Australia

Jindalee Shiraz 2008
South Eastern Australia $10.95 (591818) 14% alcohol
Reeling from the recession? Here’s a red that rocks—it’s flavour filled, crowd pleasing and budget friendly. Look for sweet juicy fruit flavours of succulent black cherry and ripe sweet brambly berry. It’s medium bodied, nicely textured delivering a lengthy well-balanced finish of delicious spicy dark berry fruit. Good bang for the buck and it pairs well with burgers, pizza and pasta dishes. (Vic Harradine)

California

Black Anvil Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
California $12.90 (45575) 13.5% alcohol
Punching well above its price, this California Cab offers a huge mouthful of ripe sweet fruit flavour with cherry and black raspberry to the fore. It has good balance (offering moderating acidity), is well structured (the tannins are perceptible and acceptable) and sports a lingering fruity finish. Good to go now with grilled red meats, pizza and burgers. (Vic Harradine)

France

Francois Lurton ‘Les fumées blanches’ 2008
Vin de Pays du Comte Tolosan $11.45 (472555) 12% alcohol
There are herbaceous notes of nettles and cut grass on the nose along with hints of smoke in this Sauvignon Blanc. It’s pungent and zesty on the palate with expressive flavours of gooseberry, white grapefruit and lemon zest—more Kiwi than French. This is medium bodied, nicely textured, well balanced and delivers a mouth-watering lip-smacking finish of citrussy tang. Pour alongside pan-seared fish, prawns or scallops under a squirt of freshly squeezed lemon. (Vic Harradine)

Italy

Casa Girelli ‘Canaletto’ Primitivo 2006
IGT Puglia $11.95 (94565) 13.5% alcohol
A famous baroque painter, Giovanni Canal—ironically born in Venice—was known as ‘Caneletto’ – the little Canal (in deference to his dad, also a famous painter). One of his paintings is on the label. Roasted herb, dark berry fruit and whiffs of oak on the nose, this fills the palate with rich flavours of tarry cherry and sweet dark brambly berry fruit intermingling with spice and black plum. It finishes lengthy and involved. Amazing it’s under $12.00—it earned its final half star on value. It’s a go-to wine for summer backyard get-togethers, especially when on your credit card. (Vic Harradine)

New Zealand

Stoneleigh Pinot Noir Rosé 2008
Marlborough, South Island $16.95 (122275) 12.5% alcohol
A step up in quality and price from many Rosés, this delivers a solid and focused stream of flavour with tangy pie cherry, ripe cranberry and spicy zesty red grapefruit tang. It’s light to medium bodied, well balanced, generously textured and sports a crisp mouth-watering finish. Perfect for summer quaffing, serve chilled as you would a white wine, this also pairs well with Caesar salad, smoked salmon and antipasto. (Vic Harradine)

Ontario

Cave Spring Cellars Pinot Noir 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (417642) 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of earth, spice box and fennel waft from the glass of this well-structured Pinot. Look for tart flavours of Montmorency cherry and cranberry mingling with ripe Bing cherry, black currant and hints of beetroot—great balance of flavours. There are supple tannins and seamlessly integrated oak—aged 8 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. It finishes tangy and spicy. It’ll drink well over the next 3 years; pick up a few as this ’07 vintage is special. (Vic Harradine)


Cave Spring Cellars Riesling 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.25 (234583) 11% alcohol
Orange blossom, mineral and citrus on the nose, this delivers a delectable mouthful of sweet and tang that’ll keep you coming back for more. It’s off-dry with flavours of pink grapefruit and lemon that are juxtaposed with ripe pineapple and Golden Delicious apple. It’s medium bodied with a well-balanced finish. You’ll enjoy this sipped on its own and equally well with spicy Asian dishes. The quality-price ratio is certainly in your favour. (Vic Harradine)


Henry of Pelham ‘Sibling Rivalry’ Red 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (126151) 13.5% alcohol
This drinks like you paid much more than asked—very good value. It delivers a spicy smoky nose announcing a delicious tangy mouthful of fruit flavour—sweet mulberry, pie cherry and hints of currant. It takes the best from each grape in the blend—Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon—delivering a well-balanced wine that’s underpinned by firm tannin structure and blessed with a lingering spicy black plum finish. Give it a go with brats or burgers. (Vic Harradine)


Henry of Pelham ‘Sibling Rivalry’ White 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (126144) 12% alcohol
The lifted and involved nose is chock full of delightful aromas—tropical fruit, mixed spice and sweet ripe pear. The flavours wash over the palate in waves with ripe yellow peach and nectarine, spiced honeyed apple and moderating citrus zest galore. There’s enough spice, sweet and tang for a perfect summer sipper and the versatility to pair well with spicy Asian cuisine. (Vic Harradine)


Reif Estate Winery ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay 2006
VQA Niagara River $16.95 (252163) 13.5% alcohol
Tantalizing aromas of vanilla, toasty oak and toffee rip from this well-balanced expressive wine—it’s a top drop and worth the price. You’ll also find a cornucopia of fruit flavours on the palate —pineapple, yellow plum, apple and citrus—with the solid finish layering on hints of spice and peach. It sports a nice texture and pairs well with take-away supermarket rotisserie chicken. (Vic Harradine)


Reif Estate Winery Cabernet Merlot 2007
VQA Niagara River $13.95 (565713) 12.5% alcohol
This is round and ready to go delivering aromas and flavours of dark berry fruit, red cherry/cranberry tang and spiced black Damson plum. It’s well balanced with just a wisp of oak—6 months in seasoned barrels—adding structure and interest. This red blend—40% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc—delivers solid value. Pour alongside grilled red meat or roast beef with root veggies. (Vic Harradine)

Quebec

Domaine Pinnacle ‘Ice Cider’ 2006
Quebec $29.95 (94094) 12% alcohol
(Previously reviewed in winecurrent – this has won over 40 International Gold medals!) Made from hand-harvested partially frozen apples—six different varieties—this delivers a delicious mouthful of nectar-like wine. The abundant aromas include honeyed baked apple, peach cobbler with gentle hints of cinnamon and maple syrup. The flavours are expressive and lip-smacking good with apple compote, caramel / toffee-dipped Hallowe’en apples and crème brûlée predominant. This is full flavoured and generously textured with a lengthy unctuous finish that shows very good balance. Drink on its own as dessert or pair with a fruit flan. This offers good value and is attractively packaged for gifting. (Vic Harradine)