Elderton Friends Shiraz 2010, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: If you want to impress your friends without breaking the bank, then this is your wine. From the prestigious Barossa region, this crowd-pleasing Shiraz is rich and vivacious with aromas and flavours of crushed berries, black plum, vanilla, chocolate and earthy notes. A stunning value, this smooth and opulent red is great. My note: Incredible concentration and power for the price. Big blackberries and currants in a lovely weave of full-bodied weight and velvet texture. Drink: 2010-2014. 660480 14% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 92/100. June 11, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef 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

Valletta Sellick's Hill Wines Grenache Shiraz 2005, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: This wine doesn’t stop: it’ll conquer all your senses. Resist to make the pleasure last longer, but it will win you over. Long lines of dark fruit, savoury juiciness and smoke rush into touch your tastebuds and pleasure center. So mouth-filling, satin smooth and satisfying. One word: more. Drink: 2011-2018. 225136 15% XD 750 mL  $38.55 Score: 95/100. July 9, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling 2010, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Andrew Graham of Australian Wine Review awarded this wine a score of 90. Try this zippy Riesling. My note: Gorgeous juicy goodness with lime vibrancy. Drink: 2011-2015. 558650 13.50% D 750 mL  $50.00 Score: 92/100. August 6, 2011 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Heartland Shiraz 2008, Langhorne Creek, Limestone Coast, South Australia, Australia: Love it! Minty cool on the nose, then a big vibrant, juicy attack o the palate. You won’t be daydreaming after a sip of this: it’ll pull you right back into the now. Full-bodied, juicy and generous, just how I like my friends. Drink: 2011-2015. 661934 14.50% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 92/100. August 6, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Red Hill Estate Chardonnay 2009, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia: Holy smokes! Vibrant and mouth-watering, loaded with lime acidity that cuts like a silver knife through the butter richness. You truly can have it all in one glass ... Right here. Drink: 2012-2017. 280248 13% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 95/100. July 21, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Quails' Gate Estate Winery Totally Botrytis Affected Optima 2009, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia B.C. V.Q.A., Canada: An opulent homage to after-dinner relaxation. Redolent of ripe apricot and muscat aromas, this richly layered dessert wine will make visions of sugarplums dance in your head. Extraordinary craftsmanship! Drink: 2011-2023. 390328 14% XD 375 mL  $120.00 Score: 92/100. August 5, 2011 Top Rated Dessert Wine. Full Review

Tantalus Vineyards Single Vineyard Riesling 2010, VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: A cracking great Riesling, with come-alive lime zest and lemon aromas. Spectacularly juicy and mouth-watering with a finish of Granny Smith apple. Taste and see what BC is capable of when it comes to vibrant Riesling! Drink: 2011-2018. 626990067412 12.20% M 750 mL  $22.90 Score: 92/100. August 5, 2011 Full Review

Nk'Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2007, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: Absolutely stunning! This winery leapfrogs itself every year, coming out of the gate with spectacular robust reds. Gorgeous depth of hedonitsically ripe blackberries and plums with a velvet texture and finish as long as the dessert sunset where it's made. 230094 14% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 93/100. July 23, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Château Filhot 2E Cru Meritage 2007, A.C., Sauternes, Bordeaux, France: Beautiful concentrated sunshine after a spring rainstorm. Sweet peach preserves and honeyed goodness. Layers of pleasure. Drink: 2011-2020. 97907 13% S 375 mL  $22.00 Score: 94/100. July 9, 2011 Top Rated Dessert Wine. 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