Edward Rasiulis

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

Thomas Fogarty 2008, Santa Cruz Mountains

Deep gold in colour with medium+ intense nose.

Taste is better than the nose

Positives: The taste is rich and creamy featuring medium+ toasted oak, buttered popcorn, apple crumble pie, pear & peach. Full body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Didn’t like the powerful wood resin/smoky peat nose.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Camembert.

Tasted: 5 August 2013

Score: 8+/10, Value: 8+/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

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