todd10

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.

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.

L'ecole No. 41 Semillon 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington

On the nose I was getting beeswax with a hint of chamomile tea. This wine was a nice dry wine with a long tasty finish. Not that I ever tasted citronella, but I image that was the taste that I was getting. A waxy lemon flavor. At first I was giving this wine a 91, but that flavor grew on me. This was my first Semillon, and I am looking forward to the next.
Tasted May 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

Delta Pinot Noir 2017, Marlborough, South Island

This is not a fruit forward wine. This wine was very earthy, and I enjoyed that for a change. I was getting aromas of dried tobacco. It also had a hint of cola and smoke. Nice length with a pleasant hint of heat on the finish.
Tasted Feb 2022.

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

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

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

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

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.