Order the following wine by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery (in Ontario) from Nokhrin Wines or email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; if in the GTA phone (416) 704-8617.

Port Wine: Red

  
Quinta Casa Amarela ‘Reserve’ Ruby Port Non-vintage
DOC Douro, Portugal $26.95 19.5% alcohol 
A lava flow of sweet flavour and spice coats the palate. Aromas of piquant spice and cedar interweave with mocha and briary berry preceding a lively flow of spice-laden sweet kirsch liqueur, ripe mulberry and maraschino cherry. It’s fruit forward and finishes with good tang and wisps of tannin on the aftertaste. Pour with blue-veined cheese, dark chocolate dessert or shards of very old cheddar or Parmigiano Reggiano. (Vic Harradine)

  
Quinta Casa Amarela 10-Year-Old ‘Tawny’ Port 
DOC Douro, Portugal $43.95 19.5% alcohol 
Rich, amber-hued ambrosia spills from this stylish Tawny. Warm spice and caramel aromas introduce a luscious, palate-bathing wash of crème caramel, toffee and warm Christmas cake spice along with hints of almond. This is nicely balanced, smooth and mellow throughout with persistent flavours replayed through the lingering finish and aftertaste. Pours well with consommé, crème brulée, spice cake, warmed nuts or aged hard cheese. (Vic Harradine)

Port Wine: White

  
Quinta Casa Amarela ‘Porto Branco’ Non-vintage
DOC Douro, Portugal $23.95 500 mL 20.0% alcohol
Fashioned in the traditional manner—a variety of mostly indigenous grapes, foot trodden in granite lagars with fermentation interrupted with the addition of brandy—this is certainly special. Flavours range from mango to orange marmalade and white peach with hints of banana. It’s incredibly smooth and mellow throughout. Pour with a couple of ounces of soda and lemon or lime wedge. (Vic Harradine)

Champagne

  
Gratiot Champagne ‘Prélude’ Non-vintage
Champagne, France $46.95 12.5% alcohol
This opens with a profusion of bubbles releasing aromas of citrus and yeasty notes. It streaks across the palate, mid weight and sleek, showcasing lip-smacking white grapefruit acidity mingling with crisp green apple and minerality. It finishes with flavours and tang persisting through the aftertaste. A beautiful aperitif, it’s a match made in heaven with oysters in pernod-cream sauce. (Vic Harradine)

  
Gratiot Champagne ‘Maison’ Non-vintage
Champagne, France $43.95 12.5% alcohol
This stunning gem showcases structured and flavourful Champagne that’s stylish, charming and value-packed. The blend—70% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir—spent 5 years on lees, disgorged on July 2013. Floral notes mingle with leesy, lemony aromas preceding a mousse of small-bead bubbles and waves of flavour—ripe apple, lemon pie filling and hints of marzipan. It finishes clean and crisp with oodles of charm and the price-quality balance tips well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)

White Wine

  
Cantina Colle di San Domenico 2013
DOCG Fiano di Avellino, Italy $26.95 13.0% alcohol 
Structure, texture, purity of fruit, balance and the promise of more to come are encapsulated here. Floral and honey notes mingle on the nose before dazzling the palate with a surge of textured ambrosia—hazelnut and almond interweaving with orange-peel marmalade and notions of lemon pie filling. The finish lingers, lip-smacking good. Outstanding now, it will develop further, now to 2020—it was tough to spit. (Vic Harradine)

  
Casa Amarela ‘Selection’ 2012
DOC Douro, Portugal $23.95 13.5% alcohol 
Lively aromas of pineapple and lemon-lime introduce a sweet and tang-laden rush of Key lime and green apple interlaced with Meyer lemon on the palate, persisting through the crisp, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. It’s mid weight with good mouth feel and a lengthy, crisp and refreshing aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared fish or lemon chicken. (Vic Harradine)

Red Wine

  
Casa Amarela ‘Reserva’ 2012
DOC Douro, Portugal $39.95 13.5% alcohol
Using only premium Port grapes—Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz—from +60-year-old vines and aged nine to twelve months in new French oak barrels, it was bottled unfiltered. It has structure, deft balance, purity of fruit and time on its side. Cassis, toasty oak and hints of vanilla introduce a full-bodied, fully textured surge of ripe mulberry and bramble berry pie garnished with excellent acidity underpinned by a solid lick of tannin. It finishes in a blaze fiery spice, good acidity, perceptible tannin—a three-hour aeration/decant will ameliorate—and plenty of delicious fruit. Will handsomely reward careful cellaring—pop corks 2016 to 2024. (Vic Harradine)

  
Casa Amarela ‘Tinto’ 2012
DOC Douro, Portugal $20.95 14.0% alcohol
Aromas of cedar, pipe tobacco and earthy notes stream from this smooth, mellow, red blend—Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Baroca, Tinta Amerela and others. Mid-full weight with good mouth feel, a gusher of dark berry fruit, piquant spice and notions of cassis coat the palate infusing the lengthy, luscious and nicely balanced finish. Pour alongside red meat—steak, roast or gourmet burger. (Vic Harradine)

  
Don Michelangelo ‘Rosso’ 2012
IGT Sicilia, Italy $22.95 14.0% alcohol
This red blend of indigenous grape varieties dishes up aromas of ripe dark fruit, black plum and berry pie. A lively wash of spiced red berry and sweet ripe mulberry bathe the palate interwoven with red licorice. It lingers on the finish with good balance and oodles of charm. You wouldn’t go wrong pouring with grilled rack of lamb or beef and veggie kebabs. (Vic Harradine)

  
Tenuta Santa Giuliana ‘Piu Rosso’ 2011
IGT Veneto, Italy $49.95 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of rich, dark berry fruit and dark chocolate herald a balanced and beautiful river of sweet ripe mulberry, cassis and mocha from this gorgeous red blend—50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Refosco. It’s structured, über-smooth and mellow throughout with mid-full weight and textured mouth feel. It finishes lengthy and luscious in a blaze of lip-smacking red cherry and dark berry fruit. (Vic Harradine)