El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontés 2024, Calchaquí Valley, Argentina: El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontés from Argentina’s Calchaquí Valley greets the glass with a luminous pale gold hue and an inviting bouquet of lychee, white peach and delicate citrus blossom that hints at its aromatic intensity. This dry, light- to medium-bodied white has bright, juicy fruit framed by lively acidity and a silky texture that feels both refreshing and moderately weighty, best served well chilled and delightful to drink now or over the next couple of years. Crafted by winemaker Alejandro Pepa at historic Bodega El Esteco, founded in 1892 by French pioneers and one of the earliest estates to champion Torrontés from high-altitude vineyards in Cafayate and Catamarca, this wine captures both tradition and modern expression of Argentina’s signature white grape. The Blend de Extremos project unites fruit from two extreme sites — each over 1,700 metres above sea level — giving the wine a focused core and vivid profile that speaks of its unique terroir. Although no single trophy defines this bottling, El Esteco’s long record of international accolades for its Calchaquí wines underscores its quality and the esteem for Torrontés on the world stage. Drink: 2026-2029. 46399 13.50% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 93/100. January 10, 2026 Best Value White Wine. Venerated Vegetarian Wine Full Review

Wirra Wirra MVCG Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: Wirra Wirra MVCG Cabernet Sauvignon shows classic cassis and blood-plum depth with dried herb and menthol lift; full-bodied and finely balanced, cedar and spice frame a firm-tannic core—drink now or cellar for texture to soften. Drink: 2025-2027. 45380 14.50% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. November 22, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Tahbilk Museum Release Marsanne 2018, Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Victoria, Australia: Tahbilk Museum Release Marsanne from Nagambie Lakes is a dry, elegant white wine crafted from sustainably grown Marsanne grapes, revealing aromas of honeycomb, charred bread, lime, nectarine and Asian pear with lemon curd, pink grapefruit, ripe pear and waxy texture flavors that are silky and mouth-filling on the palate. Serve it chilled with roasted chicken with tarragon cream sauce, where the wine's developing texture and rounded middle palate complement the rich, herb-infused dish, or pair it with grilled lobster tails with lemon butter as the wine's youthful freshness and complexity stand up to the sweet, tender shellfish. Winemaker Alister Purbrick oversees production at Tahbilk, Australia's oldest family-owned winery founded in 1860, which has been pioneering age-worthy Marsanne for over a century and holds the world's oldest continually producing Marsanne vines planted in 1927. This wickedly youthful wine has the potential to age every bit as splendidly as Riesling or Semillon and can be enjoyed now or cellared through 2030 as its essential complexity continues to unfold. Drink: 2025-2030. 276980 12.50% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 93/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated White Wine. Profound Pasta and Cream Sauce Wine Full Review

Highgate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, South Australia, Australia: Highgate Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia opens with aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum, eucalyptus, and crushed violets with a whisper of black olive and forest floor. Dry and medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins, it pulses across the palate with vibrant acidity and inky berry fruit before closing with a lively, peppery edge. Serve it slightly below room temperature or cellar it through 2028. Mark Thwaites and Stuart Leece craft this organically certified Cabernet from fruit grown in flat red soils, aging it for nine months in third and fourth use French oak barrels to create a wine that showcases varietal purity without excessive polish. The wine's energetic character and authentic expression reflect the modern Australian approach to Cabernet, focusing on freshness and drinkability rather than heavy extraction. Pair this vibrant red with herb-crusted lamb chops where the wine's minty notes beautifully echo the aromatics, or enjoy it with grilled portobello mushroom burgers topped with aged cheddar as the earthy flavors meld seamlessly with the wine's savory tannins. Drink: 2026-2028. 45635 14% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. January 10, 2026 Best Value Red Wine. Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review

Konzelmann Family Reserve Meritage 2020, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Konzelmann Family Reserve Meritage from Niagara Lakeshore is a dry, medium to full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the exceptional 2020 vintage, revealing ample blackberry, black plum and red and dark fruit with a gorgeous underlying savoury leafy quality. Serve it at room temperature with grilled strip loin steak with herb butter, where the wine's structured tannins and leafy notes complement the charred, richly flavored beef, or pair it with roasted rack of lamb with rosemary as the wine's dark fruit and savoury character harmonize with the tender, aromatic meat. Winemaker Andrzej Lipinski oversees production at Konzelmann Estate Winery, a pioneering Niagara estate founded in 1984 by Herbert Konzelmann, a fourth-generation German winemaker who brought Old World expertise to Canada and helped establish the region's reputation for world-class wines. This wine showcases the outstanding quality of Niagara's stellar 2020 growing season and can be enjoyed now or cellared through 2028 and beyond. Drink: 2025-2028. 48246 14% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 90/100. December 6, 2025 Top Rated Red Wine. Voluptuous Veal Wine Full Review

Leaning Post The Fifty Chardonnay 2023, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Leaning Post's The Fifty Chardonnay from Ontario is an elegant, medium-bodied white wine offering notes of white peach, yellow apple, kumquat, and honeysuckle. This dry wine displays great acidity and concentrated fruit that will continue to develop over the next three years. Serve it chilled with lemon-roasted chicken as the wine's citrus notes complement the bright flavors, or pair it with grilled salmon steaks where the wine's wet stone minerality enhances the delicate fish. Winemaker Laura McCain vinifies this sleek Chardonnay in concrete with ambient yeast before aging it on the lees for nine months to create subtle texture and harmonious mouthfeel without oak influence. The 2023 Niagara vintage was warm and sunny with very small yields, resulting in wines of remarkable concentration and precision. This refined, vegan-friendly Chardonnay represents excellent quality and will drink beautifully through 2029. Drink: 2026-2029. 578864 12.90% XD 750 mL  $26.95 Score: 91/100. January 24, 2026 Top Rated White Wine. Great Goat Cheese Wine Full Review

Volta Estate Winery Amphora Ramirez Vineyard Chardonnay 2023, Prince Edward County, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Volta Amphora Ramirez Vineyard Chardonnay presents an alluring bouquet of Asian pear, apple blossom, and candied lemon, with whispers of oyster shell and wet limestone. This elegant, medium-bodied white is bone dry, featuring a silky, almost tactile mouthfeel that comes from its eight-month maturation in sandstone amphora while resting on the lees. Serve it well chilled alongside seared scallops with brown butter as the wine's mineral backbone and subtle textural richness will complement the caramelization, or cellar it for 3 to 5 years. Winemaker Chris Thompson, formerly of Lighthall Vineyards, crafts wines for this exciting new Prince Edward County estate whose state-of-the-art winery designed by Giannone Petricone Associates won a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence and is set to open in 2028. The wine's briny finish and orchard fruit character echo the limestone-rich terroir of Hillier's sandy loam soils while the ancient amphora aging technique adds a distinctive Old World elegance to this quintessentially Ontario Chardonnay. Drink: 2026-2031. 48951 13% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 94/100. January 10, 2026 Top Rated White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

Emiliana Novas Stellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Carignan 2023, Maule Valley D.O., Chile: Emiliana's Novas Stellar Selection from Maule Valley is a seamless, full-bodied red wine blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carignan with notes of wild cherry, red berry, savory herbs and earthy minerality. This dry, organic and vegan-friendly wine displays fine tannins and wonderful purity that make it thoroughly satisfying. Serve it at room temperature with herb-roasted leg of lamb as the wine's garrigue notes complement the rosemary and thyme, or pair it with grilled duck breast where the wine's balanced structure stands up to the rich meat. Winemaker Noelia Orts crafts this exceptional-value blend showcasing Chile's prowess with French varieties, sourcing organically grown grapes from the Maule Valley where old vines and diverse terroirs create wines of remarkable transparency and complexity. Emiliana is one of the world's largest organic wine producers and has been certified organic since 1998, pioneering sustainable viticulture in South America with biodynamic practices across all their estates. This deft demonstration of Chilean winemaking represents outstanding value and will drink beautifully through 2028 and beyond. Drink: 2026-2028. 35672 13.50% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 92/100. January 24, 2026 Best Value Red Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review

Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico 2022, Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy: Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico from Castelnuovo Berardenga reveals aromas of tart red cherry, blackberry, dried sage, and hints of cocoa with a touch of toasted hazelnut. Dry and medium-bodied with polished tannins, it flows across the palate with bright acidity and juicy berry fruit before closing with a fresh, balanced finish. Serve it slightly below room temperature. Massimo Bracalente, winemaker alongside estate owner Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, crafts this classic expression primarily from Sangiovese with small amounts of Colorino and Merlot from vineyards ranging from 360 to 450 meters in elevation on sandy-clay soils with optimal southern exposures. The estate, known since 1079 as a fortified settlement belonging to the cathedral of Siena, belonged for centuries to the noble Sozzini family who transformed it from a military outpost into a thriving wine estate, and in the sixteenth century it became an important theological conference center that aligned with Reformation theories. Pair this vibrant Chianti with bucatini tossed with Italian sausage and peas where the wine's bright acidity cuts through the richness, or enjoy it with margherita pizza as the juicy cherry notes complement the tomato and basil beautifully. Drink: 2026-2028. 23325 13.50% XD 750 mL  $22.95 Score: 90/100. January 10, 2026 Top Rated Red Wine. Perfect Pasta and Tomato Sauce Wine Full Review