• Order the following wine by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery. Free delivery in the GTA or delivered to your local LCBO for pick up. Order from VIP Wine and Spirits via email to Dave Coutts This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

88  
Vinha do Cais da Ribeira ‘Reserva’ 2015

DOC Douro, Portugal $13.95 13.5% alcohol

Aromas of woodsmoke, earthy notes and licorice make way for a medium-bodied, nicely textured stream of sweet-tinged red and dark fruit—dark cherry, red plum and black raspberry—interweaving with good tang and hints of piquant spice. This is balanced on a pin with good fruit flavour and tangy acidity forming a smooth, mellow partnership. Food friendly, it’s versatile at the table—try meat-laden pizza, fajitas, roast chicken, burgers or spicy wings. (Vic Harradine)

• Order the following wines by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario from VinoLuna wine agency. Contact via VinoLuna website, by Email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or in the GTA phone 416 587-6691.  

87  
Canetta Chianti 2016 
DOCG Chianti Riserva $14.95 13.0% alcohol 
Fruit for this red blend—80% sangiovese/10% canaiolo/10% merlot—was sourced from vineyards in the picturesque hills of Florence. Floral, spice and red berry fruit aromas introduce a complex, intense, palate-bathing flow of pie cherry, red currant and ripe sweet strawberry flavour interwoven with hints of red licorice. It’s medium weight with oodles of tang and wisps of drying tannin on the finish and aftertaste. Aerate/decant an hour or so and pour with pasta in tomato sauce or a meat-lovers pizza. (Vic Harradine)

87 
Canetta Chianti Riserva 2015
DOCG Chianti $19.95 13.5% alcohol
This 85% sangiovese, 15% canaiolo blend dishes up aromas of red cherry, piquant spice and cedar. It spreads over the palate with a warm river of tang—cranberry, passionfruit and crunchy red cherry. It’s medium bodied, framed with lively acidity and underpinned by a firm tannin structure. Give this a go in 2020—patience will be rewarded—or serve now with pasta puttanesca after a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)

90  
Fattoria La Torre ‘La Villa - Riserva’ Chianti 2015 
DOCG Chianti Colli Senese $17.95 14.0% alcohol 
The highly perfumed nose of exotic spice, incense and cedar provide segue to a balanced and beautiful stream of palate-coating flavour with dark Bing cherry, briary berry and notions of kirsch and cassis. This is medium-plus bodied with good mouthfeel, balance and persistent purity of fruit. It finishes lengthy and lip-smacking good. This is an 80% sangiovese, 20% cabernet sauvignon blend that matured 24 months in large oak tank and small oak barrel for 24 months. Pour with osso buco or cassoulet. (Vic Harradine)

90 
Bartali ‘Alberto Bartoli’ Chianti Classico 2016
DOCG Chianti Classico $20.95 13.0% alcohol 
Wisps of dark toast, spice and tobacco precede a medium-bodied, well-textured mouthful of deliciously balanced, ripe flavours with cherry pie, red raspberry and black currant to the fore. Medium bodied and well textured, this sports a lengthy finish and aftertaste garnished with mouth-watering tang and vibrant spice. This is drinking well now and pours perfectly with grilled red meat, lasagna or grilled gourmet sausage; there’s good value in this pure sangiovese. (Vic Harradine)

88 
Bartali ‘Bartali’ Chianti Classico 2016
DOCG Chianti Classico $19.95 13.0% alcohol
Pale-ruby hued in the glass, shy aromas of rose petal and cherry need to be coaxed. A very pleasant flow of ripe fruit –cherry, strawberry and dark plum—spreads over the palate with piquant spice and oodles of tangy acidity. It’s light-medium bodied with light texture and smooth mouth feel. A lighter-styled 100% sangiovese that will appeal with its deft balance and restrained charm. Pour alongside a charcuterie board or pasta in tomato sauce—delicious. (Vic Harradine)

90 
Terre di Melazzano ‘ChiAndré’ Chianti Classico 2016 
DOCG Chianti Classico $21.95 14.5% alcohol
Dried cherries, earthy notes and cedar aromas herald a deftly balanced gusher of ambrosia—tang-infused bramble berry and black Bing cherry embroidered with dark bittersweet chocolate and notes of minerality. It’s a blend of 90% sangiovese, 5% canaiolo, 5% merlot offering good weight and texture with a finish and aftertaste that showcases length, purity of fruit, balance and smooth ripe tannin. (Vic Harradine)

90 
Bartali ‘Ville Reale’ Chianti Classico 2016
DOCG Chianti Classico $22.95 13.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of mixed field berry fruit and floral notes set the table for a feast of smooth, mellow flavours—red cherry, dark plum and black raspberry interweave with spice, herbs and excellent tang. It’s mid weight with good texture and polished tannin on the back palate and aftertaste. Pour alongside veal scaloppini or spaghetti Bolognese after an hour or so aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine

89 
Fattoria La Torre ‘Guinzano’ Rosso 2015

DOC San Gimignano $17.95 14.0% alcohol
This value-packed, international blend—70% sangiovese, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot—opens with a dazzling nose and a gorgeous gusher of ripe fruit flavour. Aromas of spice and red and dark cherry make way for a full bore, fully textured wave of tangy, delectable palate-enveloping red and black currant, black Bing cherry melding with spice and lip-smacking, taste-good tang. Good to go now and pairs well with grilled red meats and stews. (Vic Harradine)

90  
Boschetto di Montiano ‘Manicone’ Morrellino Scansano 2016
DOCG Morellino Scansano $17.95 13.5% alcohol
Red cherry/berry fruit and sprigs of savoury herbs billow from the nose of this fully flavoured blend—85% sangiovese/15% merlot. A smooth and polished flow of dark berry fruit—currant and raspberry—interlace with black licorice, espresso roast and lively red cherry. Medium bodied with good mouthfeel, it finishes lengthy, mouth-watering, balanced and brimming with flavour and complexity.

92 
Canneta Brunello di Montalcino 2013
DOCG Brunello di Montalcino $59.95 13.5% alcohol
Earthy notes, leather, red and black currant aromas set the stage for a well-balanced flow of dark fruit—black currant and Bing cherry—melding nicely with passionfruit and red currant on entry. It spreads out on the back palate and finish offering up savoury herbs and black licorice. This 100% sangiovese grosso is medium-plus bodied with good texture while the aftertaste is decorated with solid fruit flavours, good tang and soft, polished tannin. Good to go now and on to 2023. (Vic Harradine)