David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (622)
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Reviews
Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2012, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$39.00
With all due respect to the many talents of vingerons Bachelder, Jacquey, Paskus, Morissette, Senchuk et al, I officially proclaim Norman Hardie as Chardonnay (and arguably Pinot Noir) Master of the Ontario Universe (and beyond). This County 2012 is indeed world class, distinctively County but with a nod to Merseault. It shows great depth and complexity with minerality, apple, butter all wrapped in a smokey veil. The palate is creamy, viscous and long with wonderful acidity that frames the whole. Oak is minimal and expertly integrated. Very fine Chardonnay. Dec. 2014
4.0 Stars
Churchill'S Estates Touriga Nacional 2009, Doc Douro
Douro, Portugal$30.95
Featuring Portugal's signature grape, this wine is a bright purple ruby colour. Quite complex with a range of fruit flavours from some tart red to dark fruit to prune. Secondary and tertiary flavours include herbs, spice, cola and dark chocolate. Good acidity and tannins are starting to velvetize (new word?). Excellent length. Drink now or hold mid term. June 2015.
4.0 Stars
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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
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Domaine Des Fines Caillottes Pouilly-fumé 2012, Ac
Loire, France$26.95
A lovely light yellow Pouilly Fume. Fresh, vibrant nose needs no coaxing. Mineral notes, lemon, apricot, and some florals . The attack is creamy, complex, mouth watering. Up front citrus fruit tranistions lingeringly to green, herbal and bitter flavours. Excellent length. I enjoyed sipping this dry, crisp savvy, but it also worked nicely with a cheese plate and with chicken and pork kabobs. June 2014.
4.0 Stars
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Leaning Post Riesling 2013
Ontario, Canada$25.00
This is an excellent Riesling. Fresh, with a wide range of aromas from pear/apple through to slightly tropical with vague hints of pineapple. Good Bench minerality. Slightly off-dry in style (Mr. Senchuk prefers a touch of sugar to balance the high acidity, and I agree). Wonderfully complex with excellent length. Oct. 2015.
4.0 Stars
Southbrook Vineyards Small Lots Orange Wine 2015
Ontario, Canada$29.95
Full disclosure: I work part time at Southbrook so I usually don't post reviews of their wines. But I had to make an exception with the 15 Orange. A true wine geek's wine. The 15 is superb, better than the 14 in my view. Natural yeast, whole cluster and stems, foot tread, some malo, sulphite free, more infusion than extraction. Ann Sperling sees this expression of Vidal as it's truest form in Niagara and I agree. Fresh apricot and stone fruits, vibrant acidity, complex, long. Super foodie wine or sipper. A decent price point for the adventurous, geeky or natural wine enthusiast. March 2016.
4.0 Stars
Closson Chase South Clos Vineyard Chardonnay 2012, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$39.95
Really lovely fuller style chard with judicious oak treatment and a lush creamy mouthfeel. Aromas and flavours of apple, peach, tangerine, honey and butter. Well balanced with lemony acidity and excellent length. July 2015.
4.0 Stars
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Domaine Chatelain Les Vignes De Saint-laurent-l'Abbaye Pouilly Fumé 2015, Ac
Loire, France$11.05
At it's full $25 price tag this excellent Pouilly Fume was good value. It recently went on sale making it a bargain. Now delisted to 60% of its original price, it's an absolute steal! From the warm 2015 vintage, there's ripe and tart predominantly citrus fruit (lemon, blood orange, lime) with the slightest hint of banana, stony minerality and typical SB herbaceous character. It's medium bodied with vibrant acidity, a creamy mouthfeel, a touch warm and bitter on the late palate, and very good to excellent length. Multi-bottle purchase if you can find any left. Drink now to 2020. March 2018.
4.0 Stars
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Muga Reserva 2012
Rioja, Spain$26.95
Muga's 2012 Reserva achieves a nice balance between traditional and modern Rioja. Mostly Tempranillo, with Garnacha warmth and fruit, Graciano acidity, and Mazuela in support. A lifted nose with aromas and flavours of florals, red and dark fruit, dill, balsamic, vanillin and a touch of VA. Good depth, balance, resolved tannin and excellent length. As a Vintages Essential the Reserva often goes on sale and represents great value. Jan. 2018.
4.0 Stars
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Hidden Bench Gamay 2022, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Sustainable, Unfiltered
Ontario, Canada$29.95
In a word - delicious. Floral notes meld into juicy red fruit, there's red berry (strawberry, cranberry), sour cherry, along with subtle baking spice, pepper and minerality. There's a creamy mouthfeel on the medium body frame, with vibrant acidity keeping the saliva glands active (great food wine), and smooth tannin. The length is excellent. I detected a slight alcohol burn despite only 12.5% abv otherwise my score would be a point or two higher. Jan. 2025.
4.0 Stars
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