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
Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Crianza 2006, Doca Rioja
Spain$15.95
87-88
Thoroughly average Tempranillo. Nothing offensive, nothing special: a decent, drinkable, all-purpose Spanish wine. A fair price for a fair wine. You could do better (Campo Viejo comes to mind, for a few bucks more) but you could do worse too.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
A By Acacia Pinot Noir 2009, California
California, Usa$16.95
I liked this. Not especially complex but it has a nice nose, good pinot flavour and nice ripe tannin. Overall quite tasty and well balanced. I've spent more on less. Good value.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Napa Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa Valley
California, Usa$18.95
87-88
Pretty typical Cali cab here: soft and sweet. Some green pepper on the nose betrays slight unripeness, but it's less obvious on the palate which is fat-fruit-forward all the way. An easy drinker here. Good for sipping and chatting. Get something with more backbone for your nice steak. You can do better at this price.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2009, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa$24.95
Alcohol and eucalyptus on the nose. Very new world in style; sweet and soft. An easy drinking, fruity Pinot that will please most.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Hardys Bankside Shiraz 2009, South Australia
Australia$17.00
Not bad...nice nose: pepper and blueberry. Medium, not quite full, bodied, almost as if it's been watered down slightly. Plenty of flavour though, more pepper, some blackberry...smooth tannins. Better than most at this price.
3.0 Stars
Tini Sangiovese Di Romagna 2009, Sangiovese Di Romagna
Italy$7.75
A really nice, light wine. Sour cherry nose, a bit of mint. Light to medium body. Sour cherry and cranberry with some nice savory flavours. It's bright acidity and mild tannin reminded me of a Barbera crossed with a Beaujolais Nouveaux. An excellent wine to start the evening with (very slightly chilled even). Would be great with a warm sauteed mushroom salad.
An honest wine and a great value.
As always, no one makes better "cheap" wine than the Italians.
3.0 Stars
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Königschaffhauser Pinot Gris Trocken 2009, Qba Baden, Vulkanfelsen
Baden, Germany$13.95
Tight nose with some citrus, a hint of petrol and apple. Dry palate, some minerality, citrus, just a touch of sweetness.
A nice wine for the price.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Château Fontaine 2008, Ac Sauternes
Bordeaux, France$16.95
Not a great sauternes. Nose: Honey, peaches a bit of xmas spice, citrus, some botrytis. Tastes ok, decent for the price but it's a bit thin and winey. Nothing like really good sauternes, but you get a hint for cheap. Is there such a thing as Wednesday night Sauternes? Apparently, yes.
Shell out the extra $12 and get a "Noble One" instead.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2009, Maipo Valley
Chile$13.95
Distinct smell of vinyl (water wings!) that did not dissipate with aeration. Dusty tannin, thin fruit, medium body. Not enough concentration. Surprisingly disappointing.
3.0 Stars
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Pelee Island Lighthouse Cabernet Franc 2009, Ontario VQA
Ontario, Canada$12.95
(2010 vintage)
Some typical green pepper on the nose with a unique medicinal/iodine note almost reminding me of a northern Rhone syrah!
Sweet, ripe fruit on the palate but also quite savory with masculine leather and tobacco flavours. I found the complexities in this wine quite interesting. If you like old-school styled Cab Francs this is worth trying especially at this price.
3.0 Stars
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