Château des Charmes 'Estate Bottled' Chardonnay 2006
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $13.95 (81653)
Lemon, pear and vanilla aromas dance off the lifted nose of this charming white. Tantalizing flavours of sweet ripe fruit—peach, nectarine and ripe Bosc pear (coincidentally, the Bosc family own this winery)—are delivered in waves in this medium weight, well balanced effort. This earned its final half star on taste and the very favourable price-quality ratio. (VH)


Dan Aykroyd Cabernet Shiraz 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (74062)
Oodles of zesty, spicy and heady fruit flavours intermingle in this medium-bodied and medium-textured blend. Cranberry, Montmorency cherry and red currant flavours predominate with hints of spice and black Damson plum layered on the finish. This wine pairs extremely well with coq au vin and with chicken cacciatore. (VH)


Dan Aykroyd Sauvignon Blanc 2007
VQA Ontario $14.95 (74047)
Tangy and terrific, this earned its final half star on the wonderful value it delivers. Imagine a grassy herbaceous SB infused with ripe tropical fruit and you've nailed this wine. Racy herbaceous and citrus aromas fly off the glass while the flavours on the palate are a delicious mélange of pineapple, honeydew melon and passion fruit. There's also plush texture and a lingering finish. Pair with any manner of steamed shellfish. (VH)


Jackson-Triggs 'Proprietors' Reserve' Meritage 2005
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.25 (526228)
This red blend (48% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc) opens with very expressive aromas of spice and dark ripe berry fruit. It's quite mellow and very smooth as the ripe flavours—black currant and rich black plum—glide along the palate on a medium-bodied and fleshy-textured frame. The ripe tannin, deftly integrated oak, good balance and fruity finish rounds out a lovely package. (VH)


Jackson-Triggs 'Proprietors' Reserve' Sauvignon Blanc 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (58438)
Tangy, crisp and lip-smacking good, look for a refreshing gusher of lemon-lime tang to wash over your palate and senses. This is light to medium bodied and sports a racy finish. Just the thing for pleasant summer quaffing, it's also the perfect partner with chèvre crumbled over a mess of greens under light vinaigrette. (VH)


Pillitteri Estates Winery 'Fusion' Gewürtztraminer Riesling 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (349126)
What a delightful blend this is. There are plenty of interesting and exotic aromas with rosewater, Asian spice and mineral notes to the fore. It shifts into high gear in the mouth with a gusher of sweet and tang flavours—ripe sweet peach and zesty lemon-lime. It's off dry and right on target to be paired with spicy Asian foods like Pad Thai or Vietnamese shaking beef. This offers very good value. (VH)


Strewn Gewürztraminer 2006
VQA Niagara Lakeshore $12.95 (65359)
Fragrant aromas of rosewater, Turkish delight confectionary and exotic spice billow from the glass of this golden-hued beauty. Delightfully dry and refreshing, it's medium in body and texture with good fruit on the palate and focused finish—lime zest, pear and minty apple. Made for easy quaffing it also pairs very well with Alsace onion tart. (VH)


The Grange of Prince Edward County 'Trumpour's Mill' Gamay Noir 2006
VQA Prince Edward County $14.80 (615062)
Winning double gold at the 2008 All Canadian Wine Championship competition heralds this as the best Gamay Noir tasted. It opens with perfumed aromas of red and black berry fruit with distinctive spice and earthy notes. The palate is treated to a taste sensation—sweet berry fruit juxtaposed to tangy cranberry flavours. This sweet and tang, yin and yang, lingers on the lengthy finish. Medium bodied and nicely structured, this drinks well on its own, but has the pizzazz to pair with burgers, gourmet sausage or spicy pizza. (VH)



Bellingham Shiraz 2005
Coastal Region, South Africa $13.85 (554360)
This is marked by warm ripe and lifted fruit flavours—there's 2% Viognier providing that lift—and a very approachable structure delivering ripe, almost imperceptible, tannin. There are boysenberry and sweet black briary berry flavours galore in this medium-bodied blend with a hint of rosemary on the finish. (VH)



Osborne 'Solaz' Merlot/Tempranillo 2005
Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain $10.75 (74021)
There's a good deal going on here, all giving you good bang for your ten bucks. It opens with an involved nose of vanilla, dark berry fruit and spice box. The flavours are primarily in the ripe cherry zone with a mélange of supporting cast members—black currant, spiced black plum and kirsch liqueur, to name three. The tannins are perceptible and the mouth feel is plush and pleasant. Good moderating acidity rounds out this partner for grilled BBQ meats. (VH)


Bodegas Montecillo 'Reserva' 2002
DOC Rioja, Spain $19.00 (621003)
Cassis, smoke and spice aromas roll off this 100% Tempranillo beauty. Rich, complex and concentrated, it delivers a luscious mouthful of flavour—cassis and concentrated sweet red cherry dominate. It's medium to full bodied, delicately balanced and offers a memorable fruity finish. It earned its final half star on the great value it delivers. (VH)