6/22/2014 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Overwhelming banana, some nice earthy and strawberry notes. Good mouthfeel. Uninspiring aftertaste. Drinkable, but not a Beaujolais I enjoy.

9/22/2013 - monotone Likes this wine:

Minéral, miel citronné, abricot, légèrement floral. Boisé conservateur (75% barrique, 25% inox, j'aurais cru moins) donnant une texture ronde et ample. Frais dans l'ensemble. Alcool présent en finale. Bon RQP (22). Bien aimé.

1/5/2013 - monotone Likes this wine:

Dark fruit nose of Syrah with a bit of dried cranberries. Rather intense taste with structure and fleshy tannins. The finish is nicely concentrated and long, supported by good acidity. Love it, excellent QPR.

12/20/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

I like the style: pineapple and slightly nutty with oaky spices (smooth white pepper). Medium acidity, full bodied and intense while staying balanced, if perhaps a bit hot. Very good at this price.

7/10/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

Very good. Simple, citrus without grapefruit. The crisp slightly mineral texture is nice, reminding of Sancerre.

7/7/2012 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Bland. Poor pear syrup nose and slight honey/banana taste with low acidity and utter lack of freshness - I whiffed grapefruit at one point but never noticed it again. Quaffable at best, but seriously off with most foods. Avoid.

7/7/2012 - monotone wrote:

Peachy nose, little taste. Correct for price.

7/5/2012 - monotone wrote:

Peppery and spicy without much fruit. Bold, good taste.

5/13/2012 - monotone wrote:

Jaune paille. Minéral. Un petit coté rude à l'arome, la texture est fine et soyeuse, joli. Acidité bonne, bouche minérale, finale citronnée. Arômes de pommes, tarte aux pommes, craie avec des notes de chair de lime et de menthe - qui me rappèlent certains 'drinks' peu recommandables mais ça reste tout de même en second plan.

Je seconde l'accord suggeré de la SAQ: ce vin agrandira un filet de poisson (pané) au citron.

3/20/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

Juicy, nice spicy funk and fruit.

2/29/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

Woody with aromatic spices (nutmeg). Both the nose and taste show warm mandarins with unripe stone fruits adding freshness.
Rich and buttery, even slightly waxy. Balanced and crisp on the early palate until fruit and smokiness intermingle nicely on the finish. Now, of course, you must enjoy oaked chards but this offers a tremendous value at CDN $23.

2/28/2012 - monotone wrote:

Simple and lemony with flowers. Clean and dry with a tart, stony texture. At the same price (CDN $20), I find William Fèvre's offering more interesting but this is fine.

2/27/2012 - monotone wrote:

Funk and sour berries, juicy with a tea-like dry tannic frame. Decent.

1/20/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

On pop, slightly fruity, plum and some warm spices; soon shows enticing, Loire-like funk adding complexity; and later completes with earthy dust tones and a lasting penchant for blackberries. Very fun to smell over time, and an easy 90pts were it for the nose alone.

If the taste is acceptable, silky, it ultimately has too few tannins and acidity to provide a fine texture and finish against a relatively high 14%. Still a good sipper, and great nose.

1/11/2012 - monotone Likes this wine:

Keyword: sharp. The nose reminds me of those freeze-dried berries, with pot-pourri notes and oaky roundness. The combination of fine dry tannins and fresh acidity brings a very sharp texture that stands well with food. At 16$, good QPR. Good at cellar temp (~15c).

12/17/2011 - monotone wrote:

Relatively sweet, supple red, low intensity nose but good fruit, slight sourness gives a country-wine feel but not too much. OK.

11/24/2011 - monotone wrote:

Intense dark cherry and some raspberry, woody. Tannins are rough, but in limited quantity enough not to be too drying/puckering. A raw, bitter lift on both the nose and palate will limit crowd success and some food pairings. Acidity is fine, pleasing finish. 16-17c.

11/5/2011 - monotone wrote:

Baby abricot and sweet grapefruit juice and impressions of minerality, low complexity. Acidity rounded by a concentrated, soft texture. Most enjoyable lemon finish. Maybe unrelated, but preferred from day 2 and on. Good as aperitif.

10/28/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

The nose is very light and white, like crudités and flowers. The taste shines with solid acidity, fine texture and decent finish. An appealing, easy-going food wine with that shows alsacian typicity. Entirely worth the 16$ CDN.

10/19/2011 - monotone Does not like this wine:

The banana and melon profile is strong with this one.

9/18/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Excellent quality. The tannins are supple, the texture is juicy, and it shows strength in its structure and concentration. The nose was slighly muted, but pure with very enjoyable notes of medium berries (raspberries, etc.), leafy herbs and some pepper. At this point, you can air it for hours and it remains as fresh as a baby's butt.

9/11/2011 - monotone wrote:

Asparagus and mango (ie funky-warm) nose, lemon and melon palate. I find the overall profile slightly off on its own but its round acidity makes an OK food wine - paired decently with poached+seared chicken with pasta and lemon dressing.

4/21/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Rich and chocolaty.

4/19/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Fat, fun and fresh. A smooth, oily, attack-any-meal texture on a simple, approchable grapefruit-oriented profile.

4/17/2011 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Initially interesting while still chilled, with nice pineapple (fresh and dried) aromas and a smooth palate. The first shortcoming is a feel of slightly diluted taste, which could almost be interpreted as elegant. But soon, as it warms up, it takes a quite unpleasant alcoholic and medical turn, ruining an already delicate balance. Avoid alone or with delicate food - pairing with exotic or spicy meal will likely hide this aspect and put its fruit and smoothness forward successfully. Not entirely bad, but I would not recommend this to friends.

4/17/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Cassis-oriented, wide yet restrained nose with cues of flowers and vanilla. The tannins are smooth and ready to drink. Medium body with an elegant touch.

4/17/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Dusty, medium-dark, good, well-defined.

4/16/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

For me, excellent in that style: a yellow, quite toasty chard with good acidity, a tasty pear/vanilla full-bodied palate and a long slightly smoky finish. Crisp, very fresh and nutty without being fat, woody or, worse, scattered in all directions. Solid and delightful. It's fruit is neutral enough to pair well with anything you would have a toasty chard with. I've enjoyed it with tomato-jalapeno grilled fajitas.

4/8/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Interesting aromas of lemon bread dough with higher tones of apples, citrus, citrus, toasted nuts. Good mouthfeel, although bubbles feel like they they could be more integrated. Mineral, dry finish that fades neatly. Enjoyable and festive.

3/6/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Néophyte de cette région, je dois dire que c'est le premier chablis qui me plaît fortement. Arôme effacés de pommes et d'agrumes séchés, avec des effluves minérales et d'air frais, un brin de sésame grillé, une texture très nette. Superbe finale jouant en longueur. Très frais au départ, la fin de la bouteille au jour 2 laissait dévoiler un délicieux petit boisé plus "chardonnay", et je n'hésiterais pas à en mettre quelques exemplaires de côté. Fortement recommandé à ce prix.

3/5/2011 - monotone wrote:

Darker than average with a convincing cooked cherries fruit profile a well-defined taste structure that compares favorably to the mess some other highly extracted PNs can get. Very good in that style.

2/25/2011 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Passable nose and structure, but way too sour on the palate.

2/20/2011 - monotone Likes this wine:

Moût de framboises et de mûres, poussière d'argile et tabac à pipe. En bouche, trame tannique gorgée de fruits violacés, sans lourdeur, avec aussi confiseries à la cerise, quelques épices de whisky et petites notes fraîches. La finale bien soutenue ramène les divers composants. Un petit délice quand même!

12/18/2010 - monotone wrote:

Bel arôme de grosses pommes rouges. Assez intense mais un peu fade en saveur; manque de complexité/profondeur pour garder l'intérêt seul. Sucre non-dominant, finale acidulée.

10/21/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Différent, fruit pénétrant, mûres sauvages, boisé champignoné, tisane et bulbe d'anis, belle texture ample aux tannins moites. La finale est agréablement fine. Très bon match avec brocolis crus et autres cossins de bonne franquette. Un vin de semaine au dessus de la mêlée.

9/16/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Arômes de mûres, framboises et baies foncées. Ça sent très bon, naturel; c'est de bonne augure. Le goût est vif, plein de saveur, à la finale légèrement vanillée. Des tannins accessibles et 9 mois en fûts de chêne amènent de la plénitude à ce brillant assemblage jeune et fruité. Pour moins de 20$, je fut charmé. [4/5]

8/28/2010 - monotone wrote:

A steady aromatic flow reveals a contrasting battle for attention between bright fruitness and strong tea, taking place on grounds of moist earth, dark chocolate and cool herbs (fennel bulb, chervil). The fruit is charming and approachable (berry peels, dark cherry, clear strawberry juice), while the more rustic elements are well complemented by the dryness and a pronounced astringency on the palate. The finish is clean; only flavorful marks and hints remain; a form of balance is struck. Decant, peaks at 1 - 1.5 hours.

8/27/2010 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Piccio, l'italien pour piquette?

8/16/2010 - monotone wrote:

Pear pulp with a herbal touch and tangerine essence; oak in the vanilla and fluffy butterscotch style. 3.5

8/6/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Oh, la réussite! Plaisir olfactif de framboises bien foncées et de mûres, de ronçes et de fumée de sous-bois. Le pruneau, la feuille de thé, le laurier et le romarin amènent un végétal rustique. En bouche, la matière est foncée, avec des tannins amples et maîtrisés - une belle poigne qui se termine sur le chocolat noir et la mûre. Servir légèrement frais, et assez promptement car les arômes se dégradent après 2h d'aération. Un délice seul, un fiasco avec la pizza du coin, un mariage réussi avec le steak de bison au vin rouge, ail et graines de coriandre. [4.5/5]

7/24/2010 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Blueberry/raspberry pie, with some grape must provide a relatively fruit-forward nose. Perfumes of oak bound with blue-purple flowers then bring some depth. The palate is quite soft for a Shiraz, with very little tannins. It has body from the alcohol but with the taste failing to cover it all, I ended up finding it dull and alcoholic. In any case, that is one wine I couldn't enjoy after 1 glass. Too bad, as I loved Katnook's Estate Merlot.

7/24/2010 - monotone wrote:

Initially, sour cherry dominates a young fruity nose with power but limited appeal or complexity. A faint backdrop of more mature aromas (fruit peel, oak) do keeps hopes up but the associated delicateness never really shows up. Fortunately, things evened out for the better on day 2 and/or after about 2 hours of aeration. A slightly faded nose allowed the more mature aromatic backdrop to shine through and provide harmony with the taste. This may be a good candidate for cellaring another 1-2 years, otherwise I recommend decanting a good 90 minutes before your first pouring. [3.5/5]

7/24/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Mature dark fruit nose with good intensity and a dry, tannic yet integrated palate. The aromas, if not complex, are natural and of good quality and makes the wine enjoyable on its own. With good strength and devoid of anything out of place, this is a very good table wine. [3.5/5]

7/21/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Toasted nose of ripe gold pineapple and kiwi skin. Rich taste of tropical fruit with good depth and nutty undertones. Yet a fine, firm texture resulting from a solid lime acidity provides a strong arch from the palate to a long and sumptuous, slightly smoky finish. Powerful and balanced, not overdone in any specific aspect (still keep out of reach of any poached salmon). This chard may not shine greatness but comes darn close to it once the initial austerity turns to exotic intrigue around the corner of the 5th sip. [4.25/5]

7/17/2010 - monotone wrote:

Herbaceous, small countryside flowers, with a dash of lime-flavored mineral water. Heck, it smells like near the train track! OK nose, albeit limited and simple. Medium intensity on the palate, with minerality. Easy to drink, but quickly reveal its flaws - notably one-dimensional aromas. Seems to pair best with dishes containing fresh ingredients such as lime, cucumber and cilantro. [3.25/5]

7/8/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

One you can't get your nose out of the glass. Fantastic aromas of raspberry chocolate, colored flowers, subtle freshness and well integrated oak. The taste is well balanced, with good acidity and full with finesse and stability, ready to drink. All leads to a very long finish that fades in fruity complexity. This is one of the good $30 CDN I've had recently. [4.5/5] Edit: Oh my, completely gone on day 2. This stuff is fragile, so drink up!

7/1/2010 - monotone wrote:

A high-to-low wine: nice cherry-raspberry nose with a firm wooden backdrop. Then follows a mostly insipid palate that feels like a medium body due to dry tannins and alcohol predominance (13.5%). A drinkable party wine but ultimately unbalanced. The finish is a bit acidic and tart, again lacking the initial aromas. [3.0/5]

6/25/2010 - monotone Does not like this wine:

Nose of jarred cherry and raspberry with smooth, vintage oak. It's relatively low acidity and tart, soft tannins in a medium body provides a quite quaffable texture which, however, seems to stay in a standstill. The finish gently brings back the low-key fruity nose. Okay but lacks something to keep interest or awake the senses. [3.0/5]

6/11/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Arômes de pêche et d'abricots, un peu de zeste de mandarine, et un contour musqué qui amène une douce profondeur. Fort agréable en bouche, avec plusieurs fines bulles qui moussent légèrement, se termine dans une finale fruité persistante sans jamais d'impression de "trop sucré". Rafraichissant lorsque bu très frais, taux d'alcool modéré, finalement c'est ce que les "coolers" auraient toujours voulu être.

6/23/2010 - monotone Likes this wine:

Surprisingly interesting exotic citrus and an even, well-bodied palate. Great QPR and bonus points for keeping extremely well over a couple of days.