Argentina
Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec Shiraz Rose 2009, Argentina: Lovely! What a steal at this price! Juicy, mouth-watering raspberries and strawberries. Bone-dry so it's a wonderfully refreshing aperitif. Plush and medium-bodied. A 50/50 blend of malbec and shiraz. Perfect for book club and potluck gatherings. Drink: 2011 - 2012 170126 13% 750 mL $7.95 Score: 86/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Australia
The Little Penguin Merlot 2009, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Surprisingly tasty for this price point: delivers terrific value in the bottle! Lovely lifted notes of plush plums and some mint. Smooth, supple and full-bodied. Perfect for your next potluck gathering. Drink: 2011 - 2014 598912 13.5% 750 mL $10.95 Score: 86/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
The Little Penguin Shiraz 2009, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Big juicy purple and black plums burst from the glass. Some vanilla oak and a smooth, full-bodied texture. Nice price! Drink: 2011 - 2014 621870 13.5% 750 mL $10.95 Score: 85/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
The Little Penguin Chardonnay 2009, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Terrific buttery and peachy Chardonnay. Round, full-bodied and absolutely delicious. Nice toasty vanilla smoke on the finish. Chardonnay food pairings: macaroni and cheese, chicken wings, hot buttered popcorn. 598904 12% 750 mL $10.95 Score: 86/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
[yellow tail] Reserve, Casella Wines Shiraz 2009, Southeast Australia, Australia: Classic Shiraz with rich, palate-caressing flavours of mocha, blackberry and black plum. Crack one open at your next potluck or book club gathering. Drink: 2010 - 2014 14% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
[yellow tail] Reserve, Casella Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Southeast Australia, Australia: A savoury, balanced and full-bodied red with terrific notes of cassis and blackberry and black cherry. Perfect for movie night, especially film noir. Drink: 2010 - 2014 106104 13.5% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
[yellow tail] Reserve, Casella Wines Chardonnay 2009, Southeast Australia, Australia: Wow! Welcome to the new [yellow tail]! Balanced, rich, full-bodied and lip-smackin' delicious. Mouth-filling but not heavy with lovely aromas of green apple, peach and toasty oak. Bring it on! Drink: 2010 - 2014 366203 13.5% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Lindemans Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, South East Australia, Australia: Juicy, plummy and full-bodied with some toasty oak. Delicious priced right. Perfect for parties. Drink: 2011 - 2013 119628 13.5% 750 mL $12.10 Score: 86/100. January 2011. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2010, South East Australia, Australia: Mouth-watering and generous with layers of black plums and berries. Yum! Crack one open on movie night. Drink: 2011 - 2014 145367 13.5% 750 mL $11.95 Score: 87/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Seaview Brut Sparkling White, South East Australia, Australia: Toasty bread aromas wrapped around some white peach and lime. Refreshing and zesty. You can't beat this price for bubbly. Sparkling White food pairings: aperitif. Drink: 2011 - 2013 216333 12% 750 mL $13.95 Score: 85/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
The Little Penguin Chardonnay 2014, South Eastern Australia, Australia Chardonnay food pairings: macaroni and cheese, chicken wings, hot buttered popcorn. 598904 12% 750 mL $10.95 January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Canada
Colio Estate Wines Girls' Night Out Merlot 2008, Lake Erie North Shore, Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada: Black cherry notes with a smooth texture. Medium-bodied. Tasty and gulpable. Merlot food pairings: grilled beef, veal, pasta with tomato sauce. 89847 13% 750 mL $12.95 Score: 83/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Colio Estate Wines Girls' Night Out Riesling 2009, V.Q.A. Ontario, Canada: A simple, tasty white with a touch of sweetness. Notes of peach and pear. Makes a nice aperitif. Riesling food pairings: chicken, white-fleshed fish. 134197 11.6% MD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 83/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Colio Estate Wines C.E.V. Meritage 2006, V.Q.A. Lake Erie North Shore, Canada: Robust and smooth with notes of cassis, cedar and blackberry. Decant for an hour and enjoy. Meritage food pairings: veal, pork, lamb, strong cheeses, beef. Drink: 2010 - 2013 314880 12% XD 750 mL $20.95 Score: 87/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Germany
Black Slate Riesling 2007, Mosel, Germany: An excellent aperitif, or companion to many dishes from seafood to mild curries. Aromas of lemon drops with a crisp lively body and mouth-watering, appetite-whetting acidity. Unbelievably great price! 176917 11.5% MD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Italy
Vigne dei Mastri Rodata 2007, Piedmont, Italy: Full-bodied with black fruit and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied. Tasty. Food matches: meat-lovers pizza. Great price. Drink: 2010 - 2012 416866 13.5% D 750 mL $8.75 Score: 85/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
New Zealand
Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand: So dependably fresh and crisp every year: this is a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc! Lovely zesty notes of limes, chives, and gooseberry. Perfect for vegetarian pizza or quiche. Drink: 2011 - 2014 316570 11% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
United States
Hawkes Wine & Winery Red Winery Vineyard Merlot 2008, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, United States: A lovely, medium- to full-bodied red with delicious notes of mocha and black plums. Smooth and blanced. A terrific wine that will appeal to many palates, which makes ideal as a gift or for dinner party. Merlot food pairings: Moroccan-spiced rack of lamb. Drink: 2010 - 2016 416882 13.8% D 750 mL $27.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Core Wine Company B.Core Rousanne Marsanne 2006, Santa Barbara County, California, United States: A robust, Rhone-style white that's a blend of 73% Rousanne and 27% Marsanne grapes. An unctuous, mouth-filling wine with an incredibly long finish. Lovely! Rousanne Marsanne food pairings: hazelnut-crusted chicken breast with tarragon cream sauce. Drink: 2010 - 2013 14.9% D 750 mL $26.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Core Wine Company Kuyam Thirteen Moons 2007, Santa Barbara County, California, United States: A big, full-bodied red with black fruit and smoke. Good grippy tannins and a satisfyingly long finish. Food pairings: hearty beef and root vegetable stew. Drink: 2010 - 2013 14.9% D 750 mL $21.95 Score: 87/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Core Wine Company Hard Core Mouvedre Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Grenache 2007, Santa Barbara County, California, United States: This blend of 37% mouvedre, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 26% syrah and 4% grenache delivers! Rich and full-bodied with ripe flavours of blackberry and dark plums. A touch of tannin means that decanting for 1-2 hours will help. Mouvedre Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Grenache food pairings: grilled rib-eye steak with portabello mushroom red wine sauce. Drink: 2010 - 2016 14.9% D 750 mL $26.95 Score: 88/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Rodney Strong Wine Estates Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir 2009, Sonoma County, California, United States: Generous oak on the nose is supported by gorgeous, fleshy cherries on the palate. Some black raspberry plays here too with your senses. Incredible texture: satin smooth. Smokey finish. Drink: 2011 - 2015 954834 13.9% D 750 mL $24.95 Score: 90/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Rodney Strong Wine Estates Knotty Vines Estate Zinfandel 2008, Sonoma County, California, United States: Terrific cherry-berry aromas burst from the glass! Love the energy and pleasure here. Round, smooth and full-bodied. Slippery-great. Top me up! Drink: 2011 - 2015 363358 15% D 750 mL $22.95 Score: 90/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Rodney Strong Wine Estates Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Sonoma County, California, United States: Love this style of cabernet! Balanced, deep, long and ultimately satisfying. Classic aromas of blackberry and cassis. Satin smooth and full-bodied. Decant 1-2 hours. Drink: 2011 - 2017 382325 14.9% D 750 mL $59.95 Score: 91/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Rodney Strong Wine Estates Symmetry Red Meritage 2007, Sonoma County, California, United States: A remarkable wine that needs more cellar time. Massive and towering with deep, dark, rich black fruit aromas and smoke. Good tannic grip. Decant for 2 hours. Drink: 2013 - 2018 497933 13.8% D 750 mL $69.95 Score: 92/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Mirassou Winery Pinot Noir 2008, California, United States: A simple, tasty red with sour cherry notes and a smooth, medium body. Good quaff for pizza night. Pinot Noir food pairings: chicken in tomato and olive braise. 185249 13.5% 750 mL $12.95 Score: 83/100. January 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart