Benmarco Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina: A robust and vibrant red wine that offers lots of pleasure in every glass. Coffee, mocha and espresso on a black fruit layers of full-bodied goodness. Smoky to the finish. Try it with hamburgers. Unfined and Unfiltered, Dominio del Plata. Drink: 2014-2016. 657601 14% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. February 1, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia: A box office hit at the liquor store! This robust red wine at a great price offers tremendous value and bang for your buck. Attractive aromas of mint and blackberry on the nose. Juicy, full-bodied, rich and delicious on the palate. Wakefield is known for producing wines of outstanding value and quality. This is no exception. This particular vintage of this wine has been awarded several honours in the value-priced wine category for a number of international competitions. It finishes nicely with black plum, espresso and cloves. Drink: 2014-2018. 744235 14% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 91/100. March 29, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Harmonious Hard Cheese Wine Full Review
Small Gully Mr. Black's Little Book Shiraz 2011, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: I love a little black book reading with a sympathetic robust red wine that has a big vocabulary when it comes to aromas and flavours, like this one! Rich and full-bodied with fleshy ripe blackberry, mint and black olive aromas on the nose. Layers and smooth, with polished tannins and a long finish. Terrific mouth-watering juiciness. You put on the jazz music and I'll pour the wine, deal? Drink: 2013-2017. 287979 13.50% XD 750 mL $20.95 Score: 91/100. July 19, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Harmonious Hard Cheese Wine Full Review
Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart Of The Barossa Shiraz 2012, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: This full-bodied red wine has lip-smacking delicious aromas and flavours of black and purple fruit. Smooth and supple. Love the fact that this big shiraz is not filtered, giving us the full-on flavour experience. The grapes for this robust red wine come from vines 100 years old. The wine is open-fermented with wild yeast, then aged 18 months in French oak barrels, and is not fined nor filtered. Try is with lamb and rosemary. Drink: 2013-2017. 167189 14.50% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 91/100. April 15, 2015
Top Rated Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review
Longview Devil's Elbow Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia: Very menthol, mint, eucalyptus on the nose with wild blackberry underneath. On the palate, surprising acidity and tart black raspberry. Full-bodied, layered and delicious. Drink: 2014-2019. 660050 14.50% XD 750 mL $22.95 Score: 91/100. August 2, 2014
Top Rated Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
Santa Alicia Gran Reserva De Los Andes Carmenère 2011, Maipo Valley, Chile: Minty black plum aromas on the nose that open to a fleshy seductive richness on the palate. Full-bodied and supple. I like that the fruit doesn't taste sweet but more savoury. Great food wine, and all-round terrific wine for the money. Carmenère is definitely one of Chile's signature red wine grapes, and it shows in this example. Drink: 2013-2017. 93831 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 92/100. August 2, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Complete Cheese Pizza Wine Full Review
Viña Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Casablanca Valley, Chile: Crisp, dry, grassy, straight up tasty Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. No oak. Try with vegetarian dishes. Drink: 2013-2015. 211904 12.50% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 86/100. August 2, 2014
Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Château Saint-Roch Chimères 2011, Côtes Du Roussillon-Villages, Midi A.C., France: Love the incredible range of styles that the Rhone region produces, like this intriguing red wine blend. Full-bodied and deeply savoury. Wow, so different: love it! Violets, black plum, deep dive black raspberry into a heart of welling darkness and satisfaction. Platonic ideal of concentration and depth with a long, sensuous finish that leaves you bathed in flavour satisfaction. Pair with hearty meat dishes and deep conversations. Drink: 2013-2019. 119354 14% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 93/100. July 19, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
La Domelière Rasteau Cave De Rasteau 2012, Rhône A.C., France: Gorgeous richness in this powerful red wine at a staggeringly great price! Black fleshy plums that rub up against your senses and pleasure centre. Layers and layers of velvet richness. Mouth-filling and mouth-pleasing. Get a case. Drink: 2014-2018. 222927 14.50% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 91/100. June 21, 2014
Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling 2012, Qualitätswein, Pfalz, Germany: Magnificent for the price point! Floral with fleshy ripe peach yet airy and refreshing. Medium-bodied with a peach blossom finish. Slight sweetness lends food versatility, yet it's not at all cloying. Drink: 2013-2015. 568634 10.50% M 750 mL $13.95 Score: 89/100. September 28, 2013
Best Value White Wine. Smart Buy Wine Full Review
Bollini Pinot Grigio 2012, Alto Adige, Trentino D.O.C., Italy: Pinot Grigio from this northern Italian winemaking region is a classic. Clean lines and crisp refreshment come through first, followed by green apple and lime on the finish. Perfect for salads. Drink: 2013-2016. 951319 13% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. May 10, 2014
Best Value White Wine. Profound Pasta and Cream Sauce Wine Full Review
Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Grassy, lime-citrus and still great at this price. Lively and zesty with mouth-watering acidity. Wonderful! It goes down slippery fast with terrific refreshment. There's gooseberry and lime zest on the finish. Perfect for salads. Drink: 2013-2015. 686675 13.50% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. December 7, 2013
Best Value White Wine. Splendid Salad Wine Full Review
Sileni Estates Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Grassy-good refreshment and herbal aromas with the distant sound of lawnmowers on the finish. Ah, summer's here and the sippin is easy. Medium-bodied with lots of mouth-watering acidity. Perfect for salads and vegetarian dishes. Finishes with notes of gooseberry, passionfruit and citrus. A backyard party favourite: perfect for watching the kids run through the sprinkler. Drink: 2014-2016. 662882 12.50% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 89/100. July 5, 2014
Best Value White Wine. Venerated Vegetarian Wine Full Review
Mount Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: A summer flower of a wine: blooms in the senses and mouth with lime blossom, fresh citrus and lemon zest. Lovely and balanced. Big acidity. Superbly crafted. Penetrating freshness right through to the finish. Try with vegetarian dishes. OTHER: Mount Nelson is a refreshingly different expression of Marlborough Sauvignon. Its Italian ownership Lodovico and Piero Antinori (Campo Sassi) is at the heart of this wine's restrained "Sancerre" style. The attack is fresh and with bright tropical fruit, citrus, mineral, jalapeno grapefruit notes. The palate very similar with added gooseberry and honey flavours. Impressive intensity and length no doubt as a result of four months of lees ageing after the fermentation. Score - 90 (Anthony Gismondi & Stuart Tobe, gismondionwine.com, Jan. 20, 2014) Drink: 2014-2017. 694752 12.50% XD 750 mL $25.00 Score: 91/100. July 19, 2014
Top Rated White Wine. Vital Vegetarian Pizza Wine Full Review
Bird Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Terrific lime-zestiness in this citrus-herbal inflected Sauvignon Blanc. Refreshing and zippy: classic New Zealand style. I'm so delighted that this wine is back on the shelves again as it's a benchmark for the Marlborough region. Top me up! Finishes with gooseberry and passionfruit. Liquid lovely. Drink: 2014-2016. 178319 13.50% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 93/100. July 19, 2014
Best Value White Wine. Great Goat Cheese Wine Full Review
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Kevin Judd produces this signature New Zealand Sauvignon Blanch with classic herbal aromas, fresh cut grass and asparagus with mouth-watering juiciness. Such a food friendly wine. Zesty, crisp, clean and medium-bodied. Ultra-refreshing as an aperitif or companion to line-caught halibut. Drink: 2014-2016. 164228 13.50% XD 750 mL $26.95 Score: 91/100. August 2, 2014
Top Rated White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Spinyback Waimea Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand: Herbal and grassy with big mouth-watering acidity for a variety of dishes. Medium-bodied and food-friendly. Lime zested on crushed stones on the finish. Yum! Try it with vegetarian pizza. Drink: 2013-2015. 694737 12.50% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. August 2, 2014
Best Value White Wine. Vital Vegetarian Pizza Wine Full Review