Chateau Canteloup Médoc 2012

AOC Médoc, France $19.65 (420000) 13.5% alcohol

There’s a world of value in this Bordeaux beauty; aromas of charred toast and exotic incense open the floodgates to a creamy smooth mid-weight river of black currant and black raspberry entwined with dark bittersweet chocolate and bits of tar. This left bank, 55% Merlot/45% Cabernet Sauvignon blend is a bit of an anomaly—left bank wines are usually Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, we’ll mark this ambidextrous. It finishes balanced and lengthy. (Vic Harradine)

  
Sprucewood Shores ‘Lady in Red’ 2013
VQA Ontario $14.95 (266486) $14.95 13.0% alcohol 
This red blend— 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Pinot Noir—won Silver Medal at the recent 2015 All Canadian Wine Championships. Winemaker, Tanya Mitchell, describes it as having, ‘nice nose, good legs, great body’. Über-fruity aromas of fresh-pressed grapes mingle with fennel and wisps or dark fruitcake spice. It’s light on its feet racing over the palate with piquant spice, tangy red currant and passion fruit to the fore. Pour with pasta in tomato sauce, wings, tacos or enchiladas. (Vic Harradine)

    
Sprucewood Shores Riesling 2014
VQA Ontario $13.95 (326249) $14.95 12.0% alcohol
This won Silver Medal at the recent 2015 All Canadian Wine Championships and once you pick up a few bottles and taste, you’ll probably agree. Perfumed aromas of floral notes, peach and citrus herald an off-dry surge of honeyed white nectarine and crisp green apple juxtaposed to a tangy line of lemon curd and lime cordial. The sweet and tang are just the yin and yang required to pour well with spicy Asian cuisine. It also sips well solo. (Vic Harradine)