This outstanding Barbera d’Alba had us at the cork… Everything about this Barbera d’Alba from Piedmont, Italy, exuded class, starting with the patterned cork, which gave off an alluring aroma of pipe tobacco. Balanced, complex, and vivacious, this red wine offered everything you could want in a Barbera. Vibrant red fruit, most notably cherries and … Read more
A decent Barolo… We were excited to try this 2014 Batasiolo Barolo, a wine we previously reviewed on our site, albeit from 2012. To be honest, compared to the 2012 offering, the 2014 vintage came up a little short, especially due to the prominence of alcohol in both the nose and mouth, as well as … Read more
A fantastic Syrah from the Northern Côtes du Rhône region… We thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful Syrah from the Cornas appellation in Northern Côtes du Rhône. It offered black cherries and ripe strawberries in the nose, as well as iron, charred wood, green cedar, and black and red licorice. In the mouth, we enjoyed vibrant, sour, … Read more
Maybe it’s a little cliché, but this Director’s Cut wine’s a box office hit… This Cabernet Sauvignon from Francis Fort Coppola impressed us with its complexity and structure. Despite the alcohol giving it away as a so-called new world wine, we appreciated its old world style. The nose offered a complex, interesting bouquet, consisting of … Read more
Big, bold, and Italian all the way… This Amarone from Remo Farina, a bold, brazen, and charismatic red blend, lived up to its billing and did justice to Amarone’s Appassimento wine-making style. The alcohol content, a whopping 15.5%, which is probably an under-estimate, paralleled the robust flavours in terms of presence. Made from a combination … Read more
An outstanding Barolo from Ascheri… Although we don’t typically jump at the appearance of a wine bottle, the classy, elegant, and, at the same time, modern label caught our eye, distinguishing it from the other vini piemontesi on the shelf. In many ways, the presentation reflected the excellent quality of the wine. Made from 100% … Read more
A good Pinot Noir from Pelee Island… Our interest in Pinot Noir continues to grow and this reserve offering from Pelee Island Winery reminds us why. The initial bouquet gave us grilled meat, lots of spices, and alcohol, anything but what one would expect from the varietal. With some time to breathe, however, we enjoyed … Read more
A tantalizing, award-winning red blend from Veneto… This enticing, red blend, an IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) from Zenato, a highly reputable producer in Italy’s Veneto region, situated near the shore of Lake Garda, offers plenty of fruit while maintaining a beautifully-balanced structure. The nose, an aromatic bouquet, served up raspberries and dark cherries, as well … Read more
Another excellent offering from the Beamsville Bench… We purchased this Pinot Noir Estate following an incredible wine tasting hosted by Cave Spring’s Marketing and Sales Vice-President, Tom Pennachetti. We have long been fans of the winery and this particular red reminds us why. We enjoyed the fragrant bouquet, a combination of raspberry, leather, cigar box, … Read more
A juicy, red Portuguese blend at an outstanding price-point… A blend of five varietals, this juicy red from the Dão region in Portugal has plenty to offer in both the nose and the mouth. The layered bouquet offered notes of dark plums, leather, vanilla, charred wood, and, dare we say it, dirty laundry. In the … Read more