Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2008, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: An incredibly rich and concentrated with intense aromas and layers of blackberry liqueur flavour. Demands hearty meat dishes and won't be satisfied until you are. Bring it on! Drink: 2012-2016. 236257 14.50% XD 750 mL  $41.95 Score: 94/100. April 14, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz 2008, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: Classic Australian shiraz nose of dark, fleshy ripe blackberries, a hint of oak and a mouth-watering juiciness. Loaded with delicious dark fruit flavours, incredible depth, concentration and length. Benchmark shiraz. Drink: 2012-2016. 590273 14% XD 750 mL  $28.95 Score: 93/100. May 12, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Chardonnay 2012, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia: Lovely green apple vibrancy on the nose and palate wrapped in just enough toasty oak. Terrific balance; full-bodied but never heavy. There's some white and green melon on the finish. This wine gets better every year: superb craftsmanship. This wine would be terrific with grilled pork chops or chicken. Drink: 2012-2015. 611228 13.50% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. June 22, 2013 Splendid Salad Wine Full Review

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2012, South Australia, Australia: A rich, complex, full-bodied red wine blend of Cabernet and Shiraz grapes from one of Australia's best producers. Black cherry liqueur aromas and flavours on the nose and mid-palate. Penfold's Bin 389 is sometimes referred to fondly as "Baby Grange" as sells for a fraction of the winery's flagship Grange, but still demonstrates superb craftsmanship in the hands of chief winemaker Peter Gago and his team. Pair with grilled meats. Highly recommended. Drink: 2015-2019. 309625 14% XD 750 mL  $100.00 Score: 93/100. December 12, 2015 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Chardonnay 2011, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: Full-bodied with just enough butter and fresh baked bread from the oak again that wraps itself seductively around green apple and white pear. Perfectly balanced. Drink: 2013-2017. 208694 13.70% D 750 mL  $38.35 Score: 92/100. August 16, 2014 Top Rated White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin Meritage 2008, BC VQA, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: A spectacular blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and malbec with a solid Bordeaux-like structure. The Okanagan signature is fully present here with a generosity of dark fruit aromas and rich, full-bodied weight. A long, satisfying finish. Drink: 2012-2020. 626325 13.50% XD 750 mL  $59.95 Score: 93/100. January 19, 2013 Best Beef Wine Full Review

Stratus Chardonnay 2008, V.Q.A., Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada: Lovely, buttery, hazelnut-rich chardonnay. Full-bodied with layers of fleshy ripe peach and Asian pear. Perfect for roast chicken and comfort meals. Drink: 2012-2018. 267856 13.50% XD 750 mL  $42.20 Score: 92/100. February 4, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2009, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Wow! This is spectacular. Thomas Bachelder did amazing things while he was the winemaker at Le Clos Jordanne, one of my favourite Niagara wineries. Now he's out there again, taking the lead and creating superb wines from different vineyards. This chardonnay is stunning! Lemon luminescence with a core of deep minerality and lightning brightness. Perfectly balanced between a deft hand of oak and generous fruit. Makes me love chardonnay all over again. Drink: 2012-2019. 271841 13% XD 750 mL  $31.95 Score: 94/100. February 18, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Stratus Cabernet Franc 2008, V.Q.A., Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada  665034 13.50% XD 750 mL  $38.20. March 3, 2011 Full Review

Southbrook Vineyards Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rose 2011, VQA, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada: Field-fresh strawberries and barefoot happiness. Dry, refreshing and medium-bodied. This organic wine has just 21 mg/l of free sulphur. Drink: 2012-2014. 279117 12%  750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. December 8, 2012 Top Rated Rosé. Full Review

Altesino Brunello Di Montalcino Sangiovese (Chianti) 2007, D.O.C.G., Tuscany, Italy: One of the best brunellos I've tasted. Savoury, complex, layered and delicious. Aromas of dark red berries, smoke, anise and happiness. Full-bodied, supple and endless on the finish. Wow. Drink: 2013-2018. 994095 13% XD 750 mL  $64.95 Score: 96/100. February 16, 2013 Top Rated Red Wine. Perfect Pasta and Tomato Sauce Wine Full Review

Verbena Brunello Di Montalcino 2007, D.O.C.G., Tuscany, Italy: Classic mature, complex brunello: don't look for fruit. Instead expect subtle aromas of leather, cigar box and dried herbs. Full-bodied and smooth. Perfect for discussions about the latest developments in the field of astro physics. 165126 14% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 93/100. August 18, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Sasso Al Poggio Piccini 2008, Tuscany I.G.T., Italy: Robust and generous (you gotta like that in a wine or a person) with attractive aromas and flavours of tart cherry and wild blackberry. This wine cries out for food, especially anything with a tangy tomato sauce. A solid finish. Great for potluck gatherings. This full-bodied red wine is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet, 20% Merlot grapes grown in vineyards in Castellina area of the Chianti region. Drink: 2013-2017. 134809 13% XD 750 mL  $23.95 Score: 90/100. August 2, 2014 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2011, Veneto, Italy: A solid value with full-bodied concentration and heft with ripe black fruit. Made using the Appassimento method. Pair with roast beef. Drink: 2014-2019. 479766 14% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 89/100. July 10, 2015 Magnificent Meat Pizza Wine Full Review

Piccini Sasso Al Poggio 2009, Tuscany I.G.T., Italy: Robust and generous (you gotta like that in a wine or a person) with attractive aromas and flavours of tart cherry and wild blackberry. A solid finish. Great for potluck gatherings. This wine cries out for food, especially anything with a tangy tomato sauce. Decant 2 hours -- very grippy, firm tannins. Drink: 2015-2018. 134809 14% D 750 mL  $23.95 Score: 90/100. September 5, 2015 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

Caparzo Winery Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, D.O.C.G., Tuscany, Italy: Subtle with a gorgeous spreading across your mouth like a Tuscan sunset. It fills every crevice with pleasure. Stay with me. Exotic aromas of leather, violets and dried cherry. Mouth-watering yet ultra-elegant. Love it. My birthday is coming up. Drink: 2011-2017. 579094 13.50% XD 750 mL  $55.95 Score: 94/100. October 1, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Bachelder Oregon Chardonnay 2010, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States: Gorgeous depth and concentration yet great finesse. Lovely length on the finish. The work of a master. Drink: 2012-2016. 156686 13% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 92/100. December 8, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Seghesio Zinfandel 2010, Sonoma County, United States: Very complex with a great balance of acidity and fruit. Layers of delicious flavour and a long finish. One of the most elegant zinfandels I've ever tasted. Drink: 2012-2016. 942151 14.80% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 93/100. May 12, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review

La Crema Pinot Noir 2010, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: Whenever I see La Crema pinot noir on a restaurant list, I know it's going to be a great meal, no matter what we're having food-wise. This subtle red is silky smooth enough not to clash with seafood yet it's loaded with fleshy cherry flavours for meatier dishes. Perfection though is roast chicken or planked salmon. Absolutely phenomenal for this price. Drink: 2012-2016. 719435 13.90% D 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 93/100. May 26, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Saintsbury Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir 2007, Carneros, California, United States: Luscious, elegant and superb. This is Californian pinot noir raised to its highest Platonic ideal. Forget philosophy though, and top up your glass: this is great wine! Drink: 2012-2016. 261594 14.90% XD 750 mL  $79.00 Score: 95/100. April 14, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review