Gemtree Tadpole Shiraz 2008, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: Love it! Rich and deep with dive-into-it depths of fleshy black berries and plums, some mint. Fantastic price for this quality. 142034 14.50% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. July 10, 2010 Favourite Red Wine. Full Review

Grant Burge Barossa Vines Shiraz 2008, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Grant Burge has earned a place among Australia’s top winemakers with his tireless pursuit of quality and innovation, and through a love of wine and winemaking that goes back five generations in his family. This distinctive Shiraz is always a reliable value. Packed with ripe raspberry and cherry aromas and flavours, this smooth and supple wine also shows hints of licorice and a dose of black pepper on the rich finish. Barbecued short ribs or lamb chops would both match up nicely to this ripe and round wine. My note: A terrific, vibrant red with full-bodied aromas of purple and black plums, blackberries and peppered black raspberries. Wonderful flavours! 738567 13.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 90/100. August 7, 2010 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia: Lovely length, depth and savoury goodness. Beautiful extraction of dark fleshy plum flavour yet there’s incredible balance. Made by a confident, deft hand. Drink: 2011-2015. 433060 14% XD 750 mL  $23.95 Score: 94/100. June 25, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Gorgeous Gift Wine Full Review

Lenz Moser Prestige Trockenbeerenauslese 2007, Q.M.P., Burgenland, Austria: Gold Medal winner at the 2010 World Wine Championships. Gorgeous apricot jam and peach preserves. Wonderful after dinner dessert wine. 729657 11% S 375 mL  $20.95 Score: 95/100. September 4, 2010 Best Value Dessert Wine. Full Review

Mission Hill Family Estate Reserve Viognier 2008, Okanagan Valley, Canada: Gorgeous profusion of floral aromas on the nose, followed by notes of lychee, baking spices and almond. A long and lovely finish helps you glide back over to the bottle for a top up. Oh yes. Drink: 2010-2016. 776545993014 13% XD 750 mL  $15.99 Score: 91/100. July 20, 2010 Full Review

Gray Monk Estate Winery Gewurztraminer 2008, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: Adore it! Masterly Gewurztraminer with classic aromas of rose petal and lychee but not overdone. Lovely purity and clean lines. Get out of your white wine rut with this winner. Drink: 2010-2012. 321588 12.60% D 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 90/100. September 4, 2010 Full Review

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile: Incredible texture that unfolds like velvet in your mouth. Lovely dark berry and plum notes with some dark spices. Old World balance and structure with New World fruit and concentration. A classic, benchmark wine. Drink: 2012-2028. 315176 14.50% D 750 mL  $69.95 Score: 96/100. February 19, 2011 Favourite Red Wine (Tied). Full Review

La Bastide Blanche Bandol Bronzo, Vign. Rosé 2009, A.C., Provence, France: Superb and it’s highway robbery in terms of the price. I love this wine. Light strawberry aromas and fleeting happiness that you will chase until the end of your days. Leave some for me please. Drink: 2010-2013. 71084 13.50% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 93/100. June 25, 2011 Top Rated Rose. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Perrin & Fils Les Sinards Syrah Blend 2007, A.C., Châteauneuf-Du-Pape, Rhône, France: Pure black cherry liqueur in concentration and flavour. Rich, robust and layered. Full-bodied doesn’t begin to describe it for those who love a full-palate wallop. This one will age well in the cellar. This half-size bottle will mature faster than the 750 mL bottle that he’s referring to – 6-8 years is probably more accurate. It’s part of the Vintages Essentials Collection. Drink: 2010-2020. 5975 14% XD 375 mL  $19.95 Score: 93/100. September 4, 2010 Full Review

Domaine Grand Nicolet Vieilles Vignes Grenache 2007, A.C., CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES RASTEAU, Rhône, France: A palate-whacker that needs cellar time, but very tasty. Big black fruit, smoky oak and some dark spices on the finish. Drink: 2015-2025. 155481 15% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 91/100. February 6, 2010 Full Review

Dr. Loosen Riesling 2008, Q.B.A. , Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany: Vintages Wine Panel: ‘Dr. L’ is the exceptional entry-level Mosel Riesling made by the dynamic Ernst Loosen. If you are a Riesling newbie, this is an excellent place to begin. It shows all the bright fruitiness and refreshing acid one should expect from the grape. Wrapped up in a very easy-drinking style, it can be enjoyed as a sipper. My note: I don’t think there’s a better white wine value on the shelves today. This wine has it all at an incredible price: mouth-watering tasty notes of ripe limes, peach, Granny Smith apples and lemon. A light touch of sweetness makes it go with just about everything food-wise. Try it and you’ll be hooked. 599274 8.50% MD 750 mL  $13.95 Score: 89/100. October 24, 2009 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbacher Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese 2003, Q.M.P., Rheingau, Germany: Vintages Wine Panel: This single-vineyard late-harvest Riesling is hitting its prime. Juicy, with tropical fruit and a stony finish, it’s an inspired choice alongside charcouterie. My note: Apricot-delight! Gorgeous aromas of ripe peach and pear. Mouth-watering. What a revelation. 129858 11% M 750 mL  $28.95 Score: 93/100. November 7, 2009 Favourite White Wine. Full Review

Kurt Darting Riesling Kabinett 2007, Q.M.P., Dürkheimer Michelsberg, Pfalz, Germany: Oh joy! Ripe peaches and pears and apricot jam and marmalade. Terrifically tasty with some sweetness but not cloying. 950212 10% MD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 92/100. November 21, 2009 Full Review

Santa Margherita Impronta del Fondatore Pinot Grigio 2010, Alto Adige/Trentino, Italy: By far, the best Pinot Grigio I’ve ever tasted. Clean and glorious on the nose with fresh peach and green apple fruit. Then it expands on the palate to a richness and mouth-filling voluptuousness that is almost Pinot Gris in weight and texture. Then there’s a clean lime-zest lift on the finish. Superb! Treat yourself or someone else: this makes a lovely gift wine too. This wine will be in the LCBO just before the holidays. Drink: 2011-2014. 231258 13.50% XD 750 mL  $28.95 Score: 94/100. June 25, 2011 Top Rated White Wine. Splendid Salad Wine Full Review

Fairview Viognier 2008, W.O., Paarl, South Africa  906487 13.50% D 750 mL  $19.95. September 7, 2008 Full Review

Miguel Torres Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, D.O., Penedès, Spain: Dark and moody, fascinating! Black raspberry, plum, mocha, anise, and smoke. Dense, round, supple and full-bodied with mouth-brightening and juicy acidity. Terrific length with a coffee-infused finish. Drink: 2009-2018. 129676 14% XD 750 mL  $44.95 Score: 93/100. October 10, 2009 Favorite Red Wine. Full Review

Atalaya Almansa Monastrell Garnacha Tintorera 2007, D.O., Spain: Vintages Wine Panel: The relatively recent modernization of Spain’s wine industry has resulted in an explosion of thrilling and stylish wines from established regions as well as previously undiscovered ones such as Almansa. My note: A wine that makes you stop talking and look down at your glass and say, oh. Gorgeous layers of blackberry, violets galore, truffles (not the chocolate kind), and smoke. This wine is a blend of Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, and other red grapes, and was matured for eight months in French and American oak. Drink: 2009-2014. 132605 14% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 92/100. November 21, 2009 Full Review