Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune-Villages 2006
AOC Côte de Beaune-Villages, France $19.95 (47845) 13.0% alcohol
Meticulously handled—hand-picked Pinot Noir fruit, a year in French oak and egg white-fined—this opens with sexy aromas of rose petal, exotic spice and dried currants. Light bodied, well balanced and focused, it delivers a warm and balanced stream of red berry flavour with sour cherry, cranberry and currant predominant throughout. It finishes long, dry and refreshing. Perfectly paired with pasta puttanesca. (Vic Harradine)


Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2007 

VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (13904) 13.0% alcohol 

Rich and elegant, this top drawer Pinot from the fabulous ’07 vintage opens with complex aromas of wild berry, exotic spice and earthy tones. The palate is treated to wave after wave of well-balanced fruit flavour with ripe pomegranate, tangy cranberry and juicy black raspberry to the fore. Medium bodied and silky smooth, the finish is lengthy and luxurious. Gorgeous sipped on its own; it pairs perfectly with marinated grilled flank steak. (Vic Harradine)