David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
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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Cave De Roquebrun Granges Des Combes 2013
Languedoc, France$18.95
Deep ruby colour. Fairly intense and complex nose of florals, red berry, cherry, blackberry, licorice, pepper, a funky earthy note and a hint of V.A. All three varieties represent'n. The palate offers juicy medium plus acidity, mild tannin. There's a nice freshness and vibrancy here. Very good length. Excellent value. Feb. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Mas Des Bressades Cuvée Tradition 2011, Ap Costières De Nîmes
Rhône, France$16.95
This southern Rhone blend of syrah and grenache is a bit puzzling for me. There is some complexity and good length, but my bottle may have been a touch too volatile. Strong gamey notes, savouriness, spice, pepper, bitter herbs with a rustic, sharp edged attitude that softened a bit after decanting. It behaved a bit better with a down home meal of meatloaf, mashed taters and squash tian. Nov. 2013.
3.5 Stars
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Château Prieure Canteloup 2009, Ac Côtes De Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France$18.85
Ruby garnet in the glass. A refined, soft, merlot dominant Bordeaux. A hint of brett on the nose, but not a detraction. Earth, game, leather is the aromatic theme with dark chocolate, licorice, plum and cassis emerging on the palate. Medium bodied, good acidity and still rather sticky tannins co-habitate in a balanced ecosystem. Some alcohol heat breaks up the group hug. Very good length. Excellent value.
3.5 Stars
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J. & J. Eger Kékfrankos 2011, Eged Hegy Vineyard
Hungary$19.75
Modern in style, this Blaufrankisch shows red and dark fruit, brambly, with spice, pepper and obvious oak but fairly well integrated. Good acidity and ripe tannin provide structure. There a touch of alcohol heat but, again, integrated for the most part. Very good to excellent length. Good quality to price ratio. Nice example of a Kekfrankos and very approachable. August 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Abbazia Di Novacella Müller Thurgau 2014, Doc Valle Isarco Alto Adige
Alto Adige-Trentino, Italy$15.75
Italy's most northerly wine area in the Isarco Valley of Alto Adige is able to truly express German varieties like this Muller Thurgau. Fairly intense floral aromas with apple, nutmeg, almond and salt/minerality. Bright acidity from the high altitude gives freshness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the length is very good to excellent. A very reasonable price puts this squarely in bargain value territory, given the quality here. Nov. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Xavier Muscat De Beaumes De Venise 2017, Vin Doux Naturel, Ap (375ml)
Rhône, France$13.75
Very good muscat based VDN from the Southern Rhone's Beaumes de Venise appellation. Excellent typicity showing delicate but pronounced aromas of soapy perfume and florals, ripe apricot, canned peaches, grape, honey and ginger, along with more tropical fruit flavours on the palate. Sweet, lower acidity, a viscous mouthfeel and pure exuberant pleasure. May 2019.
3.5 Stars
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Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2012, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$53.95
Still quite deep ruby in colour, although some garnet tinges appearing at the edges. Some greenness on the nose, with pot pourri, dried red fruit, spice and oak aromas of chocolate and vanillin. The palate is about savoriness, as the fruit dries and fades at this point. Tobacco, more oak and spice and a soy like quality. Tannins are still grainy. Decent concentration, balance and length, but there's something off-kilter about it. Somehow it hasn't knitted together and I'm not sure it ever will. Agree with Szabo on this one. June 2020.
3.5 Stars
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Vaucher Pere Et Fils Fleurie 2018, Fleurie
Beaujolais, France$17.95
It's all about the nose. Pronounced aromas of ripe red berry and cherry fruit with florals of rose and violets, black pepper and minerality. Very elegant and fresh with tart acidity providing lift and a lip smacking "shmek" factor. Tannins are on the softer side. Medium bodied with a bit of alcohol warmth despite only 13% abv declared. Excellent length. And good typicity displaying the elegance and finesse of Fleurie. What value at only $18. March 2021.
3.5 Stars
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Henry Of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir 2018, VQA Ontario
Ontario, Canada$24.95
HOP Family Reserve Baco is always good quality and value. Baco is a hybrid variety grown mostly in Canada. Concentrated dark fruit in the plum, prune, black cherry spectrum with violets, lots of spice, and a hint of minerality. Oak is prominent but fairly well integrated showing vanilla, cocoa and smoke. Acidity is medium and tannin medium minus (baco is never very tannic). The length is very good to excellent. This is a great bbq wine for burgers, ribs and any saucy fare (not steak which is a tannin tamer). Drinking well now, and doesn't need much aging. June 2020.
3.5 Stars
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