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Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Coonawarra, South Australia

Hidden Bench Natur Zero Dosage 2017, VQA Beamsville Bench

Pinot Noir 57% Chardonnay 43%. This strikingly golden, bone-dry sparkling wine displays rich tones of honey-drizzled croissants, strawberry and cherry preserve, caramelized lemons, dried apples, and toasted hazelnuts.

Vineland Estates Vidal Icewine 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula (375ml)

Wildly aromatic Icewine, unique and savoury, almost smells like charcuterie with pork rillette and a mix of pickles. Onion skin and the musky cured skin of pork salumi. So bloody interesting. Would age this a year or two.

Tyrrell'S Hunter Valley Semillon 2023, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Sustainable

Wow, this is amazing. Classic semillon peach, silky with a long beautiful finish. Double thumbs up!

Arch-classic Hunter Valley semillon here from stalwarts Tyrrell's, one of the originators of this excellent genre, once known as "Hunter valley Riesling". This is surprisingly genteel and approachable in youth - often it takes at least 8-10 years for these wines to show their merit, but here the fruit is quite ripe and forward, and starting to develop ahead of the historic curve. Acids are yet firm and crunchy, propelled by a dash of residual carbon dioxide. Can cellar to at least 2028.

Burrowing Owl Athene 2021, Okanagan Valley

A blend 55% Syrah and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. NWAC2024 Platinum

Delicious - big, dark peppery syrah and cabernet sauvignon. Smooth, cherries and long finish. With prime rib, and beef short ribs - yum. One of my favs.

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2022, Igt Toscana

60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon, all from the San Guido estate, the highest percentage of merlot in the wine's history since launching in 2000 (2020 was the closest at 50-50, while the usual is 60% cabernet and 40% merlot).

La Massa 2020

Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling 2021, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Palatine Hills Wild & Free Sémillon 2021, Niagara Lakeshore

2023 vintage. Elegant white features a generous aromatic profile and firm acidity with flavours of peach, lemon, and green apple blossom.

Double thumbs up, big fav of K's.

Black Hills Nota Bene 2023, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

37% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 28% cabernet franc. The higher percentage of cabernet franc lends a welcome juiciness and perfume to the wine. The palate features tannins with grace and grip along with acidity that simmers under the surface resulting in a measured character. Excellent length.