Edward Rasiulis

Ken Forrester Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012, Wo

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

Great quality Chenin for a great price

Positives: This wine features lime, green apple, lemon rind, ripe pear, flint, white pepper, limestone and a touch of honey. Medium body with good acidity and a long length

Negatives: A little heat from the 14% alcohol

Interesting Point: 1.The winery uses no herbicides or pesticides and the grapes are handpicked. 2.This wine is an age worthy Chenin that will only get better with age. 3. The best glass was the Chardonnay/Viognier Riedel stemware.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or and pair it with P.E.I. Mussels Sautéed with Garlic, Shallots & Parsley in White Wine Sauce.

Tasted: 6 July 2014

Best Buy & Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Château Rahoul 2010, Ac Graves

Smooth as silk

Description: Deep almost opaque ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, blackcurrants, blackberry, black tea, licorice, cinnamon, umami, tobacco leaf, and oregano. Medium+ body with dry tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat on the finish from the 14% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or and pair it with grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 30 July 2014

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Sandeman Vau Vintage Port 2000

Opaque blood red in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex Port but very smooth showing dry fig fruit, raisin, plum, licorice & tamarin.

Negatives: None

Drink now & pair it with blue cheese or almonds & dark chocolate.

Tasted: 19 Dec 11

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2007, Napa County

Golden yellow in colour with high intensity on the nose.

Positives: Too much to write about but here's a summary to this complex wine. Medium toasted oak, buttery, cream corn, creme brûlée lemon meringue pie, roasted marshmallows, apple pie, caramel & cashews. Full body, alcohol is well integrated, good acidity & very long length.

Negatives: 15% alcohol. Interesting Things: Don't over chill it & use the larger Chard wine glasses.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5-7 years. Drinks well on its own as a meal or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Rosemount Show Reserve Gsm 2006, Mclaren Vale, South Australia

First off let me just say that I have not yet had a Rosemount Show Reserve wine that I didn't like & this one doesn't disappoint. Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intensity on the nose. A complex nose that shows plums, dill, raspberry, blackberry, cherry, cedar, dark chocolate smoked bacon, black & white pepper & mocha. The taste is just as complex as the nose showing similar notes as the nose. Surprisingly with the high alcohol & being from Australia you would expect more prune or cooked fruit. However, the taste is old world, except for the heat. The taste is dry, medium+ tannins & acidity with a very long length. The wine has medium to full body & balanced. The wine is drinkable now but will age nicely for the next 5 years. Drink on it's own or rack of lamb.

Tasted 17 Aug 11.

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value; 7/10, Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2007, Napa Valley

Deep gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Big & bold are the best descriptors of this Chard. Medium to medium+ toasted oak, with notes of buttery popcorn, lemon, red candy apples, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla & oak spice. Full body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Holy alcohol batman.

Interesting Thing: They use wild yeast or natural grown yeast in their wine making which adds complexity but there's an unknown factor on how these yeast will act in wine processing.

Drink now on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Muga Reserva 2008, Doc Rioja

Medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid wine

Positives: This easy drinking wine features cedar, sour cherry, cigar box, tobacco leaf, pimientos, roasted red peppers with Radicchio & pomegranate on the finish. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Detected some heat on the finish.

Interesting Notes: Aged 24 months in French & American oak casks. Serve between 16°C and 18° C

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with meat stuffed red peppers - Pimientos Rellenos de Carne.

Tasted: 6 May 13 (Go Leafs Go!)

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County

Light garnet to ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: What a beautiful Pinot that is smooth & complex featuring pine, beets, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, and burning leaves of the fall foliage. Medium to medium minus body with good acidity, a fairly long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: My best wine award at the Wine Tasting Challenge held in Toronto on 26 Nov 12.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 Nov 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Domdechant Werner Hocheimer Kirchenstueck Riesling Auslese 2003, Prädikatswein

Bright gold in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Dried apricot, mango, beeswax, honey, peach compote, lemon/lime candy, nutmeg & tangerine. Medium sweet, medium+ body with medium acidity, long length & low alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: It's unusual to find Riesling with this somewhat muted nose. If you like aged Riesling but don't like the classic petrol note, this wine is for you. Be careful when drinking this wine as you can easily drink a bottle very quickly so I suggest you get 2 bottles. Make sure you don't over chill it to get the most out of what this wine has to offer.

Drink two bottles on its own or pair it with jerk pork & chicken.

Tasted: 14 April 12

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

Pirramimma Petit Verdot 2010, Mclaren Vale

Dark ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Lots of good stuff happening here. Cedar, blackberries, Kirsch cherries, violets, pomegranate, cranberry, raspberries, roasted red peppers & musk. Medium+ body, medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Pirramimma consistently has Best Buy wines in their lines.

Drink now or over the next 5 years, on its own or this will pair with a variety of different food groups from game fowl to steak.

Tasted: 14 Dec 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+