Michael Loken

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

Château Saint Roch Chimères 2012, Ac Côtes Du Roussillon Villages

This wine is full and powerful and hot. The high alcohol content gives the wine a warming character, but in a very controlled way. The flavour and aroma are full of ripe red fruits, pepper and even hints of cumin. This was an excellent wine for the price, and continued to reinforce the fact that Roussillion wines are full of value.

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.

D'angelo Aglianico Del Vulture 2010, Doc Basilicata

Dry and dusty with flavours of cedar, tobacco and mineral earth, this is a really interesting wine. The dry finish was not overpowering for people around my dinner table, but it could be unappealing if you don't like dry reds. A great bottle for fans of rustic, Italian wines.

Cave Spring Riesling Dry 2013, Niagara Peninsula

Long Weekend Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula