todd10

Galerie Latro Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Very wonderful wine. The nose I was getting cherry, pepper, and a little leather.When I tasted it, I was in love. Flavors of dark fruit mixed with this very well balanced wine. About 45 minutes later I was tasting dark chocolate with this fruit. If these flavors held-up, I would even give a better score. After about hours, the flavors that I loved dissipated. But that does not mean it is not a great wine, just drink within 90 minutes to get the best of it.
Tasted Aug 2019

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2019, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment

I purchased this when I saw that it won Platinum. It was a nice wine with some complexity. I started drinking this wine at 10C. At that temperature, I was getting aromas of butter, with a hint of lemon and stone. Of course while this cooled down it lost some of its complexity, so I would suggest serving this at 10C to 13C.
Nice balanced wine. Medium finish and medium bodied.
Tasted August 2022

Le Parvis Châteauneuf-du-pape 2017, Ac, Rhône

I found the aromas of this wine to be over powered by the alcohol. I was getting your typical dark fruit but not much more beyond that. However, where the aroma's lacked, the taste did not. I was getting a delicious taste of dark chocolate with cherry. Nice acidity. I enjoyed the grippy tannins. A little heat on the finish was a nice touch.
This wine did not evolve throughout the evening, so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted March 2022

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

Urbina Reserva 1998, Doca Rioja

The was my first wine that I had that was over 20 years old. I realized right away that all the almost all the primary fruit flavors are gone. I was getting hints of tobacco and leather. At this point I was happy. As the night progressed, the wine did not get any better. The wine was good at the beginning, I loved the secondary notes of leather, tobacco and oak. But as the night progressed, the already very light tannin's seemed to get even light taking the balance out of wack. I would suggest do not decant this and the faster you can drink this (share with friends) the better.
Tasted Feb 2020

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2017, Docg

I wanted to enjoy this wine as much as others in this review did, however, I found it underwhelming. I did get notes of plum, black pepper and clay pot. This wine has strong mouth drying tannins. It has some taste of dark fruit.
I started this bottle at 14C. I thought that perhaps when it warmed up, it would open up. But not only did it not get more complexed, I found that the flavours got muted. This made no sense, but that is what happened.
I would say no need to decant based on that experience.
I hope in another couple years that the complexities will open up more.
Tasted October 2022

Two Sisters Cabernet Franc 2016, VQA Niagara River

I found the nose a little simple. I was getting some black pepper, a little oak and the usual dark fruit. But what I did enjoy was the nice flavors of this wine. Beautiful flavors of dark fruit with a hint of oak. A nice acidity, and the tannins in my opinion were perfect (not too heavy, not too light). Over the evening I did not find that this wine evolved so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted March 2021

Tedeschi Ansari Amarone Della Valpolicella 2019, Docg, Sustainable

This wasn’t a fruit-forward wine, which I actually appreciated for a change. It showed a firm grip from the tannins, but I found the level to be just right—noticeable without being overpowering. I was surprised to learn it clocks in at 16.5% alcohol; I would have guessed closer to 14%, as there was no unusual heat on the finish. As Michael Godel noted, this wine likely needs a few more years to fully develop its secondary character. That said, after some time in the glass, I began to pick up subtle black licorice aromas, which added a nice layer of complexity.
Tasted July 2025

Perrin & Fils Les Sinards Châteauneuf-du-pape 2020, A.C.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of my go-to wines, but this particular bottle left me underwhelmed. On the nose, it offered promising notes of licorice and cherry, which had me eager for the first sip. Unfortunately, the palate lacked the depth and complexity I’ve come to expect from this region.

To its credit, the wine did improve with time, so I’d recommend decanting to allow it to open up. Still, it never quite delivered the rich leather and earthy tones that I typically look for in a Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Tasted June 2025

Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2018, Napa Valley

I feel bad giving this at 89 when I see so many great scores. This is a nice tasting wine, but to me it was very typical of a nice red. Good dark, fruit, a little peppery, firm tannins but not too much. It was good. The 89 is because I did not get the complexity that many others did. The wine did not evolve throughout the evening either. I like when I can taste a wine evolve is it breaths.
Still good though.
Tasted June 2023