David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
Lustau Solera Reserva Dry Amontillado Los Arcos
Andalusia, Spain$18.95
Great value in this Amontillado Sherry. A lovely caramel colour and a complex nose that is essentially nutty but with notes of buttery caramel, creme brulee, marmalade, coffee and fig. The palate is viscous, salty with excellent length. Essentially dry but with a vague molasses-like kiss of sweetness. A touch hot on the finish but not overly so. Feb. 2016.
4.0 Stars
(1000+)E+(34)O
Emiliana Coyam 2011, Colchagua Valley
Colchagua Valley, Chile$29.95
Dark purple ruby. Emiliana is an organic producer and that natural approach manifests itself in quality on a regular basis, including this red blend. Plum, black cherry, herbal notes, pepper, and chocolate. Sandy, ripe tannins, medium plus acidity, full bodied and lengthy. Oak is very present but integrated. Nice effort. June 2015.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
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
(0)V
Fontanafredda Serralunga D'alba Barolo 2007
Piedmont, Italy$44.95
This lovely Barolo is starting to come into its own. Light ruby in the centre, but with garnet to slight brick on the edges. The nose is enticing with red berries, raw meat, salami, sweet baking spice, rose and perfume. The palate is equally complex offering more red fruit, anise and spice in a medium bodied platform framed by medium to high acidity and grippy tannins (decant at least 1 hour). Excellent length. A perfect steak wine or just sip it on its own. This wine could cellar another 5-7 years and still be in its prime, but if you've got a few bottles, why not try one now? May 2014.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Cirrus Syrah 2007, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$27.95
An opaque dark ruby wine. This syrah displays a smokey, tarry, spicy, meaty character. Yet it's a feminine wine with floral notes, chocolate and almost stewed red and dark fruits (she's showing her age). Refined tannins, nicely integrated oak and very approachable (in a "come hither" sort of way). A nice cross between typical S.A. shiraz and Rhone syrah. 90++
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Emiliana Winemaker's Selection Syrah 2011, Casablanca Valley
Casablanca Valley, Chile$19.95
Freshness and finesse describe this dark ruby/magenta Chilean shiraz, rather than big and bold. Dark berry and plummy fruit bursts out of the gate, followed by typical pepper and spice. Medium bodied on the mouthfeel, there's grippy tannins and decent length. A nice softer feminine shiraz that should be widely appealing. I enjoyed it on its own, but it certainly would pair well with grilled chicken, pork or burgers. So grip it n' sip it! Sept. 2013.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Creekside Backyard Block Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Ontario, Canada$17.95
A very refreshing Sauv Blanc that would drink well in anyone's backyard. It's light straw gold in colour with a minerally grapefruit nose. The mouthfeel is viscous with a bit of heat. It delivers citrusy lemon and grapefruit flavours with mouth watering acidity, and a savoury herbal finish - very sauvy. And excellent length too. March 2014.
3.5 Stars
(0)G
Bougrier Vouvray 2014
Loire, France$16.10
This review is for the '15. This pale gold Chenin displays good Vouvray typicity. The nose shows quince, melon, honey. The palate is off dry, medium bodied with enough acidity to balance the sweetness. A slight bitterness on the finishe with some burn. Very good length. Jan. 2017.
3.5 Stars
(0)G
Ontañón Crianza 2010, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$16.95
This ruby red Tempranillo dominated Crianza certainly over-delivers on quality relative to its price. Oak is well integrated and not over the top, featuring notes of cedar, graphite, mocha and vanilla. There's cherry and dried fruit. It's a medium wine - medium complexity, medium bodied, medium acidity and medium dusty tannin. Very good to excellent length though. And the price is definitely right. A touch of alcohol burn at the end. March 2015.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva 2009
Tuscany, Italy$27.95
Not showing much age in the glass with a still vibrant ruby-cherry colour. Sour red fruit with anise, nutmeg, leather, tobacco and mocha. Oak is well integrated. Overall it's savoury tart with medium plus acidity and dusty tannins and very good length. Has a few good years ahead of it, but drinking nicely now.
Nov. 2015.
3.5 Stars
(0)V