Wine Review – 2012 Pauillac Légende

An outstanding, robust red blend from Pauillac, and one worthy of the Barons de Rothschild name… This wine lived up to its name, Légende, offering a complex, balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Merlot (30%). As one would expect from the Pauillac region in Bordeaux, dark, ripe fruit, including plums, cherries, blueberries, and blackberries … Read more

Wine Review – 2013 Kew Pinot Noir

Another hidden gem from Southern Ontario, a classic Pinot Noir from the Beamsville Bench (Niagara) VQA… This classic, elegant red from Kew Vineyards Estate Winery in Beamsville Bench, Ontario, offers exactly what you’d expect in a Pinot Noir. It’s also another fantastic offering from Philip Dowell, an award-winning winemaker. The red fruit and forest floor … Read more

Wine Review – 2014 Kellerei Meran Lagrein Segen Riserva

An indigenous Italian varietal from Kellerei Meran, and one well worth a look, if not two… We received this wine as a gift from one of our esteemed Austrian-Italian-German colleagues, who billed it as his favourite red. Based on this trusted source, we couldn’t wait to give it a try after allowing it to settle … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

A bold, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon from Joel Gott Wines… If you enjoy big, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon, look no further than this offering from Joel Gott Wines in Napa Valley, California. Well-balanced, complex, and well-made, this new world red offers plenty of aromas, most notably vanilla and cooked fruit, as well as an array of flavours, … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Francis Ford Coppola Pinot Noir

A dry-to-off-dry Pinot Noir, with plenty of fruit and spice… This Pinot Noir from Francis Ford Coppola Winery left an impression through its vibrant red fruit, mostly raspberries and plums, and plentiful spice, largely allspice and cloves. Made in a new world style, this wine might not appeal to Pinot Noir purists. Saying that, we … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Sansonina Evaluna

A surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, good Cabernet blend from the well-known Amarone and Ripasso producer, Zenato… We thoroughly enjoyed this Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend, weighted on the Cabernet Sauvignon side, from Sansonina, the second label of the well-known Northern Italian producer, Zenato. A well-balanced, complex offering, and the tannins, although drying, did not … Read more

Wine Review – Waterbrook Syrah 2014

A vibrant, complex Syrah from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State… This Syrah from Waterbrook Winery in Walla Walla Valley, a region located to the south of the Columbia Valley in Washington State, impressed us with its combination of vibrancy and structure. It offered an aromatic bouquet of dark currants, red currants, vanilla, and cedar … Read more

Wine Review – Poderi Colla Dardi Le Rose Bussia Barolo 2011

A bright, balanced, and enticing Barolo from Poderi Colla in Piedmont, Italy… This Dardi Le Rose Bussia Barolo from Poderi Colla in Piedmont, Italy offered an enticing mix of balance, complexity, and structure. Red cherries, savoury spices, uncooked red meat, and tomato sauce in nose combined with tart, red cherries, white pepper, savoury spice, and … Read more

Wine Review – 2013 Domaine Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu

A smooth, complex red blend from Côtes du Rhône Villages at a tremendous price… This Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend, Plan de Dieu from Domaine Le Grand Retour in Côtes du Rhône Villages offered plenty of complexity in both the nose and mouth. Ostensibly part of God’s plan—hence the name—we appreciated the smoothness of this wine, … Read more

Wine Review – 2011 Numanthia, Toro, Spain

A fantastic, intense expression of Tempranillo… We adored the intense aromas and tastes of this fantastic 2011 Numanthia from Bodega Numanthia in Toro, Spain. With outstanding balance and complexity, this Tempranillo offered a wonderful bouquet on the nose, including tobacco, leather, hickory spice, vanilla, anise, and grilled steak. In the mouth, more grilled steak emerged, … Read more