'Unplugged' is Flat Rock's designation for unoaked Chardonnay. The 2006 represents the first vintage for this wine. Aged in stainless steel, it was allowed to go through full acid-softening malolactic fermentation before filtering and bottling. Flat Rock produced only a small lot of this debut vintage, so pick up a bottle while you can. Sumptuous with grilled freshwater fish.

Barrel fermented in French oak (one third new), this multi-faceted wine exhibits layers of tropical fruit and flinty mineral aromas. These aromas replay beautifully on the palate and are complemented by notes of fresh cream, caramel and toast. Attractive now but will age for up to four years. Pairs deliciously with lobster accompanied by a butter dipping sauce.

Aromatic grapefruit and lychee aromas and flavour with hints of rose petal and spice come in waves in this fruit-forward wine. Designed for current consumption or short-term cellaring, this Gewurz is an attractive choice when serving mildly spiced Asian dishes or grilled salmon steaks.

Winemaker Ilya Senchuk and owner Daniel Lenko determined that their 2006 Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon would make a terrific rosé, so they assigned the whole crop to its production. The wines were fermented at an ultra cool 10° Celsius in order to retain the crisp acidity and to slowly and gently extract the flavour from the juice. Enjoy this slightly off-dry wine as an aperitif, or with mildly spiced Asian dishes or even with cold cuts and salads.

Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has long been devoted to the art of winemaking and brings just as much glamour to California's vineyards as he does to the silver screen. This Chardonnay shows beautiful aromas of tropical fruit, melon and pears. Dry and full-bodied with ripe fruit flavours and a hint of oak, this is a blockbuster Chardonnay for those on an indie budget.

708305    (D)            750 mL    $19.95   

Originally created at the University of California at Davis, Symphony is an aromatic grape variety that is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. The latest vintage of Ironstone's popular Obsession is as fragrant as ever, soft and round with a touch of sweetness that makes it an excellent companion to spicy Asian dishes.

With a prison breakout depicted on its label, the Big House Red is the perfect wine to enjoy while watching the classic film, The Shawshank Redemption. This blend of Carignane, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Touriga Nacional is big, jammy, spicy and stuffed with flavour. Go big and enjoy it with pasta in a hearty meat sauce.

A fine choice for grilled salmon or stuffed veal tenderloin, this warm-climate Pinot is brimming with aromas and flavours of black cherry, smoked meat, spice, coffee and a hint of tar. It is round, ripe and ready to drink.

Owned by the Chilean winery, Montes, Kaiken (pronounced Kay-ken) is named for a wild goose that flies a migratory pattern between Chile and Argentina (thus, the winery's logo line, "The Best From Both Sides of the Andes"). Their Malbec features an attractive aroma profile of black raspberry, plum, spice box and smoke. It is dry with lots of fresh fruit that is balanced by a seam of acidity and ripe tannins. Match it to grilled steak or cellar it for up to six years.

Punta Nogal uses carefully selected grapes from their estate vineyards in the cool Casablanca Valley to craft this deliciously concentrated Chardonnay. Half of the juice was fermented and aged in stainless steel, the other half in medium-toast French oak. The resulting wine shows exceptional balance between the tropical fruit and toasty oak characteristics. Pair it with penne alla vodka or baked salmon in a cream sauce.

Botalcura's Reserve El Delirio shows that Chile is more than just Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. Featuring Syrah and Malbec, generally not thought of in Chile but which work beautifully together, this fruity and balanced wine shows off the virtues of both grapes to perfection. The Syrah delivers the upfront fruit, while the Malbec provides a lovely earthy/cedary tone to the mix. Terrific with meat-rich pasta dishes.

James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2006 declared Anvers an "outstanding winery capable of producing wines of the finest caliber" and awarded it its highest winery rating of . The 'Brabo' Cabernet/ Shiraz is fashioned from grapes sourced from Anvers' estate vineyards. Its juicy red-fruit flavours with hints of clove, mint and black pepper make it a great match for a sizzling steak hot off the barbecue.

James Haselgrove began his 'futures' offer on his Shiraz in 1984. As with Bordeaux, the Haselgroves first offer these wines to Australian customers at a reduced pre-release price. And like Bordeaux, once they hit the open market, their prices rise. We cannot gain access to these wines at their futures prices, but we have acquired them for our customers at prices very close to the Haselgrove's initial offer. Enjoy this rich, creamy, and full-bodied wine tonight with braised meat dishes, or cellar it for up to five years.

The basket press was one of the earliest types of presses used after the ancient practice of foot-trodding was superseded. It is still used today as some producers believe this traditional technique gives them better control over the pressing of their grapes. This basket-pressed Cabernet is loaded with blackcurrant, plum and raspberry aromas and flavours and makes a mouth-watering match for barbecued backribs and steaks.

In Michael Cooper's 2008 Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines, this wine was awarded out of 5.

TASTING NOTE: Deep cherry guava red. Fragrant, smoky and savoury on the nose with a lovely floral depth and crisp, savoury, spicy flavours with crushed velvet tannins, slightly tart cherry and cranberry fruit, dried herbs, smoky bacon, an earthy undercurrent and the musky florals detected on the nose adding a lovely touch to the lingering finish. Medium to full-bodied in style with beautifully integrated French oak (just 15% new) playing a supporting role throughout, it's made from a myriad of pinot noir clones and seems to get more and more complex as the contents of the glass disappear. (Sue Courtney, www.wineoftheweek.com, Aug. 2, 2007) 

655167    (D)            750 mL    $39.95   

Throughout the wine world there are wonderful eccentrics like Willi Opitz. Opitz created a wine called Mr. President and gave it all to then-President Bill Clinton. From his tiny 8 hectare site he crafts unique wines, such as this fruity and well-balanced Cuvée Red that is a blend of Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Grown in mostly clay soils, the Chenin Blanc grapes for this Vouvray are pressed slowly and gently before being cool fermented in stainless steel. Delicate yellow in colour with green tints, it has charming floral aromas (typical for the grape), and flavours of juicy apple and pear. The wine's sweetness and acidity are in perfect balance. With summer just around the corner, this wine would be wonderful for a picnic with fresh fruit salad and brie.

Christophe Bonnard runs this estate, which was purchased by his great-grandfather in 1951. There have always been vines on the property but Christophe's father only began to cultivate them in the years 1989-1990. Christophe is surely making his forebears proud with quality wines like this zesty Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy with grilled salmon or pan-fried freshwater fish.

Made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape (a 17th-century import from Burgundy), the best Muscadet Sèvre et Maine wines speak of the French north-Atlantic coast. The wines are tangy, fresh, and citrusy with a slight hint of saltiness which makes them a perfect partner for steamed mussels, oysters or grilled ocean fish.

070318    (XD)            750 mL    $14.95   

Made with a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, which have all been touched by noble rot, Château Septy's Monbazillac offers aromas of rich peach, pear, honey and apricot. It is a worthy substitute for Sauternes, and a terrific value. Enjoy it with fresh fruit cocktails or blue cheeses.

Depending on the vintage, Château Reynon's prime wine usually contains 82% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Made by Bordeaux legend, Denis Dubourdieu, the 2004 displays aromas of blackcurrant, elderberry, raspberry and pipe tobacco. Dry, medium-bodied and well-balanced, this wine is just beginning to enter its fine drinking phase. Try it tonight with rare roast beef, or cellar it 2+ years.

Domaine Louis Jadot is a top négociant which searches out the best grapes for all of its wines. This wine is made with grapes acquired from various top vineyards throughout the Côte d'Or and Côte Chalonnaise. Match this fresh, black cherry-flavoured wine to stuffed pork tenderloin or veal medallions in a wine sauce.

Frederic is of a winemaking family, his father, Jean-Paul, having been proprietor at Domaine du Bourg. Some of these old family vineyards have recently been brought back into the Mabileau family, as Frederic, with wife Nathalie, is determined to expand and improve his domaine ... My experience of this estate is limited, but what knowledge I have tells me that there are good wines coming from the vineyards of Frederic Mabileau. And they are well priced. This domaine is just one more reason that you should shop for wine in the Loire! (Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com, Feb. 28, 2006)

Made mostly with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, plus a touch of old-vines Carignan, Domaine de Fenouillet's Grande Réserve comes from specific high-quality vineyard sites that have shown, year after year, to produce top-notch wines. Jean Jean does not age this wine in oak, but rather in stainless steel and large vats. The wines created are fruity and brightly coloured. Match it to gourmet sausages and steaks off the barbecue.

The famous co-operative, Cave de Rasteau, has redesigned their whole line of wines under the new Ortas label. The labels may have changed but the wines remain some of the finest coming out of Rasteau. Their Prestige Rasteau, a blend of principally Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in a supporting role, is rich, ripe and very robust. Match it to equally flavourful beef or lamb dishes.

The 2005 Les Cimels won a Coup de Coeur, the highest rating from France's Guide Hachette 2007. Owner/winemaker Diane de Puymorin is part of the new wave of young French winemakers who have broken onto the scene in the last decade. She produces rich, concentrated wines resulting from low yields and careful vineyard management. The winery's name means Gold (d'Or in modern French) and Red (Gueules in Old French). The name comes from Ms. Puymorin's family crest and represents, according to her, warmth and depth.

Think of this as a mid-weight Châteauneuf-du-Pape and you will have a sense of what this ripe, round, fruity and delicious wine is like. A blend of stainless steel-matured Grenache and oak-aged Syrah from the great 2005 vintage, this wine shows aromas and flavours of plum, garrigue, pepper and vanilla. A wine to enjoy tonight with braised beef and spring vegetables, or cellar it for 2-4 years.

This is the half bottle of the popular wine in our Essentials Collection (926626, $38.65).

TASTING NOTE: Lovely kirsch and plum cake aromas and flavors lead the way, with a silky palate of currant and mineral that glides through the long finish. Not as densely structured as the top 2005s, but pure and wonderfully balanced. Drink now through 2020. Score - 92. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Web Only 2008) 

005975    (XD)            375 mL    $19.95   

Château de Haute-Serre is located in one of the prime locations in Cahors, an area called the 'Mountain of Cahors'. The wine, a blend of 80% Malbec, 10% Merlot and 10% Tannat, has aromas of red fruits, perfume and vanilla. It is dry and round, but with a very good tannin core for balance. Match this wine to a rare steak, or age it 2-4 years in a cellar.

Madiran is once again becoming a hot wine region due to its innovative approaches to traditional wines. Madiran wines, because of their use of the Tannat grape (blended with Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon), have traditionally required long ageing. The best producers in the region have been experimenting with various techniques such as ageing in new oak and micro-oxygenation to soften Tannat's impact. Domaine du Crampilh's version is soft, spicy and fruity that is ready to drink now.

A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, this dry, raspberry-scented rosé is an excellent companion for those first spring salads or try it as a sipper while you kickback on your patio after digging up the garden.

Elena Walch, along with a handful of others, helped pave the way for other women who dreamed of making fine wines. Her single vineyard Castel Ringberg is legendary for producing superlative Pinot Grigios and the 2006 vintage is no exception. Displaying ripe fruit, herbs and floral aromas and flavours, this fresh and focused Pinot Grigio matches beautifully with herb-roasted chicken.

This Pinot Grigio displays a delicate bouquet with hints of pear and candied fruit. It's dry, round (from the extended lees ageing) and full-bodied with a fresh seam of acidity that gives the wine fine balance. The ever-versatile Pinot Grigio pairs easily with all sorts of appetizers, as well as asparagus dishes and seafood courses.

A single-vineyard Soave, made using nothing but the Garganega grape, this wine has a terrific pedigree. The limestone soil, ideal vineyard location and proper grape clone selection have all led to the creation of this delicious lime- and pear-scented wine. It is dry, crisp and refreshing and demonstrates what can be done with Soave when yields are controlled and great care is taken in the winery. Try this with a variety of shellfish dishes.

070870    (XD)            750 mL    $17.95   

#74 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007.

TASTING NOTE: Very plummy and grapey on the nose, with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, soft and succulent, with lots of flavor and a long, long finish. Delicious. Drink now. Score - 90. (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com,
Nov. 30, 2007) 

072348    (XD)            750 mL    $15.95   

Palladino's San Bernardo vineyard is much prized for its clay/calcareous soils, favourable south-by-southeast exposure and ideal climatic conditions. Their Riserva presents intriguing aromas and flavours of Christmas cake, black cherry, citrus and earth tones. A Barolo to enjoy now with rare roast beef and game meats, or cellar it for up to a decade.

This fresh and fruity Primitivo displays ripe berry-fruit aromas and flavours, soft tannins and a fresh, invigorating seam of acidity. Its lower alcohol and good balance makes this red an excellent choice for mid-spring barbecues or gourmet pizza night.

070805    (D)            750 mL    $14.95   

Alicante is an extremely rare type of grape as not only is the skin red but so is the pulp. In fact, it is the only Vitis vinifera grape that is red fleshed and typically produces wines that are deeply coloured. It was created by Henri Bouschet in the late 19th century when he crossed Petit Bouschet with Grenache. This delicious red is a fantastic discovery wine for those looking to add another 'untried' grape variety to their life-list of enjoyed wines.

Made with 100% Alvarinho (a.k.a. Albariño in Spain), this wonderfully crisp and aromatic white from the Vinho Verde region features intense fruit aromas, considerable body and depth. A refreshing choice for the patio during those first warm days of spring or try it with sushi or sashimi.

In the early 1990s, Swedish-born and -raised Hans and Carrie Jorgensen purchased 30 hectares of land in the Alentejo region. They proceeded to hire an Australian winemaker to craft this blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in a New World style. Match this robust red with a braised meat dish.

This 100% Touriga Nacional (the great Port grape) is aged for almost one year in French barriques. The resulting wine is filled with plum, blackberry, new leather and vanilla aromas and flavours. The palate is rich and robust with layers of fruit and spice. Age it 2-5 years or match it tonight with rare steak with mushrooms and onions.

Aged in French and American oak for a period of 12 months, this premium red has a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, black olives, sundried tomatoes and figs. This ripe, balanced, medium- to full-bodied wine is an excellent cellar starter
(3+ years) or try it tonight with game meats (bison steaks, venison) or roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic.

The wines of Bodegas Lan tend to lean towards the more traditional style. This Gran Reserva is clothed in a medium-ruby colour with garnet tones appearing on the rim. The nose is redolent of spice rack, red plums, strawberry and tobacco and the palate sees a replay of these aromas, and the finish is long and oaky. Enjoy it with dishes that use aromatic spices such as paella.

"The 5,200 ha of productive vineyards of this south-western canton produce 40 per cent of every Swiss vintage. Concentrated on the south-facing slopes of the sunny upper Rhône Valley, the region is known as 'the California of Switzerland'". (Jancis Robinson MW, The Oxford Companion to Wine, 2006) This fruity, well-structured, and medium full-bodied Pinot displays attractive red-berry aromas and flavours. Savour with red meats and hard cheeses.

071357    (XD)            750 mL    $17.95