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Dominio Del Plata Crios De Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Mendoza, Argentina: An absolutely incredible wine for the money! Juicy, savoury and delicious: full-bodied with rich layers of ripe plums, blackberry and other dark fruits. 640979 14% D 750 mL  $12.95 Score: 90/100. July 10, 2010 Best Value Red Wine (Tied). Full Review
Alta Vista Premium La Casa Del Ray Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Mendoza, Argentina: Wow, this is a full-on Argentine red wine loaded with flavour and character! Aromas of fleshy blackberry, cassis and toasty oak. Gorgeous dark colour belies the concentration of this powerhouse that finishes long and satisfying. Superb value. It's big, but balanced and cries out for a brontosaurus burger, or another hearty meat dish. Drink: 2015-2018. 129957 14% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 92/100. December 12, 2015 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Crios Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Mendoza, Argentina: An absolutely incredible wine for the money! Juicy, savoury and delicious: full-bodied with rich layers of ripe plums, blackberry and other dark fruits. Superb craftsmanship! Pair with roast beef. Drink: 2014-2018. 640979 14% D 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 91/100. February 8, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Harmonious Hard Cheese Wine Full Review
Trapiche Fincas Las Palmas Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Mendoza, Argentina: Beautifully structured and balanced Argentine Cabernet with attractive aromas of cedar brush, cassis and black currant. Very classic in its styling and elegance. Perfect for filet mignon. Drink: 2015-2021. 143206 14% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 92/100. February 20, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Harmonious Hard Cheese Wine Full Review
Wakefield Shiraz 2014, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia: Solid and full-bodied with big black fruit aromas. This terrific Australian Shiraz is tarry, spicy and peppery on the palate and finish. Pair with hamburgers. Drink: 2015-2020. 943787 14.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 90/100. February 9, 2017 Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
Wolf Blass The Entertainer 2014, South Australia, Australia: This robust Australian red wine features aromas of fleshy ripe cherry and blackberry on the nose and palate. This is a blend of Grenache and Shiraz grapes. Juicy, plush and velvet smooth. This wine is named in honour of Wolf Blass, the founder, who has both extravagant and charismatic in his mischievous sense of fun. Pair with meat lovers pizza on movie night. Drink: 2016-2019. 419994 14% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 91/100. December 31, 2015 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review
Flat Rock Riesling 2014, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: The winery sent me the 2014 vintage of this lovely riesling to taste and evaluate, which is fortunate since it was the 2013 vintage at the LCBO tasting. Green apple and white pear. Love it. Building an inukskuk is now a ritual at the end of harvest for this winery: lifting the heavy stones requires a team effort. Pair with roast turkey and fun. The winery does whole cluster pressing to extract pure flavour, and only of the first 600 litres per tonne of fruit. Ed allows the juice to settle during a long, slow fermentation. The 2014 vintage is a blend of two distinct blocks of 21B clone vines nowin their early teens as the winery describes them. Finishes with fresh pink grapefruit notes. Drink: 2014-2019. 43281 11% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. September 17, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Santa Carolina Barrica Selection Chardonnay 2009, Casablanca Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: Pale straw-lemon colour with aromas of tropical fruit, ripe apple with cinnamon, buttered toast, guava and a hint of banana. Dry, intensely fruity and toasty, but in good harmony with neither dominating the other. A vibrant acidity provides refreshing crispness. Full bodied with a medium-long finish that is simultaneously elegant and robust. My note: Stunning for this price point! Rich, toasted almonds wrap around a core of green apple vibrancy. Balanced and luscious, with loads of hedonistic happiness. This is an amazing party wine and it also works well for dinner parties. Drink: 2011-2014. 928580 14% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 89/100. October 15, 2011 Best Value White Wine. Full Review
Viña Chocalán Reserva Syrah 2014, Maipo Valley, Chile: Rich and full-bodied with attractive aromas and flavours of fleshy black plum and coffee-mocha. Supple and mouth-filling. Amazingly great price. Try it with grilled pork chops. Drink: 2014-2018. 38513 14% D 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. February 8, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review
Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Aconcagua Valley, Chile: Fresh and crisp with zesty notes of chives, lime zest and grass. Mouth-watering juiciness for shellfish, seafood and salads. Great value. Highly recommended. Drink: 2015-2018. 273342 13% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. January 31, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Joseph Cattin Riesling 2014, Alsace A.C., France: Crisp, fresh and clean. This medium-bodied white offers lovely aromas of white melon and lime lift. Terrific clean finish which makes it a great aperitif or companion to many dishes. Drink: 2014-2018. 259788 12.40% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. February 8, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Splendid Salad Wine Full Review
Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio 2014, Venezie I.G.T., Italy: An extraordinary fresh Italian white wine, especially for this price. Wow. Vibrant aromas of lemon zest, green apples and lime-citrus. Racy, mouth-watering acidity for salads and vegetarian dishes. Highly recommended. Drink: 2014-2017. 589101 12% XD 750 mL  $12.95 Score: 90/100. October 31, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Barista Pinotage 2014, Western Cape W.O., South Africa: This supple South African red wine features coffee espresso on the nose and palate from the toasty oak aging. Lovely smoky richness and layering of dark fruit flavours. Looking for a breakfast wine? Okay, maybe not. But if you love espresso and coffee wafting from your glass, give this wine a try. This South African Pinotage is one of the Bertus 'Starbucks' Fourie coffee style wines. This wine is Certified for Integrity & Sustainability by the South African Wine and Spirit Board. Some black raspberry and mocha on the finish. Great price. Pair with (what else?) coffee-rubbed steak. Drink: 2015-2017. 172585 13.50% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. November 14, 2015 Enchanting Feta Cheese Wine Full Review
Clos Malverne Le Café Basket Pressed Pinotage 2011, W.O., Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, South Africa: Unquestionably my favourite pinotage to date! Gorgeous nose of dried herbs, leather, smoke and dry plum. Full-bodied, but smooth and perfectly balanced. I'm buying a case so please leave some on the shelf for me. Drink: 2013-2015. 666776 15% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. May 25, 2013 Best Value Red Wine. Smart Buy Wine Full Review
Bodega del Abad Crianza 2006, Bierzo D.O., Spain: Lovely mature flavours of tanned leather, violets and cigar box. Not fruity. Love this lots more than "younger" Crianzas. Somewhat like mature Rioja without the markup. The Bierzo region of Spain has recently reinvested itself and emerged as a modern producer of a very traditional grape, Mencia. This wine finished with black, mocha and spice. Try it with light curry dishes. Drink: 2012-2017. 244699 13.60% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 90/100. March 7, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Calm Curry Wine Full Review
La Crema Pinot Noir 2012, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: This is the half bottle (375 ml) format of this wine. The full sized 750-ml is also in this release. Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish. Medium-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie. A supple, smooth red wine with cherry-berry mouth-filling wonder and flavours. Just enough oak for hedonists. Layered yet not heavy. A consistently great producer of classic Californian pinot noir year after year. Love this silky Pinot Noir! It seems to get better every year. Beautiful cherries and field raspberry notes roll in first, then there's fresh earth aromas after a spring rain followed by some baking spices and a long finish. This pinot has been one of my favourites for years. Satin seduction in a glass. Drink: 2013-2017. 732040 13.90% XD 375 mL  $21.95 Score: 92/100. September 13, 2014 Top Rated Red Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot 2013, California, United States: Fleshy ripe plums and blackberries. Juicy, layered and full-bodied. Perfect for grilled lamb or pork chops. Drink: 2014-2018. 622837 13.50% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. December 3, 2015 Best Value Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review
Estancia Pinot Grigio 2014, California, United States: Crisp, fresh and clean with aromas of lime and lemon zest. Great aperitif or companion to seafood, salads and vegetarian dishes. Drink: 2016-2018. 418285 13.50% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. January 11, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Profound Pasta and Cream Sauce Wine Full Review

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