BUYING GUIDE

ROSÉ CHÂTEAU DE MANISSY TAVEL LE MOULIN NOTRE DAME 2018, PROVENCE, FRANCE ($16.90)

Deep salmon pink colour. Light minerally nose of wild strawberries. Medium- to full-bodied, dry, strawberry purée flavour with just a touch of sweetness in mid-palate and a thread of minerality. Great length with a warm alcoholic finish. (TA)

GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES 2018, FRANCE ($18.95)

An unusual blend of Grenache, Vermentino and Viognier. Very pale straw in colour. Lightly floral, white pepper, minerally, peach pit nose. White peach flavour, full on the palate. (TA)

CEDAR CREEK PLATINUM PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($18.99)

Palest pink with a bluish tint. Lightly floral, strawberry nose. Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, wild strawberry and orange flavours, lovely mouthfeel, clean and precise with a long, fresh finish. One of the best Canadian rosés I have tasted from this vintage. (TA)

CULMINA R&D ROSÉ 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($19)

Pale salmon colour. Minerally, lightly floral, wild strawberry bouquet. Medium-bodied, well-extracted redcurrant and watermelon flavours with just a hint of sweetness in mid-palate. (TA)

CHÂTEAU DE GAUDOU EXCEPTION ROSÉ 2018, COTES DU LOT, FRANCE ($21)

Firm and structured with red fruit, stone fruit and herbal flavours, fresh with bright acidity and lightly tannic on the finish. Begs for food and likely has the versatility and structure to accompany a broad range of meat dishes. (GB)

RED $20 AND UNDER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA HENRY OF PELHAM PINOT NOIR 2018, NIAGARA PENINSULA ($16.95)

Cherry and tea leaf nose. Medium-bodied. Candied raspberry flavour with a touch of tannin on the finish to give structure. Great value here. (TA)

LAKEVIEW CELLARS SERENITY BACO NOIR 2017, ONTARIO ($16.95)

Lightly smoky, toasty, blackberry nose. Medium-bodied. Dry, smoked meat and plum sauce flavours with lively acidity. (TA)

SPERLING VINEYARDS ORGANIC MARKET RED 2017, EAST KELOWNA ($20)

Produced from over 30-year-old Pinot Noir and around 50-year-old Marechal Foch vines grown on gravelly soils. Wild fermented and partially barrel fermented with some time in neutral barrel. Forward violet, red and dark berry notes before an approachable gentle herb and savoury edged palate. Arguably one of the best value biodynamic BC red wines. (TP)

CHILE WLLIAM FÈVRE ESPINO RESERVA ESPECIAL CARMENÈRE 2017, CENTRAL VALLEY ($16)

Opaque purple-black in colour. Hightoned, cedary, lightly floral nose of black fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, richly extracted black plum and blackberry flavours with balancing acidity and well-integrated oak. (TA)

FRANCE GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR TAUTAVEL GRENACHE/SYRAH/CARIGNAN 2016, CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON ($18.95)

Deep purple-black in colour. Cedary, spicy, licorice and blackberry nose. Medium- to full-bodied, ripe black fruit flavours with fresh acidity and ripe tannins. A well-structured wine. (TA)

ITALY SCANSANO CAPOCCIA DOC MAREMMA TOSCANA 2015 ($17)

Very deep garnet with purple tinge. Fairly strong nose of plums, raisins and cherries. Nice balance of fresh red berry fruit and acidity. Will last another year. (RL)

SOUTH AFRICA WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE RED 2015, STELLENBOSCH ($19.95)

Syrah 73%, 16% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-ruby colour. Cedary, spicy, plum bouquet with evident oak. Medium-bodied, dry, savoury-herbal, sweet blackberry flavour with lively acidity. (TA)

RECOMMENDED FRANCE VIGNOBLES & COMPAGNIE PETIT TRACTEUR 2017, CÔTES DU RHÔNE ($16)

Simple but well made with supple tan

nins and generous notes of raspberries and wild strawberries with well-integrated alcohol and balanced despite the soft acid. A good contender for an everyday wine. Serve slightly chilled. (MB)

CHÂTEAU DU GRAND BERN 2016, BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR ($16.50)

Just like an old friend you are meeting again, the green touch associated to lesser ripe Bordeaux is somehow comforting. Medium body with fresh acid and notes of green bell pepper, bright plum, cocoa and vanilla. Chewy tannins a touch rustic with a rather abrupt finish. Simple but shows typicity at a price that is hard to argue with. (MB)

CAZES MARIE-GABRIELLE 2018, CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON ($18.65)

50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. Full body with lots of character and abundant notes of black olives, black plum, ripe raspberries and black pepper. Round and ripe tannins with soft acidity and a medium finish. A crowd pleaser made for meat stew or hamburgers. (MB)

ITALY SONOVINO VINO ROSSO ($7.55)

If someone is seeking to find an honest wine below $10 capable of offering some character of the country it is from, this wine will do it. Simple and straightforward, yes, but still pleasing. Fresh acid with chewy tannins and bright notes of sour cherries and a hint of tomato and dried herbs. A more than acceptable wine to buy if you are trying to entertain a big crowd and cannot spend a fortune. Ideal for Spaghetti alla Bolognese. (MB)

CORSI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO DOC 2014 ($15)

Medium-deep garnet. Nose of plums and sweet raisin pie. Medium body with tannins still quite high, tasting of cherries and chokecherries. At its best now. (RL)*

SAN PIETRO CHIANTI CLASSICO DOC 2012 ($20)

Medium-deep browning garnet. Medium-intensity nose of sour cherries with vanilla oak. Tastes of ripe red berries, especially strawberries, with tannins and acidity still in surprisingly good balance with the fruit, but that will not last long. Drink yesterday. (RL)*

$20.01 TO $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA MISSION HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2016, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($23.95)

Dense purple in colour. Cedary, blackcurrant nose with oak spice. Medium- to full-bodied, dry, well-extracted sweet plum and blackcurrant flavours with well-integrated oak. (TA)

HESTER CREEK SYRAH VIOGNIER 2017, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($25.99)

A blend of 84% Syrah with 16% Viognier invites with vibrant blue and black fruit, some peppery notes and meaty hints before a plush palate with generous mouthfeel, dark cherry, spice and mineral hints wrapped in well integrated, approachable tannins. (TP)

MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2017 ($27.99)

Sourced from East Kelowna and Naramata, from a challenging yet ultimately rewarding vintage. Floral and red berries up front with a touch of earthiness lead to inviting cherry and raspberry flavours above a pleasing savoury edge, supported by supple tannins and spice notes through the lengthy finish. (TP)

LAUGHING STOCK BLIND TRUST 2017, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($28.99)

Forward notes of black and blue fruit with toasty notes. Mainly Merlot and Malbec yield a ripe and plush palate of mulberry, cassis and mocha notes with well-managed oak and approachable tannins through a solid close. (TP)

INTERSECTION ESTATE WINERY ALLUVIA MERLOT 2015, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($29)

Vibrant red and black fruit with mineral hints, an intense fruit-driven entry but with elegance and excellent focus. A plush and broad mouthfeel defined by spicy pepper notes wrapped in well-integrated oak, anise, vanilla and cedar hints, supported by firm but approachable silky tannins before lingering spice and oak interplaying through the close. (TP)

MISSION HILL MERLOT RESERVE 2016, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($29.95)

Dense purple colour. Cedary, spicy, blueberry nose with evident oak. Medium- to full-bodied, fruity and juicy blueberry and blackberry flavours. Good mouthfeel and well balanced, finishing on a creamy vanilla note and supple tannins. (TA)

HUFF ESTATES MERLOT SOUTH BAY VINEYARDS 2017, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ($30)

Deep purple-ruby in colour. Lightly cedary, blueberry pie bouquet. Medium-bodied, dry, blueberry and raspberry flavours with lively acidity and a floral note, ending on a note of pencil lead. (TA)

LAUGHING STOCK VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2017, NARAMATA BENCH ($34.99)

From one of the more challenging in recent vintages, denoted by a late start and cool spring. Lifted red berries with hints of sage lead to a fruit-driven palate of bright cherry with a slightly savoury edge, firm tannins and a lengthy close. (TP)

HUFF ESTATES CABERNET FRANC 2017, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ($35)

Deep purple-ruby colour. Cedary, plum and pencil lead nose with a light floral note. Medium-bodied, dry, fruity plum flavour, lovely mouthfeel. Beautifully balanced. (TA)

FRANCE FABIEN JOUVES HAUTE CÔT(E) DE FRUIT MALBEC 2018, CAHORS ($21.35)

Slightly reductive when first opened. Bright and fruit-driven with concentrated notes of violet and fresh red plum with a hint of white pepper. Chewy yet polished tannins with fresh acid and well-integrated 13% ABV and a medium finish. Very well made. Grilled red meat’s best friend. (MB)

FABIEN JOUVES HAUT CÔT(E) DE FRUIT MALBEC 2016, CAHORS ($24)

Vibrant, minerally, earthy and fresh with bright acidity, tart, crunchy red and black fruit. Spicy and mouth-wateringly juicy. Delicious. Serve slightly chilled. (GB)

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE CÔTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE AOC 2011 ($26)

Medium-deep garnet. Nose of cherry cough syrup (in a good way), cassis and