This release starts with a selection of rosés for summer, then goes on to a country-by-country listing. Read on for the best of this Release.

Sonop Organic Terroir Rosé of Pinotage 2006
WO Western Cape $13.95 (34256)
A light-bodied rosé that has a crisp texture and good flavours of cranberry, raspberry and blackcurrant. If you're afraid of the smoky flavours that often turn up in Pinotage, don't worry-there are none here. Drink it alone (the wine, that is; you can have company) on the deck in mid-afternoon during July and August. (RP)

Peter Lehmann Rosé 2006
Barossa, South Australia $15.95 (034298)
(Previously reviewed in Winecurrent) Old vine Grenache was used to fashion this dry rosé and the result is a tangy mouthful of strawberry, raspberry and fun in the sun. Wisely sealed under screw cap to keep it that way, this wine needs to be lightly chilled and served with appetizers, such as antipasti, smoked salmon or prawns. If you haven't discovered how food-friendly these can be, it's about time. (VH)


Poole's Rock Firestick Rosé 2006
South Eastern Australia $16.95 (034306)
Light and crisp, you should expect strawberry and candy-like aromas then a tangy attack of red currant and sour cherry on the palate. This is taut and food-friendly, with a spicy finish and good balance throughout. You'll find this delicious when sipped on its own or when paired with smoked salmon or a green salad with feta cheese and under a light vinaigrette. (VH)

Selaks Premium Selection Merlot Rosé 2006
New Zealand $17.95 (25478)
This is just slightly off-dry, with lovely aromas and flavours of sweet berries and red fruit. Look for raspberry, strawberry, stewed plum and cherry right through the palate and into the long finish. It's medium bodied and has the substance to match spicy grilled chicken and pork. (RP)

Flat Rock Cellars Twisted 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (001578)
Flat Rock created an instant winner with the first vintage of "Twisted," and its following will only grow with the 2006 version. It's a lovely blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay that's lively, zesty, and slightly spicy, and brimming with flavours of fresh fruit like white grapefruit, apple and some tropical fruit. Pour it with a spicy Asian dish. (RP)

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Shiraz 2003
VQA Okanagan Valley $23.95 (033241)
This is a very classy red that comes very close to being elegant. There is a cornucopia of fruit aromas and flavours that include berries, cherries and currants. They attack in waves then flavours and hints of chocolate, licorice and spice box are layered on. They're restrained, not jammy or in-your-face. It's medium to full bodied, has a lovely texture and great balance. The fruity finish is quite lengthy. (VH)

Sebastiani Unoaked Chardonnay 2005
Sonoma Coast $16.95 (34736)
This is surprisingly big, round, and buttery for an unoaked Chardonnay. The flavours are dominated by peach, apricot and tropical fruit, and there are lovely interweaving seams of acidity and minerality to give it complexity. Drink this with grilled chicken, pork or firm white fish. (RP)

Round Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
California $15.95 (526418)
Showing expressive sweet red cherry and sweet berry flavours, this will make no enemies as it's round, warm and without rough edges. It's also medium bodied and lightly textured. There is enough oomph from ripe tannins and enough moderating acidity to make this Cab a great match to pizza, pasta and burgers. (VH)


Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel 2005
Mayacamas Range, Napa $43.95 (682989)
This fairy tale Zin, too good to be true, is gutsy and layered from cover to cover. You'll revel in the expressive flavours of juicy black Bing cherry, black plum compote and cassis. It's full bodied and creamily-textured. There are also noticeable, but acceptable tannins, moderating acidity, toasty oak flavours and almost perfect balance. The finish is lengthy, not over the top, and invites a pairing with dry rub, bar b qued ribs. (VH)

Don Eugenio Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2004
Uco Valley $13.95 (32094)
This is a nicely-made Cabernet that delivers dark fruit and berry flavours with notes of herbs and spice. It has good structure, firm but slightly coarse tannins. There's a hint of bitterness on the back palate, but the overall impression is very pleasant. Drink it with burgers off the barbecue. (RP)


Trumpeter Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Mendoza $13.95 (723288)
This is a quite big and dense Cabernet with full-on fruit and plenty of complexity. Expect dark fruit and blackberry flavours with nice hints of white chocolate and vanilla. The texture is plump and mouth-filling and, at this price, it's a natural for barbecues on the deck and at the cottage. (RP)

Caliterra Arboleda Chardonnay 2006
Casablanca Valley $14.95 (606772)
This is one beautiful Chardonnay, another testament to the great whites coming out of the Casablanca Valley. What you get here is a luscious, intensely-flavoured Chard with full-throttle fruit (ripe peach, tropical fruit) and notes of warm spice and toasty oak. It's crisp textured and classy and the perfect match for grilled white fish. (RP)

William Cole 'Albamar' Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Curicó Valley $14.95 (595298)
This is a sleek and stylish Cab. It delivers a delicious mouthful of concentrated and complex dark fruit and berry flavours along with generous accents of spice and pepper. Smooth-textured and nicely-balanced, it's perfect if you like your Cabernet Sauvignon bold and flavour-filled. Drink it with the same style of food. A hunk of red meat will do nicely. (RP)

Amberley Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Margaret River $14.95 (024695)
This is Sauvignon Blanc in a slightly softer style than the zesty, bracing numbers you often find. The fruit component is very attractive, and you'll find it occupying the white peach-gooseberry-pink grapefruit zones, along with a hint of licorice. The edge of the acidity has been smoothed off a little, but it still leaves the wine with a crisp and clean texture. This makes an excellent wine for summer sipping, as well as to accompany grilled fish and seafood. (RP)


Bay of Fires 'Tigress' Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Tasmania $27.95 (27490)
Wow! This is a really delicious Sauvignon Blanc. It delivers luscious, pungent aromas of gooseberries, lemon, and white grapefruit, together with hints of grass and asparagus. The acidity gives it a bracing texture that enriches the fruit flavours, rather than cuts through them, and the tense, fine balance has to be experienced to be appreciated. This calls for freshly-shucked oysters. (RP)


Stonehaven 'Winemaker's Selection' Riesling 2005
South Australia $15.95 (024927)
In Burgundy a couple of months ago, I picked up the word, "salivant," meaning something that makes you salivate, that perks up your appetite. Well, here's a salivant wine. It's refreshing and bracing and readies you for a feed of garlicky grilled or sautéed shrimp. The aromas are oily rag and mineral with peach and tropical fruit, and they replay as flavours. It's well made and well priced. Buy some. (RP)

Peter Lehmann GSM Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2003
Barossa Valley, South Australia $18.95 (650028)
(Previously reviewed in Winecurrent) This is an equal parts blend of Grenache/Mourvèdre/Shiraz that was aged in large, old French and American oak to give you a silky smooth, drink-now red. Look for a wonderful mélange of flavours - spicy plum, zesty cherry and sweet black currant that coalesce into a beautifully textured wine. It is medium bodied, with a lengthy, warm, fruit-forward finish. Perfect with pasta in a puttenesca sauce. (VH)


Barossa Valley Estate 'Moculta' Shiraz 2004
Barossa Valley, South Australia $19.95 (536383)
Stuart Bourne, the gregarious winemaker at BVE, chooses from the crème de la crème of Barossa fruit with over 80 separate growers supplying it. This approachable red shows aromas and warm (14.5% alcohol) flavours in the deep dark berry and black cherry zones with notes of licorice and mint. This medium-bodied beauty offers a lovely texture, firm structure and a lengthy fruit-forward (boysenberry) finish. Stock up as the price is more than fair. (VH)


Billy Goat Hill Cabernet/Merlot 2005
Geographe, Western Australia $18.95 (025072)
There is loads of ripe fruit flavour here with currant and bramble berry to the fore. There is also a firm tannin structure, a lovely smooth texture and some interesting spice and earthy notes. It is very well balanced with good tanginess and more fruit (currant and cranberry) on the finish. Decant and drink with red meat, grilled rare to medium-rare or cellar for a couple of years. (VH)


Juniper Crossing Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2004
Margaret River, Western Australia $18.95 (684019)
2004 was a near-perfect vintage in Margaret River. This has drying tannins with solid cranberry and red currant flavours. It's medium in weight with a medium-length finish. It would benefit from being tucked away for another 2 years then matched with pasta in a tangy and spicy arrabbiata sauce.


St. Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2004
Barossa Valley, South Australia $29.95 (535104)
Big and bold, this reflects the outstanding 2004 vintage and the 70 to 100 year-old vines from which the grapes for this bruiser were sourced. Look for full-bore flavours of juicy black Bing cherry, bramble berry, creosote plus earthy and gamey notes that are still in the grip of a firm tannic structure. Despite that, it's very well balanced and offers the promise of terrific drinking potential from 2012 to 2017+. (VH)

Coopers Creek 'The Gardener' Reserve Huapai Merlot 2002
Huapai, North Island $22.95 (032789)
Well made (hand-harvested, 12 months in oak, and only made in the best years from estate grown fruit) and very well balanced (with moderating acidity and fine grained oak), you can expect a wine that is both ready to drink and that has five plus years of good drinking ahead. Flavours of tar, licorice and chocolate mingle with deep, rich fruit flavours of dark black, berry fruit and cassis. The finish is warm (14.5% alcohol), fruity and medium in length. (VH)

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2003
WO Stellenbosch $19.95 (922443)
The touching story of the dog is on the back label. Read it, then contemplate the virtues of fidelity (where the name Fido comes from, by the way) as you sip this wine. It's mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (with Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Shiraz) and delivers concentrated dark fruit and berry flavours with spicy complexity. It's dry with firm tannins and makes an excellent companion to grilled steak. (RP)

Château Pontet-Canet 2004
AOC Pauillac, 5e Cru $82.95 (673400)
This, from a good vintage in Pauillac that is sandwiched between two great ones, offers up a complex blend of grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 29%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%) and flavours (cassis, black licorice, dark chocolate and black cherry). The balance is excellent and the lengthy, warm finish and firm tannin structure portend optimum drinking from 2012 to 2025+.


Domaine du Grapillon d'Or Gigondas 2004
AOC Gigondas $29.95 (981787)
A hugely-textured red blend (80% Grenache, 20% Syrah) from a producer that, stubbornly, fashions great wine from traditional methods - grapes are hand harvested and sorted, not de-stemmed but slightly crushed, macerating 18 to 20 days, aged in old oak barrels for 12 months, and the wine is not fined or filtered. What is the result? This is a luscious, gorgeously- textured, medium-bodied red dripping with sweet, black cherry fruit. Lovely now and on into 2012. (VH)


Cave de Crouseilles Madiran 1907 2004
AOC Madiran $18.95 (030890)
This is huge, undoubtedly reflecting the Tannat grape of which it's made. It offers a heavily-textured and fruit-forward attack of ripe, sweet black currant and cherry flavours along with interesting and involved notes of tar, licorice and spice box. The warm (14% alcohol) finish sports ripe tannins and good length. Drink now, with a 2 hour decant and a strip loin grilled rare to medium-rare, or cellar and drink from 2010 to 2015. (VH)


Château Haut-Monplaisir Cahors 2004
AOC Cahors $13.95 (673590)
If you're thinking of starting a modest cellar, this is a prime candidate to be opened 2010 to 2015, at which time it'll provide great drinking and outstanding value. Smoke and oak blow off the nose while flavours of black currant, herbs and spice, and earthy notes are firmly wrapped in grainy tannins. The finish is lengthy and rustic and the balance is quite good. Pair it with a slab of rare roast beef or spicy grilled sausage. (VH)

St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett 2005
QmP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer $20.95 (955328)
Purchase and drink this to become a life-long convert to German Rieslings. The nose is delicate with peach, mineral and floral notes to the fore. You'll begin your tasting experience with a creamy texture and a mélange of fruit flavours, including sweet pineapple, zesty citrus and juicy, ripe peach. The finish layers on more sweet fruit flavours, magically balanced with bracing acidity. It's great for sipping or when matched to spicy Asian cuisine, like pad Thai, tandoori or butter chicken. Serve chilled. (VH)

Jermann Pinot Grigio 2005
IGT Friuli Venezia Giulia $26.95 (964726)
After living in Canada for a short time, Silvio Jermann returned to his native Friuli family wine estate to employ the many modern tips and techniques he gained abroad. Look for expressive aromas and flavours of very ripe pear and apple. It's fleshy in the mouth and is surprisingly medium to full-bodied, after all it is Pint Grigio. It packs a lot of flavour right through to the medium-length finish. Drink on its own for the full impact. (VH)


Zenato Pinot Grigio 2006
IGT delle Venezie $15.95 (037648)
A top drawer producer, Zenato hits the mark with this well-balanced offering. Expect subdued aromas of apple and honeyed pear then a gusher of flavours that include pear, peach and zesty citrus. The citrus provides lovely balance and the finish, fruity with good tanginess, provides the perfect foil to grilled freshwater fish, trout or pickerel, under a squirt of freshly-squeezed lemon. Serve well chilled. (VH)

Batasiolo Barolo 'Cerequio' 2000
DOCG Barolo $59.95 (933994)
A big, bold red in the modern style of Barolo. It has very firm tannins, but you don't need to put it away for another 10 years. Drink it now with a hunk of red meat, grilled medium-rare at most. You'll be washing the meat down with a powerful and stylish mouthful of complex dark fruit flavours with all the acidity needed to make it a fine wine for food. (RP)


Planeta Merlot 2003
IGT Sicilia $38.95 (978460)
Planeta gets it right, time after time. This Merlot shows its stuff in the glass, and its stuff is a juicy-textured, full-bodied red brimming with flavours of blackberry, black plum, spice and a hint of vanilla at the end. It's drinking very well now (with full-flavoured red meat dishes) but you can hold it another four or five years. (RP)


Fattoria dei Barbi Morellino di Scansano 2004
DOC Morellino di Scansano $17.95 (720177)
This is predominantly Sangiovese (the law requires a minimum of 85%) from an up-and-coming region. This is a very good price for the quality. You get a well-paced red with excellent balance and the profile you expect of the variety: high-toned red fruit with some spiciness, a dry, tangy texture and decent tannic structure. Drink it with veal or chicken in a tomato-based sauce. (RP)

Château Kefraya 'Les Bretèches' Red 2005
Bekaa Valley $11.95 (990986)
This is a very good price for what you get. The aromas and flavours are dominated by ripe cherry and red berry flavours with a hint of caramel on the palate. There's a sweet core at the centre. It's medium bodied, lightly tannic, and a good choice for a versatile summer red. (RP)

Look for these wines in forthcoming Vintages releases

Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
McLaren Vale/Coonawarrra (Australia) $17.95 (965830)
This 100% Cab (92% from McLaren Vale) is beautifully textured and has wonderful fruit complexity. Dominated by black berry flavours, it's interwoven with layers of sweet spice, black plum and cherry and a hint of gaminess. Medium-bodied and nicely-balanced, this is a natural for lamb. (RP)

Chapel Hill Shiraz-Grenache 2005
McLaren Vale $18.95 (37168)
This is a rich, plush blend that nicely shows the best of the two component varieties: the intense fruitiness of the Shiraz and the slightly gritty texture and fruit sweetness of the Grenache. They're a powerful and delicious combination here. Look for medium weight, light tannins and a nice line of acidity, all completed by a long and finely-flavoured finish. Serve it with a well-herbed rack of lamb, grilled medium-rare. (RP)

Torres 'Mas La Plana' Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
DO Penedès $44.95 (617456)
There's a lifted nose of currant and raspberry while the flavours are warm, round and quite fruit-forward. Look for ripe and juicy black cherry, spice box and black raspberry jam flavours. It's complex and adds on hints of mint, truffles and well-integrated oak. It offers a medium-length finish and shows deft balance. This is an early-drinking, single vineyard Cab that will also cellar until 2012. It pairs well with osso bucco. (VH)

Santa Carolina 'Barrica Selection' Syrah 2005
Maipo Valley $14.95 (34959)
This a delicious, fruit-forward, densely-flavoured Syrah that calls for equally intensely-flavoured food. Nothing less than well-seasoned grilled red meat will do, I'm afraid. The aromas are rich and pungent black fruit and berries, and the flavours are dominated by black cherry, with minor lines of dried cherries, pepper, spice and smoke. It has good tannic grip and a rich, tangy texture. Drink it now and over the next five years. (RP)

Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay 2006
South Australia $14.95 (34397)
Made from grapes selected from four regions in South Australia, this Chardonnay shows excellent flavour and texture. Look for delightful floral and tropical aromas, followed by pure fruit flavours of white peach, pear and tropical fruit. It's medium bodied and has food-friendly balance, and it pairs well with grilled chicken salad or lightly-spiced chicken and seafood. (RP)

Santa Carolina 'Reserva de Familia' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Maipo Valley $19.95 (684597)
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is an unadulterated pleasure, so share it with your spouse or partner. The flavours deliver remarkable complexity, from the varied black fruit and berries and the notes of dried fruit to the accents of coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla. It's full bodied with a soft texture and some grip from the long, sweet tannins. It finishes long and strong. It's an excellent wine at an excellent price, and you can drink it now with rich red meat dishes or hold it another four or five years. (RP)

Santa Carolina 'Barrica Selection' Petit Verdot 2005
Rapel Valley $14.95 (007484)
Petit Verdot, a minor variety in the Bordeaux palette, is too-seldom produced as a varietal wine. This one (which is 85% Petit Verdot, 9% Syrah and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon) delivers richly complex flavours of dark plum, cherry and blackberries, with notes of dried fruit, spice and smoke. It's medium bodied with a fairly full and plush texture, has good tannic structure, and it goes well with well-seasoned red meats. (RP)

Look for these new wines, or new vintages of existing wines, in the General List of the LCBO.


Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma 2005
IGT Sangiovese di Maremma $12.10 (613299)
Here you have a new vintage of this well-made Sangiovese from southern Tuscany. It has solid aromas and flavours of wild berries and dark plum, with smatterings of pepper and spice. If you're looking for a versatile red to go with pizza and tomato-based pasta, this will do very nicely. (RP)


Secco-Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena Ripasso 2004
DOC Valpolicella Valpantena $15.45 (12443)
This delivers solid flavours from front to back, with the dose of clean acidity you expect of Valpolicella. The flavours are ripe red cherry and berries, with a hint of spice, and there's a core of perceptible sweet fruit running right through. It's medium bodied and dry and goes very well with veal or chicken in a tomato-based sauce. (RP)

Coyote's Run Pinot Gris 2006
VQA Four Mile Creek $18.00
This is a stylish Pinot Gris from a winery that's getting it all right. You'll find a generous, mouth-filling texture with solid flavours of white peach, apricot pit and grapefruit. The acidity is crisp and balanced, and this pairs well with slightly spicy seafood, like shrimps sautéed in garlic and ginger. Order it from 1-800-COYOTE3 or 905-682-8310 (RP)


Huff Estates Gamay Reserve 2005
VQA Ontario $32.95
More concentrated than you'd expect of a Gamay, this delivers quite dense and rich flavours of cherry and blueberry. It's medium bodied with a good tangy texture, has good balance, and sports a long finish. This is a Gamay that has the heft to handle roast or grilled lamb very well. Order from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RP)


Daniel Lenko Cabernet Franc 2004
VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95
What you have here is a complex Cabernet Franc that's replete in fruit flavours (blackcurrant, cherry, strawberry, crushed blackberry) and notes of spice, smoke, earth, green tobacco and cedar. It has a plush, slightly grainy texture that pushes it toward food, medium weight, and a decent tannic grip. Pair it with grilled pepper steak. Order it from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RP)


Daniel Lenko Meritage 2004
VQA Niagara Peninsula $34.95
This is an elegant blend of 67% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. It kicks off with toasty oak aromas, then gets stuck into complex flavours of dark plum and red berry with notes of pepper, coffee and chocolate. It's medium bodied and dry, with sleek tannins and good balance. Drinking well now, but it will improve over the next two or three years. When you're ready to open it, have a rack of lamb to hand. Order it from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RP)


Daniel Lenko Old Vines Merlot 2004
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95
This is beautifully crafted, with a plush, mouth-filling texture and lovely complex aromas and flavours. Dominated by dark fruit (plum to the fore) you'll find interwoven currents of tobacco, pepper, spice and vanilla competing for your attention. Big and plush, it's dry and lightly tannic, and needs food it can complement rather than dominate. Try it with a filet mignon, grilled medium-rare. Order it from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (RP)

Cheers, Rod and Vic

 

We use the following symbols when rating wines:

	Wines achieving nirvana
	Wines of excellence
	Wines well worth trying
	Wines below average, but drinkable
	Wines better avoided, unless desperate
	Represents a half star
	We both agree —a brilliant wine!
	Drink now and over the next 2 years
	Drink now and over the next 5 years
	Place in cellar