90  
Alamos Selección Malbec 2014
Mendoza, Argentina $16.95 (322800) 13.8% alcohol
This is a crowd-friendly malbec from high-altitude, cool-climate vines. Aromas of black currant, mocha and cedar billow from this mid-weight, nicely textured red. It showcases palate-bathing, ripe dark fruit—boysenberry jam and black currant nicely juxtaposed with excellent tang carried along on flavours of passionfruit and pie cherry finishing with toasty/oaky notes. It’s nicely balanced throughout and pairs well with comfort food—red or white pizza, spaghetti and meatballs in tomato sauce, burgers, mac and cheese or grilled gourmet sausage. (Vic Harradine)

91 
Mazzei ‘Ser Lapo’ Chianti Classico ‘Reserva’ 2013 
DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy $22.95 (288530) 13.0% alcohol
Floral notes, sandalwood and grilled herbs abound on the nose. It showcases a balanced and beautiful river of tang-laden flavour blanketing the palate persisting through the dry finish and aftertaste—it’s drinking well now. Racy red currant and tangy cranberry meld on the palate with black plum and ripe briary berry adorned with spice and herbs before replaying on the aftertaste. This is medium bodied and creamy smooth with persistent purity of fruit and complexity. (Vic Harradine)