intense nose.

Positives: A slightly sweet dosage makes this an easy drinking sparkling wine from premier California sparkling producer features baked apple, lemon, Asian pear, peach and pink grapefruit on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with spicy pork sausage.

Tasted: 12 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 17+/20

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