Lammerschoek Chenin Blanc 2007
WO Swartland, South Africa $18.95 (58206)
This displays elegance and finesse and is not to be passed by. Aromas of honeyed tree fruit and mangos waft from the glass while rich full flavours drench the palate—quince, caramel, honeyed ripe pear and cleansing key lime on the refreshing finish. Medium bodied and fleshy in texture, it pairs well with pan-seared garlic prawns on a bed of baby arugula. A dazzling wine. (VH)



Mossback 'Unoaked' Chardonnay 2006
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County California $21.95 (66688)
This is a stunning wine that delivers a huge mouthful of velvety texture and pure fruit-driven pleasure. Not a splinter of oak, but it still delivers incredible structure along with its aromas of mineral and floral notes and zesty clean flavours of citrus, green apple and pear. It's well balanced and sports a lengthy cleansing finish. Great sipped on its own, it also pairs well with pan-seared Tilapia under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (VH)


Ravenswood 'Old Vines' Zinfandel 2005
Lodi, California $99.00 (63008) 3000 mL
In limited supply—line up before store opening. Gargantuan (4 x 750 mL) in size, it has the flavour profile and structure to match. 'No wimpy wines' is Ravenswood's mantra, so here goes; spice box and black currant jam aromas blast from the glass while the explosion of ripe, black and juicy berry flavours include raspberry and currant supported by cassis and minty notes. The lengthy warm finish (15% alcohol) replays the flavours with a lovely hit of moderating acidity for balance and ripe supple tannins for structure. Mega-sized bottles age more gracefully than the regular-size. (VH)



Matchbook 'Blockhouse' 2004
Dunnigan Hills, California $21.95 (66670)
A unique blend—primarily Syrah and Tempranillo, with a pinch (7% each) of Malbec and Petit Verdot—it's an involved and lovely wine. The perfumed nose offers briary berry and oak aromatics while the juicy, black, ripe flavours include cassis, Bing cherry and vanilla that arrive in waves. The oak's well integrated, the texture creamy and the balance near perfect. The price-quality ratio is skewed heavily in your favour. (VH)


Rodney Strong 'Charlotte's Home' Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Sonoma County, California $18.05 (839712)
Look for a muted nose of spice and floral notes followed by a huge gusher of herbaceous and zesty citrus flavours nicely counterbalanced by hints of honeydew melon, spice and pear flavours. Fruit was sourced from two areas (2/3 Alexander Valley and 1/3 Russian River Valley) capturing the best attributes of both. The texture's quite supple due to 12% barrel fermentation with malolactic fermentation in this portion only—winemaker Rick Sayre is a perfectionist. It's well balanced, well structured with a lengthy clean finish. (VH)



Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2005
Napa Valley, California $29.95 (258186)
A shimmering straw-gold in the glass; the aromas are tropical fruit (mango and pineapple) with a hint of brioche. Fleshy on the palate, the mouth-watering flavours evolve in the glass—ripe white peach, Granny Smith apple, spiced yellow plum and zesty citrus. It's delivered on a well-structured and focused frame with deft balance and well-integrated oak (80% French oak barrel fermented, mostly old, just 15% new). The delicious flavours and refreshing tang leaves you desirous of more. Good value. (VH)



Robert Mondavi 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California $139.95 (670463)
Mark DeVere, Master of Wine and spokesperson for Mondavi, was in Ontario to conduct this tasting and explained their goal for this wine—elegance, finesse; reflecting place (Napa Valley) with typical varietal characteristics. Opaque and rich-looking, you'll discover mint, ripe dark berry and hints of cassis on the nose. The tannins are fine grained, but perceptible. Beneath them lurks a sophisticated mélange of flavours—mulberry, black currant, licorice and toasty notes that are carried along by a moderating stream of acidity. Near perfect balance and a dry fruit-forward finish portend seriously good drinking 2011 to 2020. (VH)



Miguel Torres 'Salmos' 2005
DOC Priorat $32.00 (60772)
This is a fabulous blend from Priorato, Spain's tiny Catalonian wine region. The perfumed nose offers black plum and dark berry jam aromas. Full bodied and robust, the flavours are incredibly spicy with up front bramble berry and sweet cassis. Beautifully structured, fleshy in texture; it delivers zesty tang along with vanilla and spice from deftly integrated oak. The warm finish is lengthy and luxurious—drinking well now to 2014. (VH)



Rodney Strong 'Chalk Hill' Chardonnay 2006
Sonoma County, California $24.75 (275552)
There's a lifted nose of brioche, toasty oak and vanilla (barrel fermented and aged in French oak) on this creamy-textured rich and robust Chardonnay. Flavours of spice, mineral and citrus are infused with nuances of tropical fruit and yellow plum. Deftly balanced and beautifully structured, it provides a generous mouthful with every sip. The warm finish (13.8% alcohol) is lengthy and luxurious. Drink now to 2012. (VH)



Robert Mondavi Merlot 2004
Napa Valley, California $34.95 (953652)
Rich, robust n' rarin' to go, it's a big mouthful of red wine. Spiced dark, juicy berry fruit with hints of plum compote plus smoke and oak aromas waft from this full-bodied fleshy-textured Merlot. There's loads going on in this complex effort—86% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 3% Syrah. Expect ripe tannins, a medium body, ladles of moderating acidity and a lengthy warm sweet fruity finish (15% alcohol). The price-quality ratio is skewed heavily in your favour - a.k.a. pick up a few. (VH)


Rodney Strong 'Alexander Valley' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California $33.65 (50427)
Spice, red and black berry fruit and coffee aromas form the involved nose of this gorgeous red. There's a gusher of mouth-filling juicy ripe flavours with Bing cherry, cassis and bramble berry to the fore. It's warm (14.2% alcohol), with nicely integrated oak and full bodied, but ready to drink now and over the next six years. The finish is lengthy and redolent of spicy black plum. (VH)