Another trio of worthy wines this week, including a great value from Argentina, an ever-reliable new release from Wakefield in Australia and a wonderful red blend from Chile.

Argento Selección 2019 Chardonnay — Mendoza, Argentina ($11.50)
A fresh, medium-bodied Chardonnay with subtle oak from Argentina’s Maipu region. Look for notes of green apple and cantaloupe, as well as hints of lime, underripe pineapple and oak on the nose. There’s a little spice on the palate, with a bit of a mineral undertone to the fruit. Some light oak on the top of the palate on the finish, but all in all, this is a really good value at just $11.50. 87

Wakefield Estate 2018 Merlot — Clare Valley, South Australia ($19.95)
It’s Christmas in a bottle, with fruitcake-like flavours of leathery, juicy plum, dark sour cherries, dried herbs and a 14% alcohol that’s fairly evident. Tannins are drying but not overpowering, while the the palate, with a little mocha creeping in, is fairly smooth through to its better-than-average finish. It’ll cellar until 2025, and could probably use a couple years to round out.  89

Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia 2017 — Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($27.95)
Releasing today at the LCBO, this is a classic red blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the oldest vines planted in the estate. Featuring deep, rich, dark red fruit flavours, including dried tart cherry and blackberries, the wine is aged in 50% new French barrels for 20 months, before spending another year in the bottle prior to release. It borders on full bodied, with medium-plus tannins—no surprise given the Cab Sauv/Malbec-dominated blend. Concentrated but still young and evolving, it continues to open into the bottle, with notes of rose petals and moist autumn forest floor coming to the fore. Wish I had another bottle to revisit in a few years, because it’s rock solid now, but seems destined for higher ground after some cellar time. 90