Jason Solanki
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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
Rocca Delle Macìe Single Vineyard Riserva Di Fizzano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2015, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$34.95
The 2015 is a blend of 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino and offers a complex and elegant mix of savoury earth, spice, black and red cherry with a touch of dried floral aromas. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with lovely dried cherry and floral notes, plus sweet baking spice, forest floor, tobacco, leathery. and cherry liqueur flavours. Acids are juicy and well-balanced while tannins are smooth and refined with a touch of grip on the back palate. Forest floor with some dried cherry and floral notes linger on the savoury finish, with excellent length. Tasted Oct/2020. Score: 91+ pts
Invivo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago, South Island
Central Otago, New Zealand$24.95
This is a powerful Pinot with both red and dark berry fruit - think raspberry, strawberry, and blackberry - along with some lovely tea leaf and floral aromas adding interest and complexity. Lovely aromas replays, plus some oak spice on the medium-full bodied palate with very good fruit concentration. It has juicy acids and medium+ tannins, while the finish length is excellent. Tasted Oct/2019.
Elephant Hill Merlot/Cabernet/Malbec 2016, Hawke's Bay, North Island
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand$28.95
Blend of 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Elegant, medium-high intensity aromatics featuring kirsch, plum, black currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice notes. It’s full-ish bodied with delicious aroma replays plus Christmas cake and wood spice notes adding complexity. Acids are juicy, while tannins are structured and a touch drying. More wood spice and dark berry tones come through on the long finish. Tasted Mar/2020.
Château Hauchat 2018, Ac Fronsac
Bordeaux, France$17.95
100% Merlot. Open, fragrant, and highly aromatic on the nose with lovely, complex mix of black raspberry, savoury, earthy, green herbs, currant, and wood spice aromas with graphite and mineral accents. It's medium+ bodied on the chewy ripe, and slightly warming palate with delicious dark berry, black raspberry, blackberry, earthy, and graphite, savoury cocoa, and wood spice flavours. Still showing fine balance with balanced acids and maturing, palate-coating, dusty, and chalky-textured tannins. Savoury, graphite, and dark berry notes linger on the long, satisfying finish. Tasted Nov/2021.
Paddy Borthwick Sauvignon Blanc Wairarapa 2020, Wairarapa
Wairarapa, New Zealand$19.95
Fresh, medium-high intensity nose features tropical fruit aromas of guava, kiwi, and passion fruit with hints of grassy notes. It has very good weight on the ripe palate with pleasing aroma replays that are supported by balanced acidity. Very good length on the crisp, clean finish. Tasted May 2022.
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2019, Valle De Uco, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$20.95
100% Malbec from Altamira (70%) and Los Chacayes (30%). The intense, bright, and spicy nose offers aromas of dark berry, purple fruit, stony mineral, and dried herbs. The chewy, medium+ bodied palate has lovely spicy, dark berry, and purple fruited flavours with stony mineral notes adding interest. It's framed by fresh, lively acidity and refined, supple tannins that have a slightly dusty/grippy texture, leading to a nicely balanced, juicy, spicy, and savoury finish, with very good length. Tasted July/2021.
Indomita Old Vines Dry Farmed Gran Reserva Carignan 2018, Do Maule Valley
Maule Valley, Chile$17.95
The medium-high intensity nose is ripe with a mix of red and black fruits like raspberry, cherry, and blackberry nuanced with rustic, earthy, and dried spice aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with juicy, sour acidity to support the very saline, red and black berry fruit, and charcuterie flavours surrounding the savoury core. Slightly dusty tannins are subtly textured and well-integrated. Nicely balanced throughout with pleasing earthy, savoury notes lingering on the long finish. Tasted Jan/2021.
Margan Family Hunter Valley Semillon 2018, Hunter Valley
New South Wales, Australia$18.95
The medium-high intensity nose is elegant with distinctive lanolin, earthy mineral, grapefruit citrus, lemon, and floral aromas. It's light-to-medium bodied on the dry, racy palate with bright acidity and flavours of lanolin, citrus, floral, and touches of herb. Very good length with citrus, herb, earthy mineral notes lingering on the juicy finish. Tasted Feb/2021.
La Chevalière Rasteau 2017, A.O.C. Rasteau
Rhône, France$20.95
Mainly Grenache plus Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. The medium-high intensity and fresh aromatics are intriguingly herbal with spice, dark red berry, raspberry, and touches of stone, charcuterie and meaty notes adding further interest. The medium-full bodied palate is rich, structured and slightly warming with dark red berry, garrigue, licorice, spice, clove, and hints of plum flavours. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the structured tannins are smooth, refined and have a subtle chalky texture. Savoury and earthy notes come to the fore on the long, juicy finish. Tasted Feb/2021.
Zuccardi Q Chardonnay Gualtallary And El Peral 2019, Uco Valley, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$19.95
The medium-high intensity aromatics are ripe with stone fruit, pear, apple, and citrus with hints of pineapple and banana. It's medium-full bodied on the ripe, fruit forward palate with stone fruit, apple, and pear flavours along with a touch of vanilla in a slightly honeyed profile. Acids are crisp and fresh, while leesy mineral notes come through on the long, slightly spicy, chalky textured finish. Lovely! Tasted Mar/2021.