This deep garnet wine has a nose of black cherry, coffee bean and black olive. Spicy on the palate, it offers flavors of licorice, anisette and eucalyptus that register more strongly at first than pomegranate and raspberry. Bold tannins build in volume and then slowly fade into a bright finish with Valencia orange notes. Mike DeSimone

Burly and powerful, this is an explosively complex and satisfying wine, full bodied and brooding in black cherry and tobacco, its tannins mild and lengthy.

Coil Signal Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir is a fine example of the elegance and complexity that the Mendocino Ridge AVA can impart to this noble grape. This wine likely showcases the characteristic bright acidity and red fruit flavors of Pinot Noir, with layers of cherry, raspberry, and perhaps a hint of cranberry, complemented by nuances of earth, spice, and a delicate floral note, possibly violet or rose. Aged in oak, it might offer subtle hints of vanilla and toast that enrich the wine's profile without overpowering the delicate fruit. The high elevation of the Signal Ridge Vineyard contributes to a pronounced minerality and finesse in the wine, leading to a long, refined finish. 

This no-nonsense wine offers good red- and black-cherry flavors on a nicely firm texture and is well balanced for pairing with a variety of meats and other protein-rich dishes.

Violets, sweet black fruits, balanced, leafy notes.

Blended with small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this is an approachable, well-made appellation wine that shows a backbone of structure and power. Supple tannins wrap around a thick midpalate of black and red currant, cassis and toasted oak, finishing in clove and cedar. Virginie Boone

This wine's nose has an earthy/floral combination equal to a country meadow stroll. Wildflowers, rain-soaked soil and blackberries rise from the glass with an earthy perfume. Blueberry, black cherry and cedar flavors are almost outshone by silky tannins and a nutty shot of Nocino on the long finish.

Blackberry, anise and leather aromas form the best power trio since the Jimi Hendrix Experience. You also can't beat the Dead Horse's boysenberry gelato and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors. Additional notes of thyme and fennel provide support, along with elegant, silky tannins and bright acidity.

Clear, direct fruit flavors such as red cherries and cranberries are nicely framed in moderate tannins and balanced acidity, while spicy accents of clove and cedar weave in as you sip.

Deep ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate herbal aromas are supported by dark berries, some sea buckthorn and hints of orange zest. Very juicy concentrated palate with sweet strawberries, finely woven tannins and a fresh mineral finish with nutty hints.

From vines with more than 80 years of age, the intensity of the fruit comes through handily. Lusty textures with a strong tannic backbone and broken stones accompany all the ripe, fresh, peppery red fruits. Give this perhaps a decade of age before pulling a cork.

This is an open-knit, polished and characterful bottling of The Signature, with heady, bright aromas of cherry chocolate, tomato pulp, red licorice and savory, earthy spices. The palate is powerful yet silky and harmonious, with chiseled, fine tannins, and lovely fruit purity and freshness. Still young and tightly wound now, it should cellar with grace for at least another seven to 10 years.

Deep, dark purple red color is on the verge of being opaque & has a vivid purple rim. Classic Pauillac aromas of crunchy cassis. On the palate elegant blackcurrant fruit is concentrated & cedary. The wine has a fabulous grainy grip. The structure is of mid-weight and is very fine structure. Notes of graphite & blackcurrant are well-integrated. Balanced alcohol adds warmth that lifts the sweet spices on the long, clean, juicy finish.

The wine is quite reserved on the nose to start, but with a decant it opens up nicely. The wine has aromas of red-cherry preserve, ripe plum, clove, anise and cinnamon. The palate is elegant with notes of dried leaves, dark chocolate and dark cherries. The tannins are already well integrated, giving the wine a magnificent texture. Jeff Porter

Fruity, spicy bouquet with an animal touch. Fresh after opening it seems a bit tilted. With aeration, this Cornas develops aromas of dark berries, coffee as well as spicy, herbal elements such as bay leaves and incense. Fruit present on the palate and impetuous in a positive way, very juicy, polished and gentle. This wine retains its wild, animalistic but nevertheless appealing character even over days and should probably mature for a few more years.

The kind of acidity that raises goose bumps on arms fuels a lively wine packing oodles of tart red cherries and boysenberries, along with flavors of espresso and sea salt. The aromas are equally captivating, as black cherries, glove leather and violets fill the air with each glass swirl. Try it with a bacon sandwich.

Aromas of dark-skinned berry, underbrush and tobacco form the nose. The concentrated, savory palate offers dried black cherry, star anise and clove alongside firm tannins. Kerin O’Keefe

The nose on Feudo Montoni's Vrucara Nero d'Avola opens like an old book—leathery and dusty—with dried flowers and then peppery herbs. Cherries, strawberries, vanilla and cola come out on the palate, followed by more herbs and pepper notes. Integrated and elegant, with firm tannins and sparkling acid.

Deep, dark and elegant, this full-bodied wine sips easily despite significant tannins since they are silky and fine-grained. Black cherries, blackberries and blueberries blend with hints of charred oak and iron for a complex, edgy palate.

This medium-bodied wine is fully mature, presenting a harmonious blend of cassis, cranberry, earth, tobacco, cedar, and forest floor notes. While displaying a hint of rusticity in its tannins and subtle green nuances in the red berry finish, it appeals to aficionados favoring a more traditional style. Successful for its vintage, it leans slightly towards the classic and austere end of the style spectrum. Given its current state, there is no need for further aging, making it ready to enjoy now.

This recently released bottle from Ducru Beaucaillou boasts a modern design and offers a remarkable tasting experience akin to a stellar 1982 Ducru. Full-bodied and elegant, it presents a rich and complex profile with notes of tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest on the nose. The palate is adorned with layers of ripe, lush fruits and silky, refined tannins that steal the show. While allowing some time for aeration would enhance the experience, even a quick pour offers ample satisfaction, with the wine evolving beautifully in the glass.

This biodynamic producer has hit in two consecutive vintages. The 2011 is a bit funky at first, so you may want to decant it before serving, but once some cabbage-like aromas dissipate, the wine delivers plenty of blackberry fruit, some garrigue notes and a touch of licorice. It's full bodied and creamy in texture, with a long, silky finish.

Color: Brilliant ruby Aromatic: Fully ripe wild berries with a spicy undertone, slightly roasted from the ageing which also brings out a complex bouquet of red flower floral notes. Palate: Fruit forward at the beginning with a balanced tannic structure showing later. Fresh and consistently aromatic finish.

Color: Brilliant ruby Aromatic: Crisp, fresh red fruits with a chalky note Palate: Fresh linear fruit initially, medium weight on the middle palate with a smooth, subtle finish.

The Legacy Collection by Mission Hill Family Estate represents the pinnacle of Okanagan Valley winemaking, showcasing their unwavering commitment to quality. Hand-selecting the finest fruit from their estate vineyards, they craft small-lot wines coveted for their cellar-worthiness. Despite the region's relative obscurity in 1981, its glacier-formed valley offered ideal conditions for winemaking, inspiring Mission Hill's vision for the future of Okanagan wine. Today, as Canada's sole five-time winner of Winery of the Year, they continue to draw inspiration from the valley and their vineyards, embarking on an enduring journey of excellence. Their Bordeaux blend, a harmonious integration of soil, climate, and clone selection, exemplifies the unique terroir of the region, yielding elegant and luscious fruit.

The Legacy Collection epitomizes the apex of excellence in the Okanagan Valley, representing our unyielding pursuit of quality. Each vintage, we meticulously hand-select the finest fruit from our estate vineyards to craft these small-lot wines, revered as our most esteemed and cellar-worthy offerings. Back in 1981, the Okanagan Valley was largely unexplored as a wine region, yet its potential was recognized amidst the region's stonefruit orchards. As grape growers dared to plant vines in uncharted terrain, the valley's glacier-formed landscape revealed varying soil profiles, basking in long, sun-drenched days and diverse microclimates, offering an opportunity for wines of unmistakable terroir. Fast forward to today, where Mission Hill Family Estate stands as Canada's sole five-time winner of Winery of the Year, with multiple international accolades for our varietals. Anchored in our profound connection to the valley and the meticulous care of our vineyards, we continue to embark on this enduring journey of winemaking excellence. In our winemaking philosophy, akin to a quatrain's harmony in verse, four harmonious grapes converge. Fermented in small French oak fermenters and aged in French oak barrels, each component contributes to the wine's elegance and purpose, with Syrah lending depth and character to the blend.

Tobacco, leather and dark-spice aromas take center stage along with a pretty whiff of violet. The full-bodied, rounded palate shows dried cherry, licorice and ground clove while fine-grained tannins lend polished support. Drink 2021–2027. Kerin O’Keefe

Plush and softly textured, this modern expression of Brunello boasts generous tones of black fruit, cherry, tobacco, leather and cola with smooth, silky tannins. You could age this wine many more years, or drink it sooner thanks to the inherent softness here.

An elegant and perfumed bouquet graced with delightful essences of red cherry, raspberry, violet, and lavender is subtly framed by moderate wood and menthol influences. The palate begins with a caressing mouthfeel that swiftly transitions to a firm, muscular structure, showcasing well-detailed and comparatively robust flavors. This dynamic leads to a vigorous and more harmoniously balanced finish, maintaining its intensity throughout.

The wine presents aromas of spice, black fruit, cherry and licorice. The tannins are dense, and the palate is fresh and elegant. Notes of jam and black cherry.

Maison Louis Jadot is one of the most trusted and revered wine houses in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. Frédéric Barnier, Jadot’s esteemed winemaker, and his team balance tradition and technology, focusing on the purest expression of each wine’s terroir.  Founded in 1859, the house now owns 528 acres of vineyards, including 280 acres of the Cote d’Or’s most prestigious Premier and Grand Cru plots. Brisk deep purple, this is a solid multi-textured wine with depth of flavour and a certain darkness to it but it remains superbly balanced in tannins and acidity. An extremely perfumed and exotic wine.

The estate vineyard, this is dry-farmed and certified organic. Four-fifths of the 1986 planting went into this wine, with tart, wild berry and citrus flavors that penetrate deeply. A whiff of fresh peat moss rises from the glass and invites deeper exploration. These young wines all should benefit from a few more years of bottle age. Paul Gregutt

A fruit-driven wine that balances a flinty character with flavors of green plums. It is fresh, light, poised, crisp and green.

This opens with aromas suggesting raisin, forest floor, tobacco leaf and raisin. On the straightforward palate, smooth tannins support prune, black plum and baking spice. Kerin O’Keefe

Nose: Intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and violet, with hints of earth and spice.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dark fruits, such as blackberry and plum, complemented by notes of licorice and tobacco.

Palate: Well-structured with firm tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish.