Cabernet Sauvignon

Versado Is Something You Need To Be Drinking

I have long been following the Versado. This winery is owned by Southbrook Winemaker Ann Sperling and Peter Gamble. I have had the chance to taste these wines in the past, but it has been a few years since having a chance to visit them. This is the first time...

What I Did On My Summer Vacation – and what I drank

It has been far too long since I wrote a proper update to André Wine Review. I apologize for that. I have moved from Toronto to Hamilton. As the 80x Wine Company continues to grow, it is beginning to take more of my attention. I ran two farmers markets a...

Chateau des Charmes is Elegance Off The Charts

It has been a little while since I’ve reviewed the wines from Chateau des Charmes. So when I received the latest package it was nice to have a chance to continue to taste the quality of the higher end of the portfolio. The Old Vines Cabernet Merlot was a breath...

My Virtual Tasting Experience with Icellars

Last summer was a challenge for all small businesses thanks to the pandemic. But for many business owners it was a period of tremendous ingenuity. How do you get your wines into the hands of people who want to try it? When you run a premium winery like Adnan and...

Kacaba - a quick look at 2017 reds.

The latest batch of 2017’s from Kacaba continue a long string of wines that demonstrate the quality of the strange vintage. The warm dry fall wasn’t just kind to the early ripening varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay it seems across the board these wines deliver the goods. Here is...

The BIPOC Wine Feature No One Is talking About at the LCBO

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the new LCBO at 49 Spadina I highly recommend it. The vintages session is very well put together and rarely do I leave that store without finding something unique that isn’t available anywhere else in the city. While it would seem that...

Auto Draft

This fall I had the chance to taste through the latest releases from Culmina. While this winery is more likely to be recognized for it’s Red blends. This latest batch of wines was the entire lineup of Bordeaux varieties vinified into single varietal wines. Here are some thoughts of everything...

Double Diamond - a peek at To Kalon

I have been very lucky to be able to take part in some virtual tastings throughout the pandemic. My favourite one took place in October when I had the opportunity to taste the Double Diamond wines from Schrader. Double Diamond is the “entry level” to Schrader, but frankly these wines...

The Facelift at The Foreign Affair

Earlier in the fall I had the Foreign Affair pop up in my instagram feed. Their labels have seen a facelift. It’s been awhile since I’ve tasted through the wines from the Foreign Affair. The winery was acquired by Corby a few years ago. I think it’s normal for people...

Wine Review - 2017 Sassicaia

On Saturday the 2017 vintage of Sassicaia will be released. Given the year that we’ve had so far, I have a feeling that it won’t sit on the shelf for very long. I had the opportunity to be sent a bottle for review – because let’s face it – buying...

No funny business with the current wines of Laughing Stock

Late in the summer I had the opportunity to taste through the current lineup of wines from Laughing Stock. I have always been a big fan of Portfolio, and Pinot Gris is something that is always something to look forward to from BC. So here are my thoughts. 2017 Laughing...

2010 Clos Maragnac - My wine and food pairing adventure

2010 Clos Maragnac – $27.95 – Vintages 11655 – **** This isn’t so much a tasting note as what I did when I opened this wine. I prepared a sashimi bowl for dinner – with the intention of drinking this wine that particular evening. I have said on my podcast...