Archives for ‘quick-review’

    • Black Cloud Altostratus

      by Adrian Bryksa

      The situation was like a ‘Black Cloud’ hanging over their heads. Sensing an opportunity, the duo decided to buy back the remaining inventory and brand it themselves. With that, Black Cloud was born.

    • Château Fonbadet

      by Adrian Bryksa

      From a vintage perspective, 2003 was a great yet challenging in Bordeaux with intense heat arriving in August. Take 40 + degree Celsius temperatures and combine with a lack of cooling rain and one of the potential outcomes is roasted, thick skinned grapes contributing to flabby wine.

    • Terre da vino Barolo Poderi Scaronne D.O.C.G.

      by Adrian Bryksa

      I recently spotted a lonely bottle of 2005 Amon-Ra for a bargain basement price that I left on the shelf. When I went back to buy it, it was gone and I swore that I would never leave another deal like that on the table.

    • Le Volte

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Le Volte holds distinction as it is aged in the same oak barriques that previously housed previous vintages of their flagship Ornellaia and Masseto blends.

    • Adamas Pinot Noir

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Burgundy: there are few words in the world of wine that can mean so much. Often setting an oenophilles heart aflutter, its wines are esoteric, complicated and more often than not, misunderstood.

    • Willow Bridge Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

      by Adrian Bryksa

      It has been a while since I have covered a white wine; I suppose the changing of the season has had me thinking more red than white. However, that’s not to say that a vino blanco can’t be enjoyable as fall sets in.

    • Château Latour – Martillac

      by Adrian Bryksa

      If you cellar wine, one of the great pleasures is to pluck out a wine that you have been holding and enjoy it – preferably with friends.

    • St. Supéry Élu

      by Adrian Bryksa

      I decided to check out the selection of wines at a corner market near where I was staying. Amongst the Bud Light Lime and other various malt beverages, I came upon a small but modest wine section.

    • Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Shiraz

      by Adrian Bryksa

      For this months review, I thought it was time to visit my cellar again. When I buy wine to cellar, I usually purchase it with an event in mind. It is a on the rare occasion that pull something out of the cellar to drink on my own and that’s what happened here.

    • Narkoojee Cabernet Sauvignon

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Narkoojee is a family run vineyard located in the relatively obscure Central Gippsland sub-region, which for those familiar with Australia is about 2.5 hours south east of Melbourne.

    • Airlie Maréchal Foch

      by Adrian Bryksa

      The varietal is an interesting one as it is a hybrid grape that may produce wines of tremendous breadth from light, Beaujolais stylized examples to rich, full bodied wines.

    • Hillside Estate Pinotage

      by Adrian Bryksa

      This wine rates in my top 10 Canadian wines, and I would seek it out at if you are interested in giving it a try.

    • Corte Giara Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore

      by Adrian Bryksa

      It is also the reason that Ripasso wines are often referred to as ‘Baby Amarone’ since that secondary fermentation takes place on the same lees used to make Amarone.

    • Clos la Coutale

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Since new world malbec are all the rage for their ripe, bold fruit forwardness, I thought it would be interesting to observe the differences between style and presentation from old to new.

    • La Vieille Ferme Red 2006

      by Adrian Bryksa

      When I saw this inexpensive French red, I imagine myself drinking wine out of a tumbler at some rustic vineyard in the south of France.

    • Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Jim Barry is one of Australia’s finest producers and has some of the most collectible and desirable bottlings year after year.

    • Anthony Collins – Doubts & Shouts

      by Jon Freer

      Wholeheartedly rejecting the proposition that ‘machine music’ should be opposed all that is ‘live’ and ‘organic’, this long player delves into both worlds and emerges with a pulse racing opus.

    • Rhone Gang Hold Up #6

      by Adrian Bryksa

      The appeal for this wine is going to be for consumers looking for flexibility and finesse in a red.

    • Heitz Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

      by Adrian Bryksa

      I have heard people decanting Heitz Cellars wines for 6 hours, probably due to the fact that this wine spends 3 years aging between American and French oak.

    • Cooper Mountain Vineyards Cooper Hill Pinot Noir

      by Adrian Bryksa

      I have been inspired to revisit Pinot Noir as when it is done right, can be heaven in a glass and when done incorrectly, can be a pure disaster. To me it is the thrill of the hunt for that special pinot that is so alluring.

    • Edge Cabernet Sauvignon

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Buying wine on tips is not unlike the stock market, sometimes there are stars but more often than not, there are dogs. Is Edge a star or a dog? Keep reading to find out.

    • Bodegas Enrique Foster Reserva Malbec

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Due to the fact that people know I drink wine, it seems to be the standard gift gesture when people come to my home as a guest. Conversely, when I go to someones house, I like to do the same.

    • Conti Zecca Donna Marzia Primitivo IGT

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Valentine’s Day might be a commercial holiday for some, but it seemed like a good enough day to hit up the cellar and try out some Italian red.

    • Wyndham Estates Show Reserve Cabernet Merlot

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Do rewards come to those that wait? I have had this wine in my cellar for a few years and Sunday was going to be its day of reckoning.

    • Barefoot Zinfandel

      by Adrian Bryksa

      My expectations for this one aren’t high, but I have seen other consumers walk out of stores with case loads of this wine and big smiles on their faces so who knows….

    • Sustainable Dining at Red Door Bistro

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Using local and provincial producers, Red Door Bistro has tried to ensure that where possible, their materials are as organic and are as free from hormones, pesticides and all those other undesirable ingredients as possible.

    • The Bucketheads – The Bomb!

      by Jon Freer

      Back in 1995, The Bucketheads, released an incredibly powerful House record, which was called The Bomb! From the first time I heard it, the track fascinated me, even though I didn’t know much about house music at the time.

    • Annie’s Lane Riesling

      by Adrian Bryksa

      I love the versatility that Riesling offers from its potential presentation as a sticky sweet late harvest or as mouth-puckering dry example and all of the spots that it can occupy in between.

    • Artist Profile: Glass Candy

      by Jon Freer

      They make the sort of music that cuts through the hot air and has you thankful for owning ears and having the ability to listen to GC's magical and mysterious concoctions.

    • Kendall-Jackson Jackson Estates Grown Cabernet Sauvignon

      by Adrian Bryksa

      Holidays can bring a time of depression, especially when faced with the ugly truth that work is awaiting along with any salivating creditors to which ones holiday good times were funded.

    • Woolfy Vs Projections

      by Jon Freer

      The resulting album is a truly magical collection of organic beauties, where live percussion, heavenly guitars and angelic vocals feature heavily.

    • Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz

      by Adrian Bryksa

      It isn’t every day that a new child comes into the world so to celebrate his birth, I decided to dust off a bottle from the cellar of one of my favorite wines.

    • The Source feat. Candi Staton – You Got The Love

      by Jon Freer

      This record, a commercial success and a club floor filler, was my first introduction to electronic music, back in the late 80s. At the time, I was very young, but the track struck an important chord with me and showed me the emotional power of music.

    • Huber Grüner Veltliner Obere Steigen D.A.C.

      by Adrian Bryksa

      This is an almost exclusive Austrian varietal that seems to fit in between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc stylistically and sometimes exhibits some characteristics commonly found in Riesling. It sound like my kind of white.

    • The Best Of Mr. Bongo

      by Jon Freer

      Mr. Bongo is a goliath in the compilation market and celebrates 20 years of pushing exciting music from South America and other continents with this Best Of Mr. Bongo two disc set.

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