Pretty Merlot with loads of raspberry, strawberry, cherry fruit and hints of fresh dill. Big and round with a good tannin backbone for structure. Age it 2-3 years, or have it tonight with rare roast beef and root vegetables.

We purchased the 750 mL size of the Opus One from four different vendors, thus the wine has four different LCBO numbers. Your local store may have received the wine under any four of these numbers.

TASTING NOTE: Bordeaux-like in its structure and balance, showing cedary oak, dusty berry, dried currant and mineral, with hints of herb and sage. The flavors firm up on the finish, and this is rich and intense without being heavy. Needs decanting. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2009 through 2015. Score - 90. (Nov. 15, 2007) 

026294    (XD)            375 mL    $151.95   
001131    (XD)            750 mL    $289.95   
026310    (XD)            750 mL    $289.95   
583195    (XD)            750 mL    $289.95   
583203    (XD)            750 mL    $289.95   

This proprietary red consists of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Carignan and 4.5% Syrah.

"Argentina's greatest visionary is Nicolás Catena", states Robert Parker Jr. in his 2005 book, The World's Greatest Wine Estates. In fact, Bodegas Catena Zapata is the only South American winery to be profiled in Parker's esteemed tome. This Merlot is deep purple in colour with luscious red cherry, chocolate and vanilla aromas. Dry, soft and supple with jammy fruit flavours, this crowd-pleasing wine would be perfect with roast lamb.

Amaral was created by Viña Montgras for the production of premium white wines. They currently produce a Chardonnay and this Savvy which was Commended at the International Wine Challenge in the UK in 2007. Crisp and refreshing, this charmer has notes of pineapple, graphite, tangerine and white flowers. Its refreshing acidity is calling you to a warm spring patio - soon!

The Limari Valley is Chile's northernmost wine region. It's located just south of the Atacama Desert and about 25 km inland from the Pacific Ocean. The cooling influence of the ocean extends the ripening process, allowing the final wines to achieve exceptional balance and be more subtly nuanced in character. This supple Cab displays lots of smoky oak and concentrated dark berry fruit leading to a spicy finish.

Australian wine critic James Halliday awarded this wine a score of 92 in his Australian Wine Companion, 2008 Edition.

TASTING NOTE: A juicy mouthful of peach-accented pear and pineapple fruit, finishing with a stony note that carries the flavors through the generous finish. Drink now through 2012. Score - 89. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 15, 2007) 

677765    (XD)            750 mL    $19.95   

This wine made Wine Spectator's annual Top 100 wines of 2007, landing in the #16 spot!

You may be surprised to find yourself declaring "I love the GST", but in this case we mean the wine, not the tax. St. Hallett sources old vine fruit from prestigious vineyards to capture the character of Barossa in this intriguing blend of 59% Grenache, 34% Shiraz and 7% Touriga Nacional.

While the Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot (725721) is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with 10-15% Merlot, the Girt by Sea is almost equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (44% and 42% respectively) with small amounts of Shiraz and Malbec. Girt by Sea is a line from the Australian National Anthem, "Our home is girt by sea"

The Northern Rhône tradition of blending a small amount of Viognier into Syrah has really taken off Down Under. This powerful version from Wolf Blass is sourced from the Adelaide Hills region and features intensely ripe black fruit, smoked meat, and cedar notes. It's dry with a generous fruit-driven core as well as hints of chocolate and cedar. A carnivore's wine, enjoy this powerhouse over the next 3-5 years with rare beef or lamb dishes.

A big, rich, very flavourful Chenin that ably handles the barrel fermentation and ageing (approximately 7 months, 30% new). Look for ripe peach, pear, citrus and vanilla. They replay on the palate where the citrus refreshes the palate. A slightly off-dry wine to enjoy with spiced shrimp or calamari dishes. It will also reward 2-4 years in a cellar.

South Africa has shown outstanding results in recent years with Sauvignon Blanc. This varietal from the Cape tends to find a style that is a happy middle ground between the Loire Valley and New Zealand. This one exhibits the crisp elegance of the former and the racy, grassy, gooseberry nature of the latter. Enjoy it tonight with grilled chicken and asparagus.

According to folklore, this farm is called Lammershoek, or 'lamb's corner', because ewes and their lambs often found shelter near it to escape the local predatory golden eagle. The property's sandstone, granite and clay soil is considered ideal for Pinotage. This complex, medium-full bodied wine promises rich plum and cherry flavours, spice and ripe tannins. Enjoy it with roast beef au jus or grilled leg of lamb.

Neethlingshof's winemaker De Wet Viljoen says, "You start with a very clear idea of what you want but you can't follow a recipe to get there. It's more a case of developing an understanding of the vines - knowing them, not theoretically or generically but tangibly." Obviously his approach is paying off: this 2003 Shiraz won a Gold Medal at the Selections Mondiales in Québec in 2007. This elegant, estate-grown wine would be a great match with chunky lamb stew or eggplant lasagna.

The 43 members of the Robertson Winery Coop compete to be selected as the representative bottling of the best varietals in the Robertson portfolio. The Prospect Hill property has been selected as the best of the Cabernet Sauvignon, it is sourced entirely from one small vineyard situated on a cool, southeast-facing slope of the Zandvliet Mountains.

white wine

New at VINTAGES
LAURENZ V. FRIENDLY GRÜNER VELTLINER 2006
Niederösterreich  

TASTING NOTE: This one leaps out of the glass with dry, yet juicy fruit. The nose is all citrus, honey and mineral-laced - like licking a stone that's been dipped in honey and drenched with lemonade. A big sip gives up gorgeous honey, citrus, green apple and pineapple with a long, food-friendly and pleasantly tart finish.
Score - (out of 5). (www.vinifico.com, Jan. 14, 2008) 

66225    (XD)            750 mL    $17.95   

The 'No Man's Land' in question is a five kilometre wide strip of land that acted as a buffer zone separating Soviet-controlled Bulgaria from Greece and Turkey. The land remained untouched for decades until the collapse of the Soviet Union when hectares of pristine land became available for viticulture. Sourced from vineyards within this former territory, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a strawberry-scented, velvety, structured wine that will match well with osso buco or even your favourite chili con carne recipe.

This third-generation family-run domaine has 41ha of vineyards spread across 150 parcels and 6 villages. As a result, a vast array of soils, subsoils, vineyard sites and mesoclimates make up the varied terroirs of the wines … The vineyards are cultivated organically and all harvesting is done by hand ... The wines have impressive depth and intensity, particularly a … toasty, nutty Pinot Gris … These top whites will age well in bottle. (David Moore, Wines Behind the Label, 2007)

A great intro to Alsatian Gewurz because the classic grapefruit, rose petal and lychee aromas are all present, but in a light, pleasing style. As a result, this is an excellent aperitif wine, or enjoy it with lighter-flavoured seafood dishes.

This is a classic dry Riesling with fresh and fruity aromas of peach and lime juice as well as a mineral note. It has a racy and crisp fruity medium-bodied palate and would be an excellent match for grilled tuna steaks, Alsatian onion tart or mild pork sausage.

The fantastic quality of the 2005 vintage in Bordeaux is seen in the white wines as well as the legendary reds. This 50/50 blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent example. Aged for 8 months in French oak, this elegant and supple, medium-bodied wine features lovely floral and citrus fruit characteristics. It's a perfect match with grilled sole in a lemon fresh savoury sauce.

Tucked in between Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, St-Aubin is one of Burgundy's best kept secrets and produces about 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. The wines, especially the Chards, are similar in structure and style to Puligny-Montrachet - namely plump, ripe but beautifully balanced and may be enjoyed now bottling or aged for up to five years. If you're trying this tonight, think grilled game bird or herbed stuffed chicken.

A good value from the incredible 2005 Burgundy vintage, this basic Bourgogne Chardonnay shows lovely peach and toasty oak on the nose. It's dry, medium full-bodied with ripe peach fruit flavour as well as notes of honey and minerals leading to a lingering finish. A delicious wine for roasted herbed chicken.

This venerable house was founded by Louis Tramier in 1842. The cellars, built in 1830, are the only ones in Mercurey that are entirely tunnelled into rock, which ensures the constant temperatures required for excellent maturation. This crisp, well-balanced Chardonnay features plenty of grapefruit/citrus fruit flavours. Serve it with a seafood stir-fry.

As a highly respected négociant, Louis Jadot can pull in great fruit from many Burgundy regions. Here is a Pouilly-Fuissé, from the Mâconnais, that demonstrates this ability to perfection. This Chardonnay is crisp and apple-fresh with a lively mineral core and fulfilling finish. Match it to grilled chicken or lobster dishes.

Château de la Gravelle is one of the oldest properties in Muscadet, consisting of 12 ha of hillside vineyards made up of volcanic rock that is covered by a metre-deep layer of clay. This soil is ideal for producing elegant wines with a strong mineral character. This is clean, crisp and well-structured, with citrus fruit character. The 2006 won a Gold Medal at the Concours Géneral Agricole 2007 in Paris.

This property was purchased in 1977 by Marcel and Christian Quancard. This 03 won a Gold Medal at the Concours de Bordeaux Vins d'Aquitaine 2005. Comprised of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, look for aromas of gingerbread spice, plum and cassis on the nose and toasty oak on the finish. It can be aged for up to 10 years and would go very nicely with a roast leg of lamb.

This rich and subtle wine from the Right Bank of Bordeaux is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Expect aromas of red currants, toast and smoky oak. It's dry, medium full-bodied with fleshy fruit flavours balanced by medium tannins. Drinking well now, this wine will continue to evolve over the next 5-7 years.

Laurent Mabileau has 23 ha under cultivation in the St-Nicolas de Bourgueil and Bourgueil appellations. He grows only Cabernet Franc, known locally as Breton, and uses traditional and earth-friendly viticultural techniques. The wines of Bourgueil are known for their raspberry aromas and Mabileau's fresh, painstakingly-crafted creations are no exception.

Winner of a Silver Medal at the Concours des Vignerons Indépendants. The blend here is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot. The Roche family has been cultivating vines since 1773 in Cahors. In 1966, they took over the Château Croze de Pys vineyard. This fat, fruity Cahors, barrel-aged to infuse just the right amount of soft oak, can be aged for up to 10 years.

Jean Pierre, François and Pierre Perrin created Les Sinards as an homage to their late grandfather. With some of the grapes sourced from their famous Château de Beaucastel estate, this is a classic Châteauneuf with cocoa, blackcurrant, cherry and leather aromas. It's dry, medium- to full-bodied and packed with rich fruit flavours, as well as earth and smoke notes. With such great structure, this big wine needs roast beef or rack of lamb. The 2005 vintage, currently in stores, received a score of 91 from Robert Parker Jr, praising it for its "terrific concentration and richness". (www.erobertparker.com, April 2007)

Tommasi is one of Veneto's finest producers. They put their stamp on Pinot Grigio by creating an impactful, flavourful version that is excellent for sipping or serving with dishes such as pan-seared sea scallops.

This single-vineyard offering is an excellent value! It displays intense aromas of ripe cherry, leather and hints of vanilla oak. Medium-bodied, it's fresh and fruity with sour cherry and plum flavours, ripe tannins and a medium-long finish. Enjoy with cheese and spinach ravioli in tomato sauce.

The DOC Gioia del Colle is a large appellation in the Puglia region. It runs from the border with Basilicata DOC toward the town of Bari and onwards to the Adriatic. This mature Primitivo (a.k.a. Zinfandel) shows lovely berry and cherry fruit, floral notes as well as hints of coffee, mineral and earthy notes. It's ready-to-drink with veal scallopini in a sun-dried tomato sauce.

Banfi's 'Centine' is designed as a crowd-pleasing quaffer. This wine is a fascinating blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. You will experience hints of licorice, cherries and plums and a terrific spicy nuance.

Micheletti is a relatively new producer in Bolgheri and 2003 is just the third vintage of this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Merlot (20%). Intensely dark in colour, this wine has goregous aromas of black currants and sweet herbs. It's a full-bodied Bordeaux-style wine with powerful ripe fruit flavours supported by firm tannins and a light touch of oak. Drink now with rare roast beef or cellar up to 10 years and see how it evolves.

Poggio al Tufo is a new venture in Tuscany from Veneto's Tommasi.

Any dinner parties on the horizon? With its deep ruby- red hue and its lovely chocolate, berry and cappuccino notes, dinner guests are bound to enjoy this single vineyard Merlot. This easy-drinking, food-friendly red makes a natural partner with pastas.