Michael Godel

Michael Godel
Followers (297)
Reviews (34066)
  • (835)
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For the past 13 years Michael Godel has been tasting and assessing wine as a journalist, a critic and partner at WineAlign.com. He is often called “Godello,” a nickname that just happens to double as a terrific white Spanish grape. Godel has spent the better part of his writing career travelling planet wine in search of varietal truth and in that time has crafted more than 31,000 lengthy tasting notes, most of them positive, all of them thorough. He processes his thoughts, musings, stream of consciousness and experiences on wine, travel, music and pop culture at his eponymous website godello.ca.

Chef Michael hung up his well-used, 25 year-old whites when he closed up shop in December 2013 after a rewarding 25-year culinary run in Toronto restaurants and with the catering business he owned called All Our Favourite Foods. In March of 2011 he teamed up with Chef David Neinstein at Toronto's Barque Smokehouse and March 2024 will mark his 13th anniversary as Wine Director of the Toronto restaurant. He also makes a line of small lot wines out of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and the Niagara Peninsula, including Corretta Chianti Classico, All Day Rosé, Interloper Cabernet Franc, As Is Field Blend and Paramour Gamay.

Investigative wine travels in the last 10 years have included destinations like British Columbia, Nova Scotia, California, New York, Argentina, South Africa, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain, but Italy has commanded much of Godel’s attention. Fortune has smiled to the tune of 60 trips in ten years with more than half of them to Tuscany and in particular Chianti Classico. In February 2018 the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico made Godel one of their first five recipients of an Ad Honorem title, “Ambasciatore.” As Canadian ambassador he educates on behalf of the Tuscan territory’s Gallo Nero and their noble Sangiovese. Twelve excursions in Montalcino have also led to educating on behalf of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino. From 2016-2019 these Sangiovese investigations took the form of in person seminars and masterclasses for sommeliers, trade and media, but also restaurant staff education. In 2020 and 2021 the pivot led to lecturing more than a dozen online webinar sessions. Godel has also served as an educator for the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO), Rioja DOCa, Vins de Bourgogne, Le Marche, Barbera d'Asti e vini del Monferrato, Asti Wines and Wines of Portugal, including for the wines of Vinho Verde.

Serving as a judge for the annual WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada since 2013 has been the greatest honour and Godello has always been proud to taste, assess and award medals alongside colleague David Lawrason at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and with Tony Aspler’s Ontario Wine Awards. Michael lives in Toronto with his wife of 28 years and three children.

http://godello.ca mgodlelo

Latest Reviews (33488 in total)

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  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
Road 13 John Oliver Syrah 2021, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Road 13 John Oliver Syrah 2021, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23226
Review added: July 17, 2025
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$92.00 Shopping_bag
Chaberton Estate Winery La Fleur De Chaberton Rosé 2024 Bottle
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Chaberton Estate Winery La Fleur De Chaberton Rosé 2024
British Columbia, Canada
23797
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$24.95 Shopping_bag
Hester Creek Viognier Columbia Valley Collection 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C. Bottle Hester Creek Viognier Columbia Valley Collection 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C.
Cellared In Canada, World
24129
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$23.99 Shopping_bag
Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Sparkling Riesling 2021, VQA Twenty Mile Bench Bottle
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Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Sparkling Riesling 2021, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada
370361
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$21.95 High
(1000+)E+(23)O
Vieni Estates Semi Dry Riesling 2023, Vinemount Ridge Bottle
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Vieni Estates Semi Dry Riesling 2023, Vinemount Ridge
Ontario, Canada
24054
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$17.95 Shopping_bag
Malivoire Small Lot Gamay 2022, VQA Niagara Escarpment Bottle
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Malivoire Small Lot Gamay 2022, VQA Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada
19439
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$24.95 None
(0)
Planters Ridge Quintessence White 2024 Bottle
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Planters Ridge Quintessence White 2024
Nova Scotia, Canada
23398
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$25.08 Shopping_bag
Fielding Syrah Lowrey Vineyard 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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Fielding Syrah Lowrey Vineyard 2023, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
WA-46485
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$34.95 Shopping_bag
De Simone Riesling 2020, VQA Niagara On The Lake Bottle
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De Simone Riesling 2020, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada
19354
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$35.00 Shopping_bag
Bench 1775 Meritage White 2020, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Bench 1775 Meritage White 2020, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
21798
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$29.75 Shopping_bag
Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
22966
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$54.14 Shopping_bag
Thornbury Raspberry Apple Cider (500ml) Bottle
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Thornbury Raspberry Apple Cider (500ml)
Ontario, Canada
16168
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$6.95 Shopping_bag
Two Sisters Margo 2023, VQA Niagara On The Lake Bottle
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Two Sisters Margo 2023, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada
winery
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$38.00 None
(0)
Fort Berens Here And There Chardonnay 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C. Bottle Fort Berens Here And There Chardonnay 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C.
Cellared In Canada, World
23079
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$24.99 Shopping_bag
De Simone Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2020, Niagara On The Lake Bottle
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De Simone Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2020, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada
19359
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$75.00 Shopping_bag
Painted Rock Red Icon 2014, BC VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Painted Rock Red Icon 2014, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
Winery
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$54.00 Shopping_bag
Lake Breeze Syrah 2022, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Lake Breeze Syrah 2022, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
24165
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$34.00 Shopping_bag
Tawse Chardonnay Quarry Road Vineyard 2022, Vinemount Ridge Bottle
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Tawse Chardonnay Quarry Road Vineyard 2022, Vinemount Ridge
Ontario, Canada
111989
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$35.95 High
(646)W
Wards Fireside Collection Cranberry Mule Cider, Okanagan Valley (473ml) Bottle
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Wards Fireside Collection Cranberry Mule Cider, Okanagan Valley (473ml)
British Columbia, Canada
23339
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$16.95 None
(0)
Hugging Tree Telltale 2015, Similkameen Valley Bottle
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Hugging Tree Telltale 2015, Similkameen Valley
British Columbia, Canada
14549
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$29.00 Shopping_bag
Solvero Pinot Gris 2023, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Solvero Pinot Gris 2023, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
21227
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$28.85 Shopping_bag
Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Chardonnay 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
20455
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$30.00 Medium
(38)W
Black Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Black Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23956
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$38.50 Shopping_bag
Nomad Cabernet Franc 2021, Niagara Lakeshore Bottle
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Nomad Cabernet Franc 2021, Niagara Lakeshore
Ontario, Canada
23081
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$32.95 Shopping_bag
Tawse Chardonnay Robyn's Block 2022, VQA Twenty Mile Bench Bottle
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Tawse Chardonnay Robyn's Block 2022, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada
23417
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$46.95 Shopping_bag
CedarCreek Platinum Naramata Bench Riesling 2023, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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CedarCreek Platinum Naramata Bench Riesling 2023, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
22780
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$40.00 Shopping_bag
Gray Monk Odyssey Rosé Brut 2022, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Gray Monk Odyssey Rosé Brut 2022, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23993
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$32.20 Shopping_bag
Code Wines Chardonnay Grower Series 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C. Bottle Code Wines Chardonnay Grower Series 2024, Grown In Washington. Made In B.C.
Cellared In Canada, World
24530
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$36.80 Shopping_bag
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2022, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc 2022, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23020
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$36.00 Shopping_bag
Mt. Boucherie Reserve Malbec 2022 Bottle
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Mt. Boucherie Reserve Malbec 2022
British Columbia, Canada
24490
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$44.99 Shopping_bag
Sandhill Syrah Terroir Driven Wine 2022 Bottle
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Sandhill Syrah Terroir Driven Wine 2022
British Columbia, Canada
23967
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$31.05 Shopping_bag
Megalomaniac Reserve Pinot Noir 2022, Twenty Mile Bench VQA Bottle
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Megalomaniac Reserve Pinot Noir 2022, Twenty Mile Bench VQA
Ontario, Canada
23331
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$52.95 None
(0)
The Organized Crime Break In Pinot Noir 2022, Beamsville Bench Bottle
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The Organized Crime Break In Pinot Noir 2022, Beamsville Bench
Ontario, Canada
396267
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$24.95 None
(0)W
Poplar Grove Pinot Noir 2023, Naramata Bench Bottle
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Poplar Grove Pinot Noir 2023, Naramata Bench
British Columbia, Canada
23945
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$34.70 Shopping_bag
Wayne Gretzky No. 99 The Icon 2022, Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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Wayne Gretzky No. 99 The Icon 2022, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$70.10 Shopping_bag
Magnotta Vidal Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition 2023, Niagara Peninsula (375ml) Bottle
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Magnotta Vidal Icewine Niagara Peninsula Limited Edition 2023, Niagara Peninsula (375ml)
Ontario, Canada
587154
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$34.95 High
(1000+)E+(22)O
Painted Rock Merlot 2021, Skaha Bench Bottle
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Painted Rock Merlot 2021, Skaha Bench
British Columbia, Canada
winery
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$57.59 None
(0)
Two Sisters Vineyards Chardonnay 2022, Beamsville Bench Bottle
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Two Sisters Vineyards Chardonnay 2022, Beamsville Bench
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$58.00 Shopping_bag
Lailey Winery Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2022, Niagara On The Lake Bottle
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Lailey Winery Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2022, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada
23470
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$42.00 Shopping_bag
Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2022, VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2022, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
36415
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$34.95 None
(0)W
13th Street Cuvee Rosé Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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13th Street Cuvee Rosé Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
147504
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$26.95 High
(1000+)W+(8)O
Black Hills Nota Bene 2022, BC VQA Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Black Hills Nota Bene 2022, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23957
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$77.00 Shopping_bag
Stone Eagle Eagle Eye 2022, Niagara On The Lake Bottle
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Stone Eagle Eagle Eye 2022, Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada
23152
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$89.80 Shopping_bag
Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2023, V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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Peller Estates Private Reserve Chardonnay 2023, V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
23883
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$24.75 Shopping_bag
Jackson Triggs Niagara Grand Reserve Shiraz 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle
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Jackson Triggs Niagara Grand Reserve Shiraz 2022, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada
317941
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$18.75 None
(0)W
Chain Yard Urban Cidery Red Sky Bottle
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Chain Yard Urban Cidery Red Sky
Nova Scotia, Canada
24535
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$17.99 Shopping_bag
Moraine Winery Syrah Anastasia Estate Vineyard 2021, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley Bottle
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Moraine Winery Syrah Anastasia Estate Vineyard 2021, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada
23459
Review added: July 16, 2025
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$39.00 Shopping_bag
Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Rosé 2024, Vinemount Ridge Bottle
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Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Rosé 2024, Vinemount Ridge
Ontario, Canada
winery
Review added: July 15, 2025
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$27.95 Shopping_bag
Thirty Bench Benchmark Red 2022, Beamsville Bench Bottle
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Thirty Bench Benchmark Red 2022, Beamsville Bench
Ontario, Canada
Winery
Review added: July 15, 2025
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$40.00 Shopping_bag
Fort Berens Riesling 2024, Lillooet Bottle
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Fort Berens Riesling 2024, Lillooet
British Columbia, Canada
23184
Review added: July 15, 2025
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$22.99 Shopping_bag
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