Vintages Release: June 2018

89 
7 Deadly Red 2015
Lodi $24.95 (570473) 15.0% alcohol
There’s nothing subtle here. This big bomb of a red blend looks like purple ink in your glass then fills the air with aromas of strawberry jam, oak, and spice. It’s full bodied and fully textured with bold flavours of sour cherry and mint and finishes with good structure from slightly chewy tannin. This is a perfect match for grilled pork ribs with tangy BBQ sauce. (Dave Isaacs)


91 
Duckhorn ‘Three Palms Vineyard’ Merlot 2015
Napa Valley $130.00 (34785) 14.7% alcohol
This is superbly elegant Merlot. It’s medium-red hued and vibrant pink around the edges. There’s a fascinating nose of strawberry, vanilla, and fresh basil aromas. It’s extremely smooth on the palate with silky tannins, red fruit flavours and a long finish reminiscent of dried herbs. It’s absolutely wonderful from start to finish. This will mature gracefully over the next 10 years, rewarding patience and careful cellaring. Enjoy with cherry-glazed roast duck. (Dave Isaacs)

94 
Stag’s Leap ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Napa Valley, California $84.95 (708982) 14.5% alcohol
This is rich, ripe and raring to go. Aromas of black currant and dark cherry interplay with hints of mint and savoury notes on the nose. It blankets the palate with a silky-smooth wash of briary berry and juicy black plum flavours along with cassis and kirsch liqueur. This showcases good balance, density and plenty of pizzazz. It’s lively throughout with excellent tang, good structure, purity of fruit and charm. Drinking well now after a two-hour decant, especially when paired with grilled back ribs. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: August 2018


93 
Truchard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Napa Valley $42.95 14.2% alcohol
This stunning red is a blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 11% cabernet franc, 1% each of malbec and petit verdot. It’s medium red in colour with a slight orange cast. Aromas of dry earth, oak and mushrooms dominate the nose with traces of dry leaves and black peppercorns lurking in the background. It hits the tongue and palate with medium body and a good amount of well-integrated tannins. There’s a complex variety of flavours including plenty of red fruit and spice that linger nicely in the finish. You can put this one away for another 10 years or enjoy it today with medium-rare, grilled pepper steak. (Dave Isaacs)

88 
Ravenswood ‘Old Vine’ Lodi Zinfandel 2015

Lodi, California $21.95 (942599) 14.5% alcohol

This is classic Californian, irresistible, fruit-forward Zin with aromas of raspberry jam, blackberry, stewed black plum covered with baking spice, vanilla and a note of burnt sugar. This Lodi-trademarked, full-bodied zin delivers a wash of ripe, sappy black fruit, racy fresh raspberry draped in extra-, sexy tannins ending on a long dry finish robed in mocha. This is crowd-friendly and the perfect dance partner to your favourite spicy, grilled, pork back-ribs. (Louise Boutin)

92 
Decoy Rosé 2017
California $29.95 13.5% alcohol 
This unusual blend — 69% syrah, 14% vermentino, 9% carignan and 8% pinot noir was crafted with fruit picked at the perfect ripeness to produce a dry rosé. This exudes freshly crushed strawberry aromas flirting with rose petal and a zing of pink grapefruit. The palate’s treated to more ripe field strawberry perfectly balanced with freshly cut sweet citrus and mineral notes. This is medium-bodied and stainless-steel fermented to preserve the fruit-forward character persisting through the delicious dry finish. Totally delightful on its own, it’s also a perfect partner to grilled salmon fillet. (Louise Boutin)

• Jenny Wagner is the daughter of Charles Wagner who owns Caymus vineyards and Jenny fashioned this 2015 Emmolo Merlot as a tribute to her mom’s family. It showcases the potential of great merlot even with the bold comparison alongside the best cabernet sauvignon in Napa.

93 
Emmolo Merlot 2015
Napa Valley $69.95 (96024) 14.9% alcohol
This 100% merlot is sourced from vineyards in the Oak Knoll area. It’s striking with its deep purple colour announcing concentrated aromas and flavours. Ripe purple plum, dark cherry and blackberry with sweet smoke and vanilla aromas abound. A gusher of ripe and juicy, dark fruit flavours complemented with bitter chocolate and fragrant baking spice wrapped in polished tannin offer both structure and softness in the long, fruit-forward finish. This is a beautiful expression of the varietal and pairs perfectly with grilled beef tenderloin garnished with blue-veined cheese. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: Fall 2018

92 
Jordan Vineyard and Winery Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Alexander Valley, California $90.00 (357805) 13.8 alcohol
This red blend—75.5% cabernet sauvignon, 15.5% merlot, 7% petit verdot; 1.5% malbec, 0.5% cabernet franc—spent 12 months in French and American oak, 43% new. It leaps from the glass with alluring aromas of dark bramble berry fruit, savoury herbs and sweet vanilla. The palate’s treated to a brawny swath of delicious flavour cutting across the palate and infusing the finish and aftertaste—cassis, black and red currant, well-integrated oaky notes and a large dollop of excellent tang. Pours well now after a two-hour aeration/decant and on to 2030. (Vic Harradine)

90  
Rioja Vega Crianza 2015
DOCa Rioja, Spain $16.95 (471854) 14.0% alcohol
Smoke and toasty notes mingle with spice, dark berry and cherry fruit on the nose of this 80% tempranillo, 15% garnacha, 5% mazuelo. It’s quite smooth on entry with loads of ripe red fruit flavours—strawberry, raspberry and cherry—adorned with dollops of bright, lively tang and notions of red licorice on the palate. Medium weight and nicely textured, it replays on the finish showcasing good purity of fruit, deft balance, and it’s lip-smacking good. Wonderful as a sipper, it pairs well with prawn and chorizo paella, lasagna or pasta in tomato sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2015 Rioja Vega ‘Edicón Limitada’ Crianza is a 90% tempranillo/10% graciano blend. It spent 14 months in small oak barrels.

92 
Rioja Vega ‘Edición Limitada’ Crianza 2015
DOCa Rioja, Spain $22.95 14.0% alcohol
Alluring exotic aromas of smoky incense, cedar and baking spice provide segue for a rich, luscious river of crunchy red fruit—passionfruit, currant, cherry—nicely balanced with kirsch liqueur and black plum compote. It’s medium-plus bodied, creamy smooth on the palate and finishes lingering and luxurious with soft, ripe tannin, baking spice and those gorgeous palate flavours. Pour with grilled striploin after a couple of hours aeration/decant. Lovely now, will improve over the next 7-plus years. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2017 Rioja Vega Vino Blanco is a nifty white blend of viura, verdejo and tempranillo blanco with the latter a single vine discovered growing in La Rioja as a mutation of the dark grape Tempranillo. It was recently discovere in 1988 and carefully nurtured and propagated in the 20th C.

89 
Rioja Vega Vino Blanco 2017
DOCa Rioja, Spain $20.95 13.0% alcohol
Tropical fruit, floral notes and citrus aromas introduce a gorgeous array of flavours with ripe nectarine and lemon curd intertwined with Key lime pie on the palate. This is light-medium bodied with good mouthfeel and excellent acidity on the crisp, refreshing finish. This is superb as a sipper and perfectly paired with grilled seafood or roast chicken or pork. (Vic Harradine)