Palandri Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2003
Western Australia $18.45 (602607)
(I gave incorrect appellation and price information on this wine in the February 18 newsletter. The information here is correct and the review is reprinted.) A popular Australian blend, this delivers a well-balanced, medium-bodied mouthful of sweet dark fruit (plums, cherries) with attractive spiciness and a nice finish. Pair it with grilled lamb chops and herbed potatoes. Drink now or hold two or three years. (RP)


Palandri Merlot 2002
Western Australia $18.95 (621748)
Dense, complex and full of flavour. This is fruit-driven (loads of rich, dark plum and berry fruit, with notes of spice, pepper and coffee), well structured, has a tangy texture, and firm, drying tannins. It's medium-plus in weight and pairs well with substantial red meat dishes. (RP)


Wolf Blass Shiraz/Grenache 2002
South East Australia $14.10 (494336)
Usually bigger than life, this is pleasantly balanced without rough edges or corners. Floral and spice aromatics waft from the glass. The flavour profile has sweet blueberries and red currant whilst the tannins and acidity are held in check and balance. The lengthy finish is fruit forward and lip-smacking good. This would match an Aussie burger "all dressed". That would include: mince (hamburger), a bun, tomato, onion, beetroot, a slice of pineapple, rocket (lettuce), tasty (old) cheese, mustard, relish and topped with a fried egg. Honest. (VH)

Creekside Estate Cabernet Merlot 2002
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (669424)
This wine won the Andrew S. Brandt Award at Cuvée 2006 for the best Ontario red wine on the LCBO General List. From the excellent 2002 vintage, it delivers well concentrated dark fruit flavours with good complexity, and light tannins. Above all, it's well balanced and shows Creekside's signature food-friendly style. Pair this with red meat dishes. (RP)


Konzelmann "Golden Vintage" Vidal 2003
VQA Ontario $8.95 (203836)
Vidal is too often dismissed as a variety for table wine, but some Ontario wineries are working well with it. Konzelmann's is an inexpensive but well-made off-dry expression, that delivers flavours of apricot and peach, with floral added to the aromas. It's balanced and clean, and pairs well with spicy Thai dishes. (RP)

Viña Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003
Valle de Maipo $16.95 (358309)
This is one of those wines about which wine snobs get upset when they see all those stars. After all, how good can it be at this price? Damn good. It is a stunningly, rich red that bursts forward with aromas of mint and cherries. It is full-bodied, creamy smooth and beautifully structured. Juicy cassis and black, spicy plum flavours abound and the ripe silky smooth tannins and zingy tang coalesce into a hummer of a wine. It finishes with dark chocolate, raspberries and a fair grip. Even so, you can enjoy it now and to 2012 with a slab of grilled medium-rare venison smothered in sautéed shitakes. (VH)


Viña Carmen Grande Vidure/Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003
Valle de Maipo $17.00 (439166)
This 60 % Grande Vidure (aka Carmenère) blend has a lovely aromatic profile of toast and black licorice. It is full-bodied with rich ripe (14% alc.) fruit flavours that include dark chocolate cherries and spicy raspberries. It has a silky feel and offers good complexity and balance. The dry finish has a touch of earthiness and would be a lovely match to Osso Bucco with truffle risotto. These reserve wines are hand-picked, receive a premium oak regimen plus additional winery-ageing before release. (VH)

Caves des Papes 2004
Côtes du Rhône $15.20 (535849)
A very quiet nose (leather and anise) that opens up to fruit forward flavours of strawberry and spiced cherry. There is a sweet core to the finish, as well, along with tar and a touch of earthiness. This is deftly balanced, exhibits a touch of class and provides a red that would marry well to what they eat a great deal of in this area - cassoulet. (VH)

Martini Trentcinquesimo Parallelo Zinfandel 2004
DOC Primitivo Di Manduria $8.95 (612754)
This has cherry and bramble berry aromas that follow through to the palate. It is well balanced, medium-bodied and fruit forward, though tending toward jammy. It has a lengthy sweet (14% alc.) finish, but still cleans up nicely. Pair it with pizza or pasta with tomato sauce and pat yourself on the back, 35 times, for being such a canny wine shopper. (VH)

J.P. Vinhos 'Tinta da Anfora' 2002
Alentejo $12.95 (227256)
With this winery and the doyen of Portuguese winemakers Louis Pato leading the way, Alentejo is now being celebrated for their new wave of clean, fruit forward, quality reds. You will understand why by giving this a try. The lifted nose of cherries and tar gives way to rich flavours of dark berry fruit and spicy black plums. This medium to full-bodied beauty gives rise to descriptors like rich, concentrated, sweet and complex. The quality to price balance is tipped in your favour. (VH)

Osborne 'Solaz' 2004
Vino de la Terra de Castilla $10.00 (620922)
A Shiraz/Tempranillo blend from Spain's iconic bodega. Those striking black toro billboards that dot Spain's landscape were placed by Osborne and they have hit the bulls-eye here. This medium-bodied, almost fleshy, red has sweet (13.5% alc.) bramble berry flavours that border on jammy, but is held together smartly with ripe tannins and a dollop of pleasant tang. Try this with roast pork garnished with beetroot and onions. (VH)

Robert Mondavi 'Woodbridge' Zinfandel 2004
California $13.05 (329110)
Recently embroiled in a corporate takeover, they have not dropped the ball with what they do best - make wine. They prove it here with a non-jammy, but delicious Zin. A restrained nose of mint and cherry blossom leads one to a beautifully balanced, fruit forward (Bing cherry and raspberry) offering that is a smooth and mellow crowd pleaser. Pleasant on its own, a leg of lamb with mint jelly would work well, now to 2009. (VH)