33 Wines to Start Your Cellar

We asked the members of our National Tasting Panel the following question: "If you were to recommend wines that should be used to stock a starter celllar, one for less than $50 and one for more than $50, what would they be?" And, once we were at it, we asked retailers across Canada for their suggestions.

After much consideration, our team put together a list of surefire wines to get your personal collection going, the majority of which will not break the bank. All of these wines could easily cellar for five years, and many will age comfortably for more than a decade.

$50 and more

96 Krug N/V Grande Cuvée, Champagne, France $235-$255

96 Taylor Fladgate 2007 Vintage Port, Douro Valley, Portugal $140-150

95 Ornellaia 2006 Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy $165-$179

94 Guado al Tasso 2006 Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy $83-$95

94 Quinta do Vale 2007 Meão Douro Red, Douro Valley, Portugal $75-$85

94 Sandeman N/V Tawny Porto 20 Years Old, Douro Valley, Portugal $60-$70

93 Antinori 2006 Tignanello, Tuscany, Italy $95-$100

93 Domaine Faiveley 2007 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Burgundy, France $175-$190

93 Frescobaldi 2006 Luce della Vite, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy $85-$95

92 Felton Road 2007 Cornish Point Vineyard Pinot Noir , Central Otago, New Zealand $73-82

92 Frog's Leap 2005 Merlot, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United States $55-$58

91 La Fleur de Boüard 2006, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France $53-$57

$50 and less

94 Quinta do Crasto 2007 Douro Vinho Tinto Reserva Old Vines, Douro Valley, Portugal $45-$50

93 Alejandro Fernandez 2005 Pesquera Riserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain $48-$55

93 Emiliana 2007 Coyam, Valle del Colchagua, Chile $30-$35

92 Catena Alta 2006 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina $48-$61

92 Château la Dauphine 2005 Fronsac, Bordeaux, France $35-$45

92 Max F. Richter 2007 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany $30-$47

91 Masi 2006 Amarone Costasera Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy $37-$49

91 Stratus 2007 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada $35-$45

90 Liberty School 2007 Syrah , Central Coast, California, United States $17-$27

89 Clos de Los Siete 2007, Mendoza, Argentina $22-$26

89 Jim Barry 2008 The Lodge Hill Dry Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia $25-$30

89 M. Chapoutier 2007 Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers, Rhône Valley, France $23-$27

89 Mission Hill 2006 Quatrain, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada $45-$50

88 Boutari Ode 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Agiorgitiko, Nemea, Greece $20-$25

88 Château Paul Mas 2007 Clos des Mures, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, France $20-$24

88 Chono 2007 Reserva Syrah, Elqui Valley, Chile $15-$18

88 Errazuriz 2006 Max Reserva Shiraz, Valle de Aconcagua, Chile $18-$24

88 Parducci 2006 Petite Sirah, California, United States $15-$20

88 Renacer 2008 Punto Final Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina $16-$17

88 Torres 2006 Celeste, Ribera del Duero, Castilla-Leon, Spain $20-$28

88 Yalumba 2007 MGS, Barossa Valley, South Australia $39-$45

Retailers' Picks

Canadian retailers suggestions for stocking up your home cellars.

New Brunswick

Robert. H. Noël.  B.B.A., AIWS, Alcool NB Liquor's (ANBL) Official Sommelier

$50 and less: Bodega Catena Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, NB $27

$50 and more: Pio Cesare Classic Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, NB $84

Nova Scotia

Todd Cristall, President, Cristall & Luckett Wine Merchants Ltd.

$50 and less: Château Haut 2005 Monplaisir Prestige, Southwest France, NS $35

$50 and more: Fattoria Selvapiana Fornace, Rufina, Italy, NS $60

Alanna McIntyre, Sommelier, Bishop's Cellar

$50 and less: Château Haut Chaigneau 2005, Lalande de Pomerol, France, NS $43

$50 and more: Janzen 2005 Cloudy's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, United States, NS $130

Ron Crooks, Manager, Port of Wines

$50 and less: Mastroberardino 2004 Taurasi Radici, Campania, Italy, NS $45

$50 and more: Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2005, Pauillac, 1855 Grand Cru Classe, Left Bank, Bordeaux, NS $128

Ontario

Charles Lauzon, Product Consultant, Rideau Street LCBO

$50 or less: Henry of Pelham 2007 Speck Family Reserve Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, ON $30

$50 and more: Clos Martinet 2005 Priorat, Spain, ON $80

Manitoba

Tina Jones, President, Banville & Jones Wine Co.

$50 and less: Bodega del Fin del Mundo 2006 Special Reserva Cab/Malbec/Merlot, Patagonia, Argentina, MB $42

$50 and more: Tolaini 2005 Picconero, Toscana, Italy, MB $140

Marlies Tibbs, General Manager, Kenaston Wine Market

$50 and less: Emmolo 2006 Merlot, Napa Valley, California, United States, MB $40

$50 and more: Merry Edwards 2006 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California, United States, MB $78

Tom Bima, Director of Operations, The Winehouse

$50 and less: Peter Dennis 2005 McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, MB $26

$50 and more: Ventisquero Pangea Syrah, Apalta Vineyards, Chile, MB $70

Saskatchewan

Cameron Rizos, Managing Partner, Cava Wines and Spirits

$50 and less: Canonbah Bridge 2004 Drought Reserve Shiraz, Australia, SK $38

$50 and more: Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino, Toscana Montalcino, Italy, SK $80

Alberta

Michael Bigatini, Senior Product Consultant, Willow Park Wines and Spirits

$50 and less: Tolaini 2004 Valdisanti, Tuscany, Italy, AB $30

$50 and more: Tolaini 2005 Picconero, Tuscany, Italy, AB $100

Francois Gaulin, General Manager, The Cellar

$50 and less: Mission Hill 2006 Compendium, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, AB $40

$50 and more: Hartford Court 2006 Seascape Pinot Noir, California, United States, AB $89

British Columbia

Dave Smith, Buyer, Everything Wine

$50 and less: Tenuta Guado 2006 Il Bruciato Al Tasso, BC $39

Ken Stockley, Assistant Manager, Everything Wine

$50 and more: Badia A Passignano 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva, BC $64

Robert Simpson. General Manager, Liberty Wine Merchants

$50 and less: Gres Saint-Paul 2006 Romanis, Coteaux du Languedoc, France, BC $22

$50 and more: Serge Mathieu Tete de Cuvée Brut Select, Champagne, France, BC $78