Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Pinot Blanc 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 12.0% alcohol
An alluring nose of subtle captivating aromas—lemon-lime, exotic spice and peach—provide delightful segue to a focused stream of sweet and tang, yin and yang flavours—honeyed pear, racy lemon and zesty ripe pineapple. It’s an easy sipping crowd-pleaser that pours well as a welcoming wine or paired with pan-seared calamari rings under a squish of fresh lemon. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)


Coyote’s Run Estate Winery Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (112144) 12.0% alcohol
A delicate complex nose of floral, spice box, minerality and tree fruit aromas open this fruit-forward delectable gem. Spice-infused fruit washes over the palate in waves—white peach, grapefruit and racy lemon. Mid weight and quite generously textured it finishes dry, crisp, complex and lip-smacking good. Pour under the summer sun with spicy crab cakes or all manner of sea food. (Vic Harradine)


Finca Flichman ‘Misterio’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Mendoza, Argentina $7.95 (163949) 13.5% alcohol
Semi opaque, this soft easy-drinking wine is deep red with a slight violet hue. It displays attractive floral notes along with aromas of cherry, black berry and spice. There are plummy notes joining bright berry flavours, spice and pepper on the palate. Medium-full bodied, the wine is fruity with supple tannin and soft acidity. The mid-length finish replays the fruit, underlain with notes of char. A great BBQ wine. (Susan Desjardins)


François Lurton Pinot Gris 2009
Uco Valley, Argentina $10.95 (556746) 13.0% alcohol
Lurton was the first winery to plant this varietal in Argentina—shipped by accident instead of Chardonnay. This is an appealing crowd-pleaser characterized by fresh aromas of ripe peaches and tree fruit. It displays fresh acidity, ripe stone fruit and citrus flavours with a slightly pithy note. It’s medium bodied, with a fresh citrussy finish. Sip on its own or serve with poached fish. (Susan Desjardins)


McWilliams ‘Hanwood Estate’ Chardonnay 2008
South Eastern Australia $13.95 (557934) 13.5% alcohol
Toast, tropical fruit and wisps of oak aromas on the nose set up a well-balanced mouthful of crisp, clean and refreshing flavour. Focused and flavourful on the palate, there’s good zest and tang—lemon, grapefruit and succulent white peach. It’s mid weight and nicely textured with a mid length mouth-watering aftertaste that layers on hints of toasty oak. It pours and pairs well with pan-seared freshwater fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)


McWilliams ‘Hanwood Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
South Eastern Australia $14.95 (214557) 14.0% alcohol
The delightful nose of currant, toast and dark berry fruit aromas segue a well-balanced wash of rich flavour with black currant, ripe mulberry and cassis predominant. It’s medium bodied with a generous mouth feel and sports a lengthy finish that’s underpinned by a firm tannin structure and nuances of oak. Good to go now with a two-hour decant or accompanied by a juicy rib eye, grilled rare to medium rare. (Vic Harradine)


McWilliams ‘Hanwood Estate’ Shiraz 2007
South Eastern Australia $14.95 (610683) 14.0% alcohol
Juicy, rich and bursting with flavour, the captivating aromas—exotic spice and vanilla fusing with bare hints of oak—segue a wave of flavour washing over the palate—ripe juicy mulberry, spiced black plum and spice-infused black, ripe Damson plum. It’s mid weight, nicely balanced and ready to roll. Pour on its own—with each sip better than the last—or pair with a slab of smoked and grilled back ribs slathered with spicy BBQ sauce. (Vic Harradine)


Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Cabernet 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (598748) 12.5% alcohol
A even-split blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the quiet nose of red berry fruit and spice aromas segue a round and ready mouthful of well-balanced flavour. There’s black currant, mint-infused cherry and spiced black plum mingling with ripe resolving tannin on the palate and mid-length aftertaste. There’s good value here and it pairs exceptionally well with burgers, meat-laden pizza or gourmet sausage. (Vic Harradine)


Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Merlot 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (61101) 13.0% alcohol
This is smooth and mellow with good fruit flavour—just the red to serve with roast chicken or lightly herbed and spiced veal or pork. It’s chockfull of succulent red berry flavour infused with savoury herbs. It’s mid weight, very generously textured and underpinned with ripe fine-grained tannin. The finish is mid length, balanced and layered with hints of bell pepper. (Vic Harradine)


Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (53678) 13.0% alcohol
Lovely aromas of tropical fruit, floral notes and streaks of minerality on the nose, it dishes up a round and ready delightful sipper. Waves of flavour wash over the palate with white peach, green apple and citrus galore and they carry through the lengthy mouth-watering finish. An appealing style that lends itself to sipping on its own or paired with lighter food, like thinly sliced grilled chicken over lightly oiled mesclun mix. (Vic Harradine)


Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Shiraz 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (70052) 12.5% alcohol
The price-quality balance tips well in your favour—it’s as good as you’ll get at this price from around here. It opens with an appealing nose of dark juicy briary fruit and mixed spice followed by a well-balanced and generously textured mouthful of flavour—ripe mulberry, spiced cranberry and hints of kirsch liqueur. It’s medium bodied with a fruit-forward mid-length aftertaste. Sip on its own or pour with grilled lamb. (Vic Harradine)


Pillitteri Estates Winery Pinot Grigio 2009
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $12.95 (146787) 12.5% alcohol
This opens with exotic aromas of honeysuckle, buckwheat and citrus delivering a focused and high-toned wash of clean, crisp and refreshing flavour with lemongrass, ripe white peach and tangy lemon to the fore. There’s a replay of flavour on the zesty aftertaste coupled with a delicate dash of ginger and other mixed spice. Paired perfectly with freshly shucked oysters. (Vic Harradine)


Rosemount Estate ‘Diamond Cellars’ Grenache Shiraz 2008
South Eastern Australia $12.85 (476838) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of dark sweet berry fruit and cherry swirl from the glass of this mid-weight, generously textured blend. It delivers a gusher of candied fruit with flavours of cherry, raspberry and black plum galore. The warm aftertaste is fruit-forward and redolent of cherry pie filling. Pair with a strip of smoked and grilled back ribs slathered in spicy BBQ sauce. (Vic Harradine)


Rosemount Estate ‘Diamond Cellars’ Shiraz Cabernet 2008
South Eastern Australia $12.85 (214270) 13.5% alcohol
A rock-solid 4 stars and value packed, this red blend is fruity, fresh and lively. Look for aromas and waves of flavour with spice, minty Montmorency cherry and dark berry fruit galore. It’s medium bodied, nicely textured with a refreshing lingering aftertaste. Give it a go with what comes off your Broil King—burgers, steak or gourmet sausage. (Vic Harradine)


Torres ‘Sangre de Toro’ 2007 

DO Catalunya, Spain (6585) $12.05 13.5% alcohol
Earthy, dark and exotic aromas on the nose, this Grenache-Carignan blend bursts on the palate with concentrated flavours of black currant, pie cherry and racy cranberry. It’s medium weight and nicely textured sporting good structure underpinned by supple tannin. This certainly has body and balance to pair well with comfort food—burgers, pizza or lasagna. Added bonus—for every six bottles sold, ‘Trees Ontario’ will plant a tree in aid of the environment. (Vic Harradine)