2012 Merlot, Red Tractor, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario 13%
A ripe and ready Merlot with plump black fruit and spice, coffee and hints of toast. A relaxed style with appealing softness and  fruit forward nature.  Serve it with tuesday night pizza and wings. (86)

2013 Riesling-Gewurztraminer, Red Tractor, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario
A friendly and extroverted blend that is ridiculously easy to drink, with pleasant citrus, apple, floral and peachy character. Sure to be a hit at any function this summer - a good sipper on its own but also plays well with pork chops, assorted salads or something like tilapia with cilantro and coconut. (87)

2012 Wildass White, Stratus, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario
A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. A dangerously good white with citrus, apple, nuts, spice and vanilla hints. Med-full bodied with fresh acidity and impressive texture and length. A heavy hitting white that will charm the pants off tough-ass red drinkers. A winner with spaghetti alle vongole (and you don't have to go easy on the garlic, this wine can take it!) (88) 

2010 Dean's List Meritage, Niagara College, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara, Ontario 13.5% $28.15
What were you doing in 2010? If you weren't picking up bottles of this Meritage to throw in your cellar, now's your chance to try it at its peak. A solid blend of 57% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Mature aromas of leather, musk, spice, cedar, black peppercorn alongside concentrated stewed red fruit, raspberry, cherry and blackberry. Full bodied with seductively smooth tannins and ample flavour. With a wine like this, you'll want someone to come over and get all up in your grill (with some lamb shanks preferably) (89)

2012 Cosmic Red, Calamus, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario 13.3% $17.95 (342568)
An assemblage of 50% Cab Sauv, 21.5% Merlot, 21.5% Cab Franc and 7% Pinot Noir. Unpretentious and approachable with a juicy nose of red cherry, red currant, strawberries and spice. Full bodied with grippy tannins and boatloads of flavour. Bold, generous and fruit forward. The perfect wine to bring over for a backyard party to enjoy while chowing down on burgers and ribs. (86)

2013 Locked & Loaded, Rosewood Estates, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara, Ontario 
A funky little number with sass - a little nutmeg and sweet spice, cedar, raspberry and red fruit. Medium bodied, juicy acidity and pleasantly supple tannins. Very tasty with elegant structure. A Versatile food wine that gets along with everybody. It's so good, you might want to keep it locked up. (88)

2010 Estate Cabernet-Merlot, Henry of Pelham, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario 13.5% $24.95 (395855)
A superb mature Cab-Merlot showing developed balsamic notes, black fruit preserves, cedar, savoury notes, spice and soy. Meaty and full bodied with medium acidity and solidly structured tannins. A wine with enough complexity to keep you interested. Go for heavier meat dishes - a juicy ribeye with a side of herb roasted potatoes. (89)