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.
White Wine
Urbanehof Wagram Classic Grüner Veltliner 2024, Wagram D.A.C., Austria: Urbanehof Wagram Classic Grüner Veltliner from Wagram is a crisp, light to medium-bodied white offering aromas of ripe white nectarine, crushed white pepper, and hints of river stone. It's dry with lively acidity and a lean texture. Serve it well chilled with pan-fried trout as the wine's bright citrus and mineral character will enhance the delicate fish beautifully, or pair it with steamed mussels where the wine's refreshing finish and saline notes will complement the briny shellfish perfectly. The estate is managed by Franz and Sonja Paschinger, representing the 11th generation of their family to farm this historic property dating back over 400 years. The vineyards cover 24.5 hectares planted primarily on deep loess soils ideal for Grüner Veltliner, and the winery completed full organic certification in 2016, employing composting, green manuring, and promoting beneficial insects while leaving the soil undisturbed from October to May to build humus. Enjoy now or cellar for 2-4 years. Grüner Veltliner food pairings: pan-fried trout, steamed mussels, roasted chicken with herbs. Drink: 2026 - 2030 49425 12.5% XD 750 mL $23.95 Score: 90/100. March 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Red Wine
Kacaba Merlot 2021, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Kacaba Vineyards Merlot from the Niagara Peninsula V.Q.A. is a hand-crafted, small-batch red grown on the prized bench land of the Niagara Escarpment, delivering an inviting nose of ripe dark cherry, crushed violet and a whisper of warm mocha, while the medium-to-full-bodied palate opens up with flavors of juicy bramble fruit, dried fig and a gentle streak of toasted oak, all framed by supple, well-integrated tannins and a velvety, satisfying finish. It is dry and beautifully balanced, so serve it slightly below room temperature and enjoy now through 2028. Winemaker Chris Robinson, whose globe-trotting approach to his craft he describes as "simplexity," brings a rare minimalist elegance to this wine, coaxing layered depth from grapes grown largely by hand with meticulous attention to yield. Founded in 1997 when Toronto lawyer Michael Kacaba swooped in to rescue a spectacular parcel of Escarpment benchland from a developer's bulldozer, Kacaba was also the first winery in Canada to install electric car charging stations on its grounds, a telling nod to its forward-thinking philosophy. Serve it alongside a slow-roasted prime rib with a red wine and shallot jus, where the wine's plush fruit and earthy depth are a natural match for the richness of the beef, or try it with a mushroom and gruyere smash burger, where the savory umami flavors draw out the wine's dark fruit beautifully. Merlot food pairings: prime rib roast, hamburgers, steak. Drink: 2026 - 2028 142687 12.8% XD 750 mL $35.15 Score: 89/100. March 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart