todd10

Hamilton Russel Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016

I was surprised that this wine was not too fruity. It's aromas and taste were more like cigar box. Do not get me wrong, I really enjoyed this. Smooth tannins, and nice long finish.
I would say, do not decant this wine. It was nice to taste it evolving. It started mostly cigar box, but after a while the taste of black fruit started to appear. I love when I have a wine that every glass taste a little different.

Tasted May 2020

Masi Costasera Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2015, Docg

This wine had one of the longest finishes that I have had in recent memory. This was a very tasty wine with near perfect balance. The tannins are just enough.
Now, to the aromas. At first, I was getting cassis and leather. This was slowly evolving with different aromas. About an hour after I opened it, I was even getting a wonderful smell of toffee.
If you can drink this over a couple of hours, I would recommend that. Do not decant, just enjoy the ride as this wine evolves into something different with every passing minute.
Tasted Aug 2022

Dutschke St Jakobi Single Vineyard Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, South Australia

The is one of those wines that I would consider delicious. The aroma's that I received were cherry, oak and perhaps raspberry. The flavor is what sold this wine. I found some delicious cherry flavors with a perfect hint of oak in the back ground. Considering that this wine is a shiraz, I did not find the tannins too strong at all. In fact I was happy I was eating cheese with this and not a steak. Beautiful finish.
I did not find this wine evolving throughout the evening so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted November 2021

Amarone Cavolo 2015, Amarone Della Valpolicella Docg

I was getting note's of dried fruit, I am thinking fig. This had nice balance, and smooth tannins. Flavors of cherry and a little leather.
Throughout the evening, I did not find that this wine evolved so I see no reason to decant.
It was a nice wine, but it would have been nice to be a little more complexed as I have tasted in other Amarone's. Tasted December 2021

Hidden Bench Chardonnay Felseck Vineyard 2017, Beamsville Bench

Aromas that I can best describe as buttery and nutty. This a full bodied wine. Nice long finish. Taste of pear and apple.

Tasted November 2021

D'arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2015, Mclaren Vale

I was very excited to try this wine. Sadly, it was not as great as I was hoping for. I was getting aromas of earthy notes and dark fruit. Nice tannins and acidity. Flavours of dark fruit. Seemed to get better the longer it was out, so I would suggest to decant for an hour or so.
Might be best to drink in a few more years.

Tasted June 2020

Michele Castellani Cinque Stelle Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2016, Collezione Ca' Del Pipa, Docg

When I first opened this wine, I was getting notes of dark fruit. Not just notes, but like my glass was filled with beautifully ripe fruit. I enjoyed how these aromas evolved throughout the evening to notes of oak, vanilla and toffee.
The taste of this wine blew me away. It was a perfectly balanced wine. At first, I tasted cherry. Then I thought...cherry cola. This may sound like an odd description but it worked. I loved it. Later I was getting more oak. The finish had a perfect heat on it.
I am sad this was my only bottle.
Tasted January 2022

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Marlborough, South Island

I loved all the flavour and aromas popping from this wine. Mostly grapefruit, but some flint too. Perfect crispness that I would expect from a Sauvignon blanc. I enjoyed this wine a lot, would have loved it more on a warm day on the patio.
Tasted September 2023

Martinez Lacuesta Gran Reserva 2010, D.O.Ca Rioja Alta

Aromas of oak, and molasses and bay leaf. Nice grippy tannins. I enjoyed what I could best describe as a "cigar box flavor" on the finish (you will see what I mean).
Tasted August 2023

Tornatore Etna Rosso Trimarchisa 2016, D.O.C. Etna

This wine had an interesting nose. I was getting aromas of soya sauce and black tea leaves. I enjoy when wine have unusual character like this one.
This wines balance was good and pretty good length too with taste of cherries.
I like the back ground story of these grapes only growing on the slopes of Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna.
Tasted August 2022