David Brodati, DipWSET

Beronia Gran Reserva 2006

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.

Lustau East India Solera Sherry, Do Jerez (500ml)

Dark amber-orange-brown in the glass. This is a wonderful sweet sherry. It's a blend of aged drier Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximenez, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Honey, fig, raisin, orange rind, molasses, a slight medicinal note and almond. It's sweet, viscous but nowhere near cloying, and has excellent length. The 20% ABV is nicely integrated. An excellent sipper and is heavenly with almonds and dried fruit. Incredible value here. Dec. 2014.

Update Oct. 2018: Just tried this with Christie/Peak Frean brand chocolate covered digestive cookies - sublime!

Picard Le Charmois Saint Aubin 1er Cru 2014, Ac

A very fine white Bourgogne, with apple, citrus, minerality, earthy with nicely integrated oak flavours. Good acidity keeps it fresh and the length is excellent. Feb. 2019.

Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Nies'chen Riesling Kabinett 2006, Pradikätswein

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.

Southbrook Poetica Red 2012, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Niagara Peninsula

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.

Monte Faustino Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2007, Doc

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.

Anne Marie Liegeois Hedges Cuvée Marcel Dupont Les Gosses Vineyard Syrah 2012, Red Mountain, Columbia Valley

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.

Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese 2014, Pradikätswein

A brilliant Spatlese here. Objectively it scores on complexity, balance, length and typicity. Subjectively, scores on being freekin delicious. It portrays notes of ripe apple, peach, apricot, marmalade, grilled pineapple, melon, candied ginger, honey and that wonderful Mosel minerality. The balance is impeccable with interplay between acidity and sweetness giving the impression of medium dry. I paired this with a butternut squash bisque finished with a dollop of maple syrup - sublime (or in this case subapricot). It's drinking lovely now, but can easily go another decade. Dec. 2019.

La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 2007, Doca Rioja

One of the best Rioja's I've tasted in a long while. Wonderfully expressive aromatics and much complexity makes this a fine sipping wine. Spot on typicity for Rioja. Dark cherry, tobacco, leather, herb, dill, olive, sandalwood, vanilla, mocha, spice, hoisin, smoke. The oak is very nicely intergrated at this point. Medium/full bodied, with medium plus acidity, refined silky tannins that still have some grip, and excellent length. A touch of heat on the lingering finish holds this a notch below the outstanding category. Drink now or hold 5-7 years. Jan. 2017.

Leaning Post Lowrey Pinot Noir 2011, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula

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.