Andrew Hunter
|
Followers (22)
|
|
|
Following (8)
|
Reviews (319)
|
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
Montecillo Rioja Gran Reserva 2001, Doca
Spain$31.95
92
Fantastic Rioja. Had this with a mixed paella and it was just perfect. Dense dark berries, great oak, a nice smoky/leathery tang, good acidity and smooth tannins with some bite left. A great food wine. Will buy more to cellar for a few years.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Gaja Sito Moresco (375 Ml) 2006, Doc Langhe
Piedmont, Italy$32.95
93+
An outstanding Gaja. Sure you could spend $400 on a bottle of Sperss or another of his culty Barolos but this "Super-Piedmont" is a way to get a taste of his quality without having to pay rockstar prices.
Grab a half bottle for your next rib steak or hearty pasta and make sure to vigorously decant for at least an hour first!
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2004, Napa Valley
California, Usa$83.00
tried this at the tasting booth.
A nice wine for sure...there's some interesting complexity in there that will probably show itself even more in a few years but nevertheless it's not worth the price they want for it. Your money is better spent elsewhere.
In a few years this should be very good indeed. but still...
as far as I'm concerned any bottle over $50 should make you say "oh wow...". If it can't do that, what's the point??
This should be a $40 bottle of wine. (and indeed IS south of the border)
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Bodegas Lan Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Spain$21.95
Good wine, well made, but not as good as I had hoped. It's medium body was lighter than I expected.
Has an olivey, briney thing going on. A bit of anise-floral-tar (which reminded me almost like a hint of barolo...ok...neat.)
A bit of heat and wood on the finish...slightly sour.
Yeah this was pretty good, but not a "stunning value" as Stimmel says. If this cost $40 I'd be annoyed.
"good", "nice"...yeah...not great.
$20 for an "89" ain't saying that much these days.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2006, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$44.95
Welcome to Bordeaux Columbia!
This is an old school blend but a new school wine. Quite open nose: Dark fruits, cedary-oak, vanilla, mocha, menthol. Good dark-red colour, full bodied. Well balanced, good concentration of fruit, not too much oak, fairly ripe, smooth tannin. Much more forward than an equivalent French blend. Drinking well now (give it a vigorous decanting) but will certainly improve over a few more years, probably peaking around 2013 but will likely last for some years beyond. Well done.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Chapillon Cuvée Harmonie Petit Verdot/Tannat 2006, Do Aragón
Spain$14.95
Really interesting wine. I went into this with my mind wide open...but not expecting much.
A bit bardyardy/bretty on the nose at first but it blew off quickly. Strong savory nose of herbs and leather. Full bodied and packed with flavour: stewed berries, anise, quite smokey. Smooth, ripe tannin and good acidity, very well balanced. Left bank meets northern Rhone (in a rustic Spanish style!) is what came to mind. Long, flavour filled, finish.
Full of depth, complexity and real character (which is very rare at this price), not for everyone, but a steal if you like it.
Outstanding value.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Ontañón Reserva 2004
Rioja, Spain$25.95
Very dark wine. No sign of age. Big nose; blueberry, wood, mocha, anise. Full body. tastes of blackberry, sour cherry some mintyness. tart with some acidity.
Overall this smelled better than it tasted.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Domaine Des Chanssaud Châteauneuf Du Pape 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$36.95
Yeah, I dunno. To me this tasted like they were trying to make a great big C.D.P. for western palates and wine awards.
Sweet, ripe and juicy, very modern.
Parker says "fleshy"?
I say flabby.
But for the price I guess it's ok. Better than the Perrin & Fils C.D.P. which is around the same price.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough
New Zealand$16.95
pink grapefruit, tangy. nice finish.
3.5 Stars
(0)G
Château Rouquette Sur Mer Cuvée Amarante 2007, Ac Côteaux Du Languedoc La Clape
Languedoc, France$17.95
Lovey dark red wine.
Dried fruit and herbal nose with a slightly floral hint.
Medium bodied, but concentrated. Very dry and savory. Very French. Plenty of fine, ripe tannin.
An honest, dry, old world style wine that's not out to impress critics with over-extraction, too much oak or sweetness.
Not necessarily a friendly sipper though, this really ought to be drunk with big, savory foods....red meat, spicy pasta etc.
My kind of wine.
This gal will certainly cellar for at least 5 years, it will likely soften and develop a more complex bouquet.
But it's good to go now.
3.5 Stars
(0)V