Kaiken Icon Malbec 2007, Mendoza, Argentina: This as yet unnamed flagship wine for Kaiken is breath-taking in it's scope and depth. It's made by blending Malbec grapes from different vineyards that the estate owns. Classic, deep, rich and redolent of dark fruit and smoke. A wine for collectors. 14% XD 750 mL Score: 95/100. June 12, 2009 Full Review

Trapiche Broquel Bonarda 2007, Mendoza, Argentina: A juicy-ripe red with rich black fruit, licorice, blueberry, coconut, dark spices and vanilla smoke. The vines for this wine were 20 years old, and the wine was aged in oak barrels for 12 months. Good firm tannins. Decant for 1-2 hours. 55558 14% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. February 5, 2011 Best Value Red Wine (Tied). Full Review

St. Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2006, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: Winner of a Gold Medal at the Royal Perth Wine Show in 2008. I’ve long loved this wine, packed with generous notes of fleshy blackberries and black raspberries. Some pepper and spice give it a lick and kick. Gorgeous! 535104 14.50% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 95/100. October 10, 2009 Full Review

Evans & Tate Margaret River Shiraz 2007, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: Big honkin’ juicy black plums with blackberry jam and fightin’ big dark fruit. Gorgeous, full-bodied weight and supple texture. Drink: 2009-2013. 606905 14% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. May 15, 2010 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2009, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia: Nice restraint and balance in this lovely Chardonnay. Green apple, peach and pear highlights. Nice vanilla smoke on the finish. Top me up! Drink: 2011-2015. 468728 13% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Sandalford Estate Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Margaret River, Western Australian, Australia: Won the Gold Medal at the Western Australia Wine Show in 2008. Another superb effort from this producer! Displays lively notes of cranberry, black plum, cherry and fig against a deeper backdrop of violets, cedar underbrush, smoky oak and dried herbs. Full-bodied with fine tannins and length. Drink: 2009-2015. 22293 14.50% XD 750 mL  $26.95 Score: 95/100. April 11, 2009 Full Review

Fielding Estate Winery White Conception 2009, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Lovely blended white wine with aromas of pear, lime, mineral and lees. Fielding playfully invites you to try and “guess what’s in the blend.” Dry to slightly off-dry, with youthful acidity and very pleasing fruit replays. It has a fairly long, crisp, pear-fruit finish. A fine back-patio sipper. My note: Fresh and lively yet it also have deepness and richness. Aromas of green apple and toasted almond with a terrific long length. Superbly crafted. Drink: 2011-2014. 203737 12.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Rosehall Run Chardonnay Musqué 2009, Prince Edward County, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Juicy and mouth-watering with lovely tree fruit notes. I love this style of Chardonnay: not heavy or oaky, just pure fruit essence and refreshment. Drink: 2011-2014. 225532 12% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 88/100. May 14, 2011 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Konzelmann Estate Winery Winemaster's Collection Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2008, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Beautifully concentrated apricot elixir with lychee and rose petal. Got Asian spice or heat or something sweet? This is your wine. Drink: 2011-2016. 392357 13% MD 750 mL  $17.20 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Les Grandes Serres Syrah Blend 2009, A.C., Côtes Du Rhône Villages, Rasteau, France: Vintages Wine Panel: This wine won a Gold Medal at the Concours des Vins in Orange, in 2010. Recently, Rasteau received a long-awaited approval to begin selling dry red wines under its own appellation name, separate from Côtes du Rhône-Villages. This red has a plum-and-spice nose, and flavours of black plum, blackberry, mince tart, honey and white pepper that all recur nicely on the palate to a warm, spicy finish. A well-made wine, with a medium body and good length. An excellent choice for grilled red snapper or ratatouille. My note: A savoury and delicious wine with aromas of black cherries and black raspberries, cedar and smoke. This wine would be amazing with a peppercorn steak or meat lovers’ pizza. Drink: 2011-2016. 194944 14.50% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. February 5, 2011 Best Value Red Wine (Tied). Full Review

Vincent Girardin Les Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuissé 2008, A.C., Burgundy, France: Vintages Wine Panel: A pretty, fresh Chardonnay with aromas of green apple, pear, light toast and a Pouilly-Fuissé minerality. Dry and crisp with fruit all around it. This medium-bodied wine is a ready to drink tonight. It will also reward 1-2 years in a cellar. My note: Lovely with white peach and a dry finish. Perfect calibrated with medium- to full-bodied weight. No heavy oak. Like it lots! Drink: 2011-2014. 207894 13% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Spätlese 2008, Q.M.P., Bernkasteler Badstube, Mosel, Germany: Love it! The sweetness is pure fruit ripeness not cloying. Pear and pear notes with perfect acidity. Drink: 2011-2014. 727370 8% M 750 mL  $25.75 Score: 92/100. May 14, 2011 Favourite White Wine. Full Review

Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszú 2005, Hungary, Hungary: Gorgeous honeyed depth with apricot preserves and peach jam. The wine of kings, this makes any meal fit for royalty. 972836 10% S 250 mL  $19.95 Score: 95/100. June 12, 2010 Favourite Dessert Wine. Full Review

Bottega Vinai Amarone Della Valpolicella 2006, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: The Bottega family has been in the wine business since the 1920s, and their expertise shows. This Amarone greets you with a chicory/coffee nose, then reveals flavours of raisins, plums, and spiced cherry, with hints of tobacco and leather. The flavours replay nicely on the palate, with lovely purity, up to its smooth, dry finish. My note: Beautifully sculpted and flavoured. It sure doesn’t taste as alcoholic as it is. Full-bodied is probably an understatement. This wine has amazing and endless flavours of black cherry liqueur blackberry preserves, smoke and spice. Drink: 2010-2025. 181537 16% XD 750 mL  $47.00 Score: 95/100. October 30, 2010 Favourite Red Wine Tied. Full Review

Masottina Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco, D.O.C.G., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: Masottina has been producing wines since 1946. Aromas of apples, peach, and floral. The palate is very dry, with a racy acidity and fantastic fruit throughout. Very well structured and expertly made. This lively and delicious bubbly is the ideal aperitif for casual or formal affairs. My note: Love the generous fruit with peach and pear. Incredible price. 216317 10.70% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 89/100. May 14, 2011 Best Value Sparkling Wine. Full Review

Barolo Serralunga D'alba Nebbiolo 2005, D.O.C.G., Piedmont, Italy: Black cherry liqueur with a blackberry preserves heart. Supple and full-bodied and a spicy finish. Drink: 2010-2016. 173195 14% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 90/100. May 15, 2010 Full Review

Craggy Range Te Muna Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand: Grassy great with crisp refreshing herbal, lime and lemon zest notes. Mouth-watering and medium-bodied. Extremely food-friendly. Drink: 2011-2015. 466011 13.50% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Burgo Viejo Reserva Tempranillo Graciano Carignan 2001, D.O.C.A., Rioja, Spain: Dry, robust and savoury! Lovely aromas of maturity: it’s so nice to taste that when we usually only get the strapping young wines on the shelf. Lovely blackberry but also those more mature notes of leather, spice and cigar. Try it! 168823 13.50% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. May 1, 2010 Favourite Red Wine (Tied). Full Review

La Crema Chardonnay 2009, Monterey, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Monterey, cooled by direct ocean breezes, is renowned for exquisitely balanced Chardonnays. This is a superb example. Bright gold in the glass with rich aromas of buttered toast, pineapple, poached pear and cinnamon. The palate is dry and medium-full bodied, with a ribbon of refreshing acidity and a rich creamy core of toasty fruit. Long, toasty and citrus-infused finish. My note: Solid and full-bodied with green apple, vanilla and butter aromas. Very typical. Drink: 2011-2014. 158683 13.90% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 89/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Truchard Chardonnay 2008, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United States: I like it! Not only is it rich, it’s also vibrant and refreshing because it’s mouth-watering. Lovely peach, pear and green apple notes. Full-bodied, oh yes! Drink: 2011-2015. 60459 14.10% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 90/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Mer Soleil Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2008, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States: I love this wine! Yes, I have a soft spot for the fact it helped mitigate the screaming children at a Disney restaurant the first time I tasted it, but it’s more than that. Lovely ripe peach and pear aromas with nicely tapped butterscotch and vanilla spoke. So yum. But give that kid a soother please. Drink: 2011-2017. 958975 14.50% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 92/100. May 14, 2011 Favourite White Wine. Full Review

Kenwood Vineyards Chardonnay 2009, Sonoma County, California, United States: Good ol' oaky, buttery Chard: classic richness and comfort in a glass. Full-bodied goodness. Drink: 2011-2014. 158790 13.50% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 88/100. May 14, 2011 Full Review

Bonny Doon Vineyard Tasting Room Le Cigare Blanc Roussanne Grenache Blanc 2008, Arroyo Seco, Central Coast, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Winemaker/iconoclast Randall Grahm continues his exploration of the Rhône varieties in a California context, with this white blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. The vineyard surely is appropriately named (Beeswax) because this wine features aromas of honeycomb, nectarine, mango and sweetgrass. Just bordering on off-dry, the wine is richly fruity, fresh and lively. Drink it as an aperitif throughout this summer and into the next one. Beeswax Vineyard is certified biodynamic by Demeter. My note: Lemon and tree fruit: lovely not buttery. Asian pear and quince wrapped in a whiff of smoke. Thanks Randall. Drink: 2011-2015. 95331 14.30% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 91/100. May 14, 2011 Favourite White Wine. Full Review