David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (619)
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Reviews
Paolo Conterno Bricco Barbera D'alba 2014, Doc
Piedmont, Italy$19.95
Here's a delicious Barbera D'Alba, with juicy acidity framing the cherry dominant fruit. Additional aromas of herbs, smoke, earth and anise. Young but tannins are approachable in this medium to full bodied wine. Very good to excellenty length. Very food friendly. July 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Cave Spring Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer 2013, Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada$18.95
Cave Spring is known for excellent quality price ratio for their Rielsing's, but they can add their 2013 Gewurz to that great value category as well. Spot on Gewurz typicity with fairly intense aromatics of lychee, spice, ginger, rose and some minerality. What really elevates this for me is the somewhat higher than typical acidity for Gewurz, providing balance and offsetting what would otherwise be an oily mouthfeel. There's creaminess for sure, but nothing cloying. Excellent length and nicely food friendly - bring on the Thai or Sechwan/Hunan cuisine. Oct. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Santa Duc Roaix Les Crottes 2010, Ac Côtes Du Rhône Villages
Rhône, France$17.25
This is a big CdR Villages, offering almost as much as good Chateauneuf but at half the price. Cherry, plum, blueberry, licorice, herbs/garrique. There's still some freshness in the fruit, but it's turning to dry and cooked. The palate is full, hot with balancing acidity, grainy tannin and a drying bitter finish. A big 15% ABV, and the alcohol is not totally integrated with some burn on the mid to late palate. Drink now to 2019. Jan. 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Jean Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2014, Bourgogne
Burgundy, France$21.75
This Bourgogne explores its softer side making it very approachable and a good "crowd" Chard. There's nice apple, pear fruit and slight oak influences. The mouthfeel is round and pleasing with decent balancing acidity. Very good length. Well priced too. April 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2015, Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$12.95
Sure, it's marketed as a "Critter Wine", but this South African Syrah has substance beyond the label. Good Syrah typicity, with cherry and dark fruit, an herbal quality, meatiness, pepper, spice and smokiness. It's full bodied, with 14.5% ABV, but not hot. Medium acidity and very good length. Balanced and integrated, always a good value vintage to vintage. Sept. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Kew Marsanne 2014, VQA Beamsville Bench
Ontario, Canada$19.95
Kew's take on Marsanne marries the varietal's Southern Rhone penchant for viscosity and roundness of mouthfeel with Ontario's cool climate acidity. An interesting expression for sure. Medium plus intensity aromatics. The oak treatment is noticeable. Very good length but slight alcohol burn. Needs some integration, I would give this another year. April 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Flat Rock Cellars Pinot Noir 2014, Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada$22.95
Light ruby with watery edges and almost translucent. Red berry and cherry fruit lead the way then baking spices and earthy savoury notes, ending with sour bitterness. Medium body, with moderate tannin, juicy acidity and good length but with some alcohol heat at the end. Somewhat unbalance at this stage, but may coalesce yet with a year or two of aging. Dec. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Château Des Charmes Old Vines Riesling 2014, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$17.95
Good purity of fruit as one would expect from older vines. An off dry style Riesling with peach, apricot, apple, lemon, honey, spice and minerality. Vibrant acidity keeps it all very fresh. It's medium bodied with a sense of viscosity on the palate and alcohol provides some structure (12% ABV). Very good to excellent length. A perfect match for Asian cuisine with a bit of spice. March 2017.
3.5 Stars
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Poderi Di Luigi Einaudi Dolcetto Di Dogliani 2013, Doc
Piedmont, Italy$19.95
This Dogliani is really nice, offering Dolcetto typicity with sour red and dark fruit, violets and subtle oak influences. Tannic with decent acidity and very good length. Nov. 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Des Tourelles White 2015, Bekaa Valley
Lebanon, World$17.25
Here's a nice offering from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. A blend of mostly Viognier with Chard and Muscat of Alexandria in support. The Viognier and Muscat contribute to fairly intense aromatics with florals, spice, and ginger. The fruit is ripe apple, pear and pineapple, and the palate is viscous (Viognier) with medium acidity and very good length. The 14% ABV provides structure but isn't totally integrated with late palate heat present. May 2017.
3.5 Stars
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