todd10

Zuccardi Poligonos Malbec 2016, Tupungato Alto, Mendoza

The wine is dark purple. When first opened, it had wonderful aromas of cassis, black pepper and vanilla. Very strong tannin's. It will dry your mouth very fast. At this point, I would have loved to have a steak with it. About an hour later, I found the aromas dissipated a bit but the tannin's smoothed out a bit too. Even though the aromas soften, another aroma started to emerge...dark chocolate. This wine has dark fruit flavors. I would say the sweet spot for this wine is about an hour after opening.

Tasted May 2020

Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2017, St. David's Bench, Niagara On The Lake

This was a nice wine. However, I did not find any secondary or tertiary notes that really stood out, so that is why I gave this an 87. With that said, this wine did have notes of black fruit. It also has nice grippy tannins with some acidity. The finish is tasty as well, with some dark fruit flavors that linger.
This wine did not evolve throughout the evening, so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted February 2022.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Marlborough, South Island

I had the 2017 vintage a couple months ago. The 2017 was better. This was good too though.
The top take away from this wine was the length. I thought the length was well above average.
Aromas of lemon and fresh cut grass.
Taste of green apple and lychee. Very good acidity.
Although the wine was good at around 8C, while it sat in my wine chiller and got cooler, I did enjoy the wine more. It became more crisp and balanced.

Tasted May 2020

Domaine Chante Perdrix Châteauneuf Du Pape 2016, Ac

This was a great wine. Aromas of delicious dark fruit and a hint of vanilla. This was a very well balanced wine. Taste of dark fruit combined with dark chocolate. Long tasty finish.
Throughout the evening, I did not notice much change in the wine, so I see no reason to decant. It is great from the moment you open it.
Tasted May 2020

J. Dénuzière Crozes Hermitage 2018, Ac

This was a good wine but not as complexed as I was expecting. Notes of black fruit, pepper and a bit of wood. Nice dark fruit flavours. It was interesting to taste how much the tannins have calmed after a year and a half since the last reviews. I found the tannins were at a very nice level.
Throughout the evening, I did not notice any change in this wine, so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted November 2022

The Chocolate Block 2019, Wo Swartland, South Africa

This wine was okay but to me nothing too special. I was getting your basic dark fruit aromas. I will say that you should decant or wait a bit before you drink this. When I opened it at first it was very tight with no character. After about 30 minutes it did open up and I did enjoy it more.
Tasted Aug 2024

Zuani Vigne Bianco 2018, D.O.C. Collio

Aromas of citronella and lemon zest. Long finish. Great balance. The taste was fantastic, pear, apple and a hint of peach.
NOTE: I got these aromas and tasting notes at the recommended 14C. Of course these were not as strong as I cooled the wine. I will say that I was worried about drinking a white on a warm day at 14C, but it was not bad at all.
Tasted June 2021

Emiliana Coyam 2018, Los Robles Estate, Colchagua Valley

I held on to this 2018 vintage for 2 years. I was excited to taste how this must have evolved since the last reviews over two years ago. It seems that it did not get anymore complexed. The nose had dark fruit with a hint of dark chocolate. The same dark fruit and dark chocolate with the flavour.
I thought the tannin level was pretty much perfect. Also a long finish.
It did not evolve much throughout the evening, so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted December 2022

The Lane Vineyard Block 14 Basket Press Shiraz 2016, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Started off with a nice aroma of black fruit such as black berries. I found the balance of the wine was off. The tannis were smooth but the acidity was a little high. I also found the wine a little hot. I see this was rated a 92 a year ago. I wonder if that was it's peak because a year later I would not say that it is a 92.
Tasted Feb 2020

Mullineux Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2021, W.O. Swartland

When I opened this and poured it into my glass, I was getting aromas of butter and Cantaloupe. Within a minute, I lost those aromas and I was getting just a hint of Cantaloupe with lemon. It was interesting how fast that changed so keep a "nose" out for that. This wine was medium to full bodied, with a medium length. Some acidity (but I was expecting more). Taste of apple and pear.
Tasted September 2022