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Rocca del Dragone Aglianico 2013, Italy

SCORE: 88 PRICE: $16.95

Southern Italy's sturdy aglianico grape gets tamed into crowd-pleasing form. Silky, juicy cherry and blackberry fruit, dark chocolate and relatively soft tannins. Woody notes and happy red licorice on the finish. Available in Ontario.

Quinta de Cabriz Colheita Selecionada 2014, Portugal

SCORE: 89 PRICE: $13.95

Jammy ripeness answered by mouth-watering acidity and a welcome astringent pull. A plummy, spicy red from the Dao region south of the port-producing Douro Valley. Available at the above price in Ontario, various prices in Alberta, $14.99 in Manitoba, $12.80 in Quebec.

The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier 2016, South Africa

SCORE: 89 PRICE: $14

Full and smooth yet lively and structured. Blackberry, plum and roasted meat with a spicy lift. Light tannic tug. Available at the above price in Ontario (on sale for $12 until April 1), $13.99 in British Columbia, various prices in Alberta, $15.33 in Saskatchewan, $14.01 in Manitoba, $14.50 in Quebec, $15.99 in New Brunswick, $15.99 in Nova Scotia, $16.47 in Newfoundland.

Lopez de Haro Crianza 2013, Spain

SCORE: 89 PRICE: $14.95

Major Rioja value. Seamless texture and remarkable concentration for the price, sourced from old vines and matured 18 months in French and American oak. Succulent cherry, smooth chocolate and vanilla. Great for lamb. Available in Ontario at the above price, various prices in Alberta.

Heimberger Vieilles Vignes Riesling 2015, France

SCORE: 90 PRICE: $16.95

Dry, slippery-soft riesling from Alsace. Fleshy texture, moderate acidity, ripe apricot and a spicy kick. Good choice for curry dishes. Available in Ontario.

Gloria Reserva 2015, Portugal

SCORE: 90 PRICE: $16.95

Big bargain from Douro Valley producer Vicente Faria. A deftly balanced red blend. Perfectly ripe fruit suggesting plum and currant, with touches of vanilla, smoke and earth. Available in Ontario at the above price, $16.99 in Nova Scotia.

BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Argentina

SCORE: 90 PRICE: $18.95

Cassis drizzled on dark chocolate infused with vanilla, subtle spice and forest floor. Available in Ontario at the above price, $22.99 in British Columbia.

Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2017, British Columbia

SCORE: 91 PRICE: $17.30

Delectably ripe, with excellent mid-palate weight. Like drinking fruit straight from a pear tree, no juicer necessary. Plump yet finishes dry, with chalky-stony edge. Far better than most nearby Oregon pinot gris costing twice as much. Available at the above price directly from the B.C. winery through poplargrove.ca ($15.57 with a wine-club membership).

Château de Tréviac Corbières 2015, France

SCORE: 91 PRICE: $16.95

Another remarkable buy from an underappreciated appellation (i.e., Corbières). Full and smooth yet attractively chewy and chalky. Blackberry, thyme, lavender, licorice and a spicy edge. Enjoy it with lamb shanks, spin some Charles Aznavour and pretend you're in a Paris bistro. Available in Ontario.

Bastide Miraflors Syrah Vieilles Vignes Grenache 2015, France

SCORE: 91 PRICE: $19.95

Monster-truck red from sunny Côtes Catalanes in the Roussillon. Dense and sweetly ripe, with a velvety-chunky texture and notes of blackberry jam, cherry, smoked meat, licorice and, subtly, pepper. Tastes like a Paso syrah. It's a tad more expensive in British Columbia ($23.99) than the above Ontario price but still attractive for the money. Various prices in Alberta.

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