De Bortoli Wines - Yarra Valley Gulf Station Pinot Noir 2013, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia: A gorgeous, silky pinot noir with layers of fleshy black cherries and a satin-rich texture. The grapes for this wine come from the Brookland Vineyard in Australia's Yarra Valley and provide great balance of fruit ripeness and some zingy acidity. Finishes with great vibrancy and refreshment. This balanced red wine shows attractive intensity in the glass. Try this vibrant red wine with cheese pizza. Excellent value. Highly recommended. Drink: 2013-2019. 15511 13.50% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 92/100. April 4, 2015
Top Rated Red Wine. Delightful Duck Wine Full ReviewLes Vignes Bila-Haut Chapoutier 2013, Côtes Du Roussillon Villages, Midi A.C., France: Staggeringly great value in this full-bodied French red wine from the Rhone Valley that's a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grapes. This AC-designated wine features brooding black fruit, dark spices and intrigue. What a great price for such quality, especially from such an iconic winemaker as Chapoutier. Try it tonight with pepperoni pizza or meat lasagna. Drink: 2014-2018. 168716 14% D 750 mL $15.45 Score: 91/100. April 15, 2015
Best Value Red Wine. Glorious Game Wine Full ReviewDomaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Maximilien Cairanne 2012, Côtes Du Rhône-Villages, A.C., France: This full-bodied French red wine offers seductive blackberry liqueur aromas and flavours and a ultra-velvet texture on the tongue. So delicious. No oak, just incredible fruit flavour. Pair with a pepper steak. Drink: 2014-2020. 286336 14.50% D 750 mL $22.95 Score: 92/100. February 21, 2015
Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full ReviewDomaine du Grapillon d'Or 1806 Gigondas 2017, Rhône A.C., France: This is black liquid velvet; so tantalizing to the tongue and senses. Gigondas is my go-to region on a restaurant list. There are 35 acres planted for this wine that produces 50,000 bottles a year. The average age of the vines is 40 years, which imparts incredible depth and complexity of flavour in the wine. The grape are hand-picked and selected. Bursting with aromas and flavours of fleshy dark fruit, dark spices, dried herbs and garrigue. This wine is unfiltered. Pair with prime rib. Drink: 2019-2026. 981787 14.50% XD 750 mL $36.95 Score: 94/100. February 21, 2015
Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full ReviewDomaine Pavelot Savigny-Les-Beaune Gravains 2011, Burgundy A.C., France: A magnificent Pinot Noir from Burgundy with Old World classic styling and structure. Jean-Marc Pavelot produces this silky red wine in the heart of the Côte de Beaune region near the village of Savigny-les-Beaune. The grapes are grown in the prestigious Gravains vineyard to create this premier cru wine, as the vines are planted with an ideal orientation on the slope. Premier Cru is second only to Grand Cru in the Burgundian classification of quality. This is a remarkable wine, worth every penny. Drink: 2013-2019. 206136 13% XD 750 mL $53.95 Score: 92/100. March 7, 2015
Gorgeous Gift Wine Full ReviewChâteau Pontet-Canet 2011, Pauillac, Bordeaux A.C., France: A surprisingly great Bordeaux from a touch vintage. Balanced, complex, concentrated and offering a long finish. Black fruit, toasty oak and tar. There are several different product codes for the exact same wine in this release. Drink: 2015-2021. 298885 13.50% XD 750 mL $159.85 Score: 91/100. March 21, 2015
Gorgeous Gift Wine Full ReviewAurelio Settimo Barolo 2010, Piedmont D.O.C.G., Italy: The 2010 vintage of the Aurelio Settimo Barolo is spectacular! Loaded with aromas of violets, leather, tar and feral underbrush. But this baby needs serious cellar time: the tannins are pronounced and will soften. Finishes with black cherry, anise and smoke. Pair with prime rib. Drink: 2017-2029. 291559 14% XD 750 mL $57.95 Score: 94/100. February 21, 2015
Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full ReviewRio Madre Graciano 2014, Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain: A terrific, full-bodied red wine at a staggeringly great price! This is a DOCA wine and is produced by Bodegas Y Vinedos Ilurce. Loaded with black pepper, fleshy dark fruit, mouth-watering action and layers of lip-smacking flavours. This wine was matured in French oak and made from 100% Graciano, a native Spanish grape enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This is modern and complex Rioja red wine. Pair with lamb and rosemary. Drink: 2016-2020. 354753 14.50% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. January 12, 2017
Best Value Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full ReviewDecoy Chardonnay 2015, Sonoma County, California, United States: Brought to us by Duckhorn Vineyards, this cool-climate Californian Chardonnay from Sonoma County. Winemaker Neil Bernardi creates vibrant wines from several different soil types and microclimate in Sonoma County, focusing particularly on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Balanced and full-bodied with buttery richness and some green apple and white peach notes on the nose of this Californian Chardonnay. Pair with roasted chicken. Drink: 2016-2020. 311555 13.50% D 750 mL $34.95 Score: 90/100. July 22, 2017
Top Rated White Wine. Great Goat Cheese Wine Full ReviewLa Crema Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish on this California Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie. A supple red wine with cherry-berry mouth-filling wonder and flavours. Just enough oak for hedonists. Layered yet not heavy. This pinot has been one of my favourites for years. Satin seduction in a glass. Pair with roasted turkey or chicken. Drink: 2015-2018. 719435 13.90% D 750 mL $39.95 Score: 93/100. October 1, 2016
Top Rated Red Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full ReviewLa Crema Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish on this California Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie. A supple red wine with cherry-berry mouth-filling wonder and flavours. Just enough oak for hedonists. Layered yet not heavy. This pinot has been one of my favourites for years. Satin seduction in a glass. This wine is actually made by a Canadian, the Niagara Falls native Elizabeth Grant-Douglas who as a child helped her father with his backyard vineyard. She then became a member of the first graduating class of Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program. Pair with roasted turkey or chicken. Drink: 2015-2018. 732040 13.90% XD 375 mL $21.95 Score: 93/100. March 19, 2016
Top Rated Red Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full ReviewChateau St. Jean Winery and Vineyard Chardonnay 2014, Sonoma County, California, United States: Lovely caramelized toffee on the nose of this generously rich and full-bodied Californian Chardonnay. Notes of golden apple and pear with baked bread. Match this with roasted chicken. Drink: 2015-2019. 269738 13.60% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. October 10, 2016
Best Value White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review