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
Tornatore Pietrarizzo Etna Rosso 2021, Doc
Sicily, Italy$40.95
This 100% Nerello Mascalese is bright, open, and fresh, with a medium-high to highly aromatic nose featuring very attractive red cherry, berry, and licorice aromas nuanced with rose petal, and spice. On the well-structured, medium+ bodied palate it has lovely, well-balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by slightly tangy acidity and nicely structured and grippy tannins. Structured and impeccably balanced on the exceptionally long finish. Tasted May 2025. Score: 92+ pts
4.0 Stars
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Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2020, Traditional Method, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$29.95
Aged for 7 months on lees and 28 months sur lattes, this has an elegant, citrusy, hay, orchard fruit, green apple, quince, and pear aromas of generous intensity. On the palate it's dry with elegant and charming bubbles which lift the minerally and spice flavours accented by some autolytic and leesy notes. It has clean acidity that delivers a fine mouthfeel, while the crisp finish has very good length. Tasted June 2024.
4.0 Stars
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Villa Maria Southern Clays Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Marlborough, New Zealand$29.95
Bottled recently. With many months on yeast lees, this has fresh, lemony, stone fruit, citrus, herbs, and some yeasty/leesy characters, as well as earthy mineral aromas. On the medium-full bodied palate, it is rich, creamy and nicely textured with very nice citrusy, peach, and grapefruit flavours supported by juicy acids. Very good length on the finish. Needs another 1-2 years to really show itself. Tasted Mar/2020. Score: 91+ pts
4.0 Stars
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Villa Maria Taylors Pass Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$29.95
From a site next to the Awatere River on stony and silt soils, this has a fairly intense flinty mineral, citrus, herbal, and lemongrass nose that is a touch creamy on the medium+ bodied palate and balanced with lively acids. Nicely textured and quite minerally on palate with herbal and lemon citrus notes that continue through to the finish with excellent length. A serious Sauvignon Blanc for the table to enjoy over the next 4+ years. Tasted Mar/2020. Score: 91+ pts
4.0 Stars
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Jean-max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2020, Ac
Loire, France$37.95
Lovely, intense aromas of lemon/lime citrus, white floral, and spice layered over stony minerals with a hint of white peach. It has very good weight on the medium-full to full-bodied palate. Elegant citrus, white floral, and stony mineral flavour replays are lifted by fresh, juicy acidity. There's a nice, subtle chalky texture on the mid-palate, while citrus, leesy-stony mineral and floral notes linger on the very long, crisp, and balanced finish. Tasted Sept. 2022.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Pierre Amadieu Domaine Grand Romane Cuvée Prestige Vieilles Vignes 2017, Ac Gigondas
Rhône, France$32.95
A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah grown at 400 metres elevation on pebbly limestone terroir that has a ripe, medium-high intensity nose of wild berry, blackberry, sweet and peppery spices. It's medium-full bodied with very nice, ripe fruited aroma replays plus stony mineral and spice adding complexity. Quite structured with fine tannins, balanced acids, and some warmth on the mid-palate. Excellent finish length with a slightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the finish. Tasted Jan/2020.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Bertani Amarone Della Valpolicella Valpantena 2020, Docg
Veneto, Italy$39.80
80/20 Corvina & Rondinella. The nose takes some coaxing to reveal itself at this stage with intriguing red & black cherry, blackberry, and spice aromas followed by hints of cocoa, cinnamon, tobacco leaf, and floral. It is medium-full to full-bodied on the dry, rich, and warming palate with lovely and complex black cherry, savoury spice, cinnamon, blackberry, floral, plum, oak spice, tobacco leaf flavours. Acids are crisp, juicy and succulent, while the smooth, refined, and well-structured tannins have a touch of grip. Cherry notes taper to minerals on the long, crisp finish. Tasted Jan. 2024.
4.0 Stars
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Col D'Orcia Brunello Di Montalcino 2017, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$54.95
This organic and pure Sangiovese has lovely bright red cherry, dark currant, and earthy aromas of high intensity. It's medium-full to full-bodied with structured, grippy, and drying tannins, along with juicy acidity that supports the lovely ripe red cherry, earthy, and subtle oak spice flavours. A touch of warm on the mid-palate that lingers on the finish, with excellent length. Should provide pleasure to the end of the decade. Tasted Sept. 2022. Score: 92+ pts
4.0 Stars
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Lavau Gigondas 2018, A.C.Gigondas
Rhône, France$34.95
Blend of old Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre has a lovely, intense nose of spices, black pepper5 & dark berries with meaty, licorice, black cherry & smoky mineral, plus hints of violets adding further complexity. On the structured, medium-full bodied palate it is very ripe with black & blueberry, smoky mineral, black pepper spice, black raspberry, and licorice flavours supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Slightly chalky on the mid-palate and beautifully balanced throughout with lovely flavour replays lingering on the long, smoky mineral finish. Tasted Jan/2022.
4.0 Stars
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Deux Roches Les Pommards 2021, A.O.C. Saint Véran
Burgundy, France$50.95
Richly elegant, medium-high intensity aromas of stone & orchard fruits, nectarine, honeysuckle, plus floral, vanilla, oak spice, flinty mineral & hints of mushroom add intrigue & complexity. Impressively concentrated on dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate w/ rich & lovely honeyed, nutty, vanilla oak spice surrounding core of ripe orchard fruit, nectarine & floral. Nicely textured w/ very good structure & juicy, mouth-watering acidity. Somewhat youthful on structured & textured finish w/ tangy stone fruit & flinty mineral notes lingering on finish, w/ excellent length. Tasted Dec. 2024.
4.0 Stars
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