Thanks to its classic style, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Trueman, with a touch of Malbec, will appeal to Cabernet tragics. It opens with bright, expressive aromas of well ripened blackcurrants, graphite and crushed leaves. These flavors are closely aligned with a liberal serving of mocha oak. The palate is defined by its mix of acidity and sinewy tannins, which underpin stylish blackberry and cedary flavors through a long, seamless finish. Beautiful now but also has the integrity to enjoy over the medium term.

The 2020 Ovitelli Blanc (a white Rhône blend made from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Picquepoul and Bourbelenc) presents a complex, although reserved, experience. It opens with an engaging array of waxy, pithy and nutty aromas with a subtle chamomile lift. Dry and quite textural, tangy acidity drives upfront impact before slowly taking a more savory turn to a textural finish. This is a good effort and a wine to watch.

The 2020 Merlot The Revivalist with splashes of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon is a sumptuous, fragrant wine. Already approachable, it delivers plush open-knit aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry with tinges of leaf and dried herbs. A good volume of flavor follows but is slightly edged out by toasty oak and drying tannins through a reasonable finish. This has crowd pleaser written all over it.

This 2020 Cabernet Franc, blended with small volumes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, offers beautifully pristine blackcurrant and graphite aromas with a well weighted vein of spicy French oak. There is impressive elegance and balance, too. Firm but fine tannins underline well-defined flavors through a lengthy finish. Beautifully approachable now but also with the potential to improve over the medium term.

A more embryonic Grenache from 2020, the Ovitelli is fermented and aged in ceramic eggs for 170 days without any oak maturation and offers a wild ride. It initially bursts with primary red fruits, particularly raspberry and strawberry, topped by stony minerality and a distinctive herbal edge. A drying, chalky, savory palate follows, with flavors bound up in slightly hard-edged tannins. Excellent mineral length is also displayed, but the wine needs a little more time to flesh out.

From the main course to dessert, you need this handy. Choosing this bright, crisp Chardonnay is ideal for light meat turkey and lighter fare sides and perfectly pairs with your second, third, or fourth (no judgments here) slice of pumpkin pie. A glass of this wine could be dessert all on its own with aromas of baked apple, graham cracker, and meyer lemon, followed by flavors of Asian pear, and notes of minerality.

A total crowd pleaser as is, this Pinot Noir will complement any dish on the menu. With aromas of blackberry, cherry, leather, and tobacco with flavors of red cherry, raspberry, and boysenberry. Subtle hints of espresso and cocoa nib underpin notes of exotic spice and toast. The inherent earthiness and spice are a natural pairing with horderves as much as the mains. Perfect for celebrating another year with your lover, we recommend pairing this Pinot Noir with bacon-wrapped stuffed dates or a light and airy chocolate mousse.

Seductive and smooth, La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Pinot shows ripe raspberry, plum, sweet spices and a hint of cedar on the nose. The palate highlights La Crema’s softly textured style with layers of refreshing raspberry, dark cherry , and vanilla persisting on the finish. Enjoy this versatile Pinot with bacon-wrapped California Medjool dates, BBQ’d pork tenderloin with a cherry compote, beet salad with goat cheese, or lamb chops. All great pairings with this smooth and inviting Sonoma Coast Pinot. Tasted February 2023

Sophisticated and polished, this Monterey Pinot Noir is brimming with brambly red and black cherry, a hint of tobacco, clove and toast from oak. Features a slightly warming finish but overall very well balanced. Voluminous and with a luxurious feel created by supple but not understated tannins. Very good length. Best now to 2026. Tasted February 2023.

Lower alcohol, high tones and even higher intensity define this cool climate ante upped pinot noir for Monterey for La Crema. Richness and creaminess are far less than that of Sonoma and the vintage is clearly not one to warm, nurture and cream this tart fruit. That’s perfectly fine because the honesty and transparency are noted, not to mention the abiding winemaking that takes what’s available and interprets the truth. Pretty much just about as Burgundian as it gets for California, in old world and days of yore style. Drink 2023-2026. Tasted February 2023.

The warmth and richness of this Pinot Noir are apparent in the glass, but it’s not over-the-top. The mix of clonal material — 50 per cent Clone 4, 16 per cent Clone 667, 15 per cent Clone 23, 15 per cent Clone 2A and four percent Clone 115 — brings much complexity to the wine. The mix of red and dark fruit, namely dried cranberries and black cherry, is filled with plenty of savoury notes and brown spice in the finish. It’s always charming and silky smooth, and we like to chill the bottle before serving this wine to add a final touch of liveliness to the glass. Drink or hold through 2028.

Wide, powdery, fine but firm tannins; a lovely density to this. Concentrated and intense, very straight and streamlined. Finessed and focused. Clearly powerful, the energy is apparent, but all the elements are kept quite tight and controlled, so you're not getting so much expansion or nuance necessarily. Still, well worked with clarity to the fruit and tannins. Wet stone, liquorice, toasted caramel all giving elements of wood but integrated and supportive. Feels like a sleeping giant, will be good in time, sleek and stylish.

The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (90% Sangiovese and the rest Merlot) takes on more spiced layers of smoke, cedar, menthol, and blackberry. It is full-bodied, with snappy acidity and fine tannins, and is noted with redcurrant, orange zest, tea leaf, and clove. Hold another year or two and drink 2025-2035.

Deeply structured and expressive, with brooding blueberry, tarragon, sandalwood and other dusky spice flavors that gather richness and tension toward full-bodied tannins. Drink now through 2030.

A handsome red, refined and well-structured, with tightly focused blueberry and cherry flavors highlighted by licorice and dusky spice accents that finish with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.

A robust red that retains a sense of grace and structure, this offers expressive raspberry and tart blueberry flavors that mingle with rose petal, dusky spice and stony minerals as it builds richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029.

Shows a concentrated and mouthwatering mix of pineapple, ruby grapefruit and yuzu fruit flavors, with notes of crunchy Honeycrisp apple, saline and matcha lingering on the finish. Drink now.

Produced from 100% Sangiovese, the 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Strada Al Sasso is concentrated and potent with fresh pine, worn leather, sage, and black cherry. It is medium to full-bodied, with a driving linear feel to its acidity, and reveals angular tannins, notes of dusty baked earth, orange peel, rosemary, and cedar, and a citrus-tinged finish. Drink 2025-2035.

Perfumed with sweet red and blue fruit, the 2020 Chianti Classico is Sangiovese with the addition of 15% Merlot. Forward with primary fruit, pressed flowers, and wet stone, it Is round and supple on the palate, with a silky-smooth texture, notes of black cherry and mocha, and crunchy red plum on the finish. This versatile and clean style of red can be shared across the table with a variety of dishes. Drink 2023-2028

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with dark red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, mocha, spice and licorice. Plush and explosive, with terrific energy, the 2019 has a ton to offer. All the energy of this mountain appellation wine comes through beautifully. The 2019 offers tons of fruit intensity in a mid-weight, savory style that is hugely appealing.

The 2019 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is a classic Russian River Chardonnay built on texture and oiliness. Apricot, honey, tangerine oil, chamomile, spice and butter notes all come together nicely. This mid-weight, fleshy Chardonnay is loaded with up-front appeal and charm.

Dark fruited aromas, dried herbs, a touch of mint and dark spices. Full flavoured, plenty of plum, mulberry, spice and textured, savoury tannins. Long, mouth-filling and generously flavoured

There is a reason Cab from Mt. Veeder is nationally recognized. And that reason is in this bottle. Very deep and dark fruit is slightly uplifted by excellent natural mountain fruit acidity. The structure is firm, and the core is sound. It begs for a steak pairing.

The popularity of Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve label, which blends grapes from the Jackson family’s vineyards across California to produce consistently flavourful and concentrated wines, might make some underestimate this Alexander Valley Cabernet. That would be a mistake. Alexander Valley in Sonoma County is a choice spot for cabernet in California, rivalling Napa in terms of quality and character. This estate-grown cabernet includes 22 per cent merlot in a red wine with a sweet and vibrant character. Drink now to 2030. Available in Ontario.

The 2017 Cabernet Franc Arcanum is a brooding and expressive wine made entirely from Cabernet Franc. Musky aromas of graphite, cassis, cigar box, sage, and incense evolve in the glass. Weightless and full, it has ripe tannins and a refined arch of black fruit, mocha, and earth. Its ripeness is balanced with fresh acidity and delicate salinity. Drink 2024-2044.