David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (613)
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Reviews
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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Colomé Torrontés 2015, Calchaquí Valley, Salta
Salta, Argentina$15.95
Fits the typical Torrontes amped aromatic profile. The aromatics and flavours are quite complex with florals, citrus, herbals, honey, medicinal iodine, bitterness and salty minerality. Bright acidity keeps it all very fresh and length is excellent. There's a lot here for the bargain price. Jan. 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Lavau Vacqueyras 2014
Rhône, France$25.95
Terrific value as Lavau's Vacqueyras is half the price of many CdP's, but with similar characteristics and quality. Bright medium ruby colour, cherry and dark fruit, meat, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin. Well balanced with medium plus tannin and medium acidity, but a touch hot (14.5% ABV declared). Very good to excellent length. Feb. 2018.
3.5 Stars
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Domain Mega Spileo Red 2010
Peloponnese, Greece$29.95
This is delicious. A blend of Mavrodaphni and the rare Mavro Kalavritino from from the Achaia region of the Peloponnese (Robinson, Harding, Vouillamoz 2012) which are thick skinned varieties producing tannic wine. In this case, with seven years under it's belt this blend is drinking beautifully now. Floral, dried red fruit, spice, integrated oak (vanillin), juicy acidity and tannic structure. But it's the old world savoury, herbal, dusty, dry, lengthy nature that is compelling. It rocked with pork souvlaki and Peasant (Greek) salad and would be sublime with herb encrusted roast lamb. May 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Closson Chase K.J. Watson Vineyard Pinot Gris 2016, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$22.95
From the warm dry 2016 vintage, Closson's PG from their Watson vineyard offers amped aromatics that feature peach, apricot, lime and mineral notes. Medium bodied, bright acidity and very good to excellent length. Nicely done. July 2017.
3.5 Stars
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13th Street Gamay 2016, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$19.95
Gamay is climbing the ladder and in my view is in the top 3 (along with Cab Franc and Pinot) for quality red varietals in Ontario. 13th Street's 2016 offering is a great example. Earthy and sour with beetroot, tart cherry, red berry, nutmeg, spice, an herbal quality and wet stone minerality. Juicy acidity, medium + body, soft tannin and chalky mouthfeel. Food friendly as all good Gamay should be. Scores on complexity, balance, typicity and length. June 2018.
3.5 Stars
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Keint He Little Creek Pinot Noir 2014, Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$38.00
The Little Creek Pinot captures the essence of County Pinot. It straddles the fine line between austerity and elegance. Enticing aromas of sour cherry, cranberry, salty minerality, spice and nutmeg. Vibrant acidity overlays a light to medium bodied mouthfeel with mild tannin and very good length. Very food friendly. Try with grilled salmon. Oct. 2017.
3.5 Stars
Casale Del Giglio Cesanese 2014, Igt Lazio Rosso
Italy$18.95
A great find and good on the LCBO to bring this wine based on the native Lazio Cesanese grape to Ontario. Medium full bodied with good concentration of red berry and cherry fruit, along with spice, tea, vanilla and minerality. Fine grained tannin, bright acidity and very good to excellent length. Sept. 2017.
3.5 Stars
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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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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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