David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (613)
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Reviews
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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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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Heartland Spice Trader Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Langhorne Creek
South Australia, Australia$17.00
Aptly named shiraz/cab sauv blend. For me this wine is all about the complex and fairly intense aromatics with black cherry, cassis, plum, menthol, anise, cedar, spice and black pepper. A bit too jammy for me with softer tannin and a touch hot, but good value at $17.00 and a great deal with the markdown I found at $12. April 2016.
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
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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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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Juvé Y Camps Cinta Purpura Reserva Brut Cava 2011, Do Cava
Catalonia, Spain$18.95
A delightful vintage Cava, showing pear and apple notes with frothy bubbles and balanced acidity. Substantial on the palate this is food friendly. Sept. 2015.
3.5 Stars
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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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Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2014, Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$12.95
Great value in a juicy well balanced syrah. A lovely complex nose of dark fruit (blueberry, black cherry), cedar, black pepper, violets and a meaty note. 14.5% ABV, but doesn't feel heavy on the palate, likely due to good acidity offering a sense of freshness. Not overly tannic although there's good structure from the tannins. Very good length. Feb. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Finca Flichman Paisaje De Tupungato 2012, Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina$17.25
Although high in alcohol (14.5%) there's a freshness to this blend likely due to the diurnal range brought on by the high altitude vineyards. Some florality with fruit in the red spectrum with cherry, red berry, red plum. Oak is well integrated showing baking spice, smoke, mocha, graphite. A good dose of black pepper. Medium acidity and medium plus tannin provides structure. A touch hot. Will age well over the mid term. Dec 2015.
3.5 Stars
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