David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (613)
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Reviews
Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
California, Usa$39.95
Decent value for a Napa Valley Cab especially when on sale (as a Vintages Essential, this happens at times). Dark berry, cassis with oak that's not over the top, displaying vanilla, chocolate and cedar. Fairly balanced despite a whopping 15.5% ABV (warming rather than burning). Just enough acidity. Ripe tannin that are softening. Very good to excellent length. Not poised or elegant, but hey, for a Napa Cab from a warm vintage in the $30's, can't go wrong. Dec. 2018.
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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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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Château Des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2015, VQA St. David's Bench
Ontario, Canada$15.75
CdesC's gamay based on Paul Bosc's clone certainly is a straight shooter. Pretty aromatics and rich ripe flavours of cherry, red berry, florals and spice. A sense of sweetness but there's good balancing acidity, little in tannic grip and decent overall length. This can age a bit, but really no reason to when it's so enjoyable now. April 2017.
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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Henry Of Pelham Estate Riesling 2018, Certified Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada$19.95
HoP's estate Riesling offers notions of white flowers, tart apple, lemon-lime and a hint of petrol. The mouthfeel is slightly creamy with bright acidity. There's good balance and very good length. Excellent escarpment Riesling typicity. Well done and well priced. March 2020.
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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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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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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Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$24.95
A good vintage in Niagara for Chard, this multi vineyard offering by Thomas Bachelder exhibits a degree of complexity with apple and pear fruit, florals, black licorice and yoghurt. It's fairly rich and creamy in mouthfeel with a hint of tannin, and framed by medium plus acidity. Oak is prevalent but integrated. A touch hot on the finish with excellent length. May 2016.
3.5 Stars
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