David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
Hedges Family Estate Red 2011, Red Mountain, Yakima Valley
Washington, Usa$40.00
This is a lovely red blend from the Pacific north west. Generous notes of red and dark fruit, herbs, menthol, new oak (vanilla, spices, chocolate). The palate offers good acidity and ripe tannins in a balanced frame to the fruit and integrated oak. Medium-full bodied. Excellent length. Really good value here. July, 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)
Diamandes De Uco Gran Reserva 2008, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$32.75
A beautiful well crafted high altitude Uco Valley wine. Scores on concentration of fruit, complexity, balance and length. Dark and red fruit co-mingle with savoury umami notes in the soy sauce genre. Full bodied, rich but with balancing acidity that provides a sense of freshness. It's in a great phase of development now, still sporting a youthful jauntiness, but with tannin softening nicely. Drink now and over the next 7 years. Dec. 2017.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Il Poggio Taburno Sannio Coda Di Volpe 2018, Dop
Campania, Italy$17.95
Love to see more obscure native Italian grape varieties come through the LCBO. This fox's tail from Campania scores on complexity, balance and length. A lot going on here for the price, with aromas and flavours of citrus, stone fruit, honey, spice, iodine, mineralty and that signature Italian white wine element: almond. It's texturally pleasing with a leesy weightiness. The 14% abv adds to the weight and structure and provides a late palate warmth. Length is excellent. Great value. July 2020.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Bellingham Homestead Series The Old Orchards Chenin Blanc 2018, Wo Paarl
Paarl, South Africa$16.95
Great value here. Apple, citrus, some tropical notes and white flower. Searing acidity (that's Chenin for you) but balanced by purity of fruit and a creamy mouthfeel. Excellent length. A steal at $18. March 2020.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Rustenberg Merlot 2010, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$19.95
A very nice merlot from Stellenbosch. Still fairly youthful ruby colour. The nose offers dark fruit, herbal notes, anise. The palate is medium full, with medium acidity and medium plus tannins that are still quite dusty. The length is excellent. A touch hot (14% ABV). Oak is well integrated with chocolate notes playing a support role. Ready to go now (could use a short decant) but will hold mid term. June 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Malivoire Cabernet Franc 2012, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.95
In a good vintage Niagara does Cab Franc very well. Here's an excellent example by Malivoire from Twenty Mile Bench. Dark cherry fruit is nicely integrated in a medium body with minerality, good acidity and sticky tannins that call out for medium rare steak. Peppery, with subtle oak influence of baking spice, cocoa and vanilla. Excellent length. Nicely done. Sept. 2014.
4.0 Stars
Stoneleigh Latitude Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Golden Mile, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$21.70
Very good Marlborough typicity with intense aromas including herbaceous notes, tropical aromas (guava), citrus (grapefruit), and a vague sage note. Some minerality as well. There's a pleasantly creamy texture on the palate with bright acidity and excellent length. Checks many boxes including typicity, intensity, complexity and length of finish, but a hair out of balance with some alcohol heat (13.5% ABV declared) that dials back my score a bit. Nonetheless, a lot on offer especially at such a reasonable price. Tasted Nov. 2023.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Salomon Estate Fleurieu Peninsula Syrah Viognier 2011, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$19.75
This 2011 Fleurieu Pen Syrah with a splash of Viognier has entered a prime drinking window. Very complex with Syrah typicity being shown through bacon fat and olive along with still fairly ripe moving into dried fruit. Tar, hoisin, and herbal menthol cedar add to the flavours. The tannin have softened with still vibrant acidity married to a full bodied frame, yet it retains a sense of elegance. Length is excellent. Could still age a few years, but no need to wait. July 2018.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2022, D.O.C.
Umbria, Italy$33.95
This Umbrian white shows a fairly intense nose of buttercup florals, ripe pear, subtle peach and an herbal note. On the palate there's a creamy mouthfeel with citrus and minerality flavours. Balanced acidity and very good to excellent length. A very nice example of Spoletino. Nov. 2023.
4.0 Stars
(0)
Reinhold Haart To Heart Piesport Riesling 2013, Qualitätswein
Mosel, Germany$15.75
Pale gold with a hint of green. A lively orchard nose. Slightly reductive. The mouthfeel is a tad creamy with vibrant acidity. Fruit is pure with tart apple and citrus and a mid to late palate bitterness. Very good length. Shows good riesling typicity and would work well with soft cheese, Asian cuisine and seafood in a creamy sauce. Aug. 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V