Edward Rasiulis

Palmina Larner Vineyard Malvasia Bianca 2010, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara

Medium straw in colour with an intense floral nose.

Can’t miss wine that one must try. So easy to drink that one can drink 2 bottles in one sitting and not realize it.

Positives: A perfect summer sipper featuring Ylang Ylang, lychee, peach, anise, lemon, orange, pink grapefruit and fennel on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Notes: A cross between Viognier, Muscat and Gewürztraminer. Malvasia is predominantly grown in Italy, but this rare find in California is a gem.

Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Cayman style Wahoo Ceviche.

Tasted: 11 May 13

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 18/20

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

Domaine De La Côte De L'ange Châteauneuf Du Pape 2010, Ac

Deep ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

An elegant Cháteauneuf-de-Pape

Positives: The dominance of Grenache shows up strongly here. This features light oak, mushroom, thyme, sage, black cherry, black currants, raspberry, plums, incense, forest underbrush and leather. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little hot from the 15.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Use a Syrah glass if you have one.

Drink now or over the next 7 years on its own or pair it with an aged rib eye steak.

Tasted: 1 Aprl 13

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

Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 2008, Napa Valley

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

This is an intense Zinn without any jammy qualities. Cedar, pine nuts, vanilla bean, menthol, smoked hickory, cassis, cloves, blueberry, nectarines, boysenberry, dark chocolate, cherry cola & mocha. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Holy 16% alcohol Batman! Lots of heat coming from it. Good medicine. If it wasn't for the high alcohol this would be an exceptional Zinn.

Interesting Point: Rutherford Ranch is a consistent producer of good wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ pork ribs based in an Italian tomato style sauce.

Tasted: 15 Sept 12

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

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

Château De Chantegrive 2009, Ac Graves

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

Classic Graves wine that you pay a little more, but it’s worth it.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, blackcurrants, anise, cassis, dark cherry, graphite, sage, thyme, tobacco leaf, cocoa, espresso and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 13.5% alcohol

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with dry aged steak.

Tasted: 27 April 2014

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

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

Clos Du Bois Marlstone 2010, Alexander Valley

A solid well balanced California Bordeaux style wine

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, licorice, anise, cassis, plums, cocoa, dates, leather, arugula and tobacco leaf. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: I confess I bought the wine because I liked the sophisticated label. Looked expensive and at $24.95, I figured why not. Yes, the store had confused the lesser Clos Du Bois Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that was priced at $24.95 with the Marlstone. Their loss my gain. Decanting for 30 min will smooth the wine out.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or and pair it with Bison.

Tasted: 22 July 2014

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Thymiopoulos Vineyards Yn Kai Oupavós Xinomavro 2010, Unfiltered, Naoussa

Medium light ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.
A smooth wine with good quality & the nose is to die for

Positives: This complex wine features pine, roses, blackberry, Bing cherry, raspberry, Star anise, Allspice, cinnamon & turn tamarind. Medium+ body and tannins, with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The name 'Earth and Sky' appears on the label in Greek, German, French, Japanese, English, and what appears to be a pictograph.

Drink now or in the next 3 years and pair it with Ruth Chris steak.

Tasted: 26 April 2014

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

Top Pick, Best Buy

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

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Mendocino County

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with high intensity on the nose. Positives: Lots of black fruits to go with cedar, anise, ribena, turmeric, pencil shavings, leather, arugula & a touch of spinach leaf on the finish. Medium body, medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The wine is organic.

Pleasant drinking wine that can be drank now or over the next 2 years on its own or paired prime rib.

Tasted: 31 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fèvre Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru 2008, Ac

Medium straw colour with low intense nose.

Positives: Very easy drinking and good minerality that one would expect from a 1er Cru Chablis that is further enhanced by honeysuckle, lemon, mandarin, stone fruit, granny apple & pink grapefruit. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This wine won silver at the 2010 Concours Vignerons Independants. I was able to pick this wine up for $22.40 which would make it a best buy.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Blue Point oysters.

Tasted: 25 May 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Bonny Doon Beeswax Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc 2008, Arroyo Seco, Central Coast

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

Positives: Notes of Verbena, lemon oil, honeysuckle, beeswax, apricots, peach, almonds, ripe pear, cantaloupe & shale. There is some oak but it’s well integrated. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High Alcohol. Interesting Things: This winery is biodynamic & I like the traditional old world wine label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters in a honey-ginger vinegrette.

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Post House Penny Black 2008, Wo Stellenbosch

Dark ruby in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, mesquite, blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, leather, pencil shavings, turmeric, plum, black & red peppers on the nose. Medium+ tannins, good acidity, long length & full body. Surprisingly the high alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: A little austere.

Interesting Point: Use a Shiraz style glassware as I found other glassware accentuated the austerity. After an hour the wine had more Cab notes.

Tasted: 7 Dec 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4