David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
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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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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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 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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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 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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Lighthall Chardonnay 2018, Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$35.00
A balanced and harmonious PEC Chard from Lighthall. Nice interplay between fruit and County saline minerality. Apple, pear, lemon, caramel and a sage-like herbal note. I really like the palate in terms of creamy texture. The acidity is bright and the length is excellent. Highly quaffable. Serve with butternut squash bisque. Jan. 2022.
3.5 Stars
Leaning Post Chardonnay Wismer Foxcroft Vineyard 2018, Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada$40.00
A lovely chard from Wismer Foxcoft showing nice ripeness of fruit from the 2018 vintage (apple, pear, melon), but framed by integrated oak spice, bright acidity and a slight flinty reductive minerality. A honeyed note and sage like herbal add complexity. Texturally it shines with a lovely creaminess on the palate. The length is excellent. Sept. 2022.
3.5 Stars
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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