Let the People Speak – Summer 2025

by | Nov 24, 2025 | What I'm Tasting

Reviews from the masses… I am lucky enough to teach wine classes in the city of Toronto. For 6 weeks I see 18 to 20 wine-curious folks, they come out to hear me preach the gospel of wine on a variety of topics. Each week, we pour three to five wines from the...

Bordeaux 2025: White and Sweet

by | Nov 6, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (Jan. 10, 2025) … This is the day we tasted a whole bunch of wines in the white and sweet range: Barsac, Sauternes and les Blanc Sec. I used a three star system for these wines – as I did with all wines on my Bordeaux adventure – seemed the...

Taste Ontario 2025

by | Nov 4, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(May 2025) … Recently, I posted my top wines from Cuvée. A month later, Taste Ontario happened. This is where the Ontario wine producers take over a venue and pour a number of their their wines. This year, it was held at The Quay in Toronto. While I...

The Bertani Podcast Tie-In Tasting

by | Oct 23, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Recently, we sat down with Serena Bonaventura to discuss Veneto wines, and in particular Bertani wines, their history, and their outlook towards their own and the region’s future. You can find that discussion here. But there was another side: a luncheon in the...

Top Wines From Cuvee 2025

by | Oct 22, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (May 2025) … Cuvee is a very different tasting than it used to be, and maybe that is for the better. Many years ago, Cuvee in Ontario was a unique competition where winemakers became the judges – an interesting idea in theory, until it is not. And...

Selvapiana: Interview Tasting

by | Oct 17, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  At time of writing these notes, the podcast has yet to be released, but should be up soon at Two Guys Talking Wine. Follow the link, and you should be able to find the podcast at some point. Great information both about the winery and their new Terraelectae...

Capezzana: 100 Years and Counting

by | Oct 15, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (February 2025) … Capezana pulled out all the stops this year, opening a 100-year-old bottle. The opening did not go as planned, but once the bottle was opened… yeah.  This is my first bottle ever tasted of a wine of this age, and it truly was...

Boscarelli: Nocio thru the Years

by | Oct 13, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2025) … This year, during the Vino Nobile anteprima tasting, Boscarelli invited journalists to taste through one of their single vineyard wines, Nocio, first created in 1991. This has the potential to be their Pieve offering, but so could their other...

Anteprima: Vino Nobile 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  The Opener …   With the hype around Pieve this year, it felt like Nobile took a backseat. Some big-name producers took the year off because they were not ready with their Pieve offering, and so the show ran with the wines they had. There still...

Anteprima: Gran Selezione 2025

by | Oct 6, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  The Opener …   When Gran Selezione was introduced to great fanfare, no one had any idea how popular it would become, and how controversial it could be. The original idea was to create 100% Sangiovese wines (Cru Style), but the rules of Chianti...

Chianti Lovers Day 2025 (Tuscany)

by | Sep 17, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  Chianti Lovers Day was short-lived in the tasting room. Slipped in for a couple of hours, tasted about 3 dozen wines; then I was whisked away to Selvapiana to have lunch and talk about two separate, but very interesting topics: the winery and a new style of...

Nizza – Report 4: Il Falchetto

by | Sep 10, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  Decided to spend my birthday week of 2024 in Italy, in the cradle of Barbera … Nizza Monferrato … exploring the wines, the vineyards and the people who make these incredible expressions of Barbera in its purest form. Over the course of 4 days, I...

Nizza – Report 3: Prunotto

by | Sep 9, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Decided to spend my birthday week of 2024 in Italy, in the cradle of Barbera … Nizza Monferrato … exploring the wines, the vineyards and the people who make these incredible expressions of Barbera in its purest form. Over the course of 4 days, I tasted my...

Nizza – Report 2: La Gironda

by | Sep 3, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  Decided to spend my birthday week of 2024 in Italy, in the cradle of Barbera … Nizza Monferrato … exploring the wines, the vineyards and the people who make these incredible expressions of Barbera in its purest form. Over the course of 4 days, I...

Nizza – Report 1: Vinchio Vaglio

by | Aug 18, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Decided to spend my birthday week of 2024 in Italy, in the cradle of Barbera … Nizza Monferrato … exploring the wines, the vineyards and the people who make these incredible expressions of Barbera in its purest form. Over the course of 4 days, I tasted my...

What I’ve Been Tasting – June 2025

by | Jul 16, 2025 | What I'm Tasting

Scoring is out of 5 starsThe “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the next level ______________________________________________________   16 Mile Cellar 2019 Rebel Chardonnay (Ontario)I’ll be...

2025 Tre Bicchieri Toronto Tasting

by | Jul 10, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(May 2025) … Tre Bicchieri seemed smaller this year than in past outings, which made it easier to try more, or most of the wines … so let’s get right to it. There were some real show stoppers here, and there were some tasty little treats … and...

Cyprus 2024 – Day 2

by | Jun 12, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  Day 2 started much like day one, in a bus going to a winery. After day one, I realized that Cyprus wine principals prefer to talk about the whole of Cyprus and not just about their contribution to this piece of the wine world. It seems like every winery...

Cyprus 2024 – Day 1

by | May 29, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

The history of Cyprus and wine dates way back and, for the most part, is a history of bulk wine, sweet wines, and large companies exporting these wines around the world and into Europe to help makes things more … palateable. But the current status on Cyprus is...

What I’ve Been Tasting – May 2025

by | May 26, 2025 | What I'm Tasting

Scoring is out of 5 starsThe “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the next level ______________________________________________________   Chateau Beaupontail 2019 Pecharment – Quintessence...

The Halpern Tasting 2024

by | May 1, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(October 2024) … A big room. A ton of wine. Not enough time to do even half. But here we go with a look at some of the good stuff I tasted FOUR-and-a-HALF Star wines L’Aventure 2021 Estate Cuvee (California) – $211.62This 20th Anniversary wine has a...

What I’ve Been Tasting – April 2025

by | Apr 28, 2025 | What I'm Tasting

Scoring is out of 5 starsThe “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the next level ______________________________________________________   Banfi 2021 Magna Cum Lauda (Italy) A four-grape blend from...

Visit to Podere della Bruciata

by | Apr 21, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2024) … Podere della Bruciata started its journey as a farm in 1956, moving to winery status in 1998, specializing in “natural wines”. They are a small winery, the most they produce of any one wine is 5000 bottles. The farm is 8 hectares,...

Pio Cesare Winemaker’s Dinner

by | Apr 10, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (May 2024) … Barolo lovers came out to a dinner to taste seven wines from this historic, iconic producer whose history dates back to 1881 and the great great grandfather of the current owner Federica Boffa – our host this evening. The talk she gave...

Visit to Icario Winery

by | Apr 7, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2024) … Icario winery was established in 1998. It takes its name from mythology: the first winemaker was named Icario, which was the name given to him by Bacchus. The farm is 50 hectares of which 25 hectares are planted to grapes: 70% Sangiovese (40...

Alsace Rocks Toronto 2024

by | Apr 3, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (October 2024) … Alsace – The Facts … Alsace is located in the Northeastern corner of France, tucked up next to Germany and above Switzerland. The Vosges Mountains protect Alsace helping to make it the second driest region in France: 20...

Visit to Tenuta Sette Ponti

by | Mar 21, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(June 2024) … A side trip to Tenuta Sette Ponti, after A Montefalco, proved to be an eye-opening experience. I’d always known about Crognolo and Oreno, but Sette Ponti has branched out to other areas around Italy, to bring us some very exciting wines....

Chilean Wine Tasting 2024

by | Mar 5, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (November 2024) … I have said much about Chilean wine on these pages of my website. It was my first real love in the wine world, mainly because it was wine I could afford easily and consistently when I was starting my wine education and cellar. Today,...

The Errazuriz Tasting

by | Feb 28, 2025 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(October 2024) … A history that dates back to the 1870s, the Errazuriz winery was established through cuttings acquired from Bordeaux. But then the Chilean wine industry ceased its advancement in the 1970s, due to a number of reasons, more politically-based...

Rhone Valley Winemakers Tour

by | Dec 20, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(November 2023) … I have often called the Rhone Valley my “desert island region” – if I am stuck on a desert island and I can only get wine from one region, well need I say more … Today, we get a crash course in Rhone Valley wines from...

The Franc of the Saumur

by | Dec 18, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (October 2023) … Of the Cabernet Franc regions visited, and wines tasted, Saumur, Saumur Champigny and Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame were by far the most impressive. The ripeness of the fruit led to wines of great colour and depth of flavour, very few had the...

Languedoc MARDI 2 MAI – 2023

by | Dec 3, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day. First, I provide my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried … then I score the wines I liked on a scale of Good,...

October Wines and Updates

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Newsletter Archives

October 2024 … Wow, did Fall come in quick. One day it was 24 degrees and sunny and the next my Alexa was telling me about a daytime high of 13 and a low of 2. Newsletters have been a little sporadic this year, but the wines, articles, videos and podcasts have...

What I’ve Been Tasting – September 2024

by | Oct 16, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

Scoring is out of 5 stars- wine is not an essay folks -here is what those stars mean 3 = average / 3.5 = good4 = very good / 4.5 = excellent5 = outstanding The “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the...

First Newsletter of The Year – August 2024

by | Aug 28, 2024 | Newsletter Archives

August 2024 … I can’t believe this is only my second mail out of 2024 and the first “newsletter”. I have been trying to whittle it down a bit, as I felt it was beginning to get a bit bloated. No one wants to read a long newsletter these days....

What I’ve Been Tasting – July 2024

by | Aug 26, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

Scoring is out of 5 stars- wine is not an essay folks -here is what those stars mean 3 = average / 3.5 = good4 = very good / 4.5 = excellent5 = outstanding The “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to the...

Rose Report 2024 Is Here

by | Jul 5, 2024 | Newsletter Archives

It’s here, Rosé Report 2024 … download your copy by clicking the front cover of the report below: 126 wines in the spectrum of the colour pink – many available in Ontario, through your local winery, the LCBO or online.    ...

Found Notes, Finally Published – Ontario Wines

by | Jun 24, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

Sometimes you end up looking through the cupboards at home and discover a pot you had no idea you had, or a gadget you could have used last week (which you just re-purchased on Amazon), or even a last can of your favourite soup … let’s consider this that...

What I’ve Been Tasting – June 2024

by | Jun 17, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

 Scoring is out of 5 stars- wine is not an essay folks -here is what those stars mean 3 = average / 3.5 = good4 = very good / 4.5 = excellent5 = outstanding The “+” sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,but not enough to send it to...

What I’ve Been Tasting – May 2024

by | May 30, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

  Big Head Wines 2020 Raw Malbec (Ontario)    Beautiful florality on the nose; black raspberry / cherry, smoky-vanilla, creme de cassis; and weirdly empty glass shows a cucumber aroma character (neat party trick) – not a primary aroma, but a...

Mark Anthony: Port And Place 2024

by | May 17, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(September 2023) … Mass tastings/ agent tastings have fallen out of favor in the last few years, which is why I was thrilled to see Mark Anthony throw the doors open and have one. There are some great producers in attendance and some great wines on display....

What I’ve Been Tasting – April 2024

by | May 10, 2024 | What I'm Tasting

  2027 Cellars 2020 Chardonnay, Wismer Foxcroft (Ontario) This Chardonnay see 25% new oak for under a year and the results are a pretty fruit forward version with subtle floral and delicate spice. The key here is the tropical fruit, peach and apple. ($30.00...

Video Review : Cave Spring 2021 Gamay

by | May 9, 2024 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,   An Ontario Wine Video Review with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Cave Spring Vineyard2021 Gamay {youtube}LYgNHKZ7pI8{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube...

Languedoc LUNDI 1ER MAI – 2023

by | Apr 1, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day. First, I provide my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried … then I score the wines I liked on a scale of Good,...

Chilean Wine Tasting 2023

by | Mar 21, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (November 2023) … This year’s Chilean event was held in a much smaller room than in year’s past, which made for a cramped show, so you made friends quickly; and bumped into them often Chile is broken into 3 Regions – North to SouthAndes...

Rogers & Company Tasting 2023

by | Mar 4, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(October 2023) … These guys carry some of the most iconic premium labels that come into the province of Ontario: from Champagne to Napa Valley Cabs, Rogers has the big names collectors want in their cellars. The iconic Cabs from Forman, O’Shaughnessy,...

Boekenhoutskloof Podcast Tie-in

by | Feb 21, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (September 2023) … I have tasted wines from this winery before; that write-up can be found here. This is a tie-in piece for the podcast we did with Gottfried Moche, winemaker, which you can listen to here; there you will hear all about the winery, its...

Loire Valley Day 3 (2 Tastings)

by | Feb 2, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(April 28, 2023) … Time to look at the Day 3 tastings of my spring Loire Valley journey. Morning: La Nouvelle Vague des Rosés de la Loire (Masterclass) This was a masterclass looking at the “Full Generational Transition” (from old to young)...

Villamont & Aiguevillle Tasting

by | Jan 31, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (July 2023) … Put together by EuroVintage and held at the National Club in Toronto. It’s a two producer tasting, both from France: Burgundy and Rhone Valley. We kicked things off with a little tasting of wine from Bourgogne; Henri de Villamont...

BRUNELLO DAY 2023

by | Jan 30, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (November 2023 – TORONTO) … It’s the second annual Brunello Day held in places like Toronto, New York, London as back in Montalcino – all on the same day. The sommeliers poured over 100 wines; all in the similar fashion they do it in...

Loire Valley 2023 – Day 1

by | Jan 23, 2024 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(April 26, 2023) … First day, first tasting … this is a look at the wines we were first introduced to, described as a “Tasting Of Medal-Winning Wines From The Loire Valley Wine Competition”. I have broken this list down into Red, White and...

Newsletter : December 2023 (vol. 23-12)

by | Dec 22, 2023 | Newsletter Archives

December 2023 … We are here, the end of the year, I decided in the review section of this newsletter to look at Chardonnay. Yes, everyone is giving you their favourite sparklings, and I love sparkling wine, I make no bones about it – but I thought I end...

Abruzzo Grand Tasting 2023

by | Dec 19, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (June 2023) … Abruzzo is an area well-suited for wine. It sits on the Adriatic side of Italy and it’s growing region lies between the sea and the Gran Sasso and Majella “massifs” (mountains). This allows for diurnal temperature...

Montefalco Sagrantino (April 2023)

by | Dec 7, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (April 2023) … Sagrantino continues to be an under-appreciated wine in the Pantheon of Italian icon wines. Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto – all have a status wine: Brunello, Barolo, Amarone, yet Sagrantino remains buried in a mire of head-scratching and...

Montefalco White Wines (April 2023)

by | Nov 27, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Trebbiano Spoletino DOC & Superiore I was once told (by a fellow writer) that Spoleto was a gem – but it was said with a wink, so I was not sure how to take the comment. Now I know, that writer meant it as a compliment. Trebbiano Spoletino is like no other...

A Quick Look at Spirits 2023

by | Nov 20, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

I’ve stated before that spirits ain’t my thing – but I do like learning about them – and tasting them. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t. I find flavoured things appeal to me more than the straight stuff … although I have a...

PRA Winery Podcast Tie-in

by | Nov 1, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(July 2023) … We sat down with Diego Corradi, the export manager for PRA winery in the Veneto region of Soave to discuss all things Soave and Valpolicella – the white and the red wines of the area. You can listen to our podcast here, but below are some of...

Newsletter : October 2023 (vol. 23-10)

by | Oct 27, 2023 | Newsletter Archives

October 2023 … It has been almost two months since last we spoke – I was letting a little thing by my podcast partner, André Proulx get some oxygen – if you have not seen his Canadaland piece, I recommend you find it and listen – I will...

Elderton Tantalus : Cork vs Screwcap

by | Oct 18, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

This is another of my “found reviews”, and is an interesting comparison between cork vs screwcap … let’s get to it: (July 16, 2021) … On a random Friday in July I had a wine-loving friend over (is there any other kind) and we decided to...

Irish Whisky A Go-Go

by | Oct 2, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

With my favourite Irish Whiskey back in the market, I thought it was time to share some of my whiskey reviews with you. First, what you need to understand about me is that I am not a spirits drinker, especially whiskey (whisky). My cousin tried to get me into Scotch...

Madiran Here I Come

by | Sep 25, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (MARCH 2023) … Famed French winemaker / owner Alain Brumont makes his final appearance in foreign markets as Antoine Veiry takes over the winemaking. That would be the above the fold headline and take away from today’s tasting of six wines from the...

Altra Toscana Tasting

by | Sep 7, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (February 2023) … The final day of Anteprima Toscana sees the other side of Tuscan Wines, these are in some cases the “lesser known” or wines left behind while we travel through Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile and to San Gimignano. This...

Newsletter : August 2023 (vol. 23-08)

by | Aug 31, 2023 | Newsletter Archives

August 2023 … Time to talk about wine again. As I have been slowly watching this vintage in Ontario unfold, I have been talking with a lot of winery principals who are scratching their collective heads with every raindrop that falls; many are going bald from...

A Taste of Italy at Home

by | Aug 22, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Put a few recent Italian wines that came to the door to the test on a hot August day (with a breeze blowing through, thankfully). Bozen 2022 Pinot GrigioAromas of lemon and lime kick things off, those follow onto the palate, adding some pith along the way....

Duorum 2010 Douro Valley Red

by | Aug 21, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  I haven’t had a Portuguese wine in a long time, so I spied this on the cellar shelf and decided maybe it was time to change that.  Upon Opening … For a 13-year-old wine, the cork comes out clean and easy. It’s in great shape. Colour of...

Thorn-Clarke 2012 Shotfire Quartage

by | Aug 15, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Called “Quartage” because it is made from four grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot … wine was sealed under screw cap. When I opened it the liner stayed on top of the bottle, so I had to pull it off and the wine...

Masi 2009 Campofioirin

by | Aug 12, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  I have a number of older bottles of Campofioirin, this is my oldest. I figured it was time to give it a taste after 14 years. Upon Opening … Cork comes out with no crumble. There’s a little bit of wine on the end, so it has not crept up the cork....

Alsatian Digitasting

by | Aug 10, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … You would think that the days of the online tasting are over; what with the global pandemic on hiatus and all. But Alsace has embraced the online realm with their second annual “digitasting” … And what an interesting concept...

Shinas Estate 2009 The Verdict

by | Aug 8, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia I’d never seen before, it was recommended to me by my buddy Dave in Michigan – if you look close enough at the picture you can see the orange price tag and maybe even the price. I asked Dave what he...

Montes 2012 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon

by | Aug 6, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Found this on the wine rack and thought, “maybe it’s time for an older wine”. Opens easily; for a 10+ year old wine the cork is in great shape, no seepage up the cork – the colour is all contained on the end. Aromas … Might need to...

Ferzo 2016 Montepulchiano D’Abruzzo

by | Aug 6, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

I remember when I first received this wine from @nikki_zolis @awsmont , I thought it was brilliant back then – time to try it again. Opens easily with no issues – wasn’t really expecting any; cork is still in great shape. Aromas … Aromas are...

Chianti Lovers 2023

by | Aug 3, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … Chianti Lovers was a bit of a mishmash for me this year. Instead of trying everything, I tried to zero in on some regions and areas to see if I could distinguish differences. I looked at plenty of reserve wines as well. Wines from Rufina,...

Vino Nobile Anteprima 2023

by | Aug 1, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … I tasted all 63 wines presented this year at Anteprima Vino Nobile, there were some standouts (as usual), plenty of good wine, and of course three that rose above the rest. In all, I scored 31 wines between 4+ and 3 and ½ stars …...

The Pillars of Supertuscans

by | Jul 13, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … Consorzio Vino Toscana was founded in 2018 to protect the name of Tuscan wines, namely those without a DOC or DOCG designation … in other words those deemed IGT. This is an area of Italian wine that has seen a growth of 126% over the...

The Podcast Plus: Ponte1948

by | Jun 30, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … Meeting with Gabriele Fasan from Ponte 1948 at Mike’s Back Door in Mississauga, for a podcast about the winery – with a big thank you to J. Cipelli and Dana Pancer, listen here or read below (My recommendation … Do Both)...

Good Dei: 2 wines / 4 vintages

by | Jun 23, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2023) … Montepulcino – I have been to Dei before… I have tasted wines here before … I have had a meal here before. But this was a different visit, it was about comparing two Cru (single vineyards) the winery has. One, is the older...

Video Review : Lighthall 2019 Chardonnay

by | Jun 16, 2023 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,  An Ontario Wine Video Review with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Lighthall Vineyards2019 Chardonnay {youtube}ikrG4zYDuso{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus...

Video Review : Montes 2020 Alpha M (Chile)

by | Apr 24, 2023 | Weekly Video Wine Note

  The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: Montes Wines2020 Alpha M {youtube}th9sgE9ViXg{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube Channel.   The Written Review … An absolute ripper...

Tenuta Monteti 2016 Toscana (Maremma)

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  A Maremma (Tuscany) wine that is Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with 18 months in French oak. Opens easily – it’s not that old, so I have high hopes NOSE: pencil shavings, pretty smoked-cherry and subtle cedar TASTE: mocha,...

Video Review : Lighthall 2020 Cabernet Franc

by | Apr 5, 2023 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,  An Ontario Wine Video Review with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Lighthall Vineyards2020 Cabernet Franc {youtube}gbLSng-alIA{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus...

Brunello Day in Toronto

by | Apr 3, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (November 2022) … A few years ago I was doing this tasting in Montalcino, then Brunello broke with the rest of their Tuscan counterparts and decided to have their own event(s) – two as it turns out: one to showcase the Rosso wines and the other...

A Zonte’s Tasting and Podcast

by | Mar 31, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(November 2022) … To listen to the interesting history of Brad Rey and the birth of Zonte’s Footsteps, I invite you to listen to it here. And/or read about the wines tasted below: Starter wines: four wines tasted, three white / one rosé. Of these,...

Santa Margherita Lunch (Toronto)

by | Mar 30, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  (June 2022) … Learned quite a bitAmber53 at a Santa Margherita lunch back in June. Took my time getting this one out. Santa Margherita doesn’t obviously need my help to sell wine, they do quite a job on their own. But when you learn something...

Clos des Moiselles 2015 Cotes de Bourg

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Upon opening … Cork has wine one-third up, but the colour of the wine is good: red with a little bricking, slight orange tinge, but nothing extreme – this wine is in good shape. It’s a blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) and Malbec...

Dutschke 2013 GHR Neighbours Shiraz

by | Mar 14, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Upon opening … Crack of the cap, a couple of spins and off comes the stelvin; the wine goes into the glass deep and dark and rich looking. NOSE: Raspberry, blackberry with hints of licorice and chocolate TASTE: Lots of smoky, gritty tannins. Fruit is...

Dominique Piron 2015 Chiroubles

by | Mar 13, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Upon opening … Good red colour, cork’s in good shape, using a burgundy glass for this one. NOSE: A little floral and a lot of dark fruit on the nose. There are some tertiary notes sneaking in. TASTE: Aggressive notes of either tannins or wood from...

Torres 2015 Salmos

by | Mar 9, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  Upon opening … The cork comes out in fairly pristine condition, a little weak in the middle, but I had little problem putting it back in and pulling it back out.  NOSE: Mostly dark and brooding – I can smell oak so I’m concerned...

Creekside 2017 Laura’s Red

by | Mar 5, 2023 | Lost & Found / Taste it Again

  Upon opening: Cracked the cap and the wine was still young and vibrant – too young to see change in colour. NOSE: Young and fruit driven, yet with notes of cigar box and subtle cedar. TASTE: Lots of raspberry and black cherry, a little smoky and still has...

Video Review : Vineland 2020 Cabernet Franc

by | Mar 3, 2023 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,  An Ontario Wine Video Review with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Vineland Estates2020 Cabernet Franc {youtube}WL72LnEhvGI{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus...

Newsletter : Wines You Need to Get (vol. 23-02)

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Newsletter Archives

End of February … there is some snow on the ground in Niagara, but not enough to impede anything; although my car did get stuck on an ice patch. The days are getting longer and I do not dread 5 o’clock and the darkness that rolls in claiming the end of the...

A Look at the Vino from Collavini

by | Feb 23, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

The story of Collavini begins in 1896 in Ignano, Italy, we’re founder Eugenio supplied wine to stores and noble families in Udine. The winery is located in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, which is the top right corner of Italy, near Austria, Slovenia and the Adriatic...

Castle Rock 2015 Petite Sirah (California)

by | Feb 23, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

  (March 6, 2022) … Not as old as I usually do in this column, but I thought this might be something interesting. It’s from Paso Robles and a Petite Sirah, something not often seen on its own. The nose is very dark berry and dusty with blueberry,...

Joseph Phelps 2003 Insignia (California)

by | Feb 23, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

(February 28, 2022) … This one starts off a little leathery, but there is also a definite fruity nature that is underlying within that leatheriness. Plenty of dark fruit almost jammy as it opens, and that palate is silky smooth with just a hint of tannin. The...

Casa Lapostolle 2004 Clos Apalta

by | Feb 9, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

Upon opening … Looks incredibly dark; cork is in perfect shape, no wine creeping up. Dark, smoky and cedary – it’s consistent sniff after sniff. Fruit is still there, it’s dark and brooding; there are some notes of coffee and black licorice,...

Trasimeno : A Tasting in Two Parts

by | Feb 7, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

  Everyone is fond of the term “Masterclass” these days, the name holds a certain amount of charm; today we had two centered around the Trasimeno Gamay grape (to learn more about this variety see here). The first masterclass focused on the many faces...

Antinori 2004 Badia a Passsignano (Italy)

by | Feb 6, 2023 | Uncorked Tonight

Freshly opened / slight chill from the fridge …  ? Cork is in great shape. Colour is good. ? dark spiced fruit, there’s a little earthy and some coffee bean … ? Got some dried fruit, dry leaves, coffee bean, dried strawberry. This one’s in...

Winter 2023 – Wines at the LCBO Round-Up

by | Jan 27, 2023 | What I'm Tasting

Since there are no Vintages tastings at the LCBO head office these days, I must rely on what comes to the door for my tasting notes … below you will find a number of different sources for wines: agents, general list, wines not available at present, etc. but...

Time to Talk Trasimeno

by | Jan 16, 2023 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(May 2022) … I was invited to Trasimeno, as part of a larger Umbrian tour that started with Sagrantino … The draw for me here was a grape called Trasimeno Gamay; I thought: “Gamay? in Italy? … This might be very interesting” … It...

E-blast : Wines You Need to Get (vol. 22-12)

by | Dec 23, 2022 | Newsletter Archives

Wow, did December blow through quickly. As I am writing this, there’s a storm a-brewing outside my window and the weatherman is telling us all to stay indoors, at least for the next two or three days anyway – but that’s alright, Christmas is right...

Montgras 2005 Quatro Reserva (Chile)

by | Nov 1, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(June 11, 2015) … The obvious take-away from this wine is that Quatro means 4 and there are four grapes in the blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere and Malbec … From the title you should also notice this is a 10 year old wine, so how does a...

Rocca Delle Macie 2002 Rubizzo (Italy)

by | Nov 1, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(June 10, 2015) … I have been rather lucky when it comes to my cellar, I have inventory some cellars that have dozens of leaky bottles, but my luck seems to be holding as I have seen very few in my own cellar (and as I type this with my right hand I am knocking...

Report from: Salud Spain

by | Oct 25, 2015 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

(October 1, 2015) … Lookie here, the LCBO put on a gorgeous tasting at the Leon’s ROundhouse in downtown Toronto – and when I say “gorgeous” I mean the wines … Spanish wines have long been a weakness of mine and when confronted with...

Video: Bench Trial Wines 2010 Subpoena

by | Oct 21, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Bench Trial Wines 2010 Subpoena {youtube}LaO9lT2WWSs{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube...

Video: Delibori 2012 Valpolicella Ripasso

by | Oct 19, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: Delibori 2012 Valpolicella RipassoClassico Superiore {youtube}17o1OeH_iLc{/youtube} To get the...

Video: Calamus 2012 Merlot

by | Oct 14, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Calamus 2012 Merlot {youtube}iWU5Sn8G38g{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube Channel....

Video: Warre’s 2000 Colheita Port

by | Oct 12, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: Warre’s 2000 Colheita Port   {youtube}p5KdhZMUY0U{/youtube} To get the latest...

Video: Lenko 2012 Viognier

by | Oct 7, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Lenko 2012 Viognier {youtube}Ehjk_QCYoCg{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube Channel....

Big House 2005 The Prodigal Son (California)

by | Oct 5, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(June 6, 2015) … Not the greatest wine I’ve ever had, nor the best Petite Sirah … But there are some redeeming features like the blueberry and cassis aromas … Those notes follow onto the palate and develop a little pepper and spice with a...

Video: Alpha Estate 2010 Axia

by | Oct 5, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: Alpha Estate 2010 Axia {youtube}vyg253L3Li0{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the...

The Food & Family Summer Begins

by | Sep 29, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 23, 2015) … So my niece and soon-to-be nephew came to town and we had a hell of an afternoon of food and wine from the likes of Creekside and Honsberger … Problems began when we got home, and the question became: ‘who felt like more food and...

Video: RockBare 2012 Shiraz

by | Sep 28, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: RockBare 2012 Shiraz {youtube}FdQ-zdBw12w{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the...

Video: Casa Dea 2010 Reserve Chardonnay

by | Sep 23, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Casa Dea 2010 Reserve Chardonnay {youtube}kqhKcHpDNrM{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube...

Night 3: All Canadian Wine Championships 2015

by | Sep 19, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 14, 2015) … Here we are, final night of the All Canadians’ and more wine from ‘away’ is poured. Starting with a Castillo de Monseran 2007 Garnacha, Carinena (Spain) – this wine was rated as best value in Canada by the now defunct...

Night 2: All Canadian Wine Championships 2015

by | Sep 19, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 13, 2015) … Tonight at the All Canadian Wine Championships was bring your bottles to the restaurant night and I pull out some old Ontario to see where they were. My first experimental wine was an hommage to our former judging region, Lake Erie North Shore...

Night 1: All Canadian Wine Championships 2015

by | Sep 19, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 12, 2015) … Night one of the All Canadian Wine Championships and after a day of Canada I like to open a few things from “away” … Tonight it was a Juan Gil 2006 Monastrell from the Jumilla region of Spain. Last time I opened an older bottle...

A Birthday Dinner (Ontario / California)

by | Sep 19, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 10, 2012) … My wife is having a birthday, or at least we’re celebrating it tonight, and because she digs on sparkling I opened a bottle of Coyote’s Run 2009 Pinot Noir Rose Sparkling which still has lots of strawberry pith notes, though age...

Video: Two Sisters “Lush” Brut Rose

by | Sep 9, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Two Sisters “Lush” Brut Rose {youtube}vCwfFZ-Tzk4{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus...

Video: Chateau de Monbadon 2010

by | Sep 7, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus Today’s wine: Chateau de Monbadon 2010 {youtube}9dE9gfAbtBA{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the...

Alianca 2006 Particular (Portugal)

by | Sep 6, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 7, 2015) … Now, if memory serves this is one of those special wines that benefited from an off-vintage. In 2006 Portugal the harvest in some parts was not up to par, and so Alianca (producer) didn’t make some of their special single vineyard wines,...

Video: Lailey 2013 Barrel Select Syrah

by | Sep 2, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Lailey 2013 Barrel Select Syrah {youtube}ABq7URP_xPY{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube...

Video: Burrowing Owl 2011 Syrah

by | Aug 31, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Burrowing Owl 2011 Syrah {youtube}9rPv6K8ZS10{/youtube} To get the latest...

Las Moras 2005 Black Label Shiraz (Argentina)

by | Aug 28, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(May 5, 2015) … Recently, at an Argentinean tasting, I tried a Las Moras Syrah that was truly one of the best wines at the event. What I found interesting was that even the Argentinean, with their hot climate, are moving away from the Aussie-labeling and joining...

Taste it Again: Does Rose Age?

by | Aug 26, 2015 | Lost & Found / Taste it Again

My Rose Victims(August 26, 2015) … Not sure what possessed me to do this, it was another one of my strange experiment moments and one that answers that age old question (that nobody was asking) Does Rose age?  The simple answer is … apparently not. I...

Video: Thirty Bench 2012 Benchmark Red

by | Aug 26, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Thirty Bench Wine Makers2012 Benchmark Red  {youtube}_GArzMCTcU0{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael...

43 US Wine Reviews from 4 States

by | Aug 24, 2015 | On the Road with the Grape Guy

Every month I’ll add a number of new International reviews to the website – this month our focus is on the US of A, and in particular wines from 4 states: California, New York, Oregon and Washington … check out the full review by clicking on the...

Thorn-Clarke 2005 Barossa Cuvee (Australia)

by | Aug 24, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(April 26, 2015) … Lord knows I did not want to go to a game 7, so this game was crucial and as it turned out I opened this bottle at the start of the third period (my buddy, Joe, and I were too on the edge of our seats to be able to deal with a glass...

Video: Elephant Hill 2013 Syrah

by | Aug 24, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Elephant Hill 2013 Syrah  {youtube}chYjAcr8I0k{/youtube} To get the latest...

Video: Mission Hill 2010 Quatrain

by | Aug 17, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

Michael Pinkus Wine Review presents,In Association with Fortessa & Schott Zwiesel … The Wine Review Video with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Mission Hill 2010 Quatrain {youtube}rs2tK_ZEdjw{/youtube} To get the latest...

Bodegas Volver 2011 Tarima Hill Old Vines (Spain)

by | Aug 12, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(April 24, 2015) … No mention on the front label as to this being ‘old vines’ what, but a little further digging reveals its Monastrell. Spain is just a fabulous place for wine, for old Vines, and for new world flavour with old world charm. This is...

Video: Malivoire 2012 Small Lot Gamay

by | Aug 12, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Malivoire 2012 Small Lot Gamay {youtube}xeshdh8ISqo{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube...

Ribs and Zin at Joe’s (California)

by | Aug 7, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(April 19, 2015) … It was one of those April weekends that you wish always happened – weather-wise and other-wise.  Yesterday I dropped the mic on a gorgeous Ravenswood Zinfandel … today we’re invited over to my neighbour’s place for...

More Reds with Andre (California / Italy)

by | Aug 6, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

A continuation of a previous article – see part 1 here. (April 18, 2015) … The next two bottles were not from Ontario – I found a bottle of Coltibuono 2001 Cetamura Chianti – this came from my wife’s cellar when she moved here, she was...

Le Gravillas 2010 Plan de Dieu (France)

by | Aug 5, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(April 17, 2015) … Very quietly Plan de Dieu wines have been sneaking their way into my cellar – yes I am doing it on purpose. Once you learn that Plan de Dieu, in the Rhone Valley, is a mere stone’s throw away from the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape, you...

A Passover Miracle (Israel)

by | Jul 30, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(April 3, 2015) … I’m at a Passover dinner and I’ve been charged with picking the wine from a certain section of the wine cellar. Kosher wines aren’t a very exciting category in general but there are usually one or two that surprise. I know the...

Video: Creekside 2012 Syrahs Comparative

by | Jul 29, 2015 | Weekly Video Wine Note

MichaelPinkusWineReview presents … Ontario Video Wine Reviews with the Grape Guy, Michael Pinkus, check it out Today’s wine: Creekside Estate Winery2012 Syrahs Comparative {youtube}mwca__iyf1E{/youtube} To get the latest videosSubscribe to the Michael...

McManis 2008 Syrah (California)

by | Jul 27, 2015 | Uncorked Tonight

(March 28, 2015) … I think it was tasting the current vintage of this wine that made me want to open this older version that has been languishing in my cellar … The nose proved to be a little smokey, a little peppery, but definitely with some red fruit and...