Edward Rasiulis

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+

Daniel Lenko Old Vines Chardonnay 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, American Oak

Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Either you’ll love it or hate it. I happen to love it.

Positives: This is not a fruit driven Chard as it features smokey sweet oak spice, buttery toast, butterscotch, toasted marshmallows, lemon, pear, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut and peaches & cream corn. Full body with medium acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Use the new world large Chardonnay glasses if you have them.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with snow crab and drawn butter.

Tasted: 22 Aug 2013

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Rémy Pannier Rosé D’anjou 2012, Loire Valley, France

Bright salmon in colour with a medium intense nose.

A versatile food friendly rosé that pairs well with Indian or Thai food.

Positives: This wine features strawberry, lime, honeydew melon cantaloupe and maraschino cherry. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Grolleau, a native grape in Loire Valley is low in alcohol and high in acidity.

Drink now on its own or pair it with My Thai’s Restaurant’s, via Go Cooking, Pad Thai.

Tasted: 19 Nov 2013

Best Buy

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

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

Château Pouyanne 2009, Ac Graves

A simple Bordeaux wine that reminds me of a Nouveau Beaujolai

Description: Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features bubble gum and bandaid on the nose sweet cherry and blackberry. Medium body with average acidity and length.

Negatives: A little volatile and watery

Drink now on its own or and pair it with steak and cheese sandwich.

Tasted: 29 July 2014

Score: 8/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Liberty School Chardonnay 2012, Central Coast

A smooth, simple Chard that’s not bad, just wish it was a few dollars less

Description: Bright medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon rind, pineapple, young mango, green and red apples. Medium+ body with fairly good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: For a dollar more you get a better Chard from Napa at Beringer’s

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 6 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Seaview Brut, Southeastern Australia

Deep bright gold colour, lots of mousse with light yeasty nose and taste. On the nose, baked apple, apricot, pear & lemon. Good balance and acidity on the taste. Med+ weight & length. Med complex. Easy to drink. Taste is similar to nose. Went well with Speck or garlic cheese spread.

For the price this a Best Buy. Score: 8.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 18.5/20

Tasted 14 April 2011

Just Chardonnay, Vin De Pays D'oc

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

Positives: This is an unpretentious chard that, by its own label, is just Chardonnay. A delightful easy drinking wine that you can take to parties or open as an apéritif. Lightly oaked with lemon, pineapple, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, apple & some limestone. Medium body with good acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Just a slight tartness on the finish.

Interesting Note: Good news bad news. Good news is that this wine for $7.65 is a best buy. Bad news is that it's on sale for that price as the LCBO is discontinuing it, so get it where you can.

Tasted: 6 Mar 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Liberty School Chardonnay 2007, Central Coast

Lots of mango, pineapple & peach. Med+ intensity, med+ body. Very interesting chard. Light oak & toast. Meringue on the palate, mandarins, peach, lemon cany, pineapple, green apple & lots & lots of mangos. Well balanced with good acidity. Drink on it's own or with food. Best with flavored food like seasoned talapia. Med+ complexity. Nice to see a California Chard not overly high in alcohol.

On sale for $12.65 made this a best buy wine.

Tasted: March 2011

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (10/10 on sale), Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Milcampos Tempranillo 2006, Ribera Del Duero

This is for the 2008 Vintage:
Nice nose, sandalwood, cherry nose, smokey bacon, black currents & black berries. On the taste all green & twigs. Very austere. I thing after 10 yrs it might age, but I wouldn't bet on it. Can't drink on it's own & needs something salty like speck.

Tasted: March 2011

Score: 5/10, Value: 8/10, Total: 13/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 1