Jason Solanki

Sperling Brut Reserve 2011, BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Fairly intense nose is very autolytic in nature, plus some brioche, lemon citrus, and honeyed aromas add to the complexity. Still crisp and lively on the nicely dry palate with fine acidity and persistent mousse. Lovely, creamy texture and very fresh, ending with some waxy and nutty notes on the very long finish. Blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tasted June/2019.

Megalomaniac Bubblehead Rose, Niagara Peninsula

Made with 100% Pinot Noir, this bubbly has a lovely, fragrant, autolytic nose that is clean and precise with toasty, leesy, brioche, bread, pastry aromas along with red berry and strawberry notes. The palate has appealing red berry and strawberry replays, plus autolytic brioche characters supported by fresh, vibrant acids and fine, balanced mousse. Excellent length on the long, clean finish. Tasted Feb/2020.

Pieropan Soave Classico 2016, Doc

Ripe tropical fruit, pink grapefruit aromas with good intensity. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with a crunchy palate, bright acids and nice aroma replays plus some honeysuckle notes giving an impression of sweetness. The finish length is very good. An above-average, food-friendly Soave. Tasted June/2017.

Gardet Millésime Extra Brut Champagne 2012, Ac

A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, this has a medium-high intensity nose that is ripe with lemon sherbet, yeasty, fresh citrus and floral aromas and flavours. The palate is dry with crisp, balanced acids and flavours that show some maturity with touches of brioche and autolytic characters. Mousse is quite fine and the finish is long and crisp. Tasted Sept/2019.

Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Lovely lifted nose of bright red cherry, strawberry, and raspberry with terrific intensity, along with subtle hints of oak spice. It's light-to-medium bodied with silky smooth tannins and very nice aroma replays plus some earthy and beetroot notes. Acids are nicely balanced, while the finish is long with currant nuances. Yum! Tasted Oct/2017.

Domaine De La Cendrillon Classique Corbières 2015, Ap

Tasted Nov/2019.

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2016, Prädikatswein

Lovely, highly aromatic nose offers flinty/stony mineral, floral, citrus, and orange notes with touches of stone fruit and peach. It's light-to-mid weighted with very good fruit concentration and lush, medium-sweet flavours of peach, melon, and orange. It has fine, well-delineated acids, while the finish length is excellent. Tasted Sept/2019.

Paringa Peninsula Shiraz 2016, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Domaine Daniel étienne Defaix Côtes De Lechet Chablis 1er Cru 2003, Ac

Subtle aromatics are initially reductive with waxy hints, along with some vegetal notes, eventually giving way to minerality. The palate is medium+ bodied with nice texture and rounded acids that still provide freshness. Nice lemon/lime, earthy and limestone mineral flavours come through on the palate. Finish length is excellent. Tasted Apr/2017.

Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling 2010, VQA Twenty Mile Bench

A blend of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir that spent 5.5 years on the lees. This is highly aromatic with bready, citrus, lemony aromas and flavours, joined by some yeasty notes on the medium+ bodied palate. There's fine mousse and some sweetness that's balanced by the bright acidity. Nice, lengthy finish. Tasted Mar/2017. Score: 90+ pts