James scored this wine: 100/100

Cusumano - Nero D'Avola 2011 I'm not sure if it's my Italian heritage that plays a role with my affection of the Nero D'Avola grape but I like it so much it's become our house wine. I was looking for Italian wines from the southern Italian regions of Calabria and Sicily when I first discovered the Nero D'Avola. The balance of fruitiness (black cherry) and acidity coupled with it's old-world charm seems ideal. Not only has the Cusumano Nero D'Avola proved to be a great everyday wine but it also proves to be perfect for cooking southern Italian cuisine native to Calabria and Sicily. I've found it's ideal for red meats, pastas, pizzas and other spicy foods. Visit our gastronomic grotto, The Grape Gourmet http://grapegourmet.wordpress.com for recipes and stories of our culinary adventures.

James scored this wine: 95/100

The Reif Estate Winery is one of my favorite Canadian wineries for one simple reason... I adore their wine making style. Their white German style wines such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Vidal and Ice-wine are well crafted and delicious. Their style is what makes it for me and I enjoy every sip. It's no wonder to me that many of these wines are classified under the the Niagara River VQA. You can taste the care and passion these wine makers put into their wine. Over the past few years I have found it difficult to find Reif Rieslings in my local LCBOs and so I was overjoyed when I noticed it on the store shelves. It has once again become our official go-to house white wine! Highly recommended!? Visit our gastronomic grotto, The Grape Gourmet (http://grapegourmet.wordpress.com) for recipes and stories of our culinary adventures.

James scored this wine: 95/100

I have grown to love the Nero D'Avola grape variety and now keep my eyes peeled for any new ones to cross my path. One gem that I came across recently is the Curto Eloro Nero D'Avola. It's well balanced and full flavored, a wine that feeds my enthusiasm. This Curto is a quality wine that's a regular listing and reasonably priced. I look forward to drinking more. of it? Visit our gastronomic grotto, The Grape Gourmet (http://grapegourmet.wordpress.com) for recipes and stories of our culinary adventures.

James scored this wine: 95/100

Liber Pater Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore This wine i?s quite good with an unexpected level of sophistication at a great price. The Liber Pater Cirò Rosso Classico Superior has a fairly dry finish. It's balance of flavors demonstrate how skilled wine-makers can make a decent wine at a reasonable price. I believe this particular wine has been helping people take notice of Italy's southern Calabrian region as it shows how much potential the region has. Bravo Liber Pater, bravo! Visit our gastronomic grotto, The Grape Gourmet (http://grapegourmet.wordpress.com) for recipes and stories of our culinary adventures.

James scored this wine: 94/100

I've always enjoyed wines made with the Barbera grape and this Bersano is no exception. This particular Barbera is made from the grapes from Asti region which is in the north western region of Italy. It's also relatively young wine (2011) and may have the potential of aging up to 20-years (at least, that's what 'they' say). This was my first tasting experience from this wine maker, I was impressed how well it tasted. It's intense enough to enjoy or be paired with fairly spicy food. I think this is a wonderful wine to drink now may also taste better in the future. Given the price point, it might be a good idea for some of us to hide a few bottles in the back of our cellars. Who knows, in a few years we might be uncorking something special. Visit our gastronomic grotto, The Grape Gourmet (http://grapegourmet.wordpress.com) for recipes and stories of our culinary adventures.