David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (620)
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Reviews
Valdivieso éclat 2010, Dry Farmed, Old Vines
Maule Valley, Chile$32.95
Great value here for this lovely dry farmed Carignan (with Mourvedre in support), from the Maule Valley. Still some spryness despite eight years of age and in a prime drinking window. Enjoy now through 2021. Complex with aromas and flavours of red berry, red plum, cherry, spice, cinnamon, sanguine iron, earth and meat (Mourvedre), and a touch of green. Very good depth of fruit, with softening tannin, bright acidity and excellent length. Aug. 2018.
4.0 Stars
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Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2012, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$39.00
Light, almost translucent pretty cherry colour. A little funk to start followed by that now classic PEC minerality. Cran, cherry, red berry fruit with a hint of nutmeg. The 2012 keeps it's vibrancy with tart acidity and tension in the face of a very warm vintage. Excellent to outstanding length. Another fine effort from Norm. Jan. 2015.
4.0 Stars
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Hidden Bench Terroir Caché 2015, Unfiltered, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada$44.95
The 2015 is equal parts Cab Franc and Merlot, followed by Malbec and a splash of Cab Sauv. Elevage was 20 months in French oak, of which some must have been new judging by the flavour profile. Red and dark fruit, with an herbal and cedary element, vanilla and sweet baking spice. The tannins have polymerized and are fairly smooth with just a bit of traction left. Medium bodied, so nicely integrated and beautifully balanced. Drinking really well now. Excellent length. Dec. 2020.
4.0 Stars
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Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino 2016, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$56.95
The 2016 is starting to show some age with garnet colour at the rim and savoury tertiary notes coming to the forefront. The aromas are lifted with violets, cooked black cherry, choco-mocha, balsamic, rosemary, leather and a graphite minerality, i.e. complex. Oak is nicely integrated and tannins are still a touch gritty but polymerizing. Full bodied with warming alcohol, juicy acidity and excellent length. Pair with hearty tomato based pastas or osso buco. June 2022.
4.0 Stars
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Leaning Post Lowrey Pinot Noir 2010, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$38.00
A very pretty looking slightly translucent garnet coloured Pinot. Unmistakingly Lowrey, it greets you with a whiff of barn, which disipates quickly, followed by red berry and cherry fruit, and intriquing cinnamon/nutmeg baking spice. On the palate it's dry and fruity with tart acidity, fine tannins, excellent length and alcohol heat. A very nice Pinot. Feb. 2014.
4.0 Stars
Leaning Post Syrah Keczan Vineyard 2012, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Ontario, Canada$42.00
This Lincoln Lakeshore Syrah is entering a beautiful drinking stage. If you have a couple or three tucked away, I'd encourage you to pop one. Mr. Senchuk has coaxed a lovely elegance and finesse out of a good red vintage and produced a Syrah that rivals the best of Creekside's. Aromatic intensity with a floral nose. Good fruit density with cherry in the lead, syrah typicity with olive, meat and pepper/spice. Oak is nicely integrated with hints of vanillin. It's balanced and well structured with medium-full body, medium plus acidity and ripe fine grained tannin. Oct. 2016.
4.0 Stars
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
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Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2012, Victoria
Victoria, Australia$23.95
Great value in this Aussie Shiraz. Showing some elegance with a minty menthol herbal nose, there's dark berry and cherry fruit, red licorice, with a smokey and savoury smokey profile. Medium/full in body, good acidity and refined tannins. Excellent length with a touch of heat. Throw in a good vintage and the result is a definite winner, particularly at the price point. Oct. 2015.
4.0 Stars
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Domaine L'idylle Sylvain Tiollier Vin De Savoie Jacquère 2023, Ac
Savoie, France$23.95
As one would expect there's a real freshness to this alpine wine. Mountain-side flowers, orchard fruit, citrus pith and a pleasing stone fruit note that hints at something more tropical (that intense high elevation sunlight delivering intensity with well developed phenolics). Structurally the high acidity provides laser focus, but while alcohol is lower, there's a balancing creamy texture likely from lees. The length is very good to excellent with a pleasing bitter note as exclamation point. Bring on the raclette cheese! Nov. 2025.
4.0 Stars
(838)V+(62)O
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