FYIOttawa.com's Wine List has been specially created to help you choose the right wine to go with the food, the occasion - and your pocketbook. Developed by our wine writer, Michael Botner, it offers a wide selection of wines in various price categories which are currently available at the LCBO.

And we'll update the list every 10-12 weeks. The most recent update is August 15.

The guide is broken down by wine style from crisp, light-bodied whites to rich, full-bodied reds. Each category indicates the sweetness level of the wine as well. Serving recommendations are provided with each wine. The list will be expanded and refreshed with several new selections every month.

SPARKLING WINES

Veuve du Vernay Blanc de Blancs Brut NV*
France: 6742, $9.95
- Blend of white grapes includes Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Folle Blanche and Ugni Blanc. Flavours suggest peach and almond, hint of sweetness, lifted by a clean, crisp lemony spine. Best with smoky, salty or spicy foods.

Charles de Fere Brut Rose NV*
France: 561977, $12.95
- Pink bubbly made from Loire's cabernet franc and grolleau gris grape varieties offers pleasing style and elegance. Gentle strawberry fruit is punctuated by hints of pepper, green herbs, watermelon and a hit of citrus to counter a note of sweetness on the finish. Serve as an aperitif and with spicier finger foods.

Remy Pannier Chardonnay Sparkling NV
Loire, France: 341669, $9.95
- Quite dry and flinty with clean, crisp apple, yeast and mineral flavours and a hint of toastiness. Fine aperitif with hors d'oeuvres, finger foods and smoked salmon.

Domaine Chandon Brut Classic NV
California: 094946, $25.90
- Full and rich with a great mousse, creamy berry and spice flavours and a touch of sweetness. Accompanies light to moderately spiced dishes like Cantonese cuisine and lightly-sauced chicken and pork dishes.

WHITES
DRY, CRISP, FRESH, LIGHT-BODIED WHITES

Andre Millot Chardonnay 1999*
Vin de Pays d'Oc, France: 565978, $11.95/1500 mL
- Fairly light and slightly flinty Chablis-style with crisp apple fruit, a hint of peach and almonds and a squeeze of lemon. Nicely crafted at the price, a bargain. Washes down light fish and shellfish, also antipasti.

Herederos Marques de Riscal Rueda 2000*
Spain: 36822, $8.10
- Sassy white from a small region in north central Spain. Use of sauvignon blanc is evident along with the traditional verdejo grape variety. The intensely fresh, fruity flavours suggest some rich pear and melon enlivened by crisp grapefruit and lemon peel notes. Will take on paella, tapas (Spanish for tasty snacks) and other mildly-spiced dishes.

Vina Patagonia La Chamiza Chenin-Chardonnay 1999
Mendoza, Argentina: 573030, $7.55
- Agreeable and versatile blend of crisp chenin blanc and rich, ripe chardonnay. It offers gently spicy apricot, pineapple and melon fruit with a note of honey and slightly puckery baked lemon finish. Try with poultry, pork or fish with a piquant sauce.

Masi Modello delle Venezie Bianco 1999
Italy: 564674, $9.45
- Fresh, crisp, juicy, green apple with a touch of almondy richness. Nice with antipasto and pasta or risotto dishes with a delicate seafood sauce such as linguini with clams.

Bouchard Pere & Fils Petit Chablis 1999
France: 051466, $16.95
- Polished, elegant with clean, crisp, slightly toasty apple and pear fruit and hints of mineral, spice and vanilla. Partners escargots with garlic and herbs, oysters, shellfish and light fish dishes.

DRY, FRUITY, SMOOTH, MEDIUM-BODIED WHITES

Hippo Creek Sauvignon Blanc 1999*
Western Cape, South Africa: 385450, $8
- Full yellow colour. Pineapple and ripe melon flavours with hints of almond and fennel and a squeeze of bitter lemon. Try mildly spiced pasta, veal or poultry dishes.

Vina Morande Artis Semillon/Chardonnay 1999*
Central Valley, Chile: 550889, $8.10
- Ripe pear, melon and tropical fruit with some lively lemon, cashews and a dash of chile pepper. Perfect with spicy Asian fare.

Orlando Jacob's Creek Semillon Chardonnay 2000
Australia: 219105, $9.40
- An agreeably refreshing summer quaffer from Down Under with honeyed tropical fruit, melon and pear aromas. The ripeness is nicely balanced by spicy notes and a lemony edge. Very good value. Try with salads, shellfish and barbecued fish.

Mommessin Oak-Aged Chardonnay 1998
Bourgogne Blanc: 563635, $15.95
- Layers of lively crisp apple, hazelnut, butter and toasted oak and vanilla. No flab but plenty of finesse, power and substance. Recommended with richly-sauced lobster and shellfish dishes.

DRY, RICH, FULL-BODIED WHITES

Michel Picard Cardonnay 1999*
Vin de Pays d'Oc, France: 572495, $9.95
- Well-proportioned Chardonnay has structure to age in the bottle for a few years. Supporting the ripe melon and peach fruit are traces of vanilla and
butterscotch, lemony acidity, spicy oak and firm tannins. Serve with grilled tuna and other rich, meaty, moderately-spiced fish dishes.

Henry of Pelham Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 1999
VQA Niagara Peninsula: Vintages Continuous Listing 268342, $22.95
- Complex Burgundy-style chardonnay is packed with rich, concentrated pineapple and apricot fruit, hints of butterscotch, hazelnuts and toasted oak, as well as honey and spice. A topping of creamy meringue and a seam of tangy lemon round out the alluring picture. Takes richly-flavoured or moderately-spiced fish, poultry and pork dishes.

Banrock Station Chardonnay 1999
South Eastern Australia: 463943, $8.95
- A crowd-pleaser with rich, creamy pineapple and tropical fruit, sweet, lightly toasted oak and vanilla and a refreshing splash of lemon. Calls for
grilled fish, roast chicken and creamy pasta dishes.

Woolpunda 'Blue Block' Chardonnay 1998
Riverland, South Australia: 542472, $9.45
- A richly-extracted Chardonnay brimming with creamy tropical fruit and ripe melon flavours refreshed by a lemony snap and a hint of spicy oak. Likes richly-sauced fish, poultry and pasta dishes.

Canepa Semillon 1999
Colchagua, Chile
550905, $8.95
- A balancing act of rich, ripe melon, peach and pineapple fruit, delicate herbal notes, nuances of honey and toast and green apple crispness. Delicious now, it will continue to improve for a year or more in the bottle. Serve it with well-seasoned or richly-sauced chicken, pork and fish dishes.

AROMATIC, FRUITY WHITES - DRY TO MEDIUM

Salmon Run Johannisberg Riesling 1998*
Finger Lakes, New York: 540369, $15.85
- It's rare to see a fine Riesling with a suggestion of maturity. This one from Dr. Konstantin Frank overlooking Lake Keuka is dry and elegant with mineral, honey and petrol complexity and a note of lime. Salmon or trout with a creamy sauce is the way to go.

Dunavar Connoisseur Collection Muscat 1999*
Matraaljai, Hungary: 565812, $6.95
- Super-value for light, slightly off-dry white from hilly region in Hungary's northern wine lands. Floral and spicy, the enticing flavours suggest sweet grapes and tangy oranges. Nice aperitif with tasty hors d'oeuvres. Accompanies slightly spicy food, milder curries and fish with a light cream sauce.

Kuhlmann Platz Gewurtztraminer 1998
Alsace, France: 558502, $14.65
- Alsatian Gewurtz at its dry, richly spicy best. Explodes with a Turkish delight of exotic rose petal, lychee and grapefruit flavours. Accompanies spicy food and rich pate and pungent cheeses dishes.

Inniskillin 'Ancient Coast' Vidal 1999
VQA Ontario: 559070, $7.45
- Named after the Niagara Escarpment, a vast limestone spine that was once the coast of an immense ancient lake called the Silurian sea. Soft, round, fairly full peach, pear and banana flavours refreshed by a slice of bittersweet grapefruit. Chill well and serve with moderately rich, spicy dishes.

REDS
LIGHT, FRUITY REDS (serve slightly chilled)

Lenz Moser Servus Red Blaufrankisch Zweigelt 1999*
Burgenland, Austria: 439372, $7.95
- Edgy Austrian red serves up juicy plum and cherry fruit with hints of bitter lemon, earth, pepper and almonds. Serve slightly chilled with cold deli meats, light fish dishes and pasta salads.

Cave Spring Gamay 1999
VQA Niagara Peninsula: 228569, $11.95
- Fresh, lively crowd-pleaser with juicy red cherry and raspberry fruit and hints of pepper and spice complexity from light barrel aging. Delicious with cold meats, barbecued sausage and meaty fish such as grilled salmon or tuna steaks.

Antinori Santa Cristina 1999
Toscana Sangiovese, Italy: 76521, $10.95
- Light to medium bodied with lively, juicy cherry fruit and bitter almond, spicy oak and tobacco nuances. Light tannins add structure and short term aging potential. Accompanies pizza, rich pasta dishes and grilled steak.

SMOOTH, MEDIUM-BODIED REDS

Bolla Merlot delle Venezie 1999*
Veneto, Italy: 576009, $10.95
- Suppleness of rich, round black cherry and plum fruit is lifted by a squeeze of lemon and some peppery tannins. Great with veal and tomato-based
pasta dishes.

Willow Ridge Merlot Cabernet 1999*
Dealu Mare Region, Romania: 565908, $6.85
- Supple, forward, friendly cassis-cherry fruit with hints of earth, lemon and pepper. Surprising structure and richness for the price. Handles robust cooking of Eastern Europe.

Andre Millot Merlot 1999*
Vin de Pays d'Oc
565960, $11.95/1500 mL
- Supple, peppery plum and spice with a clean, crisp lemony edge. Lightish but very pleasant and accessible. Drink with tomato-based pasta, veal and chicken dishes.

Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc 1997*
VQA Okanagan Valley
530717, $17.95
- Elegant red with a supple core and lots of finesse. Juicy raspberry and cherry fruit with traces of green pepper, cedar and spicy oak, some squeezed lemon and chalky tannins. Consider rib roast or rack of lamb with rosemary.

Cilento Baco Noir 1999
VQA Ontario: 510388, $8.95
- Ontario's alternative to shiraz. Perfect barbecue wine with huge raspberry attack and notes of black fruit, pepper, leather and smoky oak. Balanced
acidity and soft tannins make for an attractively supple style.

Henry of Pelham Cabernet 1999
VQA Niagara Peninsula: 504241, $15.95
- Cabernet franc is the main ingredient with some cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Beautifully structured with ripe plum, black cherry and cassis fruit and smooth, rich tannins. The spicy oak suggests cloves and allspice. Calls for roast lamb or beef.

Colio Harrow Estates Cabernet Franc 1999
VQA Lake Erie North Shore: 297184, $9.95
- Appetizing rendition of herbaceous Cabernet Franc with lots of ripe cassis fruit, some smoky oak with notes of spice and vanilla and succulent tannins. Great with grilled meats and vegetables.

Milhade 'Les Roses de Bordeaux' Merlot 1998
France: 559492, $12.95
- The name refers to the tradition of planting rose bushes in the vineyards to act as an early warning device, alerting growers to potential threats to the grapes. An unoaked Merlot, it offers spicy black cherry fruit, hints of roasted coffee and fairly smooth, yet firm, tannins. Well-suited to beef and
lamb dishes.

RICH, CLASSIC, FULL-BODIED REDS

Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon 1999*
California: 439018, $13.95
- Packs quite a wallop with rich, spicy plum and berry fruit, hints of dark chocolate, toasty oak and vanilla and firm, puckery tannins. A year or two of aging in the bottle will prove beneficial. Great now with rare beef dishes.

Vina Morande Artis Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 1999*
Central Valley, Chile: 550897, $8.10
- Deep ruby with a green pepper and sweet, smoky plum and coffee bean nose. Ripe and smooth with a degree of richness, the spicy fruit is nicely
balanced by some lemony acidity and chalky tannins. It can take Indian dishes and other spicy foods.

Fleur du Cap Shiraz 1997*
Coastal region, South Africa: 340422, $14.25
- Deeply-coloured and beautifully-structured. Fine Shiraz displays spicy roasted plum and black cherry fruit with notes of black pepper and coffee,
sweet, smoky oak and sleek, supple tannins. Best with barbecued game, red meat and vegetables.

Angove's CR Classic Reserve Shiraz 1998
South Australia: 311985, $12.40
- Not as big as some, this well-rounded Shiraz shows spicy pepper and leather aromas, lots of enticing ripe plum and black cherry fruit and smooth tannins. Enjoy with barbecued red meats.

Canepa 'Winemaker's Selection' Zinfandel 1998
Maipo, Chile: 550988 $11.95
- Sweet, spicy, slightly jammy black cherry and plum fruit with toasted oak, briar and smoke nuances and ripe tannins. Perfect match for roast turkey with all the trimmings.

ROSES

Fetzer Echo Ridge White Zinfandel 1999*
California: 517458, $10.95
- Strawberry pink and slightly off-dry, it offers garden fresh strawberry and cherry fruit enlivened by a touch of grapefruit, pepper and licorice. Try with spicy foods.

La Baume Syrah Rose 2000
Vin de Pays d'Oc, France: 587782, $8.95
- Watermelon pink with ripe cherry fruit and pepper flavours, a note of softness balanced by slight astringency. Some new world blush mixed with old
world body and character. Would work nicely with mild spices, paella, fish soup, barbecued chicken or fish.

PORT

Warre's Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Portugal: 566174, $19.95/500 mL
- A mature, full-bodied tawny, beautifully rich and smooth with raisin, prune, dried plum and toasted nut flavours. Stylish bottle. Recommended with Stilton, strong hard cheeses and holiday cakes.

August 15, 2001