Lori scored this wine: 89/100

Tonight’s Seriously Cool Red from @southbrookvineyards was a fabulous pairing with my “garden” pasta! Mixed linguini with sautéed peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes, topped with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan! I had to look at the label twice as I was surprised to see it was a 2013!! Aromas of black cherry, beetroot, black pepper and forest floor. On the palate sour cherry and rhubarb. Tannins were still quite grippy with racy acidity to match. This is a blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 25% Gamay, 8% Zweigelt, and 2% Syrah. Medium body with a long fruit and tannic finish. This wine will be drinkable for a few years yet. I think I need a few more bottles to lay down!! #wine #winetasting #winereviews #wineandfood Tasted August 2020

Lori scored this wine: 90/100

The “Annaberta” wines are dedicated to the Winery owner Diego Cottini’s wife. The winery , north of Verona, is comprised of 140 ha with grapes also coming from growers with an additional 240 ha. All growers must adhere to a strict quality protocol which ensures continuity and consistent wines. Considering you can spend a lot of money on an Amarone – this is a good value wine ($38.95) and would make a great staple in your cellar. Deep ruby in colour with typical aromas of dried fruit and spice; cooked plums, dried cherries, leather and cocoa. Full body with lots of alcohol – 15% and residual sugar of 13 g/l. Smooth tannins and acidity. Flavours of blackberry and dark plum with a long fruit and alcohol finish. The tasting with this wine featured predominantly vegetarian fare. The beyond meat sausage really amped up the spice in both the food and the wine. Tasted August 2020.

Lori scored this wine: 91/100

A great price point wine where you get a lot of bang for your buck! Made with the traditional grapes of Ripasso; Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella this wine delivers all that you would expect from a well-made Ripasso and then some. This is a Superiore which means it has aged at least one year and has an alcohol content of at least 12% (14% in this case!). If you don’t want to splurge on an Amarone this would make a great replacement Very aromatic – blackberry, dark cherry, leather and vanilla with an underlying earthiness. Tannins are evident but well balanced with the acidity. Juicy ripe cherry and cooked fruit flavours intermingle with a touch of sweetness. Full bodied with a long ripe fruit finish. I paired this with “Eggplant Pizza” – rounds of eggplant brushed with olive oil and grilled, then topped with a dollop of tomato sauce, some minced mushrooms that had been sautéed with truffle powder, shredded mozzarella and a sprig of basil - back into the oven just long enough to warm through and melt the cheese. It was a match made in heaven! Tasted August 2020.

Lori scored this wine: 90/100

This is an easy drinking wine that would go great with your Friday night Pizza. Subtle aromas of cherry and leather with smooth tannins and low acidity. Soft mouthfeel with flavours of dried cherry and a hint of sweetness mid palate. Residual sugar is 10 g/l and alcohol 13.5% Medium to full body with a price that is comparable to other Ripasso at $19.95. Tasted August 2020

Lori scored this wine: 95/100

On the weekend we pulled out the Wagyu steaks from the freezer my hubby received on Father’s Day. Paired it with this 2014 Silver Oak I had in my cellar. What an amazing pairing and meal. The steaks were almost buttery tender and extremely flavourful. Topped it with mushrooms sautéed in early harvest olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar. The sides were local fresh picked corn and cucumber and tomato from the garden. Now that wine - one of the better Cabernets I’ve had in a while and a case where the price justified it! No aging on the colour yet, still bright and vivid. Aromas that jumped out of the glass; leather, smoke, vanilla, dark fruit. Every sniff seemed to impart something new! Soft mouthfeel with beautifully textured tannins and balanced acidity. Like the nose the flavours were also complex; juicy blackberry and plum, spice, butterscotch and vanilla - but not too heavily oaked. Full bodied and a long fruit finish. I think I need to splurge and buy more - this will evolve and age well for a while! Tasted August 15/2020