David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
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
Domaine Gerovassiliou Malagousia Vieilles Vignes 2014, Thessaloniki
Greece$23.95
What a treat. Golden green in the glass. Sweet aromas of pear, peach, melon with a saline minerality. The mouthfeel is thick, viscous. The palate is spicey with more minerality. The frame is acidity with a hot finish. The length is excellent. Unbeatable value. Sept. 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Château Des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2012, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$16.95
Light ruby and semi opaque in the glass. A Cru like Gamay - a varietal that Niagara does very well (although this is a proprietary clone of CdC).The nose first detects an earthy funk (a touch of brett?), then flavours of red berry and cherry fruit, minerality, spicey pepper, smoke and cola. On the palate, acidity has bight and tannins are finely ground and somewhat soft. A touch hot on the late palate and very good length. Sept. 2015.
4.0 Stars
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
(0)V
De Wetshof Finesse Lesca Estate Chardonnay 2018, Wo Robertson
Robertson, South Africa$24.95
Quite intense aromas and flavours. Yellow flower, crunchy tart apple, lemony-lime citrus, apricot, pineapple, a diacetyl buttery element, and distinct minerality. Lovely texture on the palate. It shows medium plus weight and alcohol (some warmth on the palate) although it clocks in at 13% abv. Well balanced with bright acidity (at least medium plus), and excellent length. A very nice chard indeed and as always, great value from South Africa.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Zuccardi Polígonos 2015, San Pablo, Uco Valley, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$29.95
Higher altitude and close proximity to the Andes, along with wine-making that eschews oak, conspire to provide freshness, lift and elegance in Sebastien Zuccardi's take on this Malbec. Black fruit, black pepper, herbs along with vibrant acidity and good balance. Excellent length. Nov. 2018.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Zangaura Saperavi, Kindzmarauli Pdo 2016, Kakheti, Georgia
Georgia$15.95
Good colour extraction showing stained tears in the glass. Ruby red. Perfumed nose. Fruit forward with red and black fruit, spice and oaky chocolate and vanilla. Tannin is ripe and smooth for a what can be a tannic grape. Medium plus acidity provides lift and balance to the fruit and oak. Medium body with alcohol fairly well integrated with only a hint of a burn. Very good length. Can't beat the value. March 2019.
4.0 Stars
(0)A
Badine De La Patache 2014, Ac Pomerol
Bordeaux, France$43.75
This Pomerol is transitioning nicely to tertiary notes but fruit is still representing. Scores on complexity and balance with decent but not overly long finish. Cherry and plum fruit is starting to dry out with a prune-like character. There's also a lovely sage herbal element. But the savoury notes of soy, balsamic and tea are taking center stage at this point in the wine's evolution. Structurally, the acidity is bright and the tannins have softened and smoothed out. I think there's still some cellar life left but I wouldn't wait too long. January 2022.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$24.95
Greywacke is consistently good and this 2017 offering is no exception. Amped pyrazines lead to pronounced intensity of aromas and flavours. Good typicity for the NZ style of Savvy, with gooseberry, cut grass, citrus and tropical fruit notes. Medium plus acidity on a medium bodied frame, balanced and excellent length. Scores on complexity, typicity, intensity, balance and length. This was discounted by 30 percent at my local LCBO. Needless to say I cleared the shelf (but alas only 3 bottles were there). April 2019.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Firestone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Santa Ynez Valley
California, Usa$19.95
I was somewhat disappointed tasting this as it's one of my favourite value Cali Cabs, particularly with the good critic reviews and LCBO sale. But it seems to me overly smoky and oaky. Not quite integrated and maybe with time will get better (it's still a baby). There's decent complexity, that cabernet cassis fruit with some cherry notes, an herbal bitterness, some lift with good acidity and very good length, but the fruit is almost prune like and there's that overt smoke which is out of balance for me. Could this be the result of the many wildfires in Santa Barbara in recent years? Sept 2020.
4.0 Stars
(0)G+(45)O