Luca Pinot Noir 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina: Cherry-berry goodness with luscious layers of hedonistic happiness. Medium- to full-bodied with a terrific lip-smacking finish. Drink: 2011-2016. 175570 14% D 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 93/100. October 29, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Josef Chromy Pepik Pinot Noir 2010, Tasmania, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Invigorating and complex suggestions of sour cherry, dark fruit and black pepper on the nose. The palate is dry, medium bodied and draped in even stronger suggestions of fresh dark fruit, pepper and cherry. Medium tannins and a crisp acidity impart great support and structure. Good fruit focus right through to the end of the long finish. My note: Spectacularly juicy and mouth-watering red cherries dance across your mouth, waking up on your senses in a pure Aussie fruit sensation. This isn’t earthy or spicy: it’s sunny and tasty. Drink: 2011-2015. 162990 13% D 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 92/100. October 15, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

St. Huberts Pinot Noir 2008, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia: Love that combination of fleshy ripe cherries and raspberries with a pleasant bitterness and acidity to balance it perfectly. Medium-bodied and smooth. Maximum pleasure. Drink: 2011-2017. 221861 14% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 93/100. April 16, 2011 Full Review

Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2009, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: Lovely richness and balance with lime, green apple and vibrant notes. Toasted almond finish that makes you want a top up very soon. Drink: 2011-2015. 416511 12.50% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. August 6, 2011 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Tapestry Chardonnay 2004, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: A lovely wine that's not too oaky - mostly craftmanship. Displays aromas of green apples. 31500 13.50% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 92/100. June 23, 2007 Favorite White Wine. Full Review

Concha y Toro Maycas Del Limari Reserva Especial Chardonnay 2007, Limarí Valley, Chile: Stunning! Hazelnut, green apple and a little butter and toast. So seductive. This is my kind of chardonnay. Full-bodied but supremely balanced. Drink: 2011-2015. 162040 14% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 93/100. March 5, 2011 Full Review

Domaine Mouton Clos Charlé Givry 1Er Cru Pinot Noir 2009, A.C., Burgundy, France: Vintages Wine Panel: A fantastic wine displaying a plethora of delights. Opens with the great depth and complexity of the nose, with aromas of cherry, raspberry, toasty oak and violets. The palate is dry and invigorating, with concentrated layered fruit, medium acidity and tannins, and a medium-long finish. My note: So very pretty! Joyous aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries. A delightful satin smooth texture and medium-bodied weight with just the right touch of some acidity for food. Fantastic quality for the price. Drink: 2011-2016. 210823 12.90% XD 750 mL  $26.95 Score: 91/100. April 2, 2011 Full Review

Domaine De Rimauresq 2010, A.C., Côtes De Provence, Midi, France: A blend of 45% grenache, 40% cinsault and 15% tibouren grapes. A light- to medium-bodied wine with vibrant field raspberry and strawberry aromas. Dry and refreshing. Perfect! Drink: 2011-2013. 226647 13% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 91/100. December 10, 2011 Top Rated Rosé Wine. Full Review

Amani Vineyards Kamili Chardonnay Viognier 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa: Lovely floral aromas infused with green apples, apricot and melon. Terrific acidity. There’s a Condrieu aspect to it with ginger and white pepper. Mouth-watering acidity folds all the flavours together and magnifies them. It would be perfect with smoke-cured ostrich carpaccio. Drink: 2010-2015. 13.50% XD 750 mL  $20.00 Score: 92/100. May 13, 2010 Full Review

Pinot Noir 2004, DO Penedès, Spain: A full-bodied pinot noir that's more like those from California than Burgundy. Nicely balanced and hefty enough for a wide range of dishes. Gorgeous aromas of cherries, smoke, cedar and plums. Stunningly delicious. 673483 13% D 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 93/100. March 31, 2007 Full Review

La Crema Pinot Noir 2009, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: Some wines you adopt as your own perhaps because you recall where you were (and who you were with) when you first tried them and they knocked your socks off. This is such a wine for me: I really have a soft spot for it. It’s supple, satin with gorgeous ripe cherries and berries. Extraordinary length: almost as long as my memory of that first bottle seven years ago. Drink: 2011-2015. 719435 13.90% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 93/100. March 5, 2011 Favourite Red Wine. Full Review

La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2008, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: I adore this Pinot and often order it when I see it on a restaurant list. It delivers so much pleasure and really, asks so little of you other than to sit back and enjoy it. Supple, silky and medium-bodied. Fleshy ripe cherries and strawberries. Oh yes! Drink: 2010-2014. 732040 13.90% D 375 mL  $21.95 Score: 92/100. September 18, 2010 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Greg Norman California Estates Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Barbara County, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: A fine choice, this classic Santa Barbara Pinot is chock full of aromas and flavours of black cherry, smoked meat, spice, coffee and a hint of tar. It is round and ripe with just enough tannin and acid to give it a nice freshness and short-term ageability (1-3 years). My note: Sweetly juicy cherry fruit that finishes dry and ultimately satisfying. Juicy, luscious and ready drink apart from the golf course. Drink: 2010-2015. 687988 14.20% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. October 30, 2010 Full Review

Sanford Pinot Noir 2007, Santa Rita Hills, California, United States: Gorgeous note of ripe cherries, fresh-turned earth, cinnamon and black raspberries. Velvet texture with deep layers of flavor. A fairly robust Pinot but not heavy. Superb effort. 14% D 750 mL  $25.00 Score: 93/100. May 7, 2009 Full Review

Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir 2006, Sonoma County, California, United States: Lovely cherry-laden Pinot with baking spices and a lick of pepper. A wine for romance and first dates… these should be the same thing, but perhaps not necessarily. 687970 14.20% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 93/100. August 1, 2009 Full Review

The Hess Collection Select Chardonnay 2009, Monterey, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: The Hess wines are wonderfully artful. This ready-to-drink wine is made extra lipsmacking by six months’ ageing on the lees. My note: Lovely roundness and lusciousness yet not heavy. This is exactly how beautifully balanced, affordable Chardonnay should taste. Drink: 2011-2015. 986778 13.50% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 90/100. December 10, 2011 Top Rated White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

Union Wine Kings Ridge Pinot Noir 2009, Oregon, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: A very intense nose that offers rich dark cherry and spice notes. The palate is medium bodied, dry, and very flavourful, with a nice savoury softness and excellent varietal expression. More pepper and dark cherry notes throughout this well-structured, balanced, long-finishing Pinot. My note: Love this style of pinot that’s less ripe and fleshy than Californian pinot… more edgy with vibrant acidity and tarter fruit. Much better for food. This one has zippy cherries and a satin texture. Drink: 2011-2015. 237776 13.90% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 90/100. October 15, 2011 Full Review

Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir 2008, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, United States: Drop-to-your-knees fleshy cherries, beg for mercy satin texture and lusciousness. This is a gorgeous pinot with medium- to full-bodied weight. Perfect for dinner parties featuring salmon or pork. Drink: 2011-2019. 438697 14.50% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 93/100. October 1, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2008, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States: How absolutely delightful! Pure green apple sunshine infused with a toasted almond finish. The Chardonnay was fermented half in stainless steel and half in 30% new oak, then the oak-fermented portion went through malolactic fermentation to give a creamier mouth-feel. Drink: 2011-2017. 959619 14.10% XD 750 mL  $29.75 Score: 91/100. October 15, 2011 Full Review

Delinea 300 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States: Juicy cherry fruit with fleshy field berries. Smooth and luscious with a medium to full-bodied weight. Wonderful pinot! Drink: 2009-2015. 220368 14% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 91/100. June 11, 2011 Full Review