Château Guillou 2012
AOC Montage Saint-Emilion $18.95 (140483) 13.0% alcohol
This attractive Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend displays enticing aromas of ripe plum and black cherry/berry fruit, sweet spice and herbs, smoke and cedar. Dry and medium-full bodied, it’s firmly structured with lively texture. Juicy red berry and black cherry flavours are overlaid with nuances of coffee, roasted peppers and cedar. It’s a tasty, savoury red blend, showing good balance and the substance to pair with hearty stews. (Susan Desjardins)

  
Tawse ‘Grower’s Blend’ Cabernet Franc 2012
VQA Niagara Peninsula $26.95 13.5% alcohol
This is complex wine that grabs your attention—it’s a Cab Franc fan’s delight. Smoky notes of grilled herbs layer over aromas of pomegranate, black fruit, turned earth and vanilla. Opening with a silky flow of ripe berry and plum fruit across the palate, structure soon asserts itself with tannin and fresh acidity providing a well-defined frame. Integrated oak offers attractive nuances of spice and vanilla, cedar and espresso, while the long, dry finish echoes notes of herbs and roasted red peppers. Pair with herbed roast lamb. (Susan Desjardins)