Rubicon Estate 'Cask Cabernet' 2004
Napa Valley, California $99.00 (29553)
From the famed Rutherford organically certified vineyards of Francis Ford Coppola and a vintage that produced near-perfect fruit - this is a stunner. Sweet coconut and ripe black cherry aromas waft from the glass providing segue to this rich and robust ready-to-drink red. From 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 28 months in American oak; it delivers a concentrated mouthful of dark Bing cherry and boysenberry fruit flavours. It's medium bodied, fully textured and shows additional sweet oak, spice box and moderating tang on the well balanced finish. (VH)



Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2007
Marlborough/Nelson, South Island, New Zealand $21.95
This multi-clonal spice-infused effort is from one of NZs most prolific 'value for money' wineries. Aromas of ripe dark berry fruit and spice infused Damson plum waft off the glass. The flavours are a heady rush of cassis, currant and mulberry flavours that glide along on a silky smooth medium-bodied frame. Fully textured, deftly balanced and blessed with a lengthy finish, it would be difficult to find better Pinot at this price. (VH)

Omaka Springs Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $17.65
Audacious and herbaceous aromas of pungent nettles and grassy notes open this gorgeously textured SB. Once on the palate, the full bore flavours swing into high gear with a rush of tropical fruit—pineapple, honeydew melon and guava—that coalesce on the lengthy finish with wonderful lemon-lime zest. It's clean and refreshing and looking for its perfect mate—lemon sole. (VH)

Jackson-Triggs 'Delaine Vineyard' Chardonnay 2006
VQA Niagara Peninsula $20.15 (623454)
Quite charismatic, this expresses finesse and elegance on its firm and focused medium-bodied frame. It's well structured and medium textured with Granny Smith apple and white grapefruit flavours on the palate. The finish is well balanced with nuances of well integrated French oak along with a lovely clean and refreshing hit of racy citrus and honeydew melon. Pour alongside Chicken Kiev. (VH)

 

Omaka Springs Estates 'Falveys' Pinot Noir 2006
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $26.25
This single vineyard gem sports a perfumed and tantalizing nose of savoury spice and black currant aromas. Entirely consistent in the flavour profile, expect black currant and savoury spice box along with moderating zest and a leisurely lingering finish of warm fruit flavours (13.5% alcohol) plus hints of cassis and licorice. This is well balanced, medium in texture and body and worth a three or four bottle investment to enjoy on its own or pair with smoked duck breasts over greens drizzled with mango chutney. (VH)


Ra Nui Wines Pinot Noir 2006
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $26.95
Delivering bold new world flavour elegantly wrapped in old world charm; expect a luscious mouthful of ripe fruit flavours—Bing cherry and black bramble berry—plus nuances of clove and black pepper. This is medium bodied, smooth as silk and lip-smacking good. The lengthy finish is a thing of beauty—good dark fruit along with a generous dollop of racy acidity providing perfect balance. Pair this with cedar-planked grilled salmon. (VH)


Ra Nui Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $19.95
Meticulous vine management and wine making techniques have produced this fully textured and flavourful gem. Low-yielding fruit (2.5 tons per acre) was hand-picked then whole-bunch pressed with a small portion barrel fermented and oak aged. It opens with familiar Marlborough SB aromas of grass and passion fruit then surprises the palate with a delightful flow of juicy sweet ripe pit fruit along with the expected racy green apple and citrus tang. Well balanced and well priced, it's perfect for summer quaffing or paired with smoked salmon. (VH)



Allan Scott Family Winemakers Pinot Noir 2006
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $24.95
Winemaker Josh Scott, recently in Ontario, provided this technical data—12 year old vines; three Dijon clones-777, 667 and 115; partial French (Allier) 'light toast' oak aging; a cold soak and lengthy wild yeast fermentation. Look for a tantalizing nose of toast, spice and earthiness and a well balanced stream of ripe fresh fruit flavours—red cherry, black raspberry and mulberry—along with oodles of acidity for balance. The texture is particularly plush on a medium-weight frame. The lingering luxurious finish portends life until at least 2012. (VH)



Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California $21.95
No irony here - seriously good Napa Cab from a stellar vintage and a premium producer. Muscular and chewy, let this soften and knit together in your cellar, it'll provide optimum drinking 2012 to 2017. Minty and chocolate-covered cherry aromas segue this brawny, fully textured and full-bodied Cab. There's additional mint flavour on the palate along with a cornucopia of dark ripe berry fruit. The lingering finish is entwined with drying tannin and sweet ripe cassis flavour. Not for the faint of heart. (VH)



Babich 'The Patriarch' 2004
Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand $49.95
This blended cellar dweller (39% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 19% Malbec) is their flagship wine, commemorating founder Josip Babich. Best cellared until 2010 and drunk by 2018, you could aerate/decant three or four hours for immediate consumption. Full bodied and fully textured, the flavours are in the ripe boysenberry, cassis and Bing cherry zones with a perceptible tannic structure. There's deft balance, well integrated oak (14 months oak aging) and a lengthy dry finish. (VH)



Bodegas Montecillo 'Gran Reserva 2001
DOC Rioja, Spain $34.00
Leather and cherry aromas introduce this accessible red. The smooth and plush texture delivers a mellow mélange of red cherry, spice and crushed cranberry flavours. It's medium bodied with deftly integrated oak and a medium length finish. Seven years old and reaching its peak, drink up over the next three or four years. (VH)