David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (622)
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Reviews
Creekside Syrah 2013, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$15.95
Ok, so the press isn't broken, but this is still a nice Syrah. Medium bodied with crunchy vibrant acidity. Red fruit, pepper, spice, anise, a suggestion of meat. But the line between juicy tart sour and overt greeness is a thin one. Oak is not overdone, tannin is soft and fine and length is excellent. Nov. 2015.
3.5 Stars
Domaine Beau Mistral Vieilles Vignes Rasteau Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2012, Ac
Rhône, France$18.75
A nice mid ruby colour and an exprsessive nose. Quite complex - cherry fruit with herb/garrigue, baking spice, anise, pepper, salami (mourvedre) and minerality. The palate is medium/full bodied with dusty tannins (still young, mourvedre) and excellent length. A sour late palate (mourvedre) followed by some alcohol burn keeps my rating just shy of 90. But very good value nonetheless. June 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Alejandro Fernández Dehesa La Granja 2008, Vino De La Tierra De Castilla Y León
Spain$21.95
This is very well done. Medium plus intensity aromatics with dark and red fruit, American oak (dill, coconut, vanilla, cedar) and brett that stays this side of acceptable/non-fault, adding complexity. The palate offers juicy acidity keeping the full bodied wine fresh. Tannins still have some traction, but are softening. Finishes with slight alcohol burn. Almost a decade old and still showing youthful tendencies with colour and some tannic grip. Could go another 5-7 years. Great value. Sept. 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Château Plaisance 2009, Ac Bordeaux Supérieur
Bordeaux, France$19.95
Great value in a lovely Bordeaux from an excellent vintage. Six years on now and not quite hitting middle age. Dark fruit (black cherry, blackberry, cassis) not quite yet fading to dry and integrating with secondary flavours of herbal mint, leather, tobacco, cedar, pencil shavings and graphite minerality. Well balanced with a nice seam of acidity and dusty tannins just starting to soften. Excellent length. Sept. 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Château Arnauton 2010, Ac Fronsac
Bordeaux, France$25.95
At ten years of age, this Fronsac is holding up quite well. Sure there's a garnet tinge appearing at the rim and the fruit and flower aromas/flavours are more in the dried spectrum than fresh, but there's still life yet - I would say another 2-3 years. Fairly complex with red florals, black and red fruit, baking spice, cured meat, pencil shavings, cedar and a green leafy element. So definitely complex. Tannin is softening, but some graininess left. Alcohol is on the high side with a pleasant warmth rather than burn and length is very good to excellent. Prime drinking time. April 2020.
3.5 Stars
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Lake Breeze Winemaker Series The Spice Jar 2014, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$18.90
An interesting blend with gewurz showing on the floral nose and viognier on the creamy honeyed palate. Lots of fruit with peach, pear and tangerine. Off dry and spicey and, as such, appropriately branded. A late palate bitterness and slight burn. Excellent length. Paired really well with a dish of spicey Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice). Aug. 2015.
3.5 Stars
Thirty Bench Riesling 2014, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$22.95
A lovely off dry riesling with apple the dominant fruit. Measured acidity nicely balances the fruit and sweetness. Excellent length. Another fine riesling by Thirty Bench. Sept. 2015.
3.5 Stars
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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
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Tabali Reserva Syrah 2012, Limari Valley
Limari Valley, Chile$14.95
This is a well balanced and finessed syrah that sees judicious oak treatment to complement rather than bully the red and dark fruit and fresh acidity. There's spice, pepper, an herbal menthol note, a meaty note and some saline minerality. It's medium/full bodied with tacky tannins and good length. Overall a nice syrah that can't be beat for value. Nov. 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Queylus Merlot Cabernet Franc Reserve Du Domaine 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$32.25
Although a Burgundy dude, Thomas Bachelder likes how Merlot can be expressed in Niagara and is an advocate of Cab Franc as a signature local varietal. Bordeaux consultant Alain Sutre found blue soil at the Beamsville vineyard reminiscent of Pomerol, hence the Merlot varietal. Thomas and Kelly have blended this one expertly after 1/3 new and 2/3 neutral oak extended aging. A lovely wine here showing dark and red fruit, an herbal quality, slight minerality and judiciously integrated oak. Well balanced, finely structured with acidity and softening ripe tannin, and excellent length. April 2016.
3.5 Stars
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