Edward Rasiulis

Fantini Grand Cuvée Rosé

Simple but a great for the beach or pool

Description: Pomegranate in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features strawberry, ripe cherry, raspberry and cotton candy. Light to medium body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The label has a Swarovski crystal

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with BBQ Chicken and Summer Squash.

Tasted: 23 April 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+

LCBO: 479352

Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Red 2014, California

A simple, sweeter style California table wine but it has some substance

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with an intense nose. This wine features sweet oak, plums, raspberry jam, cherry and mocha. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: A touch too sweet for me

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Bone in Short Ribs with Caramelized Butternut Squash Medallions.

Tasted: 21 January 2016

Best Buy at sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Enigma Chardonnay 2014

This is comfort Chardonnay

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features toasted oak, lemon meringue, baked apples, peach, mango, pineapple, orange, oak spice, butterscotch, vanilla and Easter Lily 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 Orange Honey BBQ Chicken.

Tasted: 20 June 2017

Best Buy

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+

Organized Crime Chardonnay 2013, VQA Beamsville Bench

A nice rich, creamy Chard Ontario Chard that’s not high in alcohol & under $15

Description: Gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium oak, butter toast, lemon, mango, pineapple, peach, Fuji Apples, cream corn, vanilla and buttered popcorn on the nose. Medium+ body with light average acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Use the larger Montrachet glassware

Drink now or in the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with.

Tasted: 13 July 2017

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Best Buy

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

Château Lauduc Classic Rosé 2016, Ac Bordeaux

A pleasant, light, crisp & simple rosé

Description: Light copper in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features raspberry, Rainier cherries, mandarin and pink rose on the nose. Light to medium body with light tannin, good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Wahoo Tartare.

Tasted: 15 May 2017

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

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

Yellow Tail Bubbles

Description: Medium straw colour with fine mousse and medium intensity

Positives: This is a vast improvement over past Yellow Tail Bubbles & not only the nicer label & bottle, but the nose & taste. The mousse is fine & lasting. The nose has nice aromas of white flowers, apples, lemon/lime & a little biscotti. The taste is easy to drink & will do well mixing with fruit juices or drinking in its own. The taste has pear, sweet peach, mango & lemon/lime.

Negatives: The taste is weaker than the nose, but Yellow Tail is going in the right direction.

Interesting Things: With the new bottling there is a new reusable top that I really like, so if you need to cork it & still have the carbonation later, just use their top. Drink now on its own or with Sunday brunch or with gelato.

Tasted: 25 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Gazela Rosé

Simple patio sipper, low in alcohol, low in price & has a pleasant taste

Description: Red snapper in colour with a medium+ intense nose and light mousse. This wine features cherry, strawberry & lemon. Light body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: This is 260 g/l of sugar

Drink now or in the next couple of years on its own or pair it with Simple Tomato and Basil.

Tasted: 17 Aug 2017

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

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

Open Sociable Sparkling 2009, Ontario VQA

Charmat method, this sparkling wine shows medium straw colour with medium nose intensity & fine mousse. The nose has a very nice Easter lily aroma along with green & red apple, peach, lemon & some minerality. Taste is dry, medium acidity, medium body, long length & balanced. Easy drinking that has green & red apples, lemon/lime, limestone & peach. Not a complex wine, just easy going. This sparkler was a pleasant surprise to me with no negatives. Drink on its own or pair it with Capresse salad.

Best Buy.

Tasted 15 Aug 11.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Foncalieu Le Versant Viognier 2009, Vins De Pays D'oc

I found nothing exciting about it. Peach, a little nectarine, some tangerine. Balanced wine. Not bad for the price, but there's better Viognier's at this price range.

March, 2011

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 10/10, Value: 17.5/10

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

LCBO#: 195016

Pelee Island Gamay Noir Zweigelt 2009, Ontario VQA

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

Positives: Smokey nose featuring blackberries, mulberries, raspberry, cherry, lime & peppers. The taste shows similar notes. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Have this wine slightly chilled.

Drink now on its own or pair it with hummus.

Tasted: 29 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4