Edward Rasiulis

Small Gully The Formula Helen's Harmony Viognier 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Medium+ straw colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lots of fruit explosion in the mouth featuring dried apricot, peach, peach pit, guava, orange rind & white pepper. Medium body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: Slight oxidative note.

Drink now on its own or pair it with orange roughy.

Tasted: 31 May 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Alianca Terra Boa Tinto 2010

Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring plums, raisins, blueberry jam & some cedar. Medium body with low tannins, medium acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch sweet.

Interesting Point: This best buy comes by the recommendation from my brother Andrew.

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

Tasted: 3 Sep 12

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

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

François Schwach Le Crémant Blanc De Blancs 2007, Ac Alsace

Light straw in colour with medium mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex sparkling, but very pleasant & easy going that will benefit those that don't like the yeasty, heavier champagne style. The wine features peach, honeydew melon, apple, lemon zest & nectarines. Lighter style with medium+ acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A touch watery.

Drink now on its own or pair it with eggs Benedict.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Irony Merlot 2009, Napa Valley

Medium ruby with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Plums, milk chocolate, mulberries, sweet cherry, rhubarb, some leather, cumin, red liquorice, cinnamon & all spice. Medium body, medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the listed 14.5% alcohol. Some bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Points: This wine should please those that like their reds with a slight sweetness & lots of alcohol.

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

Tasted: 12 May 12, Score: 8+, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20

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

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

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

Liberty School Syrah 2010, Central Coast

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

Positives: An easy drinking wine featuring light oak, violets, black cherry, plums, pipe tobacco, blackberry, Allspice, white and black pepper, oyster mushrooms and cured meat. Medium body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: In Vintages now.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with a lightly pepper dusted pork chop, soothed with balsamic blueberry reduction.

Best Buy

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

Le Parisien Pinot Noir 2010, Pays D' Oc Igp

Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium minus intense nose.

I usually find low-end French wines in Ontario of low quality and not even deserving of their low price. However, this one is an exception, and I thank my brother’s finance Liz for bringing it to dinner.

Positives: A simple Pinot featuring cedar, strawberry, cherry, black tealeaf, light underbrush and oyster mushrooms. Medium to medium minus body, medium tannins, good acidity and average length.

Negatives: None

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

Tasted: 30 Mar 13

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

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

Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010, Maipo Valley

Medium+ bright ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Full flavoured wine but one-dimensional. However, you can’t argue with the sale price either.

Positives: Oak and pine mix with blackcurrants, menthol, blackberry, arugula and tobacco leaves. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with beef Wellington.

Tasted: 26 Aug 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Sale price: 9/10) Total: 17.5/20

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

Casa Lapostolle Gran Seleccion Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Rapel Valley

Straw in colour with medium+ intense nose.

A nice change from the typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Positives: This easy drinking wine features pear, lemon, with some gooseberry & limestone. Medium body with good acidity a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 2 years. Pair it with red snapper ceviche.

Tasted: 11 June 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 19/20

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