From your cash-strapped friend and rich Uncle Bob
 Masciarelli Trebbiano D’Abruzzo DOC 2015 |
Daniel Costa, Corso 32
| From my cash-strapped friend: Masciarelli Trebbiano D’Abruzzo DOC 2015 (Abruzzo, Italy) $20.00 I really like the minerality and the intense green apple aromas of this wine. This is going to work so well with your seafood feast on Christmas Eve. |
From rich uncle Bob Azienda Agricola Crivelli Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOC 2015, (Piedmont, Italy) $40 I love that the origin of this wine is still a mystery and that it has such a low production. Beautiful aromas of pepper, wild berries and floral notes. Perfect Christmas wine. |
 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 |
 Amon-Ra by Ben Glaetzer 2012 |
Bill Tanasichuk, Bin 104
| From my cash-strapped friend: Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Australia) $22 A go-to Cabernet Sauvignon at BIN 104 for quality to price ratio, great flavour, and it’s vegan friendly. Langhorne Creek is one of Australia’s most ideal climates for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and has the oldest recorded Cabernet vines in the world. |
From rich uncle Bob Amon-Ra by Ben Glaetzer 2012 (Barossa, Australia) $82 The temple of Amon-Ra was believed to be the first temple to plant a vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple. This is a beauty that can be enjoyed young or cellared for several decades. |
 Sacravite Aglianico IGT 2013 |
 Caduceus Cellars Sancha 2013 |
Jenn Fulford, Crimson Imports
| From my cash-strapped friend: Donato D’Angelo Sacravite Aglianico IGT 2013 (Basilicata, Italy), $21 This Aglianico has a rustic and complex palate of leather, tobacco and fresh fruit with dusty tannins that gently grip the mouth. My fave and a great pairing with anything tomato! |
From rich uncle Bob Caduceus (kadoochius) Cellars Sancha 2013 (Arizona, USA) $90 This 100 per cent Tempranillo is from Maynard Keenan’s Buhl Memorial Vineyard in Cochise County—a full-bodied red, 100 per cent Spanish in style, soulful and authentic with a rustic, savoury warmth. |
 Chartier Côtes du Rhône |
 Chartier Le Blanc Pays d’Oc IGP |
 Chartier Fronsac AOC Merlot |
Ryan Everitt, Trialto Wine Group
| From my cash-strapped friend: Cuvée Francois Chartier Côtes du Rhône, or Fronsac AOC Merlot, or Le Blanc Pays d’Oc IGP (France) $22 Quebecer Francois Chartier is a passionate and very interesting guy. He is interested in all aspects of what makes a wine great, from the flavour all the way down the molecules. These three wines, reds from the Rhone Valley and Bordeaux, and a white from the south of France, illustrate his principles of flavour and harmony outlined in his book Taste Buds and Molecules. |
From rich uncle Bob Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard six-bottle mixed case (two Volcanic Hill, two Red Rock Terrace, two Gravelly Meadow (Napa Valley, California, USA) $2,100 mixed case Visionary wine pioneer Al Brounstein planted Bordeaux varietals on secluded Diamond Mountain in 1968 making Diamond Creek California’s first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon estate. Three vineyards produce small lots of elegant, long-lived wines with great depth and richness, honoured and cherished by connoisseurs the world over. |
Stacey-Jo Strombecky, Nobilis Wine Importers
| From my cash-strapped friend: Barao de Vilar Tawny Port (Duoro Valley, Portugal) $25 Nothing says Christmas like porto! This shows great complexity—pair with dried fruits, strong cheeses, nuts or a pecan tart. Barao de Vilar is owned by the van Zellar family, who have devoted 14 consecutive generations to the making of fine Port. |
From rich uncle Bob Bollinger R.D 2002 (Champagne, France) $325 Ripe fruit, spice and roasted aromas dominate this dry, full-bodied Champagne. Only Premier and Grand Cru fruit make up this spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend, which is aged over three times longer than required by the AOC Champagne. |
 Maria Gomes 2015 |
Tara Smith, Lanigan & Edwards Wine Merchants Ltd.
| From my cash-strapped friend: Luis Pato Maria Gomes 2015 (Barraida, Portugal) $20 It smells like an amazing bowl of fresh, perfectly ripe fruit garnished with flowers, but in true Luis Pato style, this white is bone dry. Luis refers to this as his social wine—add friends and some light food and you’re all set. |
From rich uncle Bob Quintas das Carvalhas Tinta Francisca 2014 (Douro, Portugal) $80 Portugal is on my mind! Tinta Francisca is the Douro’s version of Pinot Noir resulting in a fragrant, richly-coloured wine, lighter-bodied with beautiful complexity. An ultra-low production wine made from older vines grown on the top of a mountain. Drink now, or put it away for a few years to experience how the wine will develop. |
 Villa di Corlo Primevo 2015 |
 Le Pergole Torte IGT 2011 |
Lisa Caputo, Cibo Bistro
| From my cash-strapped friend: Villa di Corlo Primevo Lambrusco di Sorbara 2015 (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) $20 This delightful taste of fresh berries and floral balanced by creamy bubbles and acidity is a perfect aperitivo with rich cheeses and salty cured meats, or popcorn and potato chips while watching a movie. I haven’t met a person yet that didn’t love this wine; I’d be squealing with delight if I found this under the tree at Christmas. |
From rich uncle Bob Le Pergole Torte IGT 2011 (Tuscany, Italy) $175 With beautiful bright cherry fruit, light dusty tannins and mouth-watering acidity, this delicious Sangiovese is a wine worth keeping in the cellar if you are lucky enough to collect the various vintages. This single vineyard wine comes from the original two hectares planted by the Manetti family in the 1960s and availability is limited in Canada. |
 Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2015 |
Rob Filipchuk, Glass Monkey Bistro
| From my cash-strapped friend: Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (Marlborough, New Zealand) $24 I love this white for the balance of fresh acidity and citrus alongside the tropical fruit character. It’s great value and a real crowd pleaser! |
From rich uncle Bob Champagne Salon Le Mesnil 2004 (Champagne, France) $650 A truly magnificent Champagne. This is an extremely rare and wonderful wine produced from Chardonnay grown in the legendary Le Mesnil-sur-Oger vineyards. And remember, this is the season to drink more Champagne. Actually, I say that about every season. |
Jeff Sparling, Liquor Select
| From my cash-strapped friend: L’Efecte Volador Monsant 2014 (Catalonia, Spain) $25 Neighbour to pricy Priorat in Spain, Monsant is the source of some outstanding values, like this standout from Josef Grau. The same minerally, aromatic complexity, deep flavours and wonderful mouth feel that you find in a good Priorat, at a fraction of the cost. |
From rich uncle Bob Chateau Montifaud 50-Year-Old Cognac (France) $255 From 100 per cent Grand Cru vineyards, this tiny family-run producer offers a uniquely luxurious richness and depth of flavour that is hard to match, even in much more expensive cognacs. What it lacks in showy presentation, it more than makes up for with what’s in the bottle. |
 Alange Tempranillo 2015 |
Larry Stewart,Hardware Grill
| From my cash-strapped friend: Alvear Alange Tempranillo 2015 (Ribera del Guadiana, Spain) $15 Good acidity, spicy flavours with a peppery tannic finish. |
From rich uncle Bob Klinker Brick Old Ghost Zinfandel 2013 (Lodi, California, USA) $60 The Old Ghost is our goto favourite. It’s rich and supple with just the right amount of spice and jamminess. We usually have it with steak, but it would be great with cheese, chips, or by itself. |
 Robert Mondavi 50th Anniversary Maestro 2013 |
Alison Phillips, Aligra Wine & Spirits
| From my cash-strapped friend: Falernia Reserva Ripasso Carmenere 2012 (Elqui Valley, Chile) $22 A surprise! Sweeter and more evolved than most Carmenere largely due to the grapes being partially dried on the vine before aging in American oak. |
From rich uncle Bob Robert Mondavi 50th Anniversary Maestro 2013 (Napa Valley, California) $74 This Bordeaux blend (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec) was created to honour the life of Robert Mondavi, the maestro and inspiration of the winery. |
 Rocca delle Maciè Roccato 2010 |
Sandi Hollas, Appellation Wine
| From my cash-strapped friend: Lake Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfandel 2012 (California, USA) $24 The Sonoma County wine growing region boasts some of the most diverse assemblages of terroirs and microclimates in the world. |
From rich uncle Bob Rocca delle Maciè Roccato Toscana IGT 2010 (Italy) $47 Made from equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese with ripe red fruit, refreshing acidity and slightly chewy tannins. Have with hearty dishes such as braised lamb. |
 Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz 2012 |
Michael Fregren, Artisan Wines
| From my cash-strapped friend: Monte Real-Rioja Crianza 2013 (Rioja, Spain) $23 Authentic old school Rioja—100 per cent Tempranillo grapes that sees 18 months aging in traditional American oak barrels. It has a beautifully perfumed nose, medium body and a spicy finish that will make you think of feasting on lamb. A mind-boggling bargain at that price. |
From rich uncle Bob Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz 2012 (Barossa Valley, Australia) $110 This amazing Shiraz is made from vines that were planted in 1847, the second oldest vines in Australia and pretty much the world. We only see about five to seven cases a year from the winery and, on top of that, they don’t make it every year, only in exceptional vintages. |