David Brodati, DipWSET
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Reviews (618)
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Reviews
Thirty Bench Riesling Small Lot Triangle Vineyard 2013, Beamsville Bench
Ontario, Canada$30.00
I too tasted this wonderful Riesling at the Canadian Wine Scholar Course that David taught. It was amazing, so I made a trip to Thirty Bench to pick up a few bottles. Tried it again recently and came to the same conclusion: Emma Garner is crafting great Ontario Rieslings, but the Triangle Vineyard 2013 may be her best. Aromatic citrus nose with petrol, florals, and more complexity in spades. A lovely mouthfeel, outstanding length and terrific balance of acidity, fruit and RS. Not sure if there's any left at the Winery, but I'd recommend picking some up if available. June 2016.
4.5 Stars
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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Il Grappolo Sassocheto Brunello Di Montalcino 2010
Tuscany, Italy$58.00
Garnet red in the glass doesn't belie this Brunello's age. Traditional in style. Umami driven nose of leather, tobacco, earth, dried flowers. Fruit is drying too. Some oxidation showing as may be expected. High acidity, high alcohol and drying tannin that is still grippy. Complexity and excellent length, but I wouldn't cellar too much longer. Enjoy while you can. Dec. 2018.
4.5 Stars
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Lightfoot And Wolfville Chardonnay Ancienne Reserve 2013
Nova Scotia, Canada$56.00
An excellent minerally driven chard from the Annapolis. You can pick out the fruit but why bother when the minerality screams for oysters. There's palate pleasing texture and well integrated oak that adds some spice, ginger and a hint of cedar to the complexity. Acidity adds structure and increases the food friendly nature. Very good to excellent length. July 2017.
4.5 Stars
Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese 2014, Pradikätswein
Mosel, Germany$39.95
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.
4.5 Stars
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La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 2007, Doca Rioja
Rioja, Spain$54.95
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.
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
Norman Hardie Chardonnay Sans Soufre 2015, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$45.00
This wine is just plain delicious. The consistent quality of Norm's output sometimes results in consumer complacency - yeah, another good Norman Hardie (yawn). But the Sans Soufre for me is a reminder of this man's talent. Complexity, balance, refinement, length. Apple, lemon, lime, quince, honey, slightly minty, iodine, minerality. Creamy malo texture, vibrant with excellent length. Well done. Soufre not needed. Nov. 2017.
4.5 Stars
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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