Huff Estates ‘South Bay Vineyards’ Chardonnay 2010
VQA Prince Edward County $29.95 (88955) 12.5% alcohol
A top-notch, impressive Chardonnay with exotic spice, sweet vanilla, hazelnut and citrus aromas—beautifully constructed with a boatload of charm. It’s medium-full bodied and fully textured dazzling the palate with tangy Granny Smith apple, blood orange and lemon yoghurt wreathed with minerality, toasty bits and exhilarating, lip-smacking acidity leading to a crisp, clean and refreshing aftertaste. Great now, better 2014 to 2018. (Vic Harradine)


Konzelmann ‘Family Reserve’ Merlot 2010
VQA Niagara Peninsula $27.00 (299214) 13.5% alcohol
Deep ruby, this is a finely crafted, approachable red offering lovely aromas of sweet, ripe, dark fruit, spice, vanilla and a whiff of tobacco. Dry, medium-full bodied, dark toasty notes mingle with lush, spicy fruit. Well balanced, velvety tannins and fine acidity frame the fruit and offer the potential for aging. There’s an elusive note of dark chocolate on the warm, dry, sweetly fruity finish. Enjoy alongside steak with a red-wine sauce. (Susan Desjardins)


Rosewood Estates ‘Natural Fermentation Reserve’ Pinot Noir 2009
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $39.95 (318345) 14.0% alcohol
Produced from hand-picked fruit and fermented with naturally occurring, wild yeast, this was aged 10 months in French oak. Burgundian in style, it offers a complex nose of herbs, spice, underbrush, smoke and tangy red fruit. Dry, light-mid weight, it marries tangy acidity and red fruit—cherry, cranberry and currant—with a touch of spice and nuances of cocoa and white pepper. Savoury, earthy and tangy, it has a lasting, crisp finish. A great match for duck confit or chicken cacciatore. (Susan Desjardins)