Edward Rasiulis

Stonehedge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa Valley, Special Vineyard Select

Let me begin to say that there is no way I would have picked this as a Napa Valley Cab on a blind in a million years. My guess would have been Australian Cab. Why? Lots of cooked fruit of plums, cherry, raisins, mint & blueberry pie. Dark ruby colour with medium+ intensity. The taste is dry with medium+ tannins & acid, full body with medium length. The taste is similar to the nose with addition to dark chocolate. This was a disappointment as a Napa Cab, but as a wine it was fine.

Tasted 10 Sept 11.

Score: 8.5/10 Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Chardonnay 2009, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara

Deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Too much oak and not enough fruit to balance it

Positives: This wine features medium+ toasted oak, marzipan, resin, baked apple & butterscotch. Full body and with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A lot of bitterness and lack of fruit

Interesting Point: It’s a screw cap which is unusual for California Chards.

Drink now and pair it with spicy crawfish gumbo.

Tasted: 13 February 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance price: 8.5/10) Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2010, Santa Barbara County 54%/Monterey County 46%

Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Kendall-Jackson produces solid Chardonnay’s from the entry level to their high end, and is probably one of my top 10 go to Chards.

Positives: Nicely balanced Chard that has medium buttered toasted oak with oak spice, cloves, lemon, crème brûlée, Easter Lilly, butterscotch, marshmallow, pineapple, peach, orange, apple crumble pie and a touch of limestone. Full body with good acidity and a very long length. Nice to see a quality Chard being under 14% alcohol.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster with drawn butter.

Tasted: 10 May 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Château Pierre De Montignac 2009, Cru Bourgeois, Ap Médoc

Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ nose.

A nice mid level Boudreaux from Médoc at a moderate price.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, blackcurrants, turmeric, pencil shavings, cherry, arugula and leather. Medium+ body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

This is more of a food friendly wine than for drinking on its own so pair with prime rib. Drink now on or over the next 3 years.

Tasted: 27 May 13 (Happy Memorial Day to our American cousins)

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Rosehall Run Pinot Noir Jcr Estate, Prince Edward County 2010, Prince Edward County

Burgundian in style & in price, but worth it

Description: Light garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features pine, sour cherry, black cherry, raspberry, Champagne mushrooms, graphite, earthiness and lavender with peat moss on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Chill to 15C and use the balloon style glasses.

Drink now or in the next 5 of years on its own or pair it with Beef Bourguignon.

Tasted: 13 June 2017

Top Pick

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Schug Pinot Noir 2009, Carneros

Description: Light ruby in colour with medium+ intense nose.

One word: Delicious

Positives: Pine, lavender, violets, rhubarb, cranberry, sour cherry, red currant, & boysenberry. Medium minus in body with low tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with lavender & pepper spiced French cut pork chops.

Tasted: 18 Mar 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Henry Of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2011, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Cool climate chard that's a touch too oaky

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features oak spice, lime, sour orange, green apples, lemon rind and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch too sour on the finish

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Kimchi with braised short ribs

Tasted: 23 April 2015

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Lykos Kratistos Agiorgitiko 2008, Nemea

Dark ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

A unique wine that’s a mix of Sambuca, a well aged rum and port.

Positives: This easy drinking wine features lots of pine, sandalwood, anise, sugar cane, dark cherry, dates, raisins, Rosemary and basil. Medium+ body with medium minus tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with white chocolate.

Tasted: 17 Oct 2013

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Treana Red 2009, Paso Robles

Description: Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium+ intensity.

Positives: You’re getting true value for your money in this wine. A delicious wine featuring oak, black cherry, plums, anise, black and white pepper, turmeric, graphite, pipe tobacco and sage. Medium body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A little heat from the 15% alcohol.

Interesting Points: 1. Treana is Latin meaning the 3 elements of water, sun & soil. 2. I like the early Californian Spanish American label, and what’s interesting Méliza reports that the British aren’t too fancy about it. 3. In Vintages now.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with a T-bone steak, medium rare.

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 Stars I rated this wine: 4

Hill Smith Estate Chardonnay 2010, Eden Valley, South Australia

Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

A nice cool climate Chard from Aussy land that has the right balance of fruit, oak, alcohol and price

Positives: This wine features light oak, lemon-lime, honeydew melon, pear, green apple, & limestone. Medium minus body and with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Waldorf Salad.

Interesting Point: I like seeing an Aussy Chard fermented in oak, but have only 13% alcohol.

Tasted: 5 February 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance Price 9.5/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4