David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews
Leaning Post Mccleary Vineyard Merlot 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$38.00
Mr. Senchuk's patience paid off. Aged more than 2 years in a combination of new and older French and Hungarian oak, this is a dark ruby coloured concentrated and full Merlot. Initial barnyard notes followed by fruit and more fruit (red berry, cherry, plum), and a medicinal hint. The palate picks a peck of pepper along with vanilla and nutmeg in a medium to full mouthfeel. Goldilocks tannins are just right, not too sticky, but enough to provide balanced structure offsetting the fruit. Excellent length with a touch of graphite on the finish. March 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
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
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
Wynns Alex 88 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Coonawarra
South Australia, Australia$70.45
Seven years on and still opaque ruby but the slightest hint of garnet is starting to appear. Cab typicity on display with complex aromas and flavours of violets, cassis, blackberry, blueberry, cedar, pencil shavings, balsamic, tea and an herbal quality. Medium plus body with good acidity, still grainy/sticky tannin and excellent length. This single vineyard fruit is sometimes used in the Black Label Cab series, which at significantly less than half the price is the better value. But a nice wine all in all. May 2017.
4.0 Stars
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Coonawarra, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$27.95
An excellent Aussie Cab. Lifted nose with violets, minty herbal notes, graphite, blackberry, cassis, and licorice. Well integrated oak, nicely balanced and a plush mouthfeel. Excellent length. The 10's are starting to drink beautifully now and likely have a few years to go. April 2015.
4.0 Stars
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Big Head Wines Chenin Blanc 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$0.00
Andrjez Lipinski's 2012 chenin blanc is a wonderful pale yellow gold wine that combines Vouvraycity along with Niagara minerality. A fragrant bouquet of ripe tropical fruit (pineapple really jumps), a bit of citrus, petrol, a hint of spice and vanilla (oak). There's sufficient alcohol for a medium bodied weight with a creamy viscous mouthfeel and juicy acidity. The style approaches off dry. At $25 this is great value. Quality like this will give Big Head...well...a big head! Oct. 2013.
4.0 Stars
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
Château Du Cèdre Cahors 2009
Southwest, France$21.95
This is an excellent Cahors with 90% Malbec and a a splash of Tannat to liven things up, and a splash of Merlot to round things out. Inky dark ruby in the glass. A perfumed nose and medium-full bodied with licorice, herbs, dark fruit, mocha, vanilla (lovely integrated oak) and a tarry scorched effect. Nicely balanced with good acidity, depth and tannins that coalesce into velvet (it still benefits from decanting). It's just hitting the sweet spot of maturity. Food friendly too. Good stuff. Dec. 2014.
4.0 Stars
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Domaines Schlumberger Kessler Grand Cru Pinot Gris 2008
Alsace, France$25.95
A lovely Pinot Gris, yellow gold in the glass with a hint of green. Lifted nose of petrol/minerality, floral notes, and peach. Floral and mineral replays on the palate with spice, a touch of residual sugar and lemony shmeck in a creamy fuller bodied mouthfeel. Good acidity and higher alcohol provides structure and is integrated rather than dominant. Very complex and long. A fine aperitif and a compliant accomplice for a range of foods given the palate cleansing and saliva inducing acidity. Jan. 2014.
4.0 Stars
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