David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
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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Boutari Grande Reserve 2007
Naoussa, Greece$18.95
I had the opportunity to taste the 2008 ahead of the 2007 and they are similar, perhaps fruit fading slightly more on the 07 and a bit more garnet in colour. Some funk, red berry, cherry, leather, tomato, anise, spice. Medium bodied, with still sticky tannins and medium plus acidity, there's very good length. A touch thin, but holding up well. July 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Mercurey Domaine Faiveley 2009
Burgundy, France$28.99
A very nice Burgundy, this Pinot has some fullness to it. Red fruit on the nose and palate, balanced acidity, mild tannins and decent length. A touch of heat on the finish (chill slightly). Very food friendly - aptly accompanied my rabbit in a mustard cream sauce. Grip it n' sip it! July 2013.
3.5 Stars
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The Foreign Affair The Temptress 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$44.95
Ilya Senchuk's appassimento style blend offers flavours of cooked dark cherry fruit, prune, fig, iodine and oak (baking spice, vanilla, chocolate). Very good length with a bitter mid palate and pronounced alcohol heat (even when chilled to 65 degrees). It's medium-full bodied with substantial tannic grit still present. Decant for at least 2 hours and pair with steak. It's starting to be approachable, but really could use another couple of years in the cellar. July 2014.
3.5 Stars
Château Pierre De Montignac 2009, Cru Bourgeois, Ap Médoc
Bordeaux, France$24.95
This wine sits dark ruby in the glass with a tinge of purple and magenta at the edges. This blend reveals red and dark fruit. Fitting that it is an old world wine in that it mirrors Euro Union finance ministers with its initial austerity. But after some coaxing (decanting) it opens up nicely. Some complexity here with decent acidity, good structure and balance. Alcohol persists on the medium length finish. Initial "meh" impression gave way to "pretty good" after the second glass. March 2013.
3.5 Stars
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