David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (613)
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Reviews
Concha Y Toro Marqués De Casa Concha Syrah 2009, Buin, Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley, Chile$19.95
Nice Syrah with expected peppery spice. Dusty tannins. Just enough balance, complexity, length, syrah typicity and good fruit to sneak into a 90 point score. Excellent QPR given the price reduction to $15.75. April 2014.
3.5 Stars
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Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva 2004, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$24.95
The pro's are split on this one, and I'm leaning more towards Mr. Szabo's interpretation of this gran reserva rioja. Pretty cherry colour with a slight garnet hint at the edges. Floral nose. Light to medium body. Raspberry, cherry and vanilla on the palate, but the brett comes through too much. There's an astringent leathery quality here and a not overly long finish.
3.5 Stars
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Canonica A Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$19.95
I get red berry fruit on the shnoz and I even picked up the "bandaid" scent as identified by Lawrason, but not in an unpleasant way. The fruit continues on the palate with a hint of cocoa and some mustiness. Medium body feel. Tannins kick in nicely with good overall structure and decent length. Hot alcohol takes over towards the end but does not detract from the finish. This went really well with vegetarian lasagna and would create a real shmeck factor with any pasta in a tomato based sauce.
3.5 Stars
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Cave Spring Estate Riesling 2010, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$17.95
Light honey gold hue and fresh aromas. Apple and lemon citrus dominate the initial palate and then a kaleidoscope of ripe fruit in a long finish. This wine manages to negotiate a lovely truce between it's off dry style, crisp acidity and tangible minerality. Sipped nicely on its own before dinner and then rocked with a pork chop topped with sweetened braised red cabbage and apple compote.
3.5 Stars
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Little Beauty Limited Edition Pinot Noir 2010, Marlborough, South Island
Marlborough, New Zealand$23.25
Light cherry hue with a fruit filled bouquet and palate. Cherry dominates the up front juiciness. The wine skips rather than dawdles so length is limited. But well rounded and soft, with tannins making only a cameo appearance. Some heat on the finish. I agree with Mr. Szabo that it's not a great value for the price, but luckily my LCBO outlet reduced the price on the last few bottles they had. Grip it n' sip it!
3.5 Stars
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Evans & Tate Metricup Road Shiraz 2009, Margaret River, Western Australia
Western Australia, Australia$22.95
Cherry theme runs through the colour, nose and palate. Juicy forward fruit style will not disappoint new world Australian shiraz fans. Medium body with rounded tannins and lingering finish. Good complexity. Went very well with beef stew, although I enjoyed it on its own beforehand.
3.5 Stars
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Bodegas Castaño Hécula Monastrell 2009, Do Yecla
Spain$12.60
Sits cherry red in the glass. Notes of meat, vanilla, cherry, blueberry, and chocolate. light to medium bodied with mouth watering acidity, earthyness and good structure. Heat on the lengthy finish reflects the higher alcohol. The complexity and quality in this sub $12.00 mourvedre offering from Spain is easily equal to or better than many wines twice its price. Grip it n' sip it!. March 2013.
3.5 Stars
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Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2011, Wo Swartland
South Africa$13.95
Medium ruby in the glass. Aromas of pepper, fruit and a hint of leather and smoke. Taste buds detect ripe fruit, pepper and spice integrated nicely into a medium bodied feel with a light dusting of tannin. Decent enough length with some heat towards the end. I enjoyed this with a basic spaghetti and meatballs in tomato basil sauce, but it would stand up nicely to bigger protein meat dishes and bbq fare. This wine hits the sweet spot on the value/price continuum for my bottom dweller budget. 88-89.
3.5 Stars
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Viidal Fleury Crozes Hermitage 2009, Ac
Rhône, France$24.95
This cherry coloured syrah emits dark berry, earthy and meaty tones. On the palate initial cherry and dark berry fruit gives way to black licorice, pepper, and sour savoury flavours. It's medium body with good acidity and some traction on the tannins. Nice length but doesn't go on for ever (unlike this review). A very good 88+ pts. Grip it n' sip it! May 2013.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Grand Veneur Clos De Sixte Lirac 2010, Ac
Rhône, France$24.95
This Lirac is a dark ruby, faintly purple opaque wine. The vintage offers very ripe dark and berry fruit with notes of licorice, garrigue/bitter herbs and faint characteristics of vanilla and chocolate. There's good acidity and grainy tannins (decant 45 minutes). The finish is long but with alcohol heat coming through reflecting the whopping 15% ABV (chill slightly). A very nice Rhone that is approachable now, especially if rich comfort food meats are on the offer. Oct. 2013.
3.5 Stars
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