Andrew Hunter
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Following (8)
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Reviews (319)
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Andrew Hunter is a musician and composer. He abandoned his career in film and television to raise his kids, make music and drink wine.
My love of wine started with underage sips at the family dinner table. In college I fancied myself a sophisticate as I drank Chianti with pizza, back when Chianti still came in wicker 'fiasco' bottles. (I miss those, great candle holders.) I admit to still having a soft spot for Mateus. Cheap, sweet wine in a chubby bottle was just fine. Back then all I knew about wine was that there was red, white and pink (and girls really liked that white zinfandel!). It was years later, when I started to frequent some of Toronto's finer restaurants, that vinous epiphanies began to occur. Sips of wine that caused quiet pause and an exclamation of, "oh...wow."
I began to read everything I could about wine. I built a cellar and started collecting bottles. My taste evolved from sweet, easy-drinking, fruit-forward wines to the more old-world styles of France and Italy. I tend to prefer wines that are understated and complex over the super-extracted fruit-bombs which seem to be increasingly fashionable. I'll generally take Bordeaux over Napa and Tuscany over Australia. But there are always exceptions!
I'm a huge fan of sweet wines. I rarely meet an ice wine or Sauternes that I don't like. I also get along very well with Port.
Riesling is my favorite white, along with Viognier, Gerwurztraminer and Santorini Assyrtiko. Chardonnay is my least favorite. No matter how much I spend or how great the pedigree, I have yet to be blown away. Somewhere out there is a really delicious Chardonnay. I'm still looking for it.
My busy life leaves little time for blogging but at the very least I review every wine I taste.
There's nothing more subjective than art...Except perhaps wine. At our wine club I'm always pleased when someone prefers the $12 wine to the $50 wine (unfortunately it never seems to be me). For all it's pretentiousness and hype wine is a just a drink, either you like it or you don't. There is no right or wrong. It's all about discovering what you like!
In my wine reviews I try to describe the wine in a simple, unpretentious way. My aim is to help the reader decide if it's a wine they might like or want to avoid.
Of course, I'll tell you if I like it or not, but also, unlike many professional critics, I write with the clear assumption that what you like and what I like may very well be opposite. It doesn't matter. I'll tell you if a wine is sweet and fruit-forward and or dry, tannic and savory and let you decide.
http://torontowineguy.blogspot.com/
Reviews
Santo Assyrtiko 2011, Pdo Santorini
Santorini, Greece$16.95
I've never tasted an assyrtiko i didn't like and this is no exception.
Lean, crisp wine with citrus and minerally flavours. I'd say this is as good as Boutari and maybe only a hair shy of Sigalas quality.
My weekly grilled whole fish wine. Heaven.
3.5 Stars
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Château Pey De Pont 2009, Ac Médoc
Bordeaux, France$17.75
Fresh nose of dense stewed fruit, leather, some wood. Alcohol evident. Full bodied with good concentration of ripe fruit, dried herbs and some alcoholic heat. On the rustic side but fruit, acidity and tannin in good balance. The alcohol is perhaps a touch higher than I'd like @ 14%, but that's me nitpicking; Everything is place for this to continue to improve over 5 years and will likely hold for a further 5. This is a very good Bordeaux for the price.
3.5 Stars
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Decoy Chardonnay 2011, Sonoma County
California, Usa$29.95
88-89
Colour: Pale straw/gold.
Nose: Fresh cut grass. Granny smith apple. A touch of mint, vanilla and petrol.
taste: Medium-full body. Citrus, oaky. Some sweetness. Buttery texture. Plush, with some brightness. Nice finish.
Not generally a fan of oaked california chardonnay but this wasn't bad.
A bit overpriced.
3.5 Stars
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Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir 2012
Central Valley, Chile$10.95
Fantastic valued Pinot Noir.
Nice nose of cranberry, sour cherry, mint, some earthy vegetable notes.
Light-medium body, tangy cranberry/cherry palate but quite savoury. Serve slightly cool.
3.5 Stars
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Castelgreve Chianti Classico Riserva 2009, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$19.95
I liked this quite a bit. Nose is a bit tight but there a hint of some complexity in there. Medium-full body, great balance of sweet and savoury: Dense fruit, some earthy/leathery/mushroomy flavours, anise, herbs (bay leaf?). Moderate tannin, good sour finish. An easy drinking but fairy complex and very well balanced wine. For my tastes, a perfect all-purpose, all-rounder.
3.5 Stars
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J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Paso Robles (1500ml)
California, Usa$44.95
88
Ah, the standard ol' "Keg steakhouse" wine.
Easy drinking, VERY fruit forward and sweet Cabernet Sauvignon. Very Cali.
There are those who love this wine and those who don't.
Those who love it tend to like sweetish, easy drinking wines ("oh it's so smooth!"), as opposed to say, more austere and savory Bordeaux or earthy Burgundies.
As my palate has developed I now feel this has a certain 'mass-produced, too sweet, too soft' thing going on.
Still, good luck finding a $20 Bordeaux that will please as many at the dinner table.
3.0 Stars
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Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir 2006, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$30.00
hype hype hype and more hype.
a decent, simple pinot noir.
even at 25 bucks it's overpriced. there are $12-18 chilean and french pinots that are just as good if not better.
3.0 Stars
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Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
British Columbia, Canada$27.95
The best Canadian Cabernet Sauvignon I've tasted at this price level.
Drinking quite well now with some aeration, but will mellow and evolve in the cellar for at least 3-5 years.
3.0 Stars
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Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec 2007, Mendoza
Argentina$8.95
86+
One of the best values at LCBO. Medium to full bodied with dense, spicy, fruits and plenty of oak and some smoky flavours. Nothing fancy here, no character to speak of. nothing to make you say "oh my!" but a good all-round red with acidity and tannins to cut through rich and spicy foods. We drank a bottle of this with beef fajitas and it was perfect...this wine will surely go well with any spicy beef dish and would also be great for a mixed meat bbq.
3.0 Stars
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