Trevor Sabourin

Cave De Rasteau La Domelière Rasteau 2012, Ac

Good value. Red plum, dark cherry, raspberry jam, tobacco, leather, touch of violet, and ample spice character (clove, anise, and black pepper) on the nose. Good tension on the palate, with tart red fruit and spice dominating. Good body and medium tannins. Medium-high acids. Finishes with cherry, raspberry, clove, and cocoa.

Jackson Triggs Delaine Fume Blanc 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Nicely balanced oak character, doesn't completely hide the fruit. Fairly complex bouquet of ripe pink grapefruit, lemon zest, yellow apple, pineapple, melon, buttered toast, vanilla, clove, roasted almond, and green grass. Similar on the palate, but with the yellow apple and tropical fruit more to the fore. Round, creamy, and medium-full bodied. Excellent acidity. My only complaint is that there is a touch of astringency (from the wood?). Try with herb-roasted chicken.

Capezzana Barco Reale Di Carmignano 2012, Doc

Great sangiovese/cabernet sauvignon blend (with cab. franc and canaiolo). Bright red fruit, cassis, tobacco, violet, green bell pepper, mint, cocoa, and forest floor aromas. The fruit is very ripe, but not jammy, on the palate. The other aromas repeat, along with just a touch of sangiovese nuttiness. Medium high acidity and tannins, but beautifully integrated and drinkable. Good length, finishing with red fruit, cocoa, almond, and floral notes.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier 2014

Château Maris Las Combes Minervois Cru La Livinière 2009, Ac

Lots of cooked/dried fruit on the nose (blackberry jam, prune, and fig) along with some smoke, baking spice, and a bit of cured meat. Tons of presence on the palate, yet smooth and supple, and gaining complexity with some molasses, coffee, and menthol coming out. Medium tannins and acidity, and surprisingly well balanced given the 16% alcohol. Medium long finish with blackberry, plum, and coffee.

Bartier Bros. Merlot Cerqueira Vineyard 2012

Dominated by fresh dark fruit (plums, dark cherry, cassis), with some lovely violet, sage, mint, and baking spices. Just a touch of bell pepper and black peppercorn add to these on the palate, but the fruit remains to the fore. Medium full bodied, with vibrant acidity and pleasantly grippy tannins to match. Good length. Excellent balance and restraint.

Almansa Laya 2014

A big, plush, smoky blend of Garnacha (Grenache) and Monastrell. The nose is dominated by smoke, cocoa, incense, and exotic cardamom and clove, but there is a good deal of ripe plum, blueberry and blackberry fruit too, along with touches of cedar, vanilla, tobacco, and black earth. The palate is a pleasingly balanced mix of juicy plum and blackberry, cocoa, tobacco, some gamey/leather notes and more cardamom and clove. The wine is full-bodied, round and mouthfilling, and has medium acidity and tannins to keep things balanced. The finish of black fruit, cocoa, and exotic spice is fairly long

Konzelmann Shiraz 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Sweet fruit (black plums, dark cherry, and raspberry), balances with oak vanilla and cocoa notes, along with strong black pepper and a touch of anise and meatiness on the nose. Repeats on the palate, with stronger dark chocolate notes. Medium-full bodied, with moderate acidity and tannins. It is not bone dry, and comes across as very plush and easy to drink, though it is somewhat simple and one-dimensional. A good value wine to pair with simple barbequed foods or perhaps pizza.

Santa Carolina Merlot Reserva 2014, Colchagua Valley

While not complex, this value priced Chilean merlot offers excellent varietal character of pure dark cherry, raspberry, and plum fruit, with a touch of bell pepper, on the nose and palate. There are also gentle hints of vanilla and tobacco. The tannins are very soft, but there is enough acidity to hold this medium-bodied wine together.

Time Cabernet Franc 2014, Okanagan Valley

This wine has great potential, and is a steal at $20. However, it is not too drinkable right now, as the high tannins are not integrated yet, and dominate the palate currently. However, the nose is already beautifully lifted, bright, and floral: Red plum, cassis, dark cherry, violet, roasted red pepper, cocoa, vanilla, mint, and licorice. Medium-high acidity, with some tart raspberry, and coffee on the palate. I wouldn't touch this for a couple years. Tasted Oct. 2015.