Andrew Hunter
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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
Castellani Chianti Riserva 2007, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$14.95
A good, if very straightforward, Chianti.
Decent for the price, but this lacks any real complexity. Easy drinking, it should appeal to most novice wine drinkers. People familiar with Chianti (me) will be a bit disappointed even at this price.
This went well with my spicy spaghetti and meat sauce.
2.5 Stars
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Maison Audebert & Fils Domaine Du Grand Clos Bourgueil 2007, Ac
Loire, France$16.95
Did not like this at all. It had an overwhelming green leafiness to both it's nose and palate. Very old-school. It's certainly distinct, interesting even, but not at all my thing. If French Cabernet Franc is what you're after, spend a few extra bucks and get a Chinon.
2.5 Stars
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Hoya De Cadenas Reserva 2004
Spain$11.95
pretty good tempranillo for the price....a lighter style but still some concentration of flavour. good long finish, if a tad rustic.
i'd buy again.
2.0 Stars
(0)G
Vigne & Vini Zinfandel Primitivo Del Salento 2006, Igt Salento
Puglia, Italy$14.95
hmm...not bad...
maybe the most cali style primitivo i've tried. It's also the first time i've seen "zinfandel" on an italian wine. Obviously made for a north american crowd (and since "Ontario" is on the label probably an lcbo exclusive.)
lightly floral nose, medium bodied, moderately tannic but also quite soft and fruity. Not much acidity which makes it seem perhaps a bit too soft. drink now.
reminds me of the gnarly head zin i tried the other week.
2.0 Stars
(0)V
Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, California
California, Usa$12.95
(2010)
Rubber on the nose plus a smell that reminded me of a burning pine and hickory forest. Full body, decent fruit, some tannin. Might make an interesting bbq wine.
2.0 Stars
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Xumek Single Vineyard Malbec 2009, Zonda Valley, San Juan
San Juan, Argentina$15.95
Big, fat malbec. Dark, thick and sweet. Black fruit, vegetable stock and alcohol on the nose. Full bodied. Tastes of blackberry/blackcurrant jam, chocolate, some oaky vanilla and a slightly green sourness. Tannin is moderate and sweet. Heady at 14.5%. Long, warm finish.
A sweet, plush, fruit forward wine that might appeal to commercial-style merlot drinkers.
I'd rather grab a Misterio for half the price.
2.0 Stars
(0)V
Coffin Ridge Back From The Dead Red 2011, VQA Ontario
Ontario, Canada$19.00
Dark red. Nice nose of stewed berries, rhubarb and bay leaf. Medium body, quite acidic and brightly toned. Blackberry and herbal flavours dominate but also has an almost apple cider taste. Odd, but not unpleasant. Certainly drinkable. Tastes quite different than it smells. I wouldn't buy again but this would pair well with a cheese and charcuterie plate.
2.0 Stars
(0)V
Sawmill Creek Merlot (1500ml)
Cellared In Canada, World$12.90
Unripe leafy aroma of green pepper with flavour to match.
Drinkable..barely.
2.0 Stars
(0)G
Château De Beaucastel Coudoulet De Beaucastel 2006, Ac Côtes Du Rhône
Rhône, France$29.95
Colour is evolving nicely to a maturing, just-beginning-to-brown red. The nose has a touch of heat with aromas of cherries, cranberry, wood and herbs. Medium body but tons of mouth watering flavours: Sour cherries, licorice & herbs (Jagermeister?) some alcoholic heat as predicted by the nose. Quite warming and heady. Very fine, sweet, soft, tannins. Medium-long finish. This is no Ch. de B. but a good drink and a nice old/new world style balance.
1.5 Stars
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