Jason Solanki

Treana Chardonnay 2021, Central Coast

Screw cap. Rich, fragrant aromas of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, pineapple, butter, and poached apple rise out of the glass. On the medium-full bodied palate it is ripe, creamy, and sweet with oak-influenced flavours of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, lemon, pineapple, butter, and apple. The textured mid-palate gives way to smoky, toasty oak flavours on the finish, with good length. A crowd-pleasing Chardonnay. Tasted Feb. 2023.

Manos Negras Stone Soil Malbec 2019, Paraje Altamira, Mendoza

This has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose of distinctive earthy-stony mineral aromas layered over ripe dark berry, blackberry, cool herbs, spices, and hints of black plum. It's mid-weighted on the dry, salty palate with lovely dark berry, blackberry, spices, and stony mineral flavours which are supported by fresh, bright, and juicy acidity. Supple tannins are well-structured and lightly chalky textured. Lovely stony mineral notes linger on the long, savoury finish. Tasted Mar. 2023.

La Posta Malbec Rosé 2023, Tupungato, Valle De Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers grapefruit, white pepper spice, and dried herb aromas with accents of mineral, blood orange, citrus, and red cherry. It has good weight on the dry, medium-full bodied palate with delicious grapefruit, dried herb, peppery spice, red currant-cherry, and citrus flavours. Acids are juicy and succulent, joined by some palate warmth on the mid-palate. Dried herbs, peppery spice, red currant-cherry, and mineral notes linger on the crisp and dry finish, with very good length. Tasted May 2024. Score: 88+ pts

Featherstone Rosé 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Sustainable, Vegan

This blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 28% Gewürztraminer has a ripe, fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of red fruited strawberry, rhubarb, and cherry with some melon and citrus adding further interest. On the palate, it comes off with just a kiss of sweetness due to the bright acidity and has very nice aroma replays on the flavour profile joined by some peppery spice notes. It’s nicely textured with white pepper notes lingering on the long, juicy, crisp, and dry finish. Tasted May 2024.

Avondale Jonty's Ducks Pekin Red 2018, Wo Paarl

This organic wine is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot has a fresh, ripe, bright red, and dark red fruited nose joined by sweet oak spice, cherry, licorice, and touches of candied plum aromas. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied with smooth, rounded tannins and fresh acidity which lifts the very nice licorice and red cherry aroma replays on the flavour profile. It has good structure and very good length on the juicy finish. Tasted June 2024.

Susana Balbo Críos Malbec 2022, Valle De Uco

The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose is slightly reductive with attractive aromas of earthy dark berry, blackberry, violet, black cherry, and black plum, with touches of oak spices. It's medium+ bodied on the dry palate with ripe dark berry, black cherry, blackberry, violet, and earthy oak spice flavours. Acids are crisp and fresh, while the fine-grained, lightly textured tannins have lightly structured. Some warmth on the mid-palate. Quite grippy and chalky textured on the lengthy, savoury, and earthy finish. Tasted Nov. 2024. Score: 88+ pts

Villa Sandi Il Fresco Millesimato Brut Rosé Prosecco 2023, D.O.C.

A blend of Glera and Pinot Nero, this has elegant and fresh red berry, cherry, raspberry, and citrusy nose of medium to medium-high intensity. The attractive and pretty aromas echo on the palate with lovely red cherry, citrusy, and raspberry replays on the flavour profile. Acids are crisp and refreshing, along with clean, and well-balanced mousse. There's some sweetness, to be sure, while the finish is long and persistent. Tasted May 2024. Score: 90+ pts

Chakana Bonarda 2007, Mendoza

Made with 'Bonarda' grapes, this wine has sweet, ripe, dark fruit, earth and light oak aromas. Raspberry, milk chocolate flavours. Light-medium bodied. Ripe. Starts off extremely dry, and fruit comes forward at mid-length. Very dry and tasty. Tasted Jan/2011.

Candor Lot 7 Zinfandel, Lodi

A blend of grapes from Paso Robles and Lodi appellations, from the 2008 (6%), 2009 (78%) and 2010 (16%) vintages. Smells very green with ripe fruits and sour cherry aromas. Medium-bodied, slightly off-dry with notes of raisins, red plums and is slightly jammy. Good acidity with medium-length finish. Tasted Feb/2013.

Château Des Charmes Old Vines Cabernet/Merlot 2005, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Estate Btld.

2007 vintage. Sweet cedar, vanilla and dark fruit aromas. Has luscious flavours of coconut, cedar and currants. Very nice, integrated tannins in this full-bodied red wine. Tasted Jan/2013.

2007 vintage. Aromas of barnyard and dark fruit with replays on the palate, some chocolate notes. Very dry with chalky tannins. Needs time. Tasted June/2012.

2006 vintage. Notes of currant, cassis, mint, oak and chocolate. Smooth and silky tannins make their presence felt. Tastes expensive. Tasted Jan/2012.