McWilliam's Chardonnay Colombard 2004

McWilliam's Chardonnay Colombard 2004

This McWilliam's Chardonnay Colombard is nice and citrusy without too much oak, and with just the right amount of butteriness to the mouth feel--enough to let you know you're drinking a chardonnay without completely removing the crispness. Not particularly complex, but very pleasant to drink. Our rating out of 10: 6.5.

Deakin Estate Victoria Shiraz 2002

Deakin Estate Victoria Shiraz 2002

This Deakin Estate offering is a good, basic Shiraz, with lots of plum and black pepper flavour, and a pretty good match for spicy food. It's reasonably priced in Saskatchewan at about $12. Our rating: 6/10.

Cuvée Alice... Corbières 2003

Cuvée Alice... Corbières 2003

Well, we had to buy this one, didn't we, since both our four-year-old and Margaret Anne's mom are named Alice? We spotted it in Calgary and snapped up six bottles.

Ruby red in colour, well-balanced, fruity, but with a nice layer of tannin to keep it dry. A hint of strawberry in the flavour, perhaps. On the nose, wood, maybe cedar...certainly a more herby than floral bouquet. Margaret Anne really likes this one, rating it 9/10; Ed isn't quite as enthusiastic, but gives it a 7/10. Anyway, we'll definitely buy more of it (in fact, Ed will be in Calgary in the next few days and plans to pick up a couple more bottles), for the label, if nothing else!