From our May 6, 2008 edition

With the warmer weather finally here, it s time to start thinking about al fresco dining and cranking up the old BBQ. Robust, fruity, quaffable wines are what it’s all about. California is the feature country this month at your local LCBO, and offers lots of choices that fit the bill nicely. All wines mentioned here are on the General List unless otherwise specified.

Chardonnay
2005 Smoking Loon ($17.75): Easy drinking with light vanilla, tropical fruit, flowers and tea notes. 2005 Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley ($22.95, Vintages): Rich and creamy with apple, pear, spice and vanilla. 2005 Sterling Vintners Collection ($16.00): Creamy vanilla toast with tropical fruit, flowers, fig, melon and spice. 2006 Gnarly Head Chardonnay ($16.55): Toasted coconut, tropical fruit, ginger and citrus play nicely together. 2006 Leaping Horse ($12.00): Light with apple, pear and tropical fruit. 2005 Plantatree ($14.35): Easy drinking with apple and tropical fruit notes. 2005 Sonoma Vineyard ($19.45): A tasty vino with tropical fruit, citrus, pear and apricot.

Pinot Grigio
Barefoot (Non-Vintage) ($9.95): Easy going with refreshing apple and citrus. 2006 Dog House ($13.95): A quaffer with honeysuckle, citrus, melon, pear and peach. 2006 Coppola Bianco ($14.95): Light, crisp and brimming with fresh peach, citrus and melon.

Sauvignon Blanc
BV Coastal Estates ($12.95): Citrus, grassy, lychee, tropical fruit and mineral. 2004 Sutter Home ($9.55): Zesty and crisp with fresh, passion fruit and melon.

White Zinfandel
2006 Gallo ($8.90): Easy drinking with lots of dried red berry and watermelon. 2004 Sutter Home ($8.90): Fruity, fresh, lively and crisp.

Merlot
2005 Leaping Horse ($12.00): Fruity with lots of plum, blackberry and spice. 2003 Napa Valley ($17.95): Toasted spice mingled with black cherry and plum. 2004 Sterling Vintners Collection ($16.00): Easy drinking with vanilla toast, plum, cherry and a hint of chocolate. 2003 Sutter Home ($10.95): Spicy, smoky cherry, tobacco and herbs. 2004 Dog House ($13.85): Forward and medium-bodied with plum, red berry, vanilla notes. 2005 Plantatree ($14.35): Plummy with vanilla, cedar spice and blackberry. 2006 Gray Fox ($7.90): Soft and round sporting light, smoky vanilla and cherry. 2003 Sonoma Vineyard ($19.45): Easy drinking with cedary plum and chocolate.

Cabernet
2005 Plantatree ($14.35): Easy drinking, medium-bodied with spice and black currant. 2005 Black Anvil ($13.20): Light toast, soft tannins and dark/red fruit co-exist. 2005 Gallo Sonoma County ($16.85): Red/black fruit, spice and vanilla in a medium-bodied offering. 2004 Sterling Vintners Collection ($16.00): Round and chewy with herbaceous, cassis, chocolate and vanilla. 2005 BV Coastal ($12.95): Full of ripe black/red fruit, spice, chocolate and toasty vanilla. 2005 Smoking Loon ($17.75): Robust with black fruit, cinnamon, white pepper and dill. 2005 Gnarly Head ($16.55): Firm with black pepper, dark fruit, cedar, chocolate and clove. 2005 Fish Eye ($10.00): Soft and medium-bodied with juicy black currant, cherry, herbs and red licorice.

Shiraz
2005 Coppola Rosso ($14.95): Ripe and concentrated with lush berry and spice. 2005 Black Anvil ($13.20): Generous with jammy black cherry, spice, anise and cloves. 2005 BV Coastal Estates ($12.95): Lively with toasted, coffee, pepper, wild berry and cola character. Barefoot Shiraz (Non-Vintage): ($9.95) Robust sporting vanilla, mocha and jam.

Catch Doc’s weekly Wine Features on 97.3 FM, EZ Rock radio every Wednesday at approximately 5:15 p.m., or by clicking the link on his home page.