By Zoltan Szabo

2007 Wayne Gretzky ‘No. 99’ Estate Series Cabernet / Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA $19.95 #0128652

Pretty impressive red here brought to you by “The Great One”, made by the talented winemaking team at Creekside. Aromas and flavours of black fruits, elegant – toasted oak – sweet smoke and framboise. Full weight and its fruit core well knitted together by juicy – fresh acids and supple tannins. The long finish displays spicy – savoury accents along plenty of ripe – sweet fruit and expensive oak notes. A great one indeed and great value too. For hockey and wine lovers, or both, and beyond. Decant it and drink away with good chunk of protein, and watch the game.







2006 Chateau Mazeris, Canon- – Fronsac, Bordeaux, France $19.95 #0199034

Deep – dense purple – opaque. Red and blue fruits mingle with polished wood, bush herbs and wet earth – forest floor tones. Medium to full bodied with smooth texture, structured yet cautiously extracted tannins and great overall balance. A rather elegant and down – to – earth – priced Bordeaux. Try it with venison loin in sour cherry – mint sauce and sweet rutabaga – sweet potato puree on the side.






Read more of sommelier Zoltan Szabo at zoltanszabo.org and follow him at twitter.com/zoltanszabo.