Author Archives: John Galea

2006 Ballast Stone Merlot

Posted on May 3, 2011 by John Galea

I’ve had this one in the collection for a while now. Dark in color, starting to discolor slightly around the edges of the wine. Showing it’s age a bit. On the nose are lovely varietal plums coming through. On the … Continue reading →

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2009 Beringers Founders Estate Chardonnay

Posted on May 2, 2011 by John Galea

The wine is pale in color with a mild nose. On the mid pallet this wine is a smack on varietal California style chard. Some lovely vanilla, some caramel, some nice apple, and some oak coming through. On the medium … Continue reading →

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2009 Terenzuola Vermintino

Posted on April 29, 2011 by John Galea

This is another of those unique white grapes of Italy I don’t know well. So I had no idea what to expect. This is always an interesting experience. The wine is pale in color with citrus hints coming on the … Continue reading →

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2008 La Posta Malbec

Posted on April 27, 2011 by John Galea

Deep inky in color with a nose of blueberries. On the mid pallet the wine matches the nose well with blueberry jam coming through with some sweetness but nothing too extreme. On the medium finish the wine has some firm … Continue reading →

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MARCHESE ANTINORI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2006

Posted on April 25, 2011 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with lots of dark berries and cherry coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is deep and rich with lovely complex fruit. On the long finish the wine is quite … Continue reading →

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2009 CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Posted on April 22, 2011 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a lovely nose of dark berries. On the front of the mouth is a whack of wood backed by a strong black berry, blueberry and cherry flavor. This is a big wine. On … Continue reading →

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Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2006

Posted on April 20, 2011 by John Galea

I last reviewed this wine back in June of 2009. I had a few still in the cellar. The wine is dark in color with lots of dark cherries and some sweet fruit coming through on the nose. On the … Continue reading →

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2009 Inniskillin Winemaker’s series Three Vineyards Chardonnay

Posted on April 17, 2011 by John Galea

I last wrote up the 2007 release of this wine. They have been consistently making this wine year after year. The wine is golden in color with a nice varietal chard nose. On the mid pallet are some lovely green … Continue reading →

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2008 J.P. Chenet Pinot Noir

Posted on April 15, 2011 by John Galea

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. This one has a fancy bottle … woohoo, and it’s from France, must be good no? 🙂 Ruby in color with an earthy funky nose not uncommon with Pinot Noirs. On … Continue reading →

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DARTING RIESLING KABINETT 2004

Posted on April 10, 2011 by John Galea

German wines get a bad rap (sometimes). There are times there Rieslings can best be called sugary water. There labeling is confusing, names are hard to pronounce or remember. That said Germany (and Alsace) are the Grandfather of Riesling. If … Continue reading →

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NUGAN ESTATE MCLAREN PARISH VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2006

Posted on April 8, 2011 by John Galea

This wine is deep in color with a mild nose of cherries. On the mid pallet are some lovely deep and rich classic shiraz with cherries and dark berries coming through in spade in layer after layer. On the finish … Continue reading →

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CASTELLO DI AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006

Posted on April 6, 2011 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a rich cherry bouquet coming through on the nose. The mid pallet is bright, fruity with lots of dark berries coming through. The finish is medium in length. This is a spot on … Continue reading →

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2008 Gretzky Sauv Blanc

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John Galea

I stopped by Gretzkys for the first time. Celebrity wines put me off. All Gretzky wines are made by Creekside. The wines are dedicated to supporting the Wayne Gretzky foundation with all profits going there. A charity that brings hockey … Continue reading →

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LAMMERSHOEK BARRIQUE CHENIN BLANC 2007

Posted on April 1, 2011 by John Galea

Back in June 2009 I last reviewed this wine. I discovered one left over in my cellar. Ooops. I wouldn’t consider this an aging wine. I quite enjoyed it back then so I was interested to see how it has … Continue reading →

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2010 Vineland Estates Pinot Grigio

Posted on March 30, 2011 by John Galea

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. This wine is VERY pale in color mild on the nose with nothing distinctive coming through for me. On the mid pallet this is a VERY subtle wine with a hint … Continue reading →

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2004 Scharzhofberger Egon Muller Kabinett Riesling

Posted on March 28, 2011 by John Galea

Pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet this wine is a nice dry, well made, smooth Kabinett Riesling. Tastes of light citrus notes, and some minerality come through nicely. There is a slight bit of sweetness … Continue reading →

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2007 Mike Weir Pinot Noir

Posted on March 25, 2011 by John Galea

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. You could insert my usual diatribe about celebrity named wines or we can just move onto the review 🙂 Quite dark in color (much darker than a typical pinot) with a … Continue reading →

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BODEGAS LAN CRIANZA 2006

Posted on March 23, 2011 by John Galea

Crianza is 100% Tempranillo. I like Tempranillo’s they can be big bold distinctive wines. This one is dark in color with earthy notes and some oak on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is dominated by oak with … Continue reading →

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Malivoire 2010 Pinot Gris

Posted on March 21, 2011 by John Galea

I had this one at the iYellow Pinot event. This wine is pale in color and on the nose there was a distinctive smell that passed quickly that I could not place. On the mid pallet the wine is surprisingly … Continue reading →

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2009 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay

Posted on March 19, 2011 by John Galea

I’ve written this one up before and they continue to be consistent with it. It is golden in color with a mild varietal chard nose. On the mid pallet this wine has vanilla, caramel, some creamyness and some butteryness. This … Continue reading →

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2009 Flat Rock Cellars The Roger WHITE Pinot Noir!

Posted on March 17, 2011 by John Galea

Ok, I have to admit it. I have never heard of a white pinot noir before so this wine peaked my curiosity. I got to taste it at the iYellow Pino event. Flat Rock Cellars have been doing some great … Continue reading →

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iYellow Pinot event

Posted on March 15, 2011 by John Galea

I attended the iYellow wine school last night featuring a number of different Pinot varietals. All of these grape varietals the Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier all come from the same family of grapes … Continue reading →

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D’ARENBERG THE MONEY SPIDER ROUSSANNE 2008

Posted on March 14, 2011 by John Galea

A friend gave me this wine as a house warming present. Thanks Dave! I had no idea what to expect when I cracked this one. I’m not well versed in this grape. The wine is golden in color with a … Continue reading →

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2005 Vineland Estates Cab Franc

Posted on March 13, 2011 by John Galea

2005 was a great year for Niagara reds. Vineland Estates kept some of these back and recently sent them out to their wine club members. The wine is dark in color with a mild nose of black berries. Around the … Continue reading →

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S. CRISTINA MASSONI LUGANA 2009

Posted on March 10, 2011 by John Galea

I had no idea what to expect from this wine. My knowledge of Italian wines, especially the unique white grapes of Italy could definitely use some enhancing. The wine is pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid … Continue reading →

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