Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Tribute Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, B.C., Canada: Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes in honour of Canadian athletes who will compete at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games, this wine dances with zingy citrus notes and has a lovely toasty finish. 169508 13% XD 750 mL  $30.00 Score: 91/100. December 10, 2011 Favourite Sparkling Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Kerner Icewine 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, VQA, Canada: A lovely, rich wine with aromas of peach preserves, ripe apricot and marmalade. Perfect for after-dinner, either with dessert or on its own. Drink: 2010-2012. 153155 12.60% S 750 mL  $29.99 Score: 92/100. April 22, 2011 Full Review

Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2007, Okanagan Valley, BC, V.Q.A., Canada: A stunning, spectacular wine of incredible depth and length. The 2007 vintage is a blend of 56% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. This gorgeous red combines Old World structure and New World power. Drink: 2011-2018. 71464 14% D 750 mL  $54.95 Score: 92/100. April 22, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Syrah 2008, BC VQA Okanagan Valley, Canada: Love it! Juicy and gripping with big fleshy black plums. Dark cherries dance across your mouth in a cascade of pleasure. Dark spices on the finish. Could use a few more years in the cellar. Decant 1-2 hours. Drink: 2012-2018. 688229004087 15% D 750 mL  $35.00 Score: 92/100. April 22, 2011 Full Review

Quails' Gate Estate Winery Dry Riesling 2010, Okanagan Valley, BC, VQA, Canada: Absolutely incredible quality for the price, and I love that the alcohol isn't high: makes this a wonderfully refreshing sipper over an evening. Gorgeous aromas of lime, citrus and mouth-watering acidity for so many dishes. Yum! Drink: 2011-2019. 308312 12.50% XD 750 mL  $17.25 Score: 90/100. April 22, 2011 Full Review

Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio Cabernet Blend 2006, Okanagan Valley, B.C., V.Q.A., Canada: Chewy dark cherries and berries with a lovely smoky weave throughout. A stunning, spectacular wine of incredible depth and length. The 2006 vintage is a blend of 61% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. This gorgeous red combines Old World structure and New World power. 71464 14% D 750 mL  $54.95 Score: 91/100. April 22, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Blind Trust Red Laughing Stock 2008, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: A spectacular blend of Bordeaux grapes. (You can find out which grapes and the proportion when you remove the capsule... No peaking in the store!) Gorgeously ripe aromas of blackberries and cassis wrapped in a luxuriously long smoky blanket. One for the cellar. Drink: 2012-2016. 230110 14% XD 750 mL  $40.00 Score: 93/100. August 6, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Tantalus Vineyards Single Vineyard Rosé 2010, VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: A deliciously robust style of rosé with peppered rose petals, tart cranberry and a finish of black raspberry. This blend of Pinot Meunier Pinot Noir grapes is refreshing and mouth-watering. Make summer last a little longer with this wine. Drink: 2011-2015. 626990067382 13.60% D 750 mL  $21.90 Score: 88/100. August 5, 2011 Full Review

Poplar Grove Winery Merlot 2007, VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: Black plum nose with a savoury bite on the palate. Full-bodied and smooth with cassis and black cherry on the finish. Yum! Drink: 2011-2019. 873422 15% D 750 mL  $25.00 Score: 90/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review

Poplar Grove Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2010, VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: Love this intensity! Rich yet a piercingly fresh finish. Voluptuous texture with aromas of guava, quince and dry peach. Long, satisfying finish. Drink: 2011-2017. 411843 13% XD 750 mL  $475.00 Score: 91/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Meritage 2008, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: Elegant and aristocratic with terrific structure and lovely fleshy ripe black fruit. Smoke and cedar with a lick of spice on the finish. Full bodied and fairly smooth, so decant only 1 hour. Benchmark Canadian Meritage. Drink: 2012-2016. 695148 14.90% XD 750 mL  $59.95 Score: 93/100. November 26, 2011 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Gray Monk Estate Winery Gewürztraminer 2009, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: Lovely and complex with that wonderful weave of lychee, spice, rose petal and Asisan pear. Perfect for many dishes, especially curries and spices. Drink: 2011-2016. 321588 12.60% MD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 90/100. December 10, 2011 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2008, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Pale to medium ruby with aromas of red cherry, smoke, wet earth, plum and cinnamon. Quite dry and fruity with fresh acid all around. Good texture here with nice fruit replays. Decant and enjoy, or cellar it 2-4+ years. My note: Sweetly ripe red and black cherry with some raspberry background notes. Lusciously rich and smooth. Full-bodied and concentrated. One of Canada’s best pinots. Drink: 2011-2016. 556613 13% XD 750 mL  $38.95 Score: 90/100. December 10, 2011 Full Review

Painted Rock Estate Winery Merlot 2009, Okanagan Valley, B.C. V.Q.A., Canada: Loaded with black fruit and smokey aromas and flavours. Full-bodied yet smooth with a savoury, meaty, satisfying mid-palate. A long finish. Drink: 2012-2016. 242768 14% XD 750 mL  $68.95 Score: 91/100. June 22, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Painted Rock Estate Winery Ltd. Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, B.C., Canada: Tastes distinctly of B.C. yet comparable to top-tier Bordeaux (but a fraction of the price). This country is lucky to have a flagship wine like this. Classic aromas of blackberry, cassis and blackcurrant with a judicious use of oak. This wine spent 18 months in 95% new French oak. Drink: 2012-2016. 864496 14.30% D 750 mL  $40.00 Score: 94/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review

Aces Seven Deuce Red Meritage 2009, V.Q.A., Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: A full-bodied red with big, black fruit aromas wrapped in a toasty blanket of oak. This is a heavy-hitter. Drink: 2013-2016. 273631 13.70% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 90/100. March 17, 2012 Full Review

Quails' Gate Estate Winery Dry Riesling 2011, VQA, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: Gorgeous! Mouth-watering and elegant yet packed with citris flavour. Medium-bodied and refreshing. Drink: 2012-2019. 308312 12.50% XD 750 mL  $17.25 Score: 90/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: Well-structured with lovely herbal and blackberry aromas and flavours. Full-bodied. Drink: 2012-2020. 556621 14.50% XD 750 mL  $44.95 Score: 90/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada: Lovely and juicy with fleshy cherry aromas and flavours. Supple and smooth. Medium- to full-bodied. Absolutely delicious! Drink: 2012-2018. 556613 13% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 90/100. June 22, 2012 Full Review