Wine Reviews and Food Pairings

Paid Members of my site can access all 258 wines that I've reviewed for August 15, 2025, with my scores, food matches and the stock for each wine in their closest stores.

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

Red Wine

Trapiche Reserve Malbec 2023, Mendoza, Argentina: This plush red is dry, full-bodied, and generously weighted with 14% alcohol. It brims with ripe blackberries, plum preserves, dark chocolate, and a whisper of smoky spice from oak aging. Serve it just below room temperature to let those velvety tannins shine.Pair it with grilled ribeye, mushroom risotto, or a rich lentil stew — it’s a crowd-pleaser that plays well with both meat and meatless mains. Fascinating fact: The current winemaker, Sergio Eduardo Casé, crafts this wine using fruit grown at the foot of the Andes, where the high-altitude vineyards help preserve freshness and structure. Trapiche is one of Argentina’s most awarded wineries globally — not bad for a label that started in 1883 with just a tiny vineyard and a steam engine. Also: if this wine had a dating profile, it would say “bold, smooth, and great with dinner.” This Malbec offers rich flavour at a friendly price. I’m giving it 91 points — a terrific value for what’s in the glass. Tried this wine? Tell me what dish you served with it — I’m always looking for dinner inspiration! Malbec food pairings: grilled meats, burgers, chili con carne, veggie pizza. Drink: 2025 - 2028 614651 13.5% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 91/100. August 2025. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Other Wines/Drinks

Forty Creek Cinnamon Bun Cream, Canada: Forty Creek Cinnamon Bun Cream is a decadent, velvety liqueur bursting with notes of warm cinnamon, brown sugar icing, toasted pecans, and a creamy vanilla finish that wraps around your tongue like a cashmere throw. It is sweet, rich, and full-bodied. Serve it over ice when you want dessert in a glass, minus the fork. This crowd-pleaser is indulgent yet approachable, like the friend who brings homemade cinnamon rolls to brunch and offers to do the dishes. I give it 94 points for nailing the fine line between whimsy and wow. From the award-winning Forty Creek distillery in Niagara, this cream liqueur is crafted with fresh dairy cream and Ontario whisky, capturing all the cozy comfort of a freshly baked cinnamon bun. Bill Ashburn, Forty Creek’s Master Blender, is known for daring flavour innovations and has earned the title of Canadian Distiller of the Year multiple times at the Canadian Whisky Awards. This liqueur is his playful nod to nostalgic comfort foods. It is perfect poured over warm sticky toffee pudding, drizzled on weekend waffles, or in an espresso martini, traditionally topped with three coffee beans representing wealth, health, and happiness. I would also pair it with warm apple crisp topped with vanilla bean ice cream or a spiced pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, where each forkful crumbles perfectly into creamy indulgence. Of course, classic cinnamon buns make for the ultimate plate-to-glass connection. It is basically autumn in liquid form, and as a fun fact, October 4th is National Cinnamon Bun Day. Official permission is not required, but I wholeheartedly support it. Drink: 2025 - 2045 44150 40% S 750 mL $33.95 Score: 94/100. August 2025. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart