Mike Grigor

Firestone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Santa Ynez Valley

Grand Vin De Glenelly Red 2009, Wo Stellenbosch

Candied cherry, pipe tobacco, cocoa, salted taffee. Warming alcohol, mineral, a hint of naptha, dried ripe fruit, vanilla and oak. Butter in the lingering finish. Bright acid and firm tannin. Tasted Feb. 2016

Malivoire Stouck Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula

Firestone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Santa Ynez Valley

Hot cedar, toasted vanilla, leather, tobacco on the nose. Dried blackberries, molasses, smoked vanilla, burnt oak. Bitter chocolate, cloves. Lingering finish. Firm, but not overpowering tannin.
Tasted Feb. 2016

Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2014, Colchagua Valley

Blackberry on the nose, along with layers of cedar chest, unlit cigar, fresh cut bell pepper, chorizo sausage, and the smell of a five min rain shower on a hot and dry sunny summer's day. On the palate, it's blackberry and plum, with paprika continuing on with the chirizo notes from beforfe. There's a touch of spice. The tannins are rounded with soft edges and work well with the acid level of this wine. Med length on the finish. This wine requires food to really sing.

Malivoire Musqué Spritz 2014, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Malivoire 2014 Gamay “Le Coeur” 2014, Niagara Escarpment

A nose of cranberry, rhubarb and white ash, with a palate that bursts with the juiciness of red, slightly tart fruit. Finsihes short, with an agave-esque spice. Totally gulpable.
Tasted May 2016

Rivera Cappellaccio Riserva Aglianico 2008, Doc Castel Del Monte

Pours garnet red. On the nose there's red licorice, menthol, salted toffee with delicate floral and smoke notes on the back-end. Tart cherry , raspberry, rasin and firm tannin up front with black olive and brine mid-palette. A gloriously long finish. Complex and well balanced. It's almost begging to be mated with smoked, cured or grilled pork.
Tasted Apr.4/2016

Antano Rioja Reserva 2009

E. Guigal Côtes Du Rhône 2011

Floral on the nose with hints of cigar box, basil and mineral notes. Bright acid, cherry, bell pepper, clove and black pepper. Medium tannin and a warm, med to long finish.

Tasted Apr.2/2016