Michael Loken

Cave Spring Cabernet Franc 2012, VQA Niagara Escarpment

This wine presented with sour cherry on the nose, and a generous amount of oak. When tasted against other Cabernet Francs in the same price range from Ontario, it just came up a bit short.

Tasted blind at a Beefsteak & Burgundy Club event, April 2015.

Tic Tok Pocketwatch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Central Ranges

This was purchased for less than $9 a bottle when the LCBO discontinued the product. At that price, it was a steal. The flavour profile is full of dark berries, plums with a bit of oak. The wine is not overly complex and does not really develop much in the glass - but at the price paid, it is guilt free drinking.

Bodegas Volcanes De Chile Summit Reserva Cabernet Syrah 2013

Volcanes Summit Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013

The taste shows the fact that the grapes are grown in volcanic soil - and in a nice way. The aroma has a pleasant, earthy quality to it. The taste is tempered with moderate acidity and a medium finish. A good wine for the price.

Mission Hill 5 Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2012, VQA Okanagan Valley

A nice wine; balanced and smooth with soft dark fruit notes. Not a grippy or rustic wine, but a crown pleaser that worked well with a pot luck dinner.

Henry Of Pelham Baco Noir 2013, VQA Ontario

A reasonable wine with a reasonable flavour profile. This wine will definitely not offend any tastes, but just lacked the depth of flavour I was looking for and had found in some of their reserve Baco Noirs.

Miguel Torres Santa Digna Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Curicó Valley

Finca El Origen Gran Reserva Malbec 2011, Uco Valley, Mendoza

A lovely dark purple/garnet colour with flavours of dark fruits and charred wood. A slightly drier finish than other Malbecs tasted. This wine impressed some in the group who are not fond of this varietal.

Tasted blind at a Beefsteak and Burgundy Club event, Feb. 2015

Balbás Reserva 2005, Do Ribera Del Duero

Fowles Stone Dwellers Chardonnay 2013, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria

A nice, easy drinking wine with flavors of melon, honeydew and a nice amount of buttery oak. Quite pleasing.