Andrew Hunter
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Following (8)
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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
Monte Antico Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$15.95
I enjoyed this.
Good valued everyday wine.
Light-medium bodied ("full bodied"??). Cherries and licorice(!) on the nose. Red berries and some herbality on the palate.
Is herbality a word? Now it is.
Very easy to drink, pretty well balanced with more going on than you'd expect.
Fine tannin an good acidity make this a good all round food wine...pizza, pasta...whatever.
Pretty bottle too.
This has some staying power but don't bother cellaring it...I suspect will likely turn soft and boring and lose the slight edginess it has now which I like.
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Chateau Bonnet Reserve Red 2005, Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France$12.15
Bonnet is a real benchmark for standard "Bordeaux"-class red wine, which is nothing to brag about as such, but it's certainly a decent drink if you like the style (as I do). This is an honest, (prototypical even) French red wine that will cut through the richest of meats and cheeses on a budget. Tight nose on opening, classic, if reserved, aromas of dark berries, anise and pencil shavings with some swirling. Medium bodied, very dry, with an austere, lean fruitiness and plenty of tannin. Old school French style all the way. A good Wednesday night Bordeaux.
2.5 Stars
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Ravenswood Vintners Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, California
California, Usa$18.95
Yeah this is pretty weak.
Thin, simple, obviously mass produced.
Totally drinkable, in a glugable, modern-styled way. But you can the exact same thing for AT LEAST $5 less in many other Cali and Aussie cabs.
This sells for about $9 in the U.S. and that's about right as far as I'm concerned.
2.5 Stars
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Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano D'abruzzo 2008, Doc
Abruzzo, Italy$12.95
A good, old fashioned Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo and, along with young Chianti, one of my go-to pizza & spaghetti on Wednesday wines.
Deep, bright red. Hot, spicy, fruity nose. Medium body. Hot & tangy. Sort of like a rustic Barbera with attitude and tannins. Boozy but plenty of flavour. Palate cleaning acidity and bright fruit make this a great Cheese-&-tomato-dish wine.
Drink this next Wednesday with a pizza and tell me it's not a perfect match.
Wine snobs take note: The best food wines are often inexpensive (and Italian)!
Drink young.
2.5 Stars
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Cellier Des Dauphins Carte Noire 2008, Cotes Du Rhone
Rhône, France$10.95
(2010 vintage)
Tight nose.
Medium-full bodied. Fruit is generally outweighed by savory, bitter and sour notes. Some wood, quite tannic. But all in an old-world, honest, rustic sort of way. Not a great sipper on it's own but I found this to be an outstanding cheese wine. Worth trying for the price.
2.5 Stars
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Argento Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008, Argentina
Argentina$14.00
Good sauvignon nose if a tad green peppery. Dark, full bodied, sweet and fruity, some leafy notes. Soft, easy drinking, plenty of flavour. A decent all-rounder drinker with or without food.
2.5 Stars
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Cateña Malbec 2008, Mendoza
Argentina$19.95
Really nice malbec, one I keep going back to. Spicy and vigorous, full body, woody and fruity if all somewhat rustic. An excellent bbq wine.
2.5 Stars
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Hardys Chardonnay Sémillon 2008, Southeastern Australia
Australia$9.95
A good, all purpose, easy drinking white wine. Seems more Chardonnay than Sémilion to me, but certainly worth the price. In fact I'd say that along with Chile's basic Cono Sur label these low-end Hardys ("Stamp of Australia") represent one of the better price to quality ratios at the LCBO.
2.5 Stars
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Emiliana Novas Limited Selection Chardonnay 2008, Casablanca Valley
Chile$17.95
Not bad at all; soft and buttery, woody, plenty of apples & pears, good acidity and also quite heady at 14.5%, but the heat balances it's softness quite well. Certainly good for the price. A nice all-rounder.
2.5 Stars
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Castello Di Farnetella Lucilla 2007, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$18.95
Dark wine. Spicy, fruity, oaky nose with a touch of volatility.
I liked this; Lot's a flavour, nice tannin, if a bit rustic. Medium, to full body. Very Italian; fruity, herbal, some rough edges.
Perhaps not a sipper but good wine to cut through rich food; This was actually quite perfect with a platter of prosciutto, Italian cave cheese, olives, pears and honey.
2.5 Stars
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