Edward Rasiulis

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2009, California

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

Positives: Notes of raisins, blueberry, mocha, allspice, raspberry & touch of vanilla. Medium body, good acidity, medium tannins & medium+ length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: This is not your powerhouse Zin with high alcohol, which will appeal to those that like Zins but don't want it as the main course for dinner.

Easy drinking on its own or pair it with venison.

Tasted: 2 Jan 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9/10 (on sale 10/10), Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Southbrook Connect White 2010, Ontario

Medium straw in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Peach, pineapple, hay, lemon & grapefruits predominate. Taste is off dry but it has good acidity to go with food. Medium minus body with a medium finish & low alcohol.

Negatives: A little too much tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: It's organic.

Drink now & serve with squash soup.

Tasted: 29 Nov 11

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Deinhard Green Label Riesling 2009, Mosel Saar Ruwer, Germany

Qualitatswein from Mosel ranks in the middle of the Riesling sweetness scale. Med+ intensity, bright pale yellow, lemon/lime lots of mineral, clementines, melon & carnations. Pleasant nose, Med+ acid, med- weight. A little carbonation on the tongue. Lemon/lime, clementines, melon & grapefruit predominate with a long finish. Not a complexed wine & for the price it's quite good. You'll find this in the non-vintage section, and from time to time it's on sale.

Tasted April 2011

Score: 7.5 Value: 10, Total: 17.5

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Hob Nob Chardonnay 2009, Vins De Pays D'oc

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

Positives: A lot of flavour going on especially for a wine that's under $12. Good balance between citric & tropical fruit. No new wood detected but there is malolactic fermentation to smooth out the wine. Medium body, good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Use the larger new world Chard glass as I found the smaller glass enhanced the citric notes.

Drink now on its own or pair it with a variety of seafood dishes.

Tasted: 20 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Campedel Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2008, Doc

Medium garnet in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Very smooth albeit not complex Valpolicella but still delicious wine. You'll find classic Valpolicella notes of cedar, dark chocolate, raisins, plums, dark cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon & leather. Medium body, medium to medium minus tannins, good acidity with long length.

Negatives: Be careful not to inhale the aromas too quickly as the high alcohol vapor may knock you out. I kid, but it is really strong.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ beef ribs.

Tasted 24 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Grand Sud Merlot 2010, Vin De Pays D'oc (1000ml)

Deep dark blood ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: What a beautiful nose with notes of cigar box, tobacco, cloves, plums, cherry, pine cones, red candy & a touch of vanilla. The taste isn't as sweet as the nose, which is a good thing. The taste shows blackberry, mulberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, nutmeg, anise, dark cherry, cocoa bean & cloves. Medium to full body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Things: I love the elliptical shape of the bottle & the bevelled coat of arms. Lastly, my mom loves it. Oh & last to the lastly, it's under $10!

Drink now on its own or pair it with veal cutlet.

Tasted: 19 Feb 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Bottega Il Vino Dei Poeti Brut Rosé, D.O.C. Venezia

A nice, dry, soft, off-dry & easy to drink rosé sparkler

Description: Light pink salmon in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features McIntosh apple, cherry, raspberry, candy apple and roses on the nose. Medium body with average acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Mustard Roasted Pork Loin with Squash Polenta.

Tasted: 18 June 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+

Goats Do Roam White 2011, Wo Western Cape

Medium straw colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: Lemon, peach pit, pear, pineapple & apricots. Medium minus body with high acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little too tart.

Drink now with lemon-pepper catfish.

Tasted: 19 June 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Sterling Merlot 2009, Napa Valley

Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity.

Positives: Easy drinking wine with oak spice, sweet cherry, blackberry, blackcurrants, leather, plums and chocolate. Medium+ body and tannins with medium acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Not worth the price. Should be around $15.

Drink now on its own or pair it with something.

Tasted: 23 Jan 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 7/10, Total: 15.5/20

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

Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Pretty medium ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: There's a lot going on for a Cab that's priced at under $10. Cedar, lots of peppers (red, black & white), black currants, cinnamon spiced apples, nutmeg, blueberry pie, plums & oregano. Medium body with medium tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Item: New Eco-friendly lightweight bottle. This is a great bottle to have as a second bottle to open during the day, evening, or to bring a couple (heck for $9.95 you can bring several bottles) over to a friends place for BBQ.

Drink now on its own or pair it with anything on the BBQ. I would even try it with fish on the BBQ due to its lower tannin level.

Tasted: 12 Sept 12

Amazing Buy

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4