Château des Charmes ‘Estate Bottled – Barrel Fermented’ Chardonnay 2011 

VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $13.95 (81653) 13.0% alcohol
This is terrific value, brimming with wonderful aromas—peach, pear and apple—and delicious flavours of crisp Granny Smith apple, white peach and lemon curd. It’s nicely balanced with good weight and satin-smooth mouth feel. It’s crisp and clean on the lengthy, lip-smacking aftertaste, Pour on its own or with seafood, chicken or pasta in cream sauce. (Vic Harradine)


Cono Sur ‘Bicicleta’ Chardonnay 2012
Wine of Chile $9.95 (321448) 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and floral notes precede a delectable mouthful of beautifully textured, medium-weight salad bowl of flavour—ripe apple, tropical fruit and crisp, refreshing lemon curd. It’s balanced and chockfull of charm. The luscious finish is clean, fruity and just plain delectable. As one expects from Cono Sur, the price-quality ratio is all in your favour. (Vic Harradine)


Fonseca ‘Bin No. 27 Reserve’ Port 

DOC Douro $15.95 (156877) 20.0% alcohol 

Dark fruit aromas—plum, raisin and field berry—drift from the glass of this sweet and succulent dessert wine. Ripe and generously textured flavours flow over the palate with spice cake, black plum compote and currants predominant. This is best sipped at the end of a meal on its own or with a mixed plate of hard aged cheese and nuts or with dark chocolate. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)


Villa Pozzi Merlot 2011 13.5% alcohol
IGT Sicily, Italy (319632) $12.95 (319632) 13.5% alcohol
This is a true crowd pleaser with über-ripe black fruit, nice balance and oodles of charm. A gusher of bramble berry and ripe, black cherry laden with spice coats the palate infusing the lengthy, balanced aftertaste. It shows good weight and texture with many food pairings possible—pizza, pasta, ribs and wings among them. (Vic Harradine)