Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2012, Barossa Valley, Australia 🇦🇺

🍇 Shiraz/Syrah 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.4%

🍁 My Score 93 Points

🧩 Aged in French and American oak for two years

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Vibrant and sensuous nose with aromas of sweet berry fruit, dark black currants, violets, peppery and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel medium-full bodied, soft flavourful and seductive fruit, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The wine finish is long tasty and savoury.

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I finally got to enjoy a wine which has been on my wine bucket list for quite some time now. The star of this wine is definitely the classic aromatics of premium Australian Shiraz, Christmas fruit cake. The nose didn’t quite translate on the mouthfeel, replaced instead with an elegant and complex texture. So much going on here and absolutely brilliant wine. Looking forward to my next experience with Rockford Basket Press Shiraz. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Caparzo La Casa Brunello di Montalcino 2013, Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese Grosso 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

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Classic Sangiovese nose with aromas of red cherries, blackberries, leather, floral, smoky and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, slightly austere flavours, dusty tannins and lively acidity. The finish is long with flavours of tart cherries, smoky leathery fruit and savoury herbs.

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This Brunello paired beautifully with a pasta dish of eggplants, tomatoes, lamb sausage, goat cheese and fresh basil. The acidity and tannins provide a great foundation for this wine to blossom in your cellar over the next few years. I wish I had another bottle to see this happen myself. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

CVNE Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 85%
🍇 Graciano 10%
🍇 Mazuelo 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 94 Points

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Intoxicating, sensuous nose with aromas of plums, berry fruit, dried figs, tobacco leaves, vanilla, old church wood and balsamic notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, elegant texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of plums, cherries and exotic spices.

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I have just been named the Spanish wine Ambassador here in Canada 🙂 Jokes asides, second Spanish wine in a row and what a treat this Rioja is. It’s incredible that you could get such an elegant, mature wine like this for $56 @lasaq  An incredible value and drinking beautifully right now. This 2010 Rioja vintage is a gift that keeps on giving. What a treat 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Beronia Reserva 2014, D.O.Ca. Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 95%
🍇 Graciano 4%
🍇 Mazuelo 1%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score  90 Points

🧩 This wine spent 20 months in a combination of French and American oak. Quite literally, the barrels created by Beronia long time winemaker Matias Calleja are a mix of barrels made from American staves and French tops.

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An elegant, attractive nose with aromas of blackberries, plums, spices, vanilla and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, soft fruit, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of plums, spices and chocolate covered blueberries.

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A beautiful Rioja with soft texture, flavourful with terrific oak integration. A crowd pleasing, easy drinking wine with lots of appeals. Great value, definitely one of those case worthy purchases. Strongly recommended 👌Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Reserva 2013, Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese Grosse 90%
🍇 Canaiolo Nero 10%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 93 Points

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What a beautiful nose on this Vino with aromas of cherries, sour plums, toast, dried herbs, leather, forest floor and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful and everything in perfect harmony, well integrated tannins and lively acidity. Very good length on the finish with savoury notes, leather and vanilla flavours lingering.

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This is exactly the style of wine which makes me very happy. A beautiful wine with sensuous aromatics, great structure and a delicious blend of sweet and tart fruit. In this vintage, compared to the previous vintage, the fruit is a little riper and all the better for it. A superb value 👌 Most likely limited availability remaining of the 2013 vintage. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Henri de Villamont Chorey-les-Beaune 2015, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

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Beautiful nose on this Pinot with aromas of cherries, cranberries, stewed plums, underbrush and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, flavourful with soft tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with wild berry fruit, savoury notes and an underlying earthiness.

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Definitely a very enjoyable Pinot with lots of flavours and very smooth. Does it represent a good value? At $50 Canadian dollars before taxes, I would have to say no. Would I purchase this Pinot again? Absolutely 🙂 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Moon Curser Arneis 2018, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Arneis 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.2%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Stainless steel no oak, Filtered Yes, Fine No

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Quite a complex nose with aromas of golden apples, yellow plums, lemon zest, floral notes and a touch of dried herbs. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, great flavours and crisp acidity. The finish is medium-long, refreshing with flavours of tree fruits, citrus fruits and dry herbs.

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What an interesting white from Moon Curser. This varietal (Arneis) originates from the Piedmont region of Italy and it seems like this is the only Arneis grown in Canada. A beautiful wine best suited for the dinner table paired with chicken or white fish. Tasted and purchased at the winery last September. Strongly recommend 👍🙂 Definitely a great wine experience. Cheers my wine friends.

My favourite Port style 🍷

I truly enjoy a glass of Port as a night cap especially in winter. Do you enjoy Port? And what style do you prefer?  For me by far, my preferred Port is a 20 year old Tawny. Here is a fantastic example;

Graham’s 20 year Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍁 My Score 93 Points

Gorgeous nose with aromas of caramel, toffee, sweet golden raisins, dried figs, orange peel and vanilla. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, great energy, flavourful, beautiful sweetness but well balanced by refreshing acidity. The finish is long, coating your mouth with dried fruit flavours, bitter oranges and roasted nuts. An elegant Port with such great flavours. Best served at around 16 °C. Such a treat 😋 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luigi Bosca Gala 2 2017, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

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🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 85%⁣
🍇 Cabernet Franc 10%⁣
🍇 Merlot 5%⁣
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🧐 Alcohol 14.4%⁣
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🍁 My Score 92 Points ⁣
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Beautiful, comforting nose with aromas of black cherries, plums, soft leather, touch of oak spices, peppery and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with loads of flavours, ripe tannins and refreshing acidity. The mouthfeel is long, generous on flavours with a beautiful velvet texture.⁣
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Wow! What a stunning wine 🙂 Awesome value for those who appreciate a full bodied red wine. If this wine was from California or Bordeaux, it could easily be twice the price. A new world wonder 👌 full of charm and personality. A young wine that’s drinking beautifully right now, that should develop nicely in bottle, if you care to wait. A great effort from Luigi Bosca, now I just need to repurchase. Strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 🍷⁣
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Hacienda López de Haro Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 10%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 30 months in French and American oak barrels than 20 months in bottle before release

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Sensuous nose with aromas of cherries, plums, soft leather, vanilla, herbal notes and earthy undertones. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, sweet ripe fruit covering the palate, silky tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of spicy blueberry/plum fruit lingering.

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Another gorgeous wine from the 2010 Rioja vintage, drinking beautifully right now. A Gran Reserva with sensuous aromatics, harmonious texture and great flavours. Definitely a great deal of appeal and a fantastic value. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷