Edward Rasiulis

Amisfield Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, South Island

Dark ruby in colour with medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Now this is a great Pinot featuring bold flavours of cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb, cranberry, beets, pine & hints of barnyard. Medium body with medium minus tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: I had the privilege of tasting this wine last year at the New Zealand Wine Tasting & it was one of my favourite wines that were offered. I’m happy to find that the LCBO now carries it, and even better was that I picked up this wine for $31.55.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Ahi tuna.

Tasted: 28 Apr 12

Top Pick. Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

Carrick Pinot Noir 2007, Central Otago, South Island

Medium minus ruby in colour with med intensity on the nose. The nose shows unmistakeable Pinot with light beetroot, rhubarb, cherry, strawberry, lightly smoked bacon, truffles & carnations. Overall med+ complexity on the nose. On the taste it's dry, med+ acidity, med minus tannins, long length & balanced. Cranberry, pomegranate, sour cherry, rhubarb & tobacco leaf. The nose is a lot nicer than the taste that I felt was too tart & lacked depth. Not a typical Central Otago Pinot, more like Marlborough Pinot.

Tasted: 5 May 2011.

Score: 7.5 Value: 7/10, Total; 14.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

14 Hands Hot To Trot Red 2010, Washington State

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

A generic red blend that will appeal more to those that like a slight sweetness to their reds.

Positives: Although this is slightly sweet it’s not jammy. The wine features light oak, plums, black cherry cola, chocolate & ripe tamarinds. Medium to medium+ body average tannins and acidity with fairly long length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ chips.

Tasted: 15 May 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Sale price 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Trapiche Extravaganza 2013

For those that like sweet styled red wines

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features Christmas cake, plums, milk chocolate, raspberry jam and vanilla. Medium body with low tannins, fair acidity, an average length.

Negatives: Too sweet for me

Drink now on its own or pair it with spicy beef tacos

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014

Score: 7.5/10, Value: 7.5/10, Total: 15/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2+

Casarsa Merlot 2010 (1500ml)

Medium minus ruby to garnet in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very nice nose showing, light cedar, sour cherry, pomegranate, cassis & star anise. The taste shows sour cherry, cranberry, strawberry, cassis & star anise. Light to medium body with medium minus tannins, medium plus acidity & medium length.

Negatives: Watery taste. Plain Jane wine that's correct on price point.

Interesting Thing: My mom liked it & she doesn't like complex red wines that have tannins.

Drink now on its own or have it with pizza.

Tasted: 10 Jan 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 2.5

Beringer Alluvium Red 2005, Knights Valley, Sonoma

Deep ruby with a garnet tinge in colour and a medium to medium+ intense nose.

If you have the 2005 in a cellar, lucky you.

Positives: A complex wine featuring cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, Christmas cake, pumpkin pie, star anise, vanilla, cinnamon, white pepper, peppercorn, arugula, chocolate, & olive tapenade. Medium+ body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity a long length.

Negatives: I don’t have any more bottles left.

Drink now on its own and pair it with tenderloin steak. This still can cellar easily for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 30 June 13

Top Pick

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

Château Seguin 2008, Ac Pessac Léognan

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

Positives: I found that after 2 hours I detected new flavours. It's a wine that keeps on giving. Notes of cedar, expresso, gun smoke, cassis, leather, blackberries, black olives, earthy, black currants, all-spice, vanilla bean, pencil shavings, spinach & a beautiful kirsch nose. Medium to full body, medium+ tannins & acidity with a long complex length.

Negatives: A little astringent at this time.

Drink now, but decant for an hour. This should age nicely over the next 5 years. Pair this with Chateaubriand.

Tasted: 30 Aug 12

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

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

Pierrel Les Oressences Brut Champagne

A savory Champagne

Description: Deep gold in colour with an intense nose and fine mousse. This complex wine features yeast, toasted brioche, Boss pear, lemon meringue, Granny Smith apples, peach, pistachios, nutmeg, and apple blossoms on the nose. Medium to medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 7 years on its own or pair it with Bacon and Leek Quiche.

Tasted: 22 May 2016

Top pick

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

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

Vilafonté Series M 2006, Wo Paarl

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: The nose shows medium oak, roses, bramble fruit, menthol, plum, black cherry, cinnamon, leather, green twigs & some earthly notes. The taste is different from the nose showing coffee, mocha, nutmeg, blackberry, plum, anise, black currants, leather, portobello mushrooms, sour cherry & cinnamon. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, acidity & length.

Negatives: A little astringent & therefore needs to be decanted for 2 hours hour, but then it opens up wonderfully.

Interesting Things: I love the minimalist label & the back label that gives the consumer a lot of interesting facts about this wine.

Drink now with tenderloin steak or lay it down for another 4 years.

Tasted: 3 Mar 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Treveri Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Sparkling Wine, Méthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley

Easy drinking sparkling wine that has a nice flavour to it

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, brioche, grapefruit, lemon, honeydew melon, passion fruit, guava and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

“The name “Treveri” comes from the historic name of the city Trier, Germany, one of the former seats of the Roman Empire.” trevericellars.com. The coin on the label is of Constantine’s era coin in which thousands were discovered in the city the 1980s after they were discovered when repairing an old bridge.
No dosage was added to the wine.
Treveri Cellars specializes in making only sparkling wines.
Drink now on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014 (Happy birthday to my cousin; Birute)

Best Buy

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

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