Louis Roederer Premier Brut Champagne Non-Vintage

AOC Champagne $68.95 (268771) 12.0% alcohol

A Vintages Essentials product, it’s always available in select stores—from one of the top Champagne houses, it’s simply elegant. Brisk aromatics of leesy notes and baking bread interweave with almonds and red berry fruit. Tiny bubbles form a frothy mousse dishing up delightful flavours—racy lemon and peel marmalade with nuances of spiced green apple. It finishes crisp, refreshing and delectable—great value. (Vic Harradine)


Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico 2009
DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy $22.95 (994608) 14.0% alcohol
Leather, exotic spice and earthy notes provide segue for this medium-bodied, fruit-forward red. Mid weight with good mouth feel, it sprays over the palate with tannin-infused flavours of ripe, dark cherry and black currant adorned with wisps of oak of sprigs of roasted herbs. The aftertaste is dry and lengthy with a solid tannin underpinning. Drink 2014-2018 or aerate/decant three hours pouring with osso bucco or grilled steak. (Vic Harradine)


Château Rousseau de Sipian Médoc 2006
AOC Médoc, Bordeaux, France $22.95 (246637) 12.5% alcohol
This is a medal-winning, Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend that dishes up an earthy, toasty nose with hints of black plum and rich, dark berry fruit. It’s mid weight with good mouth feel and a tangy river of red cherry and currant underpinned by still-resolving tannin. There’s a solid core of fruit through the lengthy aftertaste along with good acidity. Better after a two-hour decant poured with grilled rack of lamb. (Vic Harradine)