Hardy's 'Nottage Hill' Chardonnay 2006
South Eastern Australia $11.00 (283457)
An alluring nose of vanilla and sweet honeydew melon opens this medium-bodied and well-balanced white. Sweet pit fruit (peach and nectarine) and generous citrus acidity provide a delicious mouthful of tangy and refreshing flavours. There's solid value and versatility as it pairs well with chicken and veal dishes as well as grilled or poached fish. (VH)
Hardy's 'Nottage Hill' Shiraz 2005
South Eastern Australia $13.00 (375964)
This Ottawa Wine and Food Show medal-winner offers interesting aromas of spice and aromatic bitters. There's a healthy dollop of rich sweet berry fruit flavours moderated by good acidity. The supple tannins add complexity while the fruit forward finish—spiced cherry and black plum—is medium in length. Straightforward and offering fair value, it pairs well with grilled red meat. (VH)
Pisse-Dru Beaujolais Blanc 2005
AOC Beaujolais $11.85 (276865)
The apple and pear aromatics flesh out in the palate to crisp green apple and honeyed-pear flavours. This is light bodied and dry, layering on some citrussy notes on the medium-length finish. Nothing flashy, but still offering fair value and a balanced white wine that pairs well with lighter fare, like chicken and veal. (VH)
20 Bees 'Growers' White' 2005
*Product of Canada $12.15 (49635) 1 Litre Tetra
*This is produced from 100% Ontario grapes. It does not earn VQA status as regulations stipulate all wine must be in glass bottles. Distinctive honey and floral aromas abound in this light-bodied blend. A mélange of flavours wash over the palate with apple, peach and pear to the fore. You'll enjoy a crisp and refreshing finish that's infused with a delightful citrussy tanginess that marks this as an enjoyable aperitif wine or the perfect foil to grilled freshwater fish under a squirt of lemon. (VH)
Robertson Winery Shiraz 2006
WO Robertson $12.15 (610949)
Dark cherry and smoky aromas emanate from this delicious medium-bodied red. The flavours are all about sweet and rich dark berry fruit—mulberry, cherry and bramble berry—bolstered by moderating acidity that reveals itself as a tangy red cherry flavour on the finish. There's good complexity—60% of the fruit was exposed to 6 months of French oak—and, overall, it achieves good balance and offers very good value. (VH)
Ubuntu Shiraz 2006
WO Western Cape $9.90 (665281)
Round, ready and raring to go, this offers very good value, earning its final half-star on price. Cedar, spice and dark berry fruit aromas on the nose, the flavours are in the black juicy cherry and sweet black currant zones. The finish is admirable—the warm sweet (14.5% alcohol) lingering dark fruit flavours are nicely balanced off with a spoonful of moderating tang and the slightest hint of drying tannins and smoky notes. (VH)
Red Guitar Old Vines Tempranillo/Garnacha 2005
Navarra $12.75 (54007)
A relatively new wine in the LCBO, this blend is full-flavoured, dry and smooth-textured. Look for concentrated flavours of sweet black fruit and berries with notes of spice. This is a versatile wine that goes as well with pizza as steak. (RP)