David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
Rocca Di Castagnoli Chianti Classico 2011, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$19.95
What a pleasant CC here, with ripe red cherry fruit leading the way. A hint of licorice and a touch of well integrated oak offering a slight whiff of baking spice. Medium body on the palate, the cherry fruit is countered by a savoury late palate. Refined tannins, balanced acidity and very good length. A touch hot on the finish keeps the score just under 90. Very food friendly and good value. Nov. 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2010, Mornington Peninsula
Victoria, Australia$42.40
A pretty cherry colour with a slight translucence. The cherry theme carries through on the nose and palate. Fruity and dry, there's a good acidic seem running through, offering tartness to the fruit, spice, herbs and well integrated tannins. Medium bodied, there's a touch of heat toward the end of the lengthy finish. Very food friendly. Jan. 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$40.00
A fuller riper fruit forward pinot, with a lovely aromatic nose. Perfume, nutmeg, cranberry, cherry and vanilla. Well balanced with excellent length. A solid offering from the Hidden Bench estate. Dec. 2013.
4.0 Stars
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
(0)V
Altamira De Los Andes Reserve Malbec 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$22.75
Opaque and inky, this a full and bold Argentinian Malbec (what's new) from the Uco Valley. Its 18 month sojourn in a combo of new and one time used French oak comes through on the nose and palate with spice box, chocolate and vanilla notes. This is a sweet and savoury wine with dark fruit, some green characteristics, charred meat, salinity and teryaki flavours. Good acidity and tannins with traction, so decant or cellar another 1-2 years yet. Very good length but hot. Oct. 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
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
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
(0)V
Caledonia Australis Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Leongatha, Gippsland
Victoria, Australia$29.75
This is an excellent chard. What elevates it well above the norm is its balance. Sits in the sweet spot between cool climate with crisp acidity (a la Chablis) but still delivering that typical buttery, leesy brioche with a hint of tropical fruit, but all in a refined restrained way. There's a smidge of sulphur, and alcohol is noticeable on the lingering finish, but, again, not out of whack, simply part of a complete package. I enjoyed it immensely with shrimp and lobster Newburg. 91-92. Dec. 2013.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Alain Jaume Grande Garrigue Vacqueyras 2010
Rhône, France$24.95
Fruit dominates the nose initially, followeed by anise. The palate offers red berry fruit, more licorice, salt/teriyaki and savoury herbs (garrique). The stated 15% ABV is certainly present but not as dominant as I expected (the fruit isn't bullied), providing structure along with grippy tannins and some acidity. Very nice length here. It's coming together, but I suspect another 2-3 years will show marked improvemnent elevating the score to an excellent rating. March 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Norman Hardie Niagara Unfiltered Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$39.00
Norman Hardie's Niagara sourced chardonnay is a yellow-gold medium weight wine that hits all the marks. Fresh fruit, vibrant acidity and minerality, measured oak, all balanced in an integrated and complex wine with a really nice viscous mouthfeel. The lengthy finish reveals a touch of heat. A good choice to accompany a Thanksgiving meal. 90-91. October 2013.
4.0 Stars
(0)V