David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (622)
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Reviews
Monte Faustino Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2007, Doc
Veneto, Italy$56.95
A wonderfully complex Amarone that's drinking quite nicely now. Cherry colour with lighter edges in the glass. Aromas of red fruit, iodine, leather and oak. Palate offers up a smorgasbord of cherry, fig, prune, milk chocolate and a hint of a medicinal tone. Tannins are grippy and length is excellent. Although approachable with some time in the decanter, this appassimento style wine can cellar a few years yet. Nov. 2013.
4.5 Stars
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Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Nies'Chen Riesling Kabinett 2006, Pradikätswein
Mosel, Germany$19.95
A minerally, petrol and floral nose with notes of ginger, apricot, apple and honey. Similar notes on the palate with a creamy, honeyed but not unctuous mouthfeel due to well balanced acidity. Comes off more like a Spatlese than a Kabinett. Excellent wine and a steal at under $20. August 2014.
4.5 Stars
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Château Beau-site 2009, Ac Saint Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
Bordeaux, France$36.75
Patience and prescience - the skills needed to enjoy an ageable wine at its zenith. And for me, the patience to hold on and finally the prescience to pull the cork on this 09 St. Estephe paid off. Beautiful pot pourri nose of dried flowers and dusty dried fruit, along with tobacco, soy and balsamic. An almost sweet note on the palate of vanilla and caramel. More dried cherry fruit and savoury umami elements inculding leather, tobacco, soy, olive and balsamic. The tannin are fully resolved and smooth and the acidity still adds vibrancy. Excellent length. No need to cellar further. June 2023.
4.5 Stars
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Castello Di Ama San Lorenzo 2011
Tuscany, Italy$54.95
Well I always thought the Gran Selezione category at the top of the Chianti quality pyramid was more savvy marketing to justify elevated prices rather than a true quality designation, but if this Castello Di Ama San Lorenzo is anything to go by, then I'm now a believer. There's purity and concentration of fruit, complexity, balance, structure and excellent length. Cherry, ferrous sanguine character, balsamic, tobacco, mocha, graphite, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. Juicy acidity, ripe tannins and pleasing warmth on a medium plus frame. Prime drinking window. Nov. 2018
4.5 Stars
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Leaning Post Lowrey Pinot Noir 2011, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$38.00
Ilya Senchuk's Pinots sourced from the Lowrey vineyard are consistently good vintage to vintage. The '11 from a cooler vintage offers earthiness, cherry and red berry fruit, baking spice and minerality. The palate is medium plus body with medium plus acidity, dusty tannin and a lengthy finish. Nicely balanced. April 2016.
4.5 Stars
Anne-marie Liegeois Hedges Cuvée Marcel Dupont Les Gosses Vineyard Syrah 2012, Red Mountain, Columbia Valley
Washington, Usa$49.99
A beautiful wine with a pretty purple ruby hue. A lifted nose showing cherry fruit, spice, pepper, meat and a herbal minty character. The mouthfeel is full with concentrated fruit, ripe sticky tannin, chalky minerality and balanced acidity. This is still young and will benefit from cellaring up to 10 years and will evolve beautifully. Red Mountain AVA is warm, dry with south west facing aspects that produce excellent bordeaux varietals and Syrah as evidenced by this 100% Syrah. It's not cheap, but would give higher priced Hermitage a run for its money. Jan. 2016.
4.5 Stars
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico 2013, Doc
Veneto, Italy$30.25
The 2013 version of Pieropan's single vineyard 'La Rocca' Soave continues it's world class legacy. Lovely aromas of apple, pear, melon, honey, almond, some oak spice and minerality. Full and viscous mouthfeel with bright lemony acidity and excellent length. Definitely one of my favourites and in my view, fairly priced at under $40 for such a rich and complex wine. Oct. 2016.
4.5 Stars
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Southbrook Poetica Red 2012, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$54.95
The 2012 vintage of Southbrook's top tier red blend is all about elegance. 2012 was an excellent vintage in Niagara and this estate grown biodynamic meritage consists of 46% Cab Sauv, 26% each Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, with a soupcon of Merlot. Intensely perfumed pot pourri, rosemary, red fruit (raspberry, cherry) with cassis in the dried spectrum, oak derived aromas of baking spices, cedar and vanillin, and tertiary notes of balsamic and licorice. In other words, complex. But also harmonious with balanced acidity and soft tannins. Length is excellent. Drinking beautifully now. Feb 2022.
4.5 Stars
Closson Chase Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay 2013, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$29.95
Quintessential Deborah Paskus Chard. Rich and creamy but fruit and acid are pure. Notes of apple, pear, lemon, honey, nuts, butter, wax, mineral. The mouthfeel is voluptuous. Complex, balanced and outstanding length. A Paskus swansong for sure. Dec. 2015.
4.5 Stars
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Beronia Gran Reserva 2006
Rioja, Spain$40.00
An excellent Rioja GR. It starts with a touch of funk that blows off quickly. Then the complexity shines with a perfumed nose and notes of cinnamon, clove, dark fruit, fig, hoisin, herbs and cedar. It's medium to full bodied feeling thick on the palate. More fruit replays along with smoke, tar, coffee, mocha and vanilla wrapped in a savoury package. Medium plus tannins and excellent length. A slight alcohol burn that doesn't feel integrated holds this back a point in my scoring. But no doubt an excellent wine. April 2015.
4.5 Stars
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