Tasty Cool Climate Chardonnay, Niagara, Italy and Tasmania, Robust Barolo and Brunello, Italy, plus dry Rose from France: July 23 Vintages Release Wine Reviews

My top picks and best value wines from the July 23 Vintages Release:

Full-bodied, deep and delicious Italian red wines: Barolo, Brunello, Amarone

Cool-climate, generously layered Chardonnay: Tasmania, Niagara, Italy, France

Zesty, herbal, food-friendly New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Blackberry-rich Cabernet and Shiraz from Australia

Smooth and luscious Niagara Merlot

Rhone and Okanagan Syrah

You can get all 74 wines that I’ve recommended from a wide range of price points, scores, food pairings, regions and styles, including red, white, sparkling, rose and dessert wine.

Make sure you pick some back-up choices from the full list in case some of these below are sold out.

You can also put my Top Picks including the best value and top rated wines into your custom shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. Load up on some terrific bottles this weekend!

Natalie

2009 Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling, Q.B.A., Pfalz, Germany I recommend this wine year after year after year: love it! Incredible quality/taste for the price. Loaded with peach and pear fruit. Terrific mouth-watering acidity for so many dishes. Buy a case or two for your house white wine.Drink: 2010-2014. Price: $13.95 Score: 89/100 Pair with: lightly spiced Thai, Indian cuisine. Add Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling, Q.B.A., Pfalz: to your custom shopping list.
2008 Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Old Schoolhouse Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand Terrific lime-zestiness in this citrus-herbal Sauvignon Blanc. Refreshing and zippy: class New Zealand style. Top me up!Drink: 2010-2012. Price: $16.95 Score: 90/100 Pair with: seafood salads, goat cheese with fresh baguette, poached salmon. Add Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Old Schoolhouse Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough to your custom shopping list
2008 Steve Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand Wonderfully vibrant with bright cherries that dance across your mouth followed by lovely silky layers of baking spices, field berries and a little smoke. A core of plush fruit. Medium- to full-bodied and generous. Love this style! Drink: 2010-2013. Price: $26.95 Score: 91/100 Add Steve Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir, Marlborough to your custom shopping list
2009 Hardys Butcher's Gold Shiraz Sangiovese, South Australia, Australia A terrific, full-bodied red with mouth-watering savoury notes that make it extra food-friendly, especially with hearty dishes and tomato sauces. A black-cherry-infused finish. Gets my vote! Drink: 2-11-2014. Price: $14.95 Score: 88/100 Add Hardys Butcher's Gold Shiraz Sangiovese, South Australia to your custom shopping list
2008 Brave Faces Shiraz Grenache Mataro,Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia Espresso-mocha nose from generous oaking followed by blackberry and plush plums. Full-bodied and luscious. Drink: Now $24.95 Score: 90/100 Add Brave Faces Shiraz Grenache Mataro,Barossa Valley to your custom shopping list
2008 Mark West Pinot Noir, California A juicy wine with lovely sour cherry aromas and some baking spices. Supple texture. Medium body. Drink while watching that classic movie Sideways again. $19.95 Score: 88/100 Add Mark West Pinot Noir, California to your custom shopping list
200 Ironstone Obsession Symphony, California So, so lovely! Floral with dry apricot. No wonder people get obsessed with this wine. And the price is incredible. Imagine drinking this lovely little number with a spicy dish. Heaven. Drink: 2011-2014. $14.95 Score: 88/100 Pair with: curry, spicy finger food. Add Ironstone Obsession Symphony, California to your custom shopping list
2009 Megalomaniac Wines Narcissist, Edra's Vineyard, John Howard Cellars Of Distinction Riesling, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Juicy-terrific! Lovely melon and peach fruit unfold in waves of flavour. Love this style. Slightly off-dry so it is incredibly food-friendly and light-bodied. Drink: 2011-2015. $17.95 Score: 89/100 Pair with: chicken salad, crab salad, shellfish. Add Megalomaniac Wines Narcissist, Edra's Vineyard, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula to your custom shopping list
2009 Union Wines Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Gewurztraminer Chardonnay, V.Q.A., Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario Pretty floral and white peach notes on the nose of this refreshing, vibrant white wine. Makes a terrific aperitif as well as an accompaniment to many dishes. Drink: 2010-2013. $13.95 Score: 86/100 Pair with: fusion foods, seafood salads, spicy tapas, grilled chicken. Add Union Wines Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Gewurztraminer Chardonnay, V.Q.A., Niagara-on-The-Lake, Ontario to your custom shopping list
2009 Robert Oatley Vineyards James Oatley Tic Tok Cabernet Sauvignon, Mudgee & Frankland River, Australia Lovely nose of dark, fleshy blackberries, smoke and a hint of mint. Good, balanced acidity for food. Smooth and full-bodied. Drink: 2011-2014. $15.95 Score: 88/100 Pair with: pasta with tomato sauce, sauces with mushrooms, BBQ beef, stews, braised meats and poultry, salami. Add Robert Oatley Vineyards James Oatley Tic Tok Cabernet Sauvignon, Mudgee & Frankland River to your custom shopping list