todd10

13th Street Chardonnay L. Viscek Vineyard 2018, Creek Shores

Flint and tropical fruit on the nose but nothing realy stuck out. A smooth wine with light acidity and a nice lenght on the finish.
It is possible that I had this wine a little too cool because it seemed muted me. I tried letting it sit to warm up but still no other aromas popped for me.
Tasted December 2020

Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay Unfiltered 2019, VQA Beamsville Bench

To me, this wine had a dominant aroma of candle wax, followed by butter and a very slight hint of lemon in the back ground.
This wine had flavours of tree fruit such as apples.
This was a complexed wine and I feel the aromas and flavours that I stated are not giving this wine justice. I had this wine last night and I am still thinking how wonderful it was.
Tasted June 2022

Two Sisters Eleventh Post 2016, VQA Niagara River

Aromas of oak and dark fruit. Very balanced. Nice tannins but not over whelming. Delicious flavors of dark fruit with a hint of oak makes me want to want to have another glass, after that glass...maybe just another glass.

Tasted September 2020

Re-tasted March 2021. I was expecting at least the same or better results than 6 months ago. However, it seemed to take a step backwards. Same flavor and aroma profiles but these profiles were not as strong as 6 months ago. I would give this a 91 now.

Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2018, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Bravo! This was a great wine. Great complexity. Nutty nose with tropical fruit such as lychee. Also got some melon and apple. A little smokiness to it.
Nicely balanced. Good finish. I was very happy
Tasted November 2020

Château Clarke 2015, Ac Listrac Médoc

I feel I should have waited a few more years before I tasted this. I did not fine the aromas or flavors as complexed as I was hoping for. In the nose, I was getting black current with a little oak. On the palate very grippy tannins. That surprised me considering the wine is 70% Merlot. Dark fruit flavors.
The tannins did smooth out a little after the bottle was opened for a while so I do recommend to decant for at least 30 minutes, maybe an hour.

Tasted June 2020

Mission Hill Reserve Chardonnay 2019, Okanagan Valley

This was a nice wine but nothing stood out for me that makes it deserve a 90+ review. It does have aromas of tree fruit with a hint of lime zest. Nice length. I once even had a nice buttery flavor on the finish. This wine was very finicky when it came to temperature. I started with 12C but it did not suit this wine. I say around 8 or 9C was the sweet spot. When it got cooler than that, it closed up as expected.
Tasted April2022

Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2019, Wo Stellenbosch

I found the nose a little muted with just hints of apple and honey. What was outstanding was the flavor of the wine. I was tasting a medium bodied wine nice balance. Some acidity but not too much. Flavors of apple, lime and lemon come to mind.
Fantastic wine at such a low price point.
Tasted March 2021.

Pierre Amadieu Domaine Grand Romane Cuvée Prestige Vieilles Vignes 2017, Ac Gigondas

I was a little disappointed with this wine. I have enjoyed a few nice Gigondas wines the last few months but this one was missing the charactor and balance of what I have come to expect from a Gigondas. Black fruit on the nose and palate. Grippy tannins. Nice finish. I would suggest to decant for 30 minutes.
My opinion is if you plan on opening this, perhaps wait a couple more years for some more charactor to develop.
Tasted June 2020.

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

Lan Gran Reserva 2012, Doca Rioja

The first aromas that I got was chocolate, This was followed by oak.
What I did enjoy was the flavors. Not that I ever ate a cigar box or leather, but these were the taste that I got. I love these types of flavors that I do not taste in 90% of the wines I drink.
I did not notice much evolution after I opened the wine so I see no reason to decant.
Tasted October 2022