David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (622)
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Reviews
Fontaine De Clos Confidences 2014, Ap Côtes Du Rhône
Rhône, France$17.95
Another great value from the south of France. Light cherry red colour and somewhat translucent. Cherry fruit, pepper, spice, cinnamon hearts, chocolate and slightly bitter. Medium-full bodied, a bit hot with alcohol burn in the late palate. Medium acidity provides some freshness and fine chalky tannin. Very good length. Well-priced and a nice mid week, cool weather quaff. Nov. 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Ca'Tullio Tenace Lo Schioppettino 2015, Doc Friuli Aquileia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy$16.25
Schioppettino, which means "crackling", is native to the Friuli region and this version from the Colli Orientali DOC shows characteristic aromatic intensity with violets, red berry fruit and spicy pepper. Quite fruity on the palate, with more pepper and a late palate bitterness. Reminded me a bit of Gamay. It's mid weight, has vibrant acidity, medium tannin and very good length. Schioppettino is also known as Ribolla Nera, but is unrelated to Ribolla Gialla. Makes a lovely Valentines wine. Feb. 2018.
3.5 Stars
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Albino Piona Bardolino 2016, Doc
Veneto, Italy$12.75
A delicious Bardolino. Based on the same grapes used in Valpolicella but the appellation lies to the west of Valpolicella on the eastern/Veneto shore of Lake Garda. So light in colour, almost Chiaretto (rose), but this belies it's true weight and body along with 13% ABV. Tart red berry, cherry, spice, florals, creamy/honey (malo?) and some mineral salinity. There's also a perception or RS without any sense of confection. Bright acidity renders it food friendly, tannin are mild and length is very good. Great value. April 2018.
3.5 Stars
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Melini Chianti Classico Reserva 2011
Tuscany, Italy$19.95
Here's a really good value for Chianti Classico Reserva. This 2011 is ageing but still has some kick left. The fruit is in the cherry and red berry spectrum although starting to dry out. There's added complexity with secondary and tertiary notes including a savoury herbal note, tea, chocolate, vanilla and leather. The tannins are dusty and are polymerizing into resolution. A tad thin, showing medium body and medium plus alcohol. Finish is very good to excellent. Scores on complexity, balance, typicity and finish. When on sale, it's an absolute steal. April 2019.
3.5 Stars
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Hacienda López De Haro Crianza 2018, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$16.95
Great value here at under $16 for this very expressive Rioja Crianza. Mostly Tempranillo with a smattering of Garnacha and Graciano (which adds some acidity). Typical aromas and flavours of red fruit (cherry, raspberry), sandalwood, dill, vanilla and olives. Tannins are present but relatively resolved. Medium bodied. Not great concentration, but very good length. A bit of alcohol burn (despite only 13.5% abv) keeps my score under 90. But great value overall. March 2022.
3.5 Stars
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Château Des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-victoire Rosé 2020, Ac Côtes De Provence
Provence, France$24.95
Fresh, juicy, fruity rose in the Provencal idiom. Complex primary aromas and flavours of strawberry, watermelon, tangerine, red grapefruit, along with a perfumed floral note, white pepper, herbal garrigue and anise. Dry, with high acidity, a viscous body and excellent length. Interestingly, my tasting mentor had a bottle with similar reductive sulphur issues that Mr. Szabo experienced. Significant bottle variation this vintage, or just too aggressively anaerobic winemaking??? July 2021.
3.5 Stars
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Château Pierre De Montignac 2015, Cru Bourgeois, Ap Médoc
Bordeaux, France$24.95
From a warm vintage, this Medoc Cru Bourgeois offers red fruit (currant, cherry, plum) along with cedar, cigar box and an herbal note. It's medium bodied with soft tannins, juicy acidity and very good to excellent length. At it's prime now, so enjoy on it's own or with roasted meats. January 2022.
3.5 Stars
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Channing Daughters Ramato Pinot Grigio 2020
New York, Usa$31.25
I love checking out wines that elicit a range of scores from the pro critics, and as the official arbiter of conflicting scores, I was amped to try this Orange wine. But oy vay, what a conundrum it presents. It scores on complexity with grapefruit, marmalade, poached pear, tea, black licorice, sage, honey, toasted marshmallow and more. Texturally there's some tannin and a viscosity in an off-dry frame. The finish is quite long. The acidity is modest so it's a touch flabby. Some alcohol heat reduces marks for balance. But what a fun adventure from an AVA we don't see much of in these parts.
3.5 Stars
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Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018, Stellenbosch
South Africa$18.95
South Africa can provide some of the best price/quality ratios available in the wine world, particularly from its signature white varietal Chenin. The Radford Dale is case in point, along with Ken Forrester's Chenin (both in the $18 range). A fairly complex nose of pear, lime and peach fruit is complemented by sage and minerality. The palate is slightly viscous (lees contact) and the colour is more gold than lemon. Of course, the acidity is vibrant as one would expect from Chenin, and the length is excellent. Jan. 2022.
3.5 Stars
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Château Haut-garriga Bordeaux Blanc 2019, Ac
Bordeaux, France$13.95
Great value in a 100% Bordeaux Semillon. Although intensity is muted, it shows complexity in primary fruit aromas with yellow floral, yellow apple, pear, lemon, along with a resinous herbal note, anise and minerality. Juicy acidity makes this food friendly, and there's weight and texture on the palate (likely lees contact). Length of finish is very good. For sure a multi-bottle purchase. Aug. 2021.
3.5 Stars
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