Edward Rasiulis

Cuvée Benkovac 2010, Croatia

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

Three reasons to buy this wine: 1. Taste's good, 2. Dalmatia is an ancient wine growing area that is coming back to form after the Soviet Union reign & 3. It’s only $15.95, can’t loose

Positives: This wine features a beautiful nose and an old world rustic taste. It shows cedar, blackberry, blueberry, oyster mushrooms, leather, graphite, sage, thyme, dark cherry & plum. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 3 years on its own or pair it with rib-eye steak.

Tasted: 12 April 2014

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

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+

Ojai Bien Nacido Syrah 2005, Santa Barbara County

Inky ruby with purple tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

What an amazing wine that I got for under $20 in the Cayman Islands. LCBO had it in 2011 for $39.99

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, plums, dark cherry, tar, coffee beans, violets, cigar box, peppers, burnt rubber, ripe tamarind, tarragon, licorice & leather. Full body with medium tannins, good acidity, a long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Lucky I bought out the store with this wine.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with ragù alla Bolognese with garlic bread.

Tasted: 10 Dec 2013

Top Pick & Best Buy (in Cayman)

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

Roche De Bellene Volnay Les Pitures 1er Cru 2008, Ac

Medium ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: An elegant Pinot showing some spruce, cranberry, sour cherry, raspberry, rhubarb & light earthiness. Light to medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish.

Drink now & a very food friendly wine that you can match with game fowl.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5