Will all wines improve with age? A very common question. In general the answer to the question is no. Most wines especially those from the “new world” are designed in a “drink now” style. They don’t keep more than 1-2 years. Some wineries would do well to put best before dates Others are designed to [...]

This wine presented some challenges for me. On the nose there are lots of traditional cab smells. Lovely deep rich cassis, cherries and other dark fruits and there is something there. Not awful just not perfect. On the mid pallet the flavors match the bouquet. There are lots of deep rich cab flavors, cassis, cherries, [...]

This is another of the wines I first tasted at the Chilean Wine event. The wine is quite pale in color as would be expected from a Sauv Blanc. On the nose there is a dominance of grassyness with little else shining through. On the mid pallet there are green fruit flavors and grassyness to [...]

I’ve had this one in the past and it has been a good deal so I grabbed it again. The last time I had it was after 1 year of bottle aging and it was lovely. On opening the wine is dark purple in color as expected on a malbec. Some nice fruit on the [...]

My Daddy always taught me, get the most for the least, and barter for everything. Well strangely enough bartering does not work in the LCBO but good deals can be had. I first tasted this wine and wrote it up after the Chilean wine event and decided it needed a longer look. This is another [...]

The wine is dark purple in color. On the nose are lots of dried dark fruit fruits but on the mild side. On the mid pallet are dried dark fruits to match the bouquet, I’d say some raisin flavors along with some stewed prunes. Again on the milder side. Subtle and smooth. On the finish [...]

This write up is from our trip this summer to the Prince Edward County area. See the entire article at my Prince Edward County trip blog None of these are carried in the LCBO (for now). Norman Hardie 2007 Pinot Gris (County) $25 Slightly sweet, Riesling like. The wine is on the lighter side of [...]

I had this one as a house wine at Spice. The wine is quite pale in color. Nice grassy lemon on the bouquet with a hint of sweetness. On the mid pallet there are citrus and grassy flavors to match the bouquet. On the finish the wine has a touch of tartness and is on [...]

Was out for dinner at Saucy’s in Streetsville and decided to try this one. There are still some wineries in Niagara (and more opening regularly) that I have not yet been to, this is one of them. Coyote’s run are also making the Bob Izumi label wines. Personally I enjoy the added complexity that a [...]

Cracked this one the other night. The wine is quite dark purple in color. It’s very mild on the nose with not a lot jumping out at me, some black fruits. On the mid pallets this is another mild Malbec. On the finish is a slight bit of tannic bitterness. Nothing horrible but present. This [...]

We had this wine apres a ride in Short Hills provincial park. The wine is quite dark in color, mild on the nose. On the pallet the wine is reasonably fruit forward with red and black fruit flavors. Not what I would call varietal Merlot but reasonably good none the less. The wine has an [...]

I’ve had some lovely Loire valley chenin blancs, and some pretty darn bad ones. This one is smack dab in the middle. The wine is quite yellow in color. On the nose are lots of sweet honey suckle smells. On the mid pallet are some quite sweet flavors. On the finish are some tart tastes [...]

I like half bottles. They are perfect in a restaurant in that you get about 2 1/2 good size glasses out of them. And at home they are perfect for enjoying with a meal, nothing left over, not that finishing a bottle has even been a difficult task The price point on half bottles also [...]

The thing I enjoy about attending structured tastings like this one is that it serves to further refine my knowledge and appreciation of wine. Sometimes it even destroys misconceptions I have. Shiraz and Syrah are two different names for the same grape. The difference between the two is the style in the way the wine [...]

This was the second reception wine at Society for American Wine’s Shiraz/Syrah tasting event. The wine is pale in color with some mild sulphur on the nose. Not to the point of smelling a match (which I have had before), but it was there. The wine is quite mild in flavor, some slight butteryness, some [...]