• Order the following wine by the case plus those in previous newsletters for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario from Nokhrin Wines or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if in the GTA, phone 416 704-8617.

   
Vignoble Gibault Touraine Sauvignon 2016
AOP Touraine, Loire Valley, France $14.95 12.0% alcohol
The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour. Grassy notes, savory herbs and aromas of minerality dominate the nose. It coats the palate with a delicious river of sweet and tang with waves of ripe tropical fruit joining hands with a solid line of lemon-lime acidity on the palate. It all balances out on the lip-smacking finish and aftertaste, crisp clean and refreshing. This is medium bodied with textured mouthfeel and an inspired pairing with fish and seafood. (Vic Harradine)

  
Cantina La Canosa ‘Peko’’ Pecorino 2015
DOCG Offida Pecorino, Italy $17.50 2015
This Peko’ is fashioned from 100% Ppecorino fruit, an ancient variety of the Marches region. Aromas of hay and citrus set the stage for a clean stream of lemony tang and saline minerality racing over the palate infusing the finish with tang-laden personality. It’s light on its feet with persistent, racy tang and a lengthy mouth-watering aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared fish under a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon. (Vic Harradine)

  
Fattoria Petriolo Chianti, Italy 2015 
DOCG Chianti, Italy $17.95 12.5% alcohol
Fresh, lively aromas of red cherry, piquant spice and red licorice provide segue for a balanced and racy river of palate-bathing flavours with cranberry and maraschino cherry adorned with spice, excellent tang and wisps of soft, ripe tannin. It’s lively throughout with persistent purity of fruit, balance and structure. Pour with pasta in tomato sauce. (Vic Harradine)

  
Fattoria Petriolo ‘Reserva’ Chianti, Italy 2013 
DOCG Chianti, Italy $21.95 12.5% alcohol
An involved nose of cherry, cedar and leather opens this medium-bodied, nicely textured Riserva. It dishes up a bracing line of acidity with sour cherry and passionfruit flavours racing over the palate infusing the tang-laden finish. The aftertaste delivers more of the same with replays reverberating throughout. (Vic Harradine)

  
Cantina La Canosa ‘Musé’ Rosso 2013 
IGT Marches, Italy $19.15 14.0% alcohol
Smoke, charred toast and black plum aromas set the stage for a deftly balanced flow of sweet and tang bathing the palate mellow and smooth—sweet, ripe mulberry, blueberry and black juicy cherry persisting through the balanced and beautiful finish. This is very good value, medium-plus bodied with generous mouthfeel and delectable, lengthy aftertaste. Pour alongside grilled rack of lamb or grilled striploin. (Vic Harradine)

  
Cantina La Canosa ‘Nullius’ 2013 
IGT Marches, Italy $20.15 13.5% alcohol
Charred cedar and dark chocolate aromas abound on the nose of this gorgeous sangiovese. It streams over the palate showcasing crunchy red fruit flavour with pie cherry, cranberry and currant to the fore. It’s medium bodied with good texture and oodles of tang. It finishes dry and mouth-watering good on the aftertaste. Pour alongside pasta Bolognese or pastitsio. (Vic Harradine)

• Order the following wines—plus those in previous newsletters—by the case (some in cases of six) for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario from VinoLuna wine agency. Contact via website, VinoLuna, by Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or in the GTA phone 416 587-6691.

  
Valpanera ‘Bianco di Valpanera – le tre uve’ 2016
IGT dell Venezie, Italy $16.60 12.5% alcohol
The price-quality balance tips in your favour. This is a bright and lively blend of 60% chardonnay/30% sauvignon/10% verduzzo with perfumed aromas of exotic spice and floral notes. It coats the palate with a luscious river of honey-drizzled melon, tropical fruit and grilled pineapple. It’s full bodied, fully textured and creamy smooth from cork pop to last delicious drop. Just enough acidity for balance, it pours well with roast chicken or pork. (Vic Harradine)

  
Valpanera ‘Rosso di Valpanera – le tre uve’ 2014
IGT dell Venezie, Italy $16.60 12.5% alcohol
A fairly even split of cabernet sauvignon/merlot/refosco, it offers up aromas of red cherry/berry fruit, floral notes and spice on this nicely aged red blend. A well-balanced stream of palate-bathing red cherry and cranberry flavour mingles with wisps of red licorice and sharp spice persisting through the lingering, balanced and delicious aftertaste. It’s medium bodied, nicely textured and pours well with burgers, gourmet sausage, pizza and wings. (Vic Harradine)

  
Valpanera Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso 2015
DOC Aquileia, Friuli, Italy $16.60 12.5% alcohol
This 100% refosco dal peduncolo—a grape native to this area with stems that turn red just before harvest—wafts from the glass with earthy notes and dried currant aromas. It streaks over the palate with pie cherry and red currant framed with tart, red-fruit acidity persisting through the finish and aftertaste. Pour with red pizza, lasagna or pasta in tomato sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2016 Provolo corvina is made from one of the holy trinity of Appassimento grapes from Italy—corvina, rondinella, molinara—and it’s lovely. The Provolo family have farmed and made wine on this land—a few kilometers east of Verona—since 1927.

   
Provolo ‘Tenuta Ca’Nove’ Corvina 2016
IGT Veronese, Italy $13.95 13.0% alcohol 
There are deep, brooding aromas of currants, black plum compote and tarry notes galore. It dazzles the palate with a gorgeous river of sweet, ripe, fruit nectar with black currant and black Bing cherry adorned with excellent tang and terrific balance. It’s medium-full weight with creamy smooth texture and long balanced and beautiful finish. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour. Pour with gourmet sausage or grilled meat, especially ribs slathered in spicy barbecue sauce or pulled pork. (Vic Harradine)

92  
Provolo ‘Campotorbian’ Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2012
DOC Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy $19.95 14.0% alcohol 
Smoky notes and pipe tobacco provide segue for a rich, ripe and luscious wash enveloping the palate, infusing the lingering finish and aftertaste—dried currant, dark raisin and fig interlaced with espresso roast and dark chocolate. It’s mid-plus weight with silky smooth mouthfeel and fully flavoured from cork pop to last drop. Just about as good as Ripasso gets at this or double the price. (Vic Harradine)

  
Provolo ‘Tenuta Ca’Nove’ Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2014
DOC Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy $19.90 14.0% alcohol 
A quiet nose of red berry fruit and floral aromas introduce a tang and fruit-laden stream of crunchy red fruit with spice-laden red raspberry and pie cherry interwoven with flecks of cassis and black plum. Medium bodied with good mouthfeel the mid-length finish is dry and mouth-watering good. Pour with pastitsio—aka Greek lasagna. (Vic Harradine)

  
Provolo ‘Tenuta Ca’Nove’ Amarone della Valpolicella 2013
DOCG Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy $43.50 15.0% alcohol 
Aromas of raisins, dark plum and black licorice herald a luscious surge of raisin tart, dark bittersweet chocolate, ripe black briary berry, an earthy note and gorgeous bite of tang. This has depth, complexity and excellent structure while ripe, black flavours persist throughout. It’s delicious and full bodied with generous mouthfeel and a lingering finish and aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)

  
Manifesto Wine Cellars Zinfandel 2015
Lodi, California $19.95 13.8% alcohol
Mixed spice, chocolate and wisps of red licorice aromas waft easily from this medium-full bodied, generously textured, fruit-filled Zin. It envelops the palate with sweet fruit—cherry and raspberry—decorated with cherry cordial nicely balanced with delectable tang from racy passionfruit flavour. It’s value-packed and finishes with replays and plenty of charm. You’ll find plenty of takers when served with grilled meat, especially ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)