Wine Review – 2014 Batasiolo Barolo

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

Wine Review – 2011 Cornas Les Arènes

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

Wine Review – 2014 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut

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

Wine Review – 2010 Remo Farina Le Pezze Amarone Della Valpolicella

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

Wine Review – 2012 Ascheri Barolo

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

2014 Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve

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

Wine Review – 2011 Zenato Cormi

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

Wine Review – 2015 Cave Spring Pinot Noir Estate

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

Wine Review – 2011 Mondeco Red

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

Wine Review – 2014 Brella Pinot Noir

A classic Pinot Noir from Brella in Willamette Valley, Oregon… We enjoyed Brella’s Pinot Noir, a very good representation of the varietal. It offered classic red fruit and mushroom notes, as well as nice degrees of balance and complexity. It shined on its own, but also paired nicely with a creamy, camembert-like cheese from Quebec, … Read more