Xumek Chardonnay 2010, Zonda Valley, San Juan, Argentina: Lovely bright peach and pear notes wrapped in toasty vanilla-smoke. Full-bodied and generously layered. Terrific price. Drink: 2012-2015. 265231 14% XD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 88/100. February 18, 2012 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Dowie Doole Chenin Blanc 2011, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: One of the most aromatic and interesting chenin blancs I've tasted. Floral with passion fruit and dried apricot. Love it! Drink: 2012-2015. 709246 12.50% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. February 18, 2012 Full Review

Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2009, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Wow! This is spectacular. Thomas Bachelder did amazing things while he was the winemaker at Le Clos Jordanne, one of my favourite Niagara wineries. Now he's out there again, taking the lead and creating superb wines from different vineyards. This chardonnay is stunning! Lemon luminescence with a core of deep minerality and lightning brightness. Perfectly balanced between a deft hand of oak and generous fruit. Makes me love chardonnay all over again. Drink: 2012-2019. 271841 13% XD 750 mL  $31.95 Score: 94/100. February 18, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Vineayard Selection Block 27 Carmenère 2008, Peumo Vineyard, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley, Rapel Valley, Chile: Superb! Full-bodied with layers of black fruit, toasty oak, violets and a lick of dark spices. Very complex and satisfying. Drink: 2012-2018. 562892 14.50% XD 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 93/100. March 3, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Carmen Wines Gran Reserva Carmenère 2009, Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Another remarkable wine from this winery that tastes twice as expensive as it costs. Smooth, full-bodied and well-rounded with generous layers of black plush plum. Drink: 2012-2016. 439166 14% D 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 91/100. March 17, 2012 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Champy Vieilles-Vignes Pinot Noir 2008, A.C., Burgundy, France: More earthy and smoky, less fruity than the other Champy pinot in this release, but no less spectacular. These are amazing wines for the price point: so vibrant and beautifully structured yet medium-bodied liquid silk that slides down ever so easily. There's a lovely hazelnut smoke on the finish. This is my personal favourite and I'll be buying a lot of it. Yay! Drink: 2012-2022. 726406 12.60% D 750 mL  $28.95 Score: 92/100. March 30, 2020 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Mouton Cadet Regional Blended Red 2010, Bordeaux, France: Taste Bordeaux at a fraction of the cost! Yes, this is the entry-level wine of the famous first-growth winery Mouton-Rothschild. It's classically structured with savoury and mouth-watering aromas and flavours of cassis and blackberry. It's full-bodied and smoky and will benefit from 1-2 hours decanting. Drink: 2011-2014. 943 13.50% XD 750 mL  $14.46 Score: 87/100. August 3, 2012 Luscious Lamb Wine Full Review

Jean-Pierre & Alexandre Ellevin Vaucoupin 1Er Cru Domaine Ellevin Chablis 2009, A.C., Burgundy, France: An elegant expression of Chablis with white peach and melon notes and a pure crispness. No oak on this chardonnay, just Burgundy in the glass. Drink: 2012-2016. 264457 13% XD 750 mL  $26.95 Score: 92/100. March 31, 2012 Top Rated White Wine. Full Review

Taurino Riserva Salice Salentino 2008, D.O.P., Puglia, Italy: Peppery with dark spices and black fruit. Savoury, meaty and full-bodied with juicy smooth layers of pleasure. Pair with hearty meat dishes and meat lovers' pizza. Drink: 2012-2015. 177527 14% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 89/100. March 31, 2012 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

L.A. Cetto Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, Mexico: An outstanding value: perhaps the best value red wine of the year! Very tasty layers of dark fruit, just enough oak and mouth-watering juiciness. Perfect for parties. Drink: 2012-2014. 114066 13.50% D 750 mL  $13.95 Score: 88/100. February 4, 2012 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand: Zippy, zesty and herbal with the refreshment that only a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc can offer. This is one of the country white wine masters. Lime fresh on the finish. Drink: 2011-2013. 35386 13.50% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 90/100. January 3, 2012 Splendid Salad Wine Full Review

3 Stones Gewurztraminer 2008, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand: Dry with exotic aromas of nutmeg, lychee and rose petals. Perfect for Asian cuisine. Drink: 2012-2015. 262758 13.50% D 750 mL  $13.95 Score: 89/100. February 18, 2012 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand: Stunning! Smoky cherries open up to a sensory world of berries and spices. So lovely. Medium-bodied and silky smooth. Drink: 2012-2016. 55228 13.50% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 91/100. February 18, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Spier Wines Creative Block 3 Named Varietal Blends-Red 2008, W.O., Coastal Region, South Africa: Juicy and ultra-delicious! Wow, it comes on with so many different aromas: mocha, fleshy blackberry and savoury goodness. Drink: 2012-2015. 263632 14% XD 750 mL  $31.95 Score: 93/100. April 14, 2012 Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Jacksons Stanford Hills Estate Pinotage 2009, W.O., Walker Bay, South Africa: Almost Amarone-like in it's concentration and depth of blackberry liqueur flavour. Very satisfying and excellent for the price. Drink: 2012-2016. 278341 14.50% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 91/100. September 1, 2012 Full Review

Barón de Ley Gran Reserva Tempranillo 2001, Rioja, DOC, Spain: This is a remarkable wine -- please save me some as I intend to get a couple of cases. Matures aromas of leather, cigar box, dried herbs and black plums. It's rare to get a mature wine like this on a release, snap it up but not too much. Drink: 2012-2022. 642496 13% D 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 94/100. December 3, 2020 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Beaulieu Vineyard Bv Tapestry Reserve 2008, Napa Valley, California, United States: Towering, smoky and black. Full-bodied with smoky layers of dark fruit, cassis and blackcurrant. A long elegant finish. Drink: 2012-2016. 50393 14.50% XD 750 mL  $49.25 Score: 92/100. August 4, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

Blackstone Winery Winemaker's Select Zinfandel 2009, California, United States: Oh yum! Tasty layers of fleshy blackberries roll across your mouth... This wine makes me smile. Smooth, full-bodied, generous - like a terrific boyfriend. Drink: 2012-2015. 26427 13.80% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 90/100. February 18, 2012 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Beringer Chardonnay 2010, Napa Valley, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Beringer, established in 1876, is one of Napa’s most venerable producers of fine wine. Although steeped in history, Beringer makes use of modern winemaking techniques to get the best results. This Chard, for instance, was sourced from four different vineyards, with some juice undergoing fermentation in barrel and some in steel – highlighting the best aspects of each crop. With its complex interplay of guava, nectarine and lemon drop flavours, the results are there to be seen (and tasted). This is an exceptional value for Napa Chardonnay. My note: Terrific craftsmanship and balance. Lovely ripe peach fruit and pear aromas. Full-bodied. Drink: 2011-2014. 84988 14.10% D 750 mL  $32.95 Score: 90/100. November 26, 2011 Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel 2009, Lodi, California, United States: This wine makes me wonder why I don't drink more zinfandel. Its juicy and meaty with seductive black cherry and berry fruit yet not over the top. I'd even call this wine elegant... Not an adjective usually associated with zinfandel, generally characterized as pure exuberance in a glass. A superb effort. Drink: 2012-2016. 942599 14.50% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 92/100. February 4, 2012 Top Rated Red Wine. Complete Cheese Pizza Wine Full Review