WINES OF THE WEEK

UNDER $18: EVERYDAY DRINKING Chenin blanc 2016, Petit, Ken Forrester, South Africa white, $13.55, SAQ # 10702997:

Hard to beat in its price category. Delicate and dry, citrus and apple notes, and with a pretty floral component. Surprisingly textured, but still built along freshness and acidity. Excellent all-purpose white at a great price. Grape variety: chenin blanc. Residual sugar: 4.2 g/L. Serve at: 8-10 C. Drink now-2018. Food pairing idea: apéritif, seafood like shrimp and mussels.

$18-$23: MID-PRICED MARVEL Terre di Pisa Rosso 2011, Sangervasio, Italy red, $21.30, SAQ # 13033274:

Organic. Nicely rustic sangiovese; the cabernet and merlot give the mouth feel a touch more sophistication, but in the end, those gritty sangiovese tannins reign supreme. Good complexity of fruit with just a hint of earthier leather aromas. One of those wines where the bottle empties remarkably quickly. Grape varieties: sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, merlot. Residual sugar: 1.8 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2018. Food pairing idea: chili con carne or spaghetti with meat sauce.

$23 AND UP: FOR A TREAT Rioja 2011, Reserva, Ygay, Marqués de Murrieta, Spain red, $27.25, SAQ # 10823166:

Still tastes incredibly young. Very energetic. There’s a solid core of fruit here, slowly developing more depth and ingesting the oak. Tannins have started to soften, as well. There will be great complexity here if you can manage to hold off, but this is already delicious. One of those surefire cellar treats at a great price. Grape varieties: tempranillo, mazuelo, grenache, graciano. Residual sugar: 1.7 g/L. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2021. Food pairing idea: lamb chops, pepper steak.