Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec 2009
Tupungato Valley, Argentina $11.55 (160952) 14.7% alcohol
This organic gold-medal winner earned the final half star on great value. Aromas and flavours of spice-driven black plum and dark field berry abound. It’s straightforward and uncomplicated, medium bodied and silky smooth on the palate with a lengthy fruit-filled finish. This pairs well with spicy cuisine—chicken wings, ribs and pasta in spicy meat sauce. (Vic Harradine)


Deakin Estate Shiraz 2009
Victoria, Australia $9.95 (560821) 13.5% alcohol
Easy drinking and gentle on the credit card, this offers good value. Aromas of dark cherry/berry and spice box introduce this nicely balanced, well textured Aussie. Flavours of juicy Bing cherry and sweet plum compote wash over the palate and flow through the lengthy aftertaste. A crowd favourite with grilled steak or burgers, it also matches up well with pasta in spicy meat sauce. (Vic Harradine)


Fuzion ‘Alta Reserva’ Malbec 2009
Mendoza, Argentina $9.95 (135475) 13.0% alcohol
A step above what may now be your go-to Malbec, aromas of dark toast, spice cake and espresso roast spill from the glass. There’s a rush of flavour on the palate with Bing cherry and juicy pomegranate melding with spice and floral notes. It’s mid weight and nicely textured with ripe tannin and lip-smacking fruit on the aftertaste. It gained its final half star on value. (Vic Harradine)


Gazela Vinho Verde Rosé
DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal $8.95 (125727) 10.0% alcohol
This is value-laden and a rock-solid choice as a deck or patio sipper or poured with sushi, chèvre-topped salads, fish or seafood. It’s frizzante—slight fizz felt on the tongue—and delightful delivering a light-on-its-feet blush of flavour with strawberry and red currant mingling with spice throughout. For perfect serving temperature, chill until the heat-sensitive snowflake emblem on the bottle turns blue! (Vic Harradine)


Henry of Pelham Family Estate Gamay 2009
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (29112) 13.0% alcohol
Spice, dark toast with hints of tobacco on the nose, this delivers a tangy rush of lively flavour—cranberry, pomegranate and racy red currant. It’s light-medium weight, nicely textured and delivers a crisp refreshing aftertaste of spice-driven red berry fruit. It easily ratchets up a notch or two with comfort food—meat-laden pizza, spicy wings or a burger with the works… good value, too. (Vic Harradine)


Henry of Pelham Family Estate ‘Sibling Rivalry – Pink’ 2010
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (171033) 12.0% alcohol
It may be ‘Sibling Rivalry’ on the label, but there’s complete harmony in the bottle. The blend of Cabernet, Gamay and Syrah jumps from the glass with alluring aromas of fresh-picked strawberry and floral notes. The palate’s treated to a rush of refreshing berry fruit—strawberry and spice-infused red raspberry. It’s medium-bodied, generously textured and delivers a mouth-watering crisp finish. The price-quality ratio skews in your favour. (Vic Harradine)


Masi ‘Passo Doble’ 2009
Tupungato, Argentina $13.95 (620880) 13.5% alcohol
Masi produces good-value, great-tasting wine and this Malbec/Corvina blend delivers a nicely layered complex mouthful of juicy vibrant fruit—ripe red cherry, spice-infused red currant along with hints of fig. It’s medium weight and well textured with good depth of flavour. There’s good focus and deft balance throughout complemented by a lingering mouth-watering mulberry aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)


McWilliams ‘Hanwood Estate’ Moscato Non vintage
South Eastern Australia $13.95 (2126960 6.0% alcohol
Lifted aromas of exotic spice, red licorice and rose petals introduce this sweet-tasting field blend. A salad bowl of intense, sweet ripe tropical fruit flavour coats the palate and lingering aftertaste. This light-on-its-feet, low-alcohol white has great appeal as a well-chilled summertime sipper or paired with freshly picked and sliced strawberries or fruit salad. (Vic Harradine)


Passion of Argentina Malbec 2009
Argentina $11.55 (163188) 14.7% alcohol
This is a solid value-priced red with aromas of Asian spice, berry fruit and vanilla. Sweet, ripe dark berry fruit flavour dominates the palate supported by a silky smooth texture and fine-grained tannin underpinning. There’s substantial ripe berry fruit on the finish garnished with spice and hints of espresso roast. It’s a hi-octane easy-going sipper that pours well with spicy meat-laden pizza. (Vic Harradine)


Pascual Toso ‘Limited Edition’ Malbec 2009
Mendoza, Argentina $14.95 (162610) 14% alcohol
Certainly one of the stars in a line-up of mid-priced Malbecs—the price-quality balance tips well in your favour. It’s nicely structured delivering a huge mouthful of flavour with dense dark cherry, mulberry and kirsch liqueur to the fore. Medium-full bodied with good mouth feel, this silky-smooth charmer steps out smartly with spice and dark berry aromas and cleans up with a lingering, fruit-filled aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)