Brian reviewed this wine:

Definitely a wine to have with food. Goes well with Saltimbocca di Pollo. Relatively closed in the nose with hints of cut grass and hay, nutmeg, spice and red grapes. Explodes on the palate with a complex mix of red grapes, cherries, tobacco, spice, allspice, blackberry, black currant, and oak. Very dark purple in the glass. This Crianza is a bargain for fans of Riojas or full-bodied red wines. We've got our case. Do you have yours? Search it out in suburban stores. Worth the drive.

Brian reviewed this wine:

This Grand Cru Saint-Emilion is now at its peak. It is very dark red in the glass with a rim of brick. The nose is earthy with tones of black currant, blackberry, and oak. A full-bodied wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with food. The palate is a rich mix of blackberry, cherry, lemon, oak and tobacco. Should there be a bottle in your cellar, make an occasion to share it with a good friend or two this year.

Brian reviewed this wine:

I should be more objective and restrained, but... THIS IS A BARGAIN! Sorry for shouting, but it's true. For fans of Rioja. For fans of Spanish wine. For fans of red wine. This is indeed a bargain. Oh, my! Don't let the appearance fool you. It's deep and dark in the glass. The wine is not filtered, so there's a mat appearance in the glass. Winemakers who choose not to use filtration do so to preserve flavour. That's certainly the case here. Serve this wine in a good glass that will show off the nose. You'll be rewarded with plentiful cherry and a hint of allspice. But all this is merely prologue to the palate of full-bodied cherry on a foundation of oak, with hints of allspice, raisin and blackberry. The result is very well balanced, dry and refreshing. it lingers on the palate in a lovely extended aftertaste that encourages you to linger, relax and enjoy this wine. This is a treat with a leftover turkey recipe. It also goes well with small plates including lamb. We've put a case in the cellar. I've made notes that it can keep until 2017. Somehow, though, I don't think it's going to stay in the cellar that long. This isn't the best Rioja in our cellar. But at this price, who cares?

Brian reviewed this wine:

This refreshing red is a general purpose everyday wine. In the glass it is a deep cherry red with a slight haze. The long legs indicate a normal viscosity. Cherry predominates the nose with a hint of oak. The cherry and oak continue on the palate, joined by hints of spice and blackberry. A medium-bodied red to go with a wide variety of dishes. We found that it went well with pork tenderloin, broccoli, fingerling potatoes and fruit chutney. The aftertaste lingers so this is a wine to be sipped and savoured. We'll be putting 6 bottles in the cellar for drinking in 2015. We'll serve it to guests, take it to parties, or enjoy with a home meal for two.

Brian reviewed this wine:

This refreshing sparkling apple cider from Cidrerie du Minot is a brilliant pale yellow in the glass with a light effervescence. Light bodied with medium sweet nose, palate and aftertaste of fresh apples. At only 2.5% alcohol, this is a popular aperitif that guests drink for taste and for thirst. Available at many branches of the Societe des Alcools de Quebec. We've put a case in the cellar for parties. In past years we've finished off a case after only a few months. Can be drunk on its own, or with appetizers. For instance, it goes well with hummus, tabouleh, couscous salad, and potato chips.