What I've Been Tasting - May 2025
26 May 2025- Details
- Category: What I'm Tasting
Scoring is out of 5 stars
The "+" sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,
but not enough to send it to the next level
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Chateau Beaupontail 2019 Pecharment - Quintessence (France - winery)
Good fruit core that's dark and brooding with smoky-oaky elements; nicely balanced layers that has a spicy seam. (****)
Gerard Bertrand 2023 An 1618 - PicPoul de Pinet (France)
Gentle on alcohol (12.5%) with peachy, lime and mineral notes; subtle, soft and yet with still has good acidity. $17.95 - #13000 (*** ½+)
Gerard Bertrand 2023 Le Chouchou (France) 
Pure quaffability: light, easy and so chillable. Raspberry juice with a nice little hint of acidity and a touch of peppery spice on the finish. $17.95 - #42813 (*** ½+)
Gerard Bertrand 2024 Cote de Roses - Sauvignon Blanc (France)
This Savvy B is more fruit forward than cat's pee dominant - whiter peach, subtle pith and typical citrus. $19.95 - #23906 (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2020 Estate Pinot Noir (Ontario)
Bright, clean, fresh with notes of wild raspberry, cranberry and even some earthy character; the juicy middle leads to good acidity on the finish. $27.95 - #268391 (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2024 The Glass Eye - Pinot Grigio (Ontario)
This is a basic wine with notes of lemon, lime and hints of pith on the finish. $16.95 - #44290 (***+)
Joie Farm 2023 PTG - Pinot / Gamay (British Columbia)
Interesting mix of earthy and juicy with a finish that's full of cranberry and cherry. $32.96 - winery (*** ½)
Luigi Bosca 2023 La Linda Malbec (Argentina)
Bold yet juicy; dark and blue fruit with earthy notes. The spice shows up mid-palate and lasts through to the finish. $13.95 - #11927 (****)
Peninsula Ridge 2024 Sauvignon Blanc (Ontario)
Pretty true to the variety. There are some cat's pee notes, typical for the variety; but then there are plenty of grapefruit as well: pith, pulp and peel. You like 'em this way, this one is for you. $16.95 - #53678 (*** ½)
Schmitt Sohne 2023 Relax Riesling (Germany)
A Mosel Riesling with a little bit of sweetness that comes across as pear and apple on the mid-palate, with a green apple and lemon drop finish. $14.10 - #621888 (*** ½+)
Urbina 2015 Crianza Tempranillo (Spain)
Ten years and still going strong: dark and earthy, smoky and spicy - this wine has plenty of layers. Fruit comes across a little dried but it opens quite nicely given an hour or so. $24.95 - #30206 (****+)
Wakefield 2022 Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
Very juicy with lots of plush dark fruit of cassis and blackberry. $24.95 - #142398 (*** ½+)
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Some Old Wines that impressed ...
Thorn-Clarke 2008 Terra Barossa Shiraz (Australia) 
When I looked at this bottle I thought it was 7 years old, then math and the year caught up with me, 17 years – where does a decade go? The first few minutes, and I was ready to throw the wine down the drain, but once I finished cooking dinner (30 minutes later) this had blossomed into a beauty with lots of fruit, still vibrant, and a lovely mocha finish. Did it show some age? Maybe a little, but barely noticeable – and smooth.
Guillaume Bouchacourt 2016 Chenas – Les Gandelins (Beaujolias)
As a Beaujo-fan I love finding wines in my cellar from Cru and to taste them as they get older. This one showed some age, but still kept enough fruit and depth to make it exciting.
Icellars 2017 Reserve Red (Ontario) 
I found a cache of Icellars wines and tired of waiting, I decided to open this one. It was a Saturday night; the Leafs were playing, if memory serves. Dinner was simple: burgers and fries. The wine was a delight, paired with the food – but on its own still showed some baby fat; I realized this one might need another 3-5 years. Three days later, I learned Adnan Icel had passed. I am heartbroken writing these notes. I am thrilled to have known the man and tasted his wines. He had vision and plenty of spunk – and he was a little crazy – who leaves engineering to go into wine? He will be missed by all of us. Thank you Adnan.
