A soft, full style of Sauvignon Blanc, with tropical fruits and rich, toasty flavors. But there is a layer of gooseberries and herbs to give the wine some freshness." - 88/100, Wine Enthusiast

Antonio Fattori's passion for winemaking traces back to his family's legacy, with roots planted in the early 1900s by his grandfather, who returned from WWI to restore vineyards devastated by phylloxera. Today, the Fattori family continues this tradition, crafting expressive and intriguing wines in Veneto. Their white wines, grown on basalt slopes in the alpine valley, showcase a distinct minerality. Their Soave, made from the Garganega grape, is a dry white wine renowned for its vibrant citrus and honeydew melon notes, accented by a subtle hint of macadamia nut. Easy-drinking and delightful, it captures the essence of the region.

Bone dry and minerally, with a stony austerity to the lemons, limes, pears and pineapples. Enormously complex in the interaction of fruit, acidity, lees, oak and fine, subtle tannins. Chablis-like and elegant, and should show evolutionary development over the next six years.

Mocha, blue flower, menthol and forest berry aromas lift out of the glass. Firmly structured but elegant, the linear palate exhibits pomegranate, wild strawberry, star anise and white pepper alongside a backbone of fine-grained tannins and racy acidity. Drink 2029–2044. Kerin O’Keefe

Dr. Zenzen Alcohol-Free Pinot Grigio is a German, dealcoholized white wine (0.0% ABV) featuring a fresh, crisp, and fruity profile. It offers notes of citrus, lemon, lime, and peach with a dry finish, crafted to retain the complexity of a traditional wine. Ideal for pairing with seafood, chicken, or pasta, it is low in calories and suitable for any occasion.

Deeply coloured with garnet highlights. Sun-ripened nose showing a mix of stone fruits, strong spices and smoky notes. The palate is full and chewy with clean aromatics revolving around a menthol core. Sleek, energetic finish for a balanced and very fleshy wine.

One of the original producers that grows Trebbiano Abruzzese, one of the few quality grapes of the Trebbiano group. There is not much of this exported and even fewer bottles of the Montepulciano. Francesco Valentini and his son are the only humans allowed in the cellar as Francesco never wants to introduce foreign microbes or yeasts to interfere with the ageing of the wine. These are some of the most ageable white wines in the world and in fact, could be considered “unicorns” as they are hard to find here in Canada.  Truly collectible.

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2019 stands out as an exceptional fine wine, boasting an intense golden yellow hue. Its complex and captivating aroma offers elegant floral tones of white flowers, intertwined with notes of ripe white pulp fruit, officinal herbs, and subtle hints of vanilla, coffee, and minerals. On the palate, it dazzles with a harmonious blend of pulp, freshness, and flavor, delivering an enveloping experience with remarkable length. This rare wine leaves a lasting impression, destined for a prolonged life of enjoyment and appreciation.

There's a faint coppery tinge to this wine's rosy pink hue, and the fruit is somewhat muted, but this remains an enjoyable drink. Leather and scorched cherry flavors are carried by a supple, rounded mouthfeel, finishing with moderate length and intensity. Easy to drink, but not one to hold more than another few months. Certified biodynamic.

Similar to the Verdelho grape, the Khakibos, known botanically as Tagetes Minuta, is a recent addition to the foothills of Stellenbosch. While neither are indigenous to the region, both have been successfully cultivated over the past twenty-five years, thriving in the distinctive climate of the Cape. Interestingly, Khakibos is also utilized as a natural repellent against insects and mosquitoes. This marks the fourth vintage of this exceptional wine, which has evolved to embody the vision of Stephanie and Etienne—a blend of Iberian white varieties, featuring drought-resistant Portuguese grapes.

This Port from mixed varietal vineyards has aged for decades in the Douro Superior. The intriguing green-glinted amber colour and the complex range of flavours both intense and delicate culminate in a long and satisfying finish. The perfect metaphor for the lives and events you want to celebrate with a glass of this Port.

A decent introduction to Australian Grenache, a bit simple and one-dimensionally cherry-fruited but clean, supple and easy to drink despite plenty of body, with just a bit of warmth on the finish.

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.

Another Port success from the Branco family of Quinta do Portal, following their success with the 2003 vintage. This is a lovely, lively wine, with fresh acidity alongside good, mature fruit. It is ripe but very elegant, with a sweet, dried fruit aftertaste.

Nose: Intense aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry, with hints of cedar and tobacco.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of ripe black fruits, including blackberry and plum, complemented by notes of vanilla and dark chocolate.

Palate: Velvety smooth tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish with a touch of spice.

A deep golden yellow color, the nose is expressive with notes of fresh breadcrumbs, a touch of toast and butter, and a hint of minerality. Full-bodied and unctuous on the palate. A great Chardonnay, rich, mineral and well-balanced, playing in the same league as its illustrious neighbors Chassagne and Puligny!

The Brunello Di Montalcino is fragrant with incense, rose petals, red raspberry, and blood orange. Elegant, with fine tannins, it is approachable already in its youthful stage. Its refreshing acidity and wonderful dusty earth minerality make it a very pleasing wine to drinking now or over the next 10 years.

Nose: Aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, and plum, with hints of violet and baking spices.

Taste: Rich and velvety on the palate, with flavors of dark berries, black currant, and a touch of cola.

Palate: Well-balanced acidity, silky tannins, and a long, lingering finish with notes of vanilla and oak.

Nose: Intense aromas of red berries, particularly strawberries and raspberries, with hints of floral notes.

Taste: Lively and vibrant on the palate, with a burst of fresh red fruit flavors. Delicate notes of cherries and cranberries.

Palate: Crisp acidity balanced with a subtle creaminess. A long and refreshing finish, leaving a lingering taste of red fruits.

Like traditional Amarone, the grapes are dried per regulations before pressing after January 1. Full bodied, structured and typical aromas and flavours of dried cherries, figs, balsamic, licorice, espresso and earthiness, Allegrini is one of the more famous families of the Valpolicella region. If you love Amarone, but find a full bottle too much, this 375ml, although pricey, is well worth the price of admission.

45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta

Winemaker and owner Chris Phelps has an impressive pedigree: training at the infamous Chateau Petrus of Bordeaux's right bankc and then 12 years at Dominus in Napa Valley, owned by Jean-Pierre Moueix of Chateau des Laurets. Phelps's winemaking experiences in both Napa and Bordeaux led him to create what he calls "New World wines with an Old World sensibility". Phelps has been producing Ad Vivum since 2007. Grapes for the wines are sourced from the Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, CA. This 100% Cabernet is dense with aromas of cassis, violets and spicy oak with a rich, full body, silky tannins and a well-balanced exceptionally long finish. This wine will surely age for 20 years or more.

"The 2016 Durfort-Vivens is gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics and structure play off the natural intensity of the year beautifully. Blackberry, grilled herbs, licorice, leather and crème de cassis are all vividly sketched in this layered, expressive Margaux. (AG) " --- Vinous (1/2019)

96 points - James Suckling

A rich, balanced, long-lasting and incredibly harmonious red wine, dark in colour with a touch of purple in the reflections. Its powerful and complex bouquet contains notes of dark berries, with hints of cherry alongside peppery and liquorice spices. On the palate it is aromatic, with velvety tannins and soft ripe fruit, and a long finish.

A real curiosity. Tokaj in a small bottle. An excellent quality vintage with concentrated aszú berries. These wines are only created in extraordinary vintages and are thus a real rarity, only produced in small amounts, in this case 599 bottles.

There is 52% Merlot in the blend and it shows in an enticing, opulent aroma of plum and blackberry. A little more backward than the other wines in the Haut-Brion stable so far, but all the ingredients are there to make a brilliant wine. There is a great depth of ripe fruit, impressively fine tannins, lovely balance and excellent length. It is superbly fresh and has exceptional potential for the future.
(52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot)

Award tasting note: "Opulent, fresh, intense flavours and aromas of linseed oil and smoky flint. This has huge complexity and length." - Silver, International Wine Challenge

A small portion, about 12%, of the blend is made up of Viura to add a touch of lightness to the full-bodied Tempranillo that makes up the majority of this cuvée. The Tempranillo grapes are fermented in the winery's traditional carbonic maceration method in open concrete vats, resulting in a very fruit-forward wine with soft, well-integrated tannins. Maturing the wine in concrete vats for several months adds surprising depth and complexity. The grapes are from 40-year old vines. In the glass there is an inviting dark cherry colour with purple tinges. The aroma is expressive and refreshing with hints of violets, strawberries, and aromatic herbs. The finish is well rounded and elegant.

The renamed Lunae winery located in Liguria produces this spectacular red wine with the DOC Colli Luini certification. This wine is made by 33% Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Canaiolo grapes. The Auxo Colli Luini DOC is an excellent quality wine, refined and prestigious suitable for convivial and representative moments and it is also round and soft. The cultivation method is the Guyot with a density of 4000 units per hectare according to the technical policy of production. The vineyards are located in Castelnuovo Magra and in little portion also in Ortonovo and Sarzana in the La Spezia province. The vineyards are around 30 years old. The manual grape harvest takes place in the second half of September. Firstly there is the fermentation in stainless steel tanks with 10 days on peels, then the racking off and late the malolactic fermentation always in steel tanks. Finally the aging period of 6 months in big oak barrels. In the first process the must and the wine are kept at 18°C.

Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault is a concentrated red wine with intense aromas of pink flowers, red fruit notes and light hints of toast. On the palate it is rich, flavoursome and complex. A medium to full-bodied wine with a recognisable structure and soft, elegant tannins. The finish is lingering and persistent.

Typical nose with notes of apricot, ripe citrus fruits, and mineral-spicy hints. On the palate of medium stature with noticeable CO2, intense acidity and balancing, subtle sweetness. Medium length.

Produced from 314 plots totaling nearly 28 hectares (75 acres) of vineyards. Ao Yun vineyards range in altitude from 2,200 to 2,600 meters, enabling the cabernet sauvignon grape to express the full refinement of this unique terroir. Local farmers have worked these lands for centuries, adapting their farming techniques to the steep mountainsides. To respect time-honoured local tradition, the grape harvest and winemaking are done entirely by hand. The Ao Yun terroir enjoys exceptional climatic conditions, with temperatures similar to those of Bordeaux

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of DBR (Lafite) in Chile, the first great vintage LE DIX was created. Since then, the high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon years have been selected from vineyards over 70 years old located on a soil called "El Fraile."
The wine is distinguished by its complexity, balance, and elegance, with a powerful tannic structure and very ripe fruit flavors enhanced by spicy, cedar, bay laurel, and eucalyptus notes.

One of the most remarkable white wines in South America. Ripe lemon, mandarine orange, tarragon, white mint and superbly integrated, smoky oak. Then on the palate this is practically vibrating with energy and precise, linear acidity; almost Mendoza meets Grand Cru Chablis in style. Gorgeous, chalky texture and no end of flavour. Superb.

Sangiovese, aka Brunello is grown all over Italy, but most prevalent in Tuscany. Valdicava wine estate produces some of the highest quality wines in the world by showing different expressions of this opulent grape variety. Located in the valley of Montosoli, to the north of Montalcino, the winery only produces two wines: a Rosso and Brunello, with the single vineyard, Madonna del Piano only produced in the very best vintages. This 2016 has attractive aromas of cherry nib, violet, tomato leaf, walnut, and orange rind. Full bodied with dusty tannins and a long, linear finish. 

88/100 Wine Enthusiast
"Aromas of grapefruit and crushed tomato vine lead the nose. The ripe rounded palate offers honeydew melon, lemon drop and a note of crushed dill alongside fresh acidity."