David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (622)
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Reviews
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
(0)V+(7)O
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
(0)V
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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Terredora Di Paolo Loggia Della Serra Greco Di Tufo 2014, Docg
Campania, Italy$19.95
Terredora is a premium producer of Greco in Campania and this version doesn't disappoint. Medium plus intensity aromatics, fruit profile is predominately citrus (lemon, lime) with a hint of apricot. Distinct minerality, herbs and spice and a creamy, fuller bodied mouthfeel. Good acidity and a well balanced package ending with excellent length. Very food friendly. Great value. July 2016.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Norman Hardie Niagara Chardonnay 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$39.20
Consistently good Chardonnay from Norm Hardie, sourced from Niagara fruit. There's that expected flinty, reductive style of Norm's but with Niagara fruit, he gets a bit more alcohol, even from a difficult year like 14. Lovely apple, pear, citrus, smokey nose with a beautiful mouthfeel that is creamy with vibrant acidity and excellent length. Nov. 2016
4.0 Stars
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Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay 2014, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$29.95
This Chard needs time in the glass to open and for a strong reductive sluphur, onion aroma to dissipate. With time a really nice PEC Chard emerges. Notes of apple, pear, citrus, white flower, ginger, honey and minerality emerge. Vibrant acidity and medium bodied creaminess provide structure to the unfolding complexity of aromas. Excellent length seals the deal for a 90 rating. This will get better in the bottle, so if you have a few be patient and save some for three years down the road. Dec. 2016.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Concha Y Toro Marques De Casa Concha Carmenère 2008, Peumo Vineyard
Rapel Valley, Chile$19.95
Deep ruby Carmenere with a slight purple hue. Cooked dark fruit, prune, medicinal/iodine, menthol, earthy forest funk that disipates with some air. Full bodied, with unabashed oak touches (chocolate, vanilla, cedar) but not out of balance. Very long finish with some heat. Tannins are mellowing but there's still some grip. Maybe not a lot of finesse, but an enjoyable wine with the right elements. For those that aren't sure about Carmenere, this is worth trying. June 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Norman Hardie Niagara Unfiltered Chardonnay 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$39.00
I'm an unabashed Norm Hardie fan (and I like his wines too), so I hope I can be objective. The Niagara sourced 12 chard is excellent (what's new with Norm's wines). Yellow gold, aromatic nose of smoke, mineral, caramel, butter and some baking spice. The palate offers citrus, apple, white peach, and a very slight nudge into the tropical spectrum. It is mid weight with citrusy acidity as a frame. Excellent length. Complex. Nicely done. Feb. 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Castello Di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2010
Tuscany, Italy$29.95
Now here's a lovely Chianti Classico that's both food friendly as any Chianti should be, but also has the stuff to sip on its own. An expected barnyard aroma greats the nose along with cherry, tomato, earth, licorice, cinnamon, tobacco, clearly lots happening here. It's medium-full in body, sour, savoury and earthy. Matured in traditional botti for a year, the oak is present, but integrated. Juicy acidity, good balance, long finish. Well done. Drink now with any tomato based pasta sauce or hold short term. Jan 2016.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Fairview Petite Sirah 2011, Wo Paarl
Paarl, South Africa$23.95
A dark brooding wine, inky purple and opaque. Dark fruit aromas of blackberry and blueberry pie. A smokey, charred character. Full bodied with good acidity but very tannic (that's petite sirah for you). Even with decanting the tannins pesist although seemingly finer grained. Excellent length. An interesting and enjoyable quaff no doubt. Pair with meat protein or hard cheese. January 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V