BUYING GUIDE

sweet aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries and orange peel with a pleasant earthy touch. Will please the Jura lovers seeking a wine that offers good value for money. Enjoy with steak tartare, duck confit or simply with charcuteries and pâtés for an aperitif. (MB)

ITALY PONTEMAGNO 2017, DOC ROSSO PICENO ($16)

Medium-deep garnet. Fairly robust nose of cherry candy and other red berries with a bit of spice. Light-bodied with high acidity, simple flavours of fresh pomegranate juice backed up by medium tannins. Drink up. (RL)*

PORTUGAL RIBEIRA DE AGUIAR TOURIGA FRANCA, TOURIGA NACIONAL & TINTA RORIZ 2016, DOURO DOC ($15.70)

Full body with dusty tannins where the rich notes of blackberries, black licorice and slightly lifted floral notes are well balanced by fresh acid. Simple but honest and very well made. Great value for money. Ideal for meat stew or grilled sausages. (MB)

$20.01 TO $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AUSTRALIA HARDY MONTEPULCIANO 2016, LIMESTONE COAST ($26)

Opaque plum red. Medium-intensity nose featuring plums, raspberries, and a bit of smoke and allspice from oak aging. Medium bodied with prominent tannins and acidity, tasting of ripe plums and cherries.

Alcohol is high but well integrated. Will lend class to your spaghetti bolognese. Drink through 2021. (RL)*

CANADA HESTER CREEK RESERVE CABERNET FRANC BLOCK 3 2017, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($25.99)

From 50-year-old vines originally planted by pioneering Joe Busnardo. Pretty garnet in the glass, aromas of ripe red and black berries with earthy notes, followed by a juicy, balanced and well-structured palate with firm tannins, damson, mulberry and blackberry before leafy and mineral hints through the finish. (TP)

QUAILS’ GATE OLD VINES FOCH 2017, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($25.99)

Fruit sourced from the winery’s Osoyoos vineyard, hand harvested and barrel fermented in French and American oak, aged 20 months. Generous dark berry fruits and smoky notes on the nose precede a plush entry with well-integrated tannins, boysenberry, damson and blackcurrant through a lengthy end. (TP)

BORDERTOWN SYRAH 2017, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($26.50)

Varietally true peppery and meaty gamey notes on top followed by a generous palate of blackberry, cassis and vanilla underpinned by approachable tannins with well-balanced fruit and oak through the lengthy end. (TP)

CEDARCREEK ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2017, SOUTH KELOWNA ($26.99)

Sourced from four different blocks in the home vineyard, in year one of organic transition. Aromas of inviting darker berry and earthy hints, opening in the glass to pure fruit flavours of cherry and distinctly savoury notes on the light- to medium-bodied palate with clove spice and mineral undertones. (TP)

FORT BERENS CABERNET FRANC 2017, BRITISH COLUMBIA ($27.99)

Sourced mainly from the home estate Dry Creek Vineyard in Lillooet, with the balance of fruit from near Oliver. Lifted aromas of red berry fruit, toasty notes and spicy oak announce a blackberry- and cassis-toned palate with mulberry, vanilla and black pepper, before lingering oak spice to close. (TP)

CULMINA YOUNG VINES MALBEC 2016, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($30)

From two different sites and elevations on the estate, with one portion spending 22 months in older French oak; intense aromas of red and black berries preview a satin-smooth, clove- and spice-toned palate accentuated by cassis and savoury herb notes wrapped in juicy acidity, integrated tannins and well managed oak. (TP)

AMULET RED 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($34.78)

A blend of 46% Grenache from Penticton with 28% Syrah and 26% Mourvèdre, each from a different site on West Osoyoos Bench. Open top fermented, punched down over 20 days then gently pressed before seven months on lees in French oak (20/80 new/neutral), unfined and unfiltered. Upfront red and black fruit with a wild edge and earthy notes before a complex layered palate with mulberry and plum, herbal undertones and some grip around a core of firm tannins. Gentle decanting recommended. (TP)

FRANCE BOUTINOT LA CÔTE SAUVAGE CAIRANNE 2015, RHÔNE ($30.99)

Grown on bush vines on the aptly named, pebble and limestone wild slopes above Cairanne, in southern Rhone, this blend of mainly Grenache Noir with Syrah, Carignan and Mouvedre is all about balance. A silky entry, raspberry and bright red berries with a hint of cassis, underpinned by stony, mineral notes, well structured and complex. Solid evidence as to why in 2018 Cairanne was granted its own AOC designation. (TP)

DOMAINE MABY LIRAC 2015, RHÔNE ($30.99)

From a long established family owned domain, this blend of Grenache Noir (54%), Mouvedre (24%) and Syrah (22%) delivers upfront red and black fruit aromas, before a plush and plummy palate, very approachable with structure and good balance, chalky tannins and herbal hints with a little spice towards the finish, before lingering pepper notes to close. (TP)

RECOMMENDED ITALY COLLEMATTONI DI BUCCI MARCELLO 2017, ROSSI DI MONTALCINO DOC ($25.55)

Medium body with fresh acid, chewy tannins and bright notes of red cherries, red plum and cinnamon make this slightly rustic, yet charming Tuscan red, an ideal companion for spaghetti bolognese or osso bucco. No doubt it warms the soul. (MB)

PORTUGAL TIAGO TELES GILDA 2017, BAIRRADA DOC ($25.50)

Savoury and crunchy notes of sour cherries and raspberries with bright acid and subtle pleasing violet and earthy nuances. Light and fresh with delicate chalky tannins. Serve slightly chilled with grilled tuna, rabbit or Peking duck. (MB)

OVER $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA KITSCH CAB FRANC 2018, BLACK SAGE BENCH ($35)

Limited release, likely only this vintage. Forward black berries and herbal notes followed by a vibrant, pure and full-fruited palate; excellent varietal expression, with raspberry, mulberry, cherry, vanilla and tea notes wrapped in well-integrated silky tannins with a lingering, peppery close. (TP)

KITSCH PINOT NOIR 2018, EAST KELOWNA ($40)

Upfront warm, ripe notes of red berries precede a plush cherry- and strawberry-toned, medium-bodied palate underpinned by elegant savoury and spice notes finishing with pure fruit flavours and good structure, balanced by silky tannins. (TP)

BARTIER BROTHERS GRENACHE/ SYRAH/MOURVEDRE 2017, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($41.99)

Fruit sourced from Black Sage Terrace vineyards of sandy loam over granite, sand and gravel within close proximity. A blend of Grenache (35%), Syrah (33%), Mourvedre (32%), open top fermented, aged 14 months in neutral French oak. Inviting red and black wild berry fruits lead to a complex and layered palate of raspberry, damson and blackberry notes wrapped in well-integrated, approachable tannins, with good structure and juicy mouthfeel through a lengthy end with a distinctly mineral streak. (TP)

DARK HORSE CABERNET FRANC 2018, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($45)

Stainless-steel fermented, and French and American oak aged for 16 months after secondary fermentation. Forward ripe red berry aromas precede a plush and plummy mocha and cassis palate framed in approachable tannins with balanced acidity with some herbal notes through a lengthy close. (TP)

DARK HORSE MERITAGE 2016, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($45)

A new brand sourced from the former Inniskillin Okanagan Dark Horse Vineyard. Aromas of red and black fruit with smoky notes and vanilla introduce a fruit-driven palate of redcurrant, blackberry and cassis with undertones of spice and earthy tones, approachable tannins before a toasty close. (TP)

CULMINA HYPOTHESIS 2014, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($46)

Aromas of black olive, dark berries and some dusty mineral hints precede a plush entry of black fruit with liquorice, spice and clove notes wrapped in juicy acidity, artfully balanced with black pepper and lingering spice notes through the close; rounded and luscious but with understated measured weight and solid structure. Definitely age-worthy from a superlative vintage. Also available in large formats. (TP)

FRANCE CANET-VALETTE IVRESSES 2016, SAINT-CHINIAN AOC ($44.15)

I have been following this domaine for over a decade and once again, this cuvée is a stunner. Full body with a complex palate made of sun-ripe aromas of blackberries and dark plum balanced by savoury dried herbs and earthy notes. The ripe yet firm tannins give good structure to the generosity of fruit. Lamb tagine is calling. (MB)

PAVILLON DE LÉOVILLE POYFERRÉ 2015, SAINT-JULIEN AOC ($66)

Great purity on the nose with the classic notes of cedar, pencil shavings, cassis, tobacco and graphite associated with the great wines of the left bank in Bordeaux. Polished firm tannins with fresh acid and generous amount of vanilla well supported by the concentration of fruit. Complex with a long finish. While the wine is without a doubt showing its high quality, it will express greater complexity in 10 to 15 years. A great example of the combination of finesse and power one finds in Saint-Julien in great vintages. (MB)