Our Christmas list continues with a selection of wines priced $25 and up.

1. This wine comes from the same vineyards that, in a year when a Vintage is “declared”, produce a Vintage Port.  However, as they are bottled between the fourth and sixth year after the harvest, they mature more quickly and are ready to drink much sooner.  The 2006 Dow’s LBV ($28) has a deep, opaque purple-ruby colour, an elegant aromatic nose of ripe blackberry jam, black olive, menthol, licorice and black pepper spice.  Well rounded on the palate, Dow’s has a more traditionally drier texture with rich ripe blackberry fruit flavours, which leads to a long and lingering finish making it one of the finest LBV Ports available.  It can be enjoyed anytime and pairs wonderfully with chocolate desserts and hard cheeses like Wensleydale or mature Cheddar.

2. Intense and complex, the 2007 Viña San Pedro 1865 Syrah ($28) was aged for 12 months in French (95%) and American (5%) oak barrels, of which about 50% of which are first use and the rest second and third use.  An intense, opaque purple/violet-red wine loaded with aromas of toasted wood, creamy vanilla, cassis, blackberry, plum, black cherry, roasted meat/dry-rub spices, licorice, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. The palate is full of intense flavours of candied black fruit, rich chocolate, soft, velvety acidity and silky tannins leading to a full, concentrated finish. One of the finest Syrahs on the market, it is enjoyable now or cellar over the next decade.

3. The 2009 Nichol Syrah ($37) is almost a remake of the killer 2004, 2006 and 2008.  A dynamite wine with fragrant blackberry, plum, cherry, and savoury sweet pepper aromas and flavours laced with chocolate and smoked game undertones.  All soft and velvety, it finishes with velvety acidity and ultra firm tannins.  Impressive and very limited on the retail level.  You choose the food pairing but if a perfect pairing would be grilled lamb.

4. The Perrin’s are one of the oldest winemaking families in the Rhone if not France.  Their stunning achievement is the iconic Chateau Beaucastel.  However, their 2009 Perrin Vinsobres ($25) is a winner.  One of the best value Cru wines on the market, this wine is incredibly dense with a ruby/purple colour, the intense black raspberry, cherry, cassis and kirsch liqueur-like fruit is followed by gorgeous aromas of licorice, smoke, incense, leather and a hint of oak. The texture on the palate is pure hedonism with its full-bodied character of black and red fruit, herbs, incense, and spice.  This wine literally tastes more like a Châteauneuf du Pape ($60-$100 per bottle).  And why not.  It is on the same level as a CDP but without the price tag.  The finish is full-bodied, and opulent with soft, velvety acidity and very firm tannins, which is in keeping with this top-notch vintage.  Cellar and drink this marvelous wine over the next decade.

5. One of my favourite Kettle Valley wines is the 2008 ‘Old Main Red’ ($39.20). A classic left bank, Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a small amount of Petit Verdot and Malbec, this is a stunning display of rich, juicy blackberry, plum, and cassis fruit followed by spicy licorice, vanilla, and toast. The palate is superb with its black fruit character, spicy French oak (21 months), soft acidity, and a good grip of tannin. Still in its infancy, this will age for another decade at least.  547 cases produced.

6. Just released with very little availability, the 2010 Church and State Coyote Bowl Syrah ($42) is sure to mirror the Gold Medal winning 2009 from last year’s British Columbia Wine Awards.  Again it’s laden with spectacular classic Northern Rhone aromas of smoked meat, saddle leather, rich blackberry, cassis, black plum, roasted tomato, tobacco leaf and licorice with hints of menthol, olive, chocolate and roasted coffee. The juicy palate is full of rich blackberry, smoky/grilled sausage, black pepper spice with dried herbs and a long concentrated finish. Soft acidity and very firm tannins mark this as a wine to cellar for 6 months and enjoy over the next 5-8 years.

7. A rich, sturdy wine, the 2006 Fontanafredda Barbaresco ($45) is brimming with plummy blackberries, black cherry, licorice, cedar, truffles, vanilla and cocoa.  An incredible, relatively great value Piedmontese wine, all the components are well proportioned with this wine, never one over-shadowing the other, from the aromas of cedar and cherries to the flavours of ripe fruit and vanilla.  The palate is supple, rich and round, making for an extremely easy-to-drink Barbaresco.  Drink now–2020.

8. The 2009 Cassini Syrah ($33) is a deep, rich colour, loaded to the brim with tons of blackberry, cassis, and black plum jam-like fruit.  With hints of chocolate, licorice, tar, roasted meat, sage, smoke, menthol and vanilla, the palate is rich, lush and spicy with lots of black fruit, spicy pepper, crisp, smoky acidity and full-bodied tannins.  The wine was aged for 14 months in new and 2 year old barrels, 80% French and 20% American. It drinks exceptional well now but will improve with further aging.  Enjoy now for its youthfulness or cellar another 7-10 years.

9. The 2008 Antinori Guado al Tasso “IL Bruciato” ($38) is the second label for the Antinori’s regular Guado al Tasso, which usually sells for $94+ so at more than half the price, this wine is a bargain.  And what a delicious wine it is.  A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah, the wine has an impressive, concentrated ruby red colour, aromas of cassis, black raspberry, Damson plum, black cherry with hints of mushroom, tobacco, tar, smoke, cedar, vanilla and pepper.  Multi-dimensional in every sense of the word, the flavours mirror the aromas with the same intensity.  The finish is long and complex with crisp acidity and firm tannins.  This could do with a few more years of aging to settle down and would cellar until 2020.

10. One of my favourite white wines, the 2010 Black Hills Alibi ($30) is a unique blend of Sauvignon Blanc and barrel-fermented Semillon.  The straw-gold colour with dazzling hints of green showcases a powerful aroma of tropical fruits, honeysuckle and honeydew melon with flavours of lime, tropical fruits, and vibrant apricot and orange peel characters.  The acidity is fresh and clean, contributing to a crisp and persistent tropical fruit finish.