todd10

Henry Of Pelham Baco Noir Old Vines 2019

When I first opened this wine, I was getting notes of cherry. Good balance of acidity and tannins. Nice finish with a very tasty flavor of dark fruit. About 20 minutes later, this wine opened up with some aromas of oak and and flavors of oak as well. Sadly, that was a short window because about 20 minutes later, that oak that I mentioned dissipated. Overall, this wine was very tasty. if that oak stayed with the wine throughout the evening, I would have given this even a higher score.
Tasted September 2021

Megalomaniac To Be Frank Cabernet Franc 2018, Twenty Mile Bench

Aromas of lack fruit and oak. This wine has firm tannins and a nice heat on the finish. Speaking of finish, this wine does have a long finish.
Tasted July 2022

Trius Red The Icon 2018, VQA Niagara Peninsula

A spicy nose with aromas of green bell pepper. Nice tannins, acidity and long finish. The flavors of black fruit with a little oak. I can say, as the night progressed, I found the flavors to be a little more distinctive. I would suggest to decant.
Tasted May 2021.

Anthonij Rupert Cape Of Good Hope Altima Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Wo Elandskloof, Western Cape

Excellent character. The nose had both tropical fruit and herbal aromas. I am sure many of you could point out in greater detail the exact aromas, and I bet their would be many. The taste did not have the zippy crispness of what you would find in a New Zealand Sauvignon blanc but nice more complexed flavors.
The wine was great throughout the evening as long as you keep it around 7 or 9C, It dipped to cold and too warm for me a couple of times and then its quality went down rapidly.
Tasted January 2021

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Marlborough

This wine had very nice citrus aromas. I narrowed it down to grapefruit and some lime. Great flavors of citrus with a nice touch of acidity. Good length.
Tasted September 2021

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Colchagua Valley

I see that I loved and rated the 2017 vintage a 91. 2018 did not dazzle me so much. I did enjoy the raspberry that was on the nose, but the tannins were so strong that my mouth dried out on one sip. With that said, the tannins did smooth out as the night progressed, so I would recommend to decant to calm those tannins. A long finish with taste of dark fruit. It is an okay wine, but nothing too special (unlike the 2017 vintage that I was very happy with).
Tasted April 2021

Ontañón Reserva 2011, Doca Rioja

This wine had aromas of tabacco and oak. I was hoping for more complexity for a wine that is 10 years old. This wine did have a nice long finish. I found the wine had a nice balance.
Over the few hours that the wine was opened, I did not find any improvement so I see no reason to decant.
Nice wine but I was expecting more complexity.
Tasted February 2021

Stina Cuvée White 2021, Island Of Brac

Nice wine with some aromas of stone fruit. Nice balance of acidity. Just a simple yet good wine.
Tasted October 2023

Tros De Mas Vilella 2019, Catalunya

This was a nice wine at that price point. Aromas of dark fruit with subtle hint of flint. Nice amount of tannins.
Over the evening this wine did not evolve so I see no reason to decant.
Overall, a solid wine for $24 but nothing stood out for me to make this a great wine.

Tasted August 2023

Piekenierskloof Shiraz 2020, Wo Piekenierskloof

Aromas of cherry, and dried herbs. The main issue with this wine is I felt it was too tannic and too acidic. It did smooth out a bit after about an hour but I still feel that this wine needs more time. Perhaps 3 more years before it starts to become more balanced.
Tasted September 2023.