Jason Solanki
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Reviews (3283)
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Wine lover since 2001! My interest in wine began while touring the factory where they printed the LCBO VINTAGES magazine.
Over time, my passion for wine grew. Now, I am highly regarded by friends and colleagues as a resource for when they need a wine for that special occasion, be it an anniversary, birthday, wedding, gatherings at home, or when they want to impress their special friend or the In-Laws.
Combining my interest in the Internet/web/computers, you can find me at https://vintagewinepicks.blogspot.com where you will find more wine reviews, events and contests.
Reviews
Planeta Controdanza Noto Nero D'avola 2020, Doc Noto
Sicily, Italy$24.95
85/15 Nero d'Avola & Merlot. Medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely, slightly perfumed bouquet of dried roses, floral, fresh & dried cherry, sweet spice & leather aromas w/ undertones of savoury earth & minerals. Medium-full bodied palate is dry & chewy w/ a fairly firm structure & delicious balsamic flavours joining the black cherry, floral, leather & spices. Some dried berry & floral characters add further interest. Lemony acids are fresh & juicy. Refined, slightly drying tannins have good grip & structure. Minerally & gently spicy on long, savoury finish. Tasted Apr. 2025. Score: 90+ pts
3.5 Stars
(0)V+(9)O
Aganis Di Flabe Ribolla Gialla 2023, Doc Colli Orientali Del Friuli
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy$19.25
Fresh, medium-high intensity nose is very pretty, evoking spring flowers layered over ripe lemon citrus, orchard fruit, apple, pear, white peach & honeysuckle aromas + touches of ripe tropical fruit. Medium+ bodied w/ good weight & concentration. Dry & slightly honeyed w/ lovely floral, lemon citrus, ripe apple-pear & white peach flavours nuanced w/ mild spice & leesy notes adding savoury complexities. Fleshy & almost rich mouthfeel, acids are well-balanced & juicy. Gently spicy w/ citrus, orchard fruit, floral flavours tapering to leesy notes on long finish. Tasted Mar. 2025. Score: 90+ pts
3.5 Stars
(73)V
Kew Rosalie Rosé Sparkling 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Traditional Method
Ontario, Canada$32.95
100% Pinot Noir with 5 years of lees aging. Generous and bright aromas of ripe, citrusy, tangy, and brioche characters rise out of the glass with touches of autolytic notes. It's light-to-medium bodied on the dry palate with crisp, vibrant acidity and finely beaded bubbles. It has citrusy, brioche, and toasty flavour replays in a slightly tangy profile on the mid-palate. Clean, crisp acidity carries you through to the dry finish, with very good length. Tasted Apr. 2025. Score: 90+ pts
3.5 Stars
(98)V
Bertani Sereole Soave 2023, Doc
Veneto, Italy$19.95
This Garganega as a medium to medium+ intensity that nose offers lemon citrus with hay, ripe orchard fruit, and touches of vanillin oak aromas. The dry, medium+ bodied palate has a crunchy mouthfeel supported by fresh acidity and delicious citrus, lemon peel, ripe apple, and vanilla flavours. Touch creamy on the mouthfeel. Some herbal notes join the vanilla, citrus, and apple notes on the finish, with very good length. Tasted May 2025.
3.5 Stars
(146)V
Mazzei Ser Lapo Riserva Chianti Classico 2021, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$24.95
90/10 Sangiovese and Merlot. Lovely, bright, and medium-high intensity nose of ripe Morello cherry, strawberry, and currant aromas surrounding a core of savoury earth and accented with herbs and oak spice. The medium+ body has good weight and concentration and nicely balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by fresh and lively acidity, along with gritty textured and slightly firm tannins. Touch tangy on the mid-palate. Really pleasing throughout with savoury, Morello cherry, strawberry, and currant notes lingering on the long, balanced finish. Tasted Apr. 2025.
3.5 Stars
(0)V+(24)O
Perez Cruz Piedra Seca Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Sustainable, Do Maipo Andes, Valle Del Maipo
Maipo Valley, Chile$22.95
This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc has a slightly reserved, yet fresh, medium to medium-high intensity nose that is ripe with blackberry, minerally, dark berry, and cassis aromas accented with a vanilla sheen. It's medium-full to full-bodied and dry on the spicy palate with all of the aromas echoing on the flavour profile and supported by very good, fresh acidity, and well-structured tannins. Earthy notes carry you through to the long, structured finish. Tasted Nov. 2024.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Bachelder Kirby Vineyard Gamay Noir 2022, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$27.95
Using 43% whole clusters, this has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose of dark red fruits, cherry, raspberry, currant, cranberry aromas nuanced with herbs, pepper, and spice. All of aromas come through on the delicious, dry, and medium to medium-full bodied palate, and joined by subtle oak spice notes. It's well-structured with light tannins and juicy acidity. Finish is long and juicy. Tasted May 2025.
3.5 Stars
(6)V
Sorelle Bronca L'est Brut Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore, Docg
Prosecco, Italy$21.25
From an average of 40 year old vines, minimum 95% Glera, and Bianchetta and Perera completing the blend. This has a fragrant, medium-high intensity, and attractive nose of ripe pear, lemon citrus, and grapefruit aromas. It's a shade off-dry (i.e. hint of sweetness) with a creamy mouthfeel and lovely aroma replays of lemon, pear drop, and grapefruit flavours by supported fresh acidity. Some elegance to the crisp bubbles. Clean and well-balanced, with some leesy minerals and Flintstones vitamins appearing on the long finish. Tasted May 2025.
3.5 Stars
(305)V
Kir Yianni Xinomavro Rosé 2024, Pgi Macedonia, Vegan
Macedonia, Greece$19.95
Tasted May 2025. Score: 90+ pts (Update coming soon)
3.5 Stars
(128)V
Hidden Bench Gamay 2023, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Sustainable, Unfiltered
Ontario, Canada$29.95
The lifted, medium-high intensity nose is reductive with bretty and barnyard aromas off the top, followed by dark cherry, currant, forest berry, and oak spice notes. On the day, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has very good concentration and lovely black cherry, cran-cherry, currant, peppery spice, and integrated oak spice flavours. It's well-structured with very good acidity, alongside smooth tannins. Earthy and savoury with reductive touches on the long finish. Tasted Oct. 2025. Score: 90+ pts
3.5 Stars
(1000+)V+(23)O