Edward Rasiulis

Campo Viejo Crianza 2008, Rioja

Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking wine featuring plum, cherry, raspberry, some sandalwood & Macintosh apple. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity, medium+ length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Surprising to me that the nose is somewhat muted considering tempranillos have vibrant aromas.

Drink now on its own or pair it with butternut squash risotto.

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (sale price: 9+/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Mcmanis Chardonnay 2010, River Junction

Light gold with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon, apricot, red & golden apples & cantaloupe. Medium body with good acidity & fairly long length.

Negatives: Slight sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink on its on now or over the next 2 years and pair it with lemon chicken.

Tasted: 17 June 12

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

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

Tasca D'almerita Regaleali Le Rose 2011, Igt Sicilia

Red snapper in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking rosé featuring cranberry, cherry, strawberry and pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity and a medium length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Drink now on its own or pair it with pork chops stuffed with sundried tomatoes.

Tasted: 24 Feb 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Toasted Head Chardonnay 2011, California

Gold in colour with medium+ intense nose.

A good 2nd bottle to have on hand when you don't want to open something expensive.

Positives: A simple Chard that’s easy to drink featuring medium oak with a mild toasting, lemon meringue, smoky apple cinnamon, peaches & cream corn, and buttery popcorn. Medium+ body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: LCBO puts this wine on sale a couple times a year, which makes it worth buying.

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

Tasted: 7 July 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2010, Columbia Valley

Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Chard featuring light toasted oak, lemon, lemon custard, peach, pear, green and yellow apples, limestone and spice. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass.

Tasted: 27 Sept 12

Best Buy

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon seared scallops

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

K W V Cathedral Cellar Brut 2009, Wo Western Cape, South Africa, Méthode Cap Classique

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

Positives: Grapefruit, lime, dried parsley and grapefruit pith on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A bitter finish.

Interesting Point: When paired with Bergeron Classique Gouda the bitterness is diminished.

Drink now with food to mask the bitterness.

Tasted: 7 Aprl 13

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir 2011

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

Well this was a disappointment. Belle Glos makes some wonderful Pinot's in their higher end wines, but this entry wine for them has very little Pinot qualities & a lot of jammy sweet notes, more reminiscent of cheap California Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Tasted: 14 Dec 12

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2

Beringer Napa Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008, Napa Valley

Medium minus ruby colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Disappointing

Positives: This wine features oak, cherry, raspberry, chocolate & licorice. Light to Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: Sweet baked cherry pie and heat on the finish from the 14.3% alcohol

Drink now on its own or pair it with peppercorn steak.

Tasted: 3 March 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 5/10, Total: 12.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Paso Robles

Cost: $19.95

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: 13.5%

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: It’s a rare wine for being under $20 to have such complexity as this wine and to have both a beautiful nose and the taste is just as good. The wine features spiced oak, dark cherry, violets, plums, cinnamon, ripe tamarinds, cloves, blueberry, piped tobacco, Allspice and graphite. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length. Nice to see the alcohol at 13.5%.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In Vintages now. It’s a Vintages Essentials.

Drink now or over the next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with grilled beef striploin in Bordelaise sauce.

Top Pick and Best Buy

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

Faustino Vii Tempranillo 2010, Rioja

Dark garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Quality is very good for a wine under $15

Positives: This wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, plums, dates, licorice stick, black tea, leather, sage and burlap. Medium body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: LCBO usually has this wine on sale a couple times a year.

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

Tasted: 28 Oct 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5