24240    (D)   750 mL    $15.95    

377770    (D)   750 mL    $17.95    

Rated ****1/2 (out of 5). (www.tonyaspler.com)

Tasting Note: A solid and well crafted pinot with decent varietal character and depth. Aromas of cran-cherry with some floral and earthy hints. Good red berry focus on the palate with lively streaks of acidity and spice. Mid-weight with a touch of earthy complexity. Good length. Good match for chicken breast or a sweeter meat like pork. Drink 2006-2009. Score - 87. (Jeff Davis, Wine Access, First In Line E-Report, June 10, 2006)

001545    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95  

704643    (D)   750 mL    $29.95   

Classic Sonoma Pinot character such as cherry, plum, sandalwood and nutmeg dominate this Pinot Noir from one of the region's finest producers, Chateau St. Jean. The mid-palate replays the aromas perfectly with supple tannins and a nice freshness to balance the whole package out. Try it tonight with grilled salmon steaks.

687970    (D)   750 mL    $20.95   

This wine proves that there are indeed some fantastic affordable wines from California! Loads of red cherry and currant fruit with dark chocolate notes balanced with some refreshing acidity in this medium full-bodied delight. It's quite dry, with smooth tannins and a persistent finish.

969519    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

A straightforward, tasty, smooth, candied cherry- and wild berry-scented and -flavoured wine that is a perfect choice for a casual pizza or pasta night.

025189    (D)   750 mL    $18.95   

This half-bottle Zin would be perfect with a hearty winter chili or stew after a fun day of skiing. Joel Peterson and his Zinfandel-obsessed team at Ravenswood have crafted a supple wine that's packed with red and black cherry aromas and flavours complemented by vanilla and toast notes.

678342    (D)   375 mL    $15.95   

A Gold-Medal winner at the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (2006).

017210    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

This deep and delicious blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Malbec was awarded Gold medals at Chile's Catad'Or Hyatt Wine Awards 2005 and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2005! It's dry and full-bodied with ripe raspberry and black cherry fruit, spices and a long finish. Enjoy with game or beef dishes.

018630    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

398800    (XD)   750 mL    $16.95   

405712    (D)   750 mL    $16.95   

Handpicked from the family's estate vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, this intensely coloured wine is fermented in stainless steel with about half of the finished wine aged in French barriques for 9 months. An incredible value, this wine offers exuberant aromas of raspberry, cherry, leather and herbs. Deep and rich on the palate with concentrated fruit and peppery flavours. Lively acidity and ample tannins provide balance.

014456    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

This is the sister wine to the popular Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon (177451, $14.95) from our VINTAGES Essentials Collection.

Tasting Note: Quite intense and deep, with prune and black cherry covering the lush nose. Sweet and full in the mouth, with berry fruit backed by coffee, toffee and chocolate. If you like yours big and rich, this fits the bill. A Best Buy. Score - 87. (Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast, Oct. 1, 2006)

016014    (XD)   750 mL    $16.95   

Wine Access Magazine's winner of the Best White Blend under $25 (Nov. 2006).

Tasting Note: Viognier dominant, though no percentage specified; an appealing mix of yellow peach and apricot fruit; long, clean and bright finish. Drink now. Score - 90. (James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2007)

017319    (D)   750 mL    $15.95   

Andrew Buller has found that Marsanne, one of the classic grape varieties of the northern Rhône, performs exceptionally well in the family's Indigo Valley vineyard. Perfumed with lemon and honeysuckle aromas, this dry, beautifully balanced wine has good weight and a long soft finish. Enjoy with lightly-herbed grilled halibut.

014498    (D)   750 mL    $21.95   

Semillon is a specialty of the Hunter Valley region, where winemakers often craft remarkable wines that last for years, if not decades. Still relatively youthful, this award-winning wine displays a lemon/lime fragrance along with some developing smoky toast notes. Crisp and zesty with a lingering finish, it's enjoyable now but will continue to develop notes of beeswax, toast and honey over the next decade. A terrific value.

016444    (D)   750 mL    $19.95   

008110    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95   

Both Robert Parker Jr. and Wine Spectator awarded the previous vintage of this wine scores in the 90s. Expect more critical acclaim with the just-released second vintage from winemaker Chris Ringland. This big, multi-layered Shiraz delivers a dense, delicious core of plum, blackberry and exotic spices. Enjoy with sirloin steak or cajun dishes.

015495    (XD)   750 mL    $21.95   

With a winemaking history that stretches back to just over a quarter of a century, the Strathbogie Ranges is a relatively young wine region, even for Australia. This region balances the heat of the nearby Goulburn Valley with the cooler temperatures of the mountains and is known for creating full-fruited Shiraz that show elegance and style, like this one. Enjoy it with lamb shanks or beef stew.

015412    (D)   750 mL    $16.95   

020271    (XD)   750 mL    $29.95   

018887    (XD)   750 mL    $26.95   

Petite Syrah is becoming a headline act in Australia where intense versions like this one are impressing wine lovers and critics alike. Sourced from the Gulval Road Vineyard and aged in a mixture of French and American oak, this wine is bursting with blackberry and cherry fruit flavours as well as notes of sweet vanilla and cedar.

015503    (XD)   750 mL    $21.95   

Rated as one of the best Pinot Noirs under $25 available in Canada by Wine Access Magazine (Nov. 2006).

Tasting Note: Several good tastes to note from this Aussie cool climate up-and-comer ... [a] formidable Pinot Noir ‘04: cherry, damson and earthy aromas with a firm but silky strawberry and cherry palate above spicy notes and food friendly acidity. (Tim Pawsey, www.vancourier.com, Feb. 8, 2006)

017293    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95   

017517    (D)   750 mL    $15.95   

This family winery has been in operation for more than 80 years in northeast Victoria. This Shiraz is packed with ripe blackberry and strawberry fruit flavours, as well as notes of licorice and a savoury edge. Dry with a medium full-body and supple tannins, enjoy it over the next three years with lamb or pork roast.

014506    (XD)   750 mL    $24.95   

A Gold-Medal winner at the 2006 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.

Tasting Note: Winemaker Paul Boulden has made a wonderfully fragrant wine from Wilyabrup fruit, with blackcurrant, mint and cedary oak characters, supple, smooth texture. Approachable now. Score - 17.5 (out of 20). (Peter Forrestal, Sunday Times Magazine, June 15, 2006)

022293    (XD)   750 mL    $24.95   

020172    (XD)   750 mL    $29.95   

723940    (XD)   750 mL    $30.95   

The Northern Rhône tradition of blending a small amount of Viognier into Syrah has really taken off Down Under. This version from Wolf Blass is sourced from the cool Adelaide Hills and features lifted floral aromas as well as blackberry and pepper notes. It's dry with a powerful fruit driven core that remains balanced by refined acid and tannins. Enjoy this delicious wine over the next 3-5 years with rare beef or lamb dishes.

606301    (XD)   750 mL    $30.95   

020255    (D)   750 mL    $18.95   

903625    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

9159    (XD)   750 mL    $25.95   

019299    (XD)   750 mL    $25.95   

599324    (D)   750 mL    $37.95   

This elegant, lightly oaked Chardonnay offers up a medley of apple and citrus flavours. It makes a lovely complement to vegetarian lasagna or pesto pasta. A very good value.

956219    (D)   750 mL    $19.95   

015446    (XD)   750 mL    $14.95   

Previous vintages were greeted with much critical acclaim. Not reviewed at press time, this recently released offering is sure to garner equal acclaim. Flavours of red berries, cedar, leather and spicy vanilla cascade on the palate of this well-made, medium-bodied Merlot. Enjoy with beef stroganoff or pork tenderloin.

659987    (XD)   750 mL    $16.95   

Pinotage was ‘born' in 1925 when A. I. Perold of Stellenbosch University in South Africa created a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. When deftly-handled, like this Delheim offering, Pinotage can be a rich, long-lasting, deeply-coloured wine with intriguing wild fruitiness that is tamed by time in an oak barrel. A perfect match for venison or osso bucco.

714253    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95   

René Dopff, for whom this wine is named, orginated Dopff & Irion's dry, crisp house style. This 2003 Pinot Blanc is a fine, flavourful example of that vision. The aromas here suggest pear and apple. Dry with a good balance and heft to the lengthy finish. Enjoy this white with stuffed pork tenderloin.

021550    (D)   750 mL    $17.95   

Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2005 Concours des Vins d'Alsace in Colmar, there is excellent ageing potential in this wine due to the fine balance of fruit (lemon, grapefruit and green apple) and crisp acidity. It may be enjoyed tonight with seafood stir-fry, chicken with goat cheese, or it can mature for 5+ years.

641639    (D)   750 mL    $15.95   

016683    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95   

020040    (XD)   750 mL    $42.95   

Located near Montpeyroux, Domaine de Nizas was established in 1998. It has quickly developed a reputation for producing full-flavoured, assertive wines. Made with a blend of 60% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache, this 2003 is an excellent example of their winemaking style. Best with flavourful meats and game, such as lamb, duck or venison.

017343    (XD)   750 mL    $19.95   

Corbières is one of the oldest viticulture regions in France. It is believed that the Greeks first planted the area to vines in 500 BC. The Domaine de Villemajou has been the home winery of Gérard Bertrand since his father, Georges, began the family winery there in the early 20th century. The 2004 Villemajou is redolent with floral tones, plum and other black fruits. It is sophisticated, smooth-textured and an excellent partner for food, including: grilled lamb, roast beef, grilled portobello mushroom or rich pasta dishes.

017194    (XD)   750 mL    $21.95   

972331    (XD)   750 mL    $39.95   

989665    (D)   750 mL    $23.95   

599274    (M)   750 mL    $13.95   

With such a German name, it's surprising that Gewürztraminer is still a minority in the vineyards of the country. Kurt Darting has created some of the Pfalz's finest examples. The wine has classic lychee, grapefruit and spice tones. A perfect partner for intense, flavourful dishes such as chicken vindaloo.

944181    (MD)   750 mL    $15.95   

Tocai is the old northern Italian name for Sauvignonasse, the most widely-planted white grape in nearby Friuli. Although it contains some of the genetic markers of Sauvignon Blanc, it is not technically related to it.

Tasting Note: Quite aromatic for the variety, with mirabelle plum, citrus, candied fruit and lanolin dominating. It is dry, round and soft with a medium body and surprisingly long finish. Match it to seafood crêpes. (VINTAGES panel, June 2006)

013433    (D)   750 mL    $13.95   

019349    (XD)   750 mL    $29.95   

020453    (XD)   750 mL    $51.95   

In the depths of winter, most of us turn our thoughts to warmer climes and perhaps something like a Mediterranean cruise. Can't afford it? Well, bring a touch of the Mediterranean home with this Primitivo, a.k.a. Zinfandel. Ripe, warm and plummy, one sip of this wine and you'll be transported to a sunny terrace overlooking the curving coast of some tropical island. Enjoy with rich meat-based dishes.

669580    (D)   750 mL    $15.95   

Having just achieved its 10th anniversary in 2006, Terra Elima has come a long way. Established in 1996, they released their first wines in 2000, concentrating on the local grape Nero d'Avola plus the international grapes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. This 100% Syrah is matured in stainless steel in order to maintain the bright fruit tones of the wine. Enjoy it with roast beef or pasta with meat sauce.

023184    (XD)   750 mL    $16.95   

Vicchiomaggio's single-vineyard bottling Chianti is a very pretty wine with aromas of blackberry, cherry and chocolate. The aromas replay nicely on the palate. It is medium-bodied with a lingering finish of fruit and fine tannins.

993360    (XD)   750 mL    $27.95   

This critically and consumer-acclaimed wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. The result is a very ripe and impactful nose with aromas of bold blackberry and toasty oak. It is full-bodied, flavourful and nicely balanced out by ripe tannins. Try it with lamb chops and mint sauce.

974394    (XD)   750 mL    $22.95   

Toscolo is Renaissance Italian for Tuscan Boy, and Neil and Maria Empson created this wine as an undiluted representation of all things Tuscan. It is a fresh and fruity Chianti with a soft texture and a solid fruit finish. It will complement simple pasta dishes.

019521    (D)   750 mL    $18.95   

This award-winning blend of the indigenous Touriga Nacional and the international Syrah is matured in a combination of new French and American oak barrels. Its big and bold flavours are balanced out by an excellent seam of tannins. Try it tonight with rare roast beef, or cellar it for 3+ years.

021519    (D)   750 mL    $17.95   

958736    (D)   750 mL    $15.95