Best's Great Western 'Thirteen Acre' Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Great Western, Victoria $31.65
Rich aromas of boysenberry and cassis form segue to this medium-bodied and fully textured red produced from well-established vines, some over 100 years old. Complex flavours glide easily over the palate with Bing cherry, black currant and mint to the fore. The 18 months in small French oak has been seamlessly integrated while the supple tannin provides firm structure. The tenacious finish is extremely well balanced. Drink now to 2012 with a thick juicy strip loin grilled rare to medium rare. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


logan 'Weemala' Pinot Noir 2007
Orange, New South Wales $18.15
Every cloud has a silver lining; a drought in '07 in this higher-altitude cool-climate region resulted in lower yields and a gutsier more concentrated wine than normal. This was partially foot trodden (a.k.a. pigeage) spending 6 months in new and used oak. There's cherry, strawberry and a roomful of spice-laden aromas on the nose. The flavours are well balanced with sweet Bing cherry, hints of chocolate and welcomed moderating acidity. It's light to medium bodied with a lengthy finish. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


Ulithorne 'Frux Frugis' Shiraz 2004
McLaren Vale $51.98
Tasting was ecstasy, spitting it quite difficult. Low-yields, sustainable viticulture, minimal irrigation and unfiltered juice went into crafting this wine from a small family-owned concern. Full bodied, rich and complex, expect aromas of black pepper, ripe berry fruit, aromatic bitters and espresso roast. The flavours are a mélange of sweet juicy dark fruit—cherry, mulberry and blackberry. The tannins are supple, but perceptible, and the lingering finish is amazingly well balanced from a spine of moderating acidity. Drink now to 2018. Order by the case of six for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)



Torres 'Marimar Estate' 'Don Miguel Vineyard' Chardonnay 2006
Russian River $46.15 (180701)
Elegant and complex, this was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented and aged in French oak. Toast, tropical fruit, vanilla and smoky aromas billow from the glass. It's full bodied nicely textured and delivers full bore warm (14.2% alcohol) fruit flavours with buttery ripe apple, pineapple and spiced pear up front; it's underpinned and balanced by a lovely stream of citrus tang. The finish is fruity and tenaciously lengthy. Drink now to 2014. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)



Domaine Cherrier et Fils Sancerre 2006
AOC Sancerre $27.24
This is a gorgeous effort with leesy and mineral aromas and a most luxurious creamy mouth feel. Twenty-five-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines showcase ripe and succulent fruit flavours. They wash over the palate in wave after delicious wave with ripe yellow peach, sweet yellow plum and zesty lemon zest to the fore and tropical fruit in the background. This is medium bodied and sports a clean and refreshing lingering finish. Order by the case from \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   in the Ottawa area and Hobbs and Company elsewhere for home or office delivery. (VH)


Domaine des Dorices 'Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie' 2006
AOC Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie $13.95
The price-quality balance is tipped heavily in your favour. The grape is Melon de Bourgogne, not 'Muscadet', which is a style of wine. This opens with expressive aromas of baking bread and mineral notes then washes the palate with a gusher of tantalizing flavours including white grapefruit, lemon zest and juicy white peach. It's medium bodied, well textured and delivers a dry crisp and lip-smacking finish. Pair with seafood, mussels, oysters or prawns. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


Ferraton Père et Fils Samorëns 2005
AOC Côtes du Rhône $20.10
A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault; this offers heady aromas of bright red cherry, spice and gamey notes with subtle hints of mint. The racy fruit flavours are pie cherry and black Damson plum underpinned by ripe and supple tannin. It finishes balanced and full of zesty tang that's overlaid with espresso roast and black licorice flavours. A versatile food wine, it pairs well with grilled red meats and meat-laden pizza. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)



Fontamara 'Ramaio' 2004
IGT Terre de Chieti $18.15
This gutsy blend, mostly Montepulciano with a touch of Aglianico, offers a lifted nose of exotic spice box and mixed field berry aromas. It's medium to full bodied, nicely textured with a charming rustic quality that shines through in the vibrant flavours—spiced black currant, bacon smoke and black juicy cherry underpinned by chunky tannin and nuances of herbs. The lingering finish is well balanced. Pair this osso bucco or lamb tagine. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)



Tawse Winery 'Robyn's Block Estate' Chardonnay 2004
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $53.00
This Silver Medal winner at the Canadian Wine Awards is a hedonist's delight. Vinified from well-established vines, this deep yellow gem rips from the glass with toasty, buttery and spice-laden aromas. There's a cornucopia of rich, complex flavours with apple compote and spiced poached pear among them. It's medium bodied and fully textured with a tenacious finish of vanilla and sweet ripe pit fruit. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


Tawse Winery 'Sketches of Niagara' Chardonnay Unoaked 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $20.00
Subtle, nuanced and delicate on the nose there are aromas of floral, mineral and spice. It's light on its feet, as well, with delicate texture and light to medium weight. The flavours, white grapefruit and lemon zest, are carried along on a bracing spine of acidity that sets up a clean and refreshing finish. A lovely summer quaffer, it also pairs well with a pan-seared freshwater fish, like trout. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


Tawse Winery Pinot Noir 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula $32.00
An absolutely stunning nose of barnyard and gamey aromas provide segue to this spicy, juicy well-balanced red. Medium bodied and nicely textured, it's a tour de force in winemaking in a particularly trying vintage. It provides depth and complexity via a persistent stream of spicy red cherry, red currant and pomegranate flavours through the tenacious finish. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)


Tawse Winery Riesling 2007
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $20.00
This opens with an alluring nose of white flowers and tropical fruit aromas. It's light to medium body and lightly textured, a delicate Riesling. There's nuanced and subtle flavours on the palate with a mélange of tropical fruit—pineapple, guava and honeydew melon. It finishes with a generous burst of ripe citrus. Pair this with steamed mussels. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (VH)

Bodegas Frutos Villar 'Calderona' Rosé 2007
DO Cigales $13.90
This is a gorgeous blend—70% Tempranillo with Grenache and local varieties providing the balance. Perfectly timed for summer sipping, look for pungent aromas and flavours of ripe rhubarb, freshly picked strawberries and red raspberry. It's medium bodied, crisp, dry and refreshing and it finishes lengthy and full of citrus zest and tang. Pair this with grilled salmon, seafood paella or goat cheese salad. Order by the case for home or office delivery via this email \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . (VH)