WINES OF THE WEEK

UNDER $16 Vin de Pays d’Oc 2015, Terres de Méditerranée, Dupéré Barrera, France red, $14.30, SAQ # 10507104: Yet again, great complexity for under $15. Dark fruit notes, with dates and figs, give this a comforting fruit-juice element. It’s Welchy! But the finish is all wine, with good tannins, great freshness and a note of dried aromatic herbs. Easy buy. Residual sugar: 2.2 g/l. Grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon, grenache, syrah, carignan. Serve at 16 C. Drink now-2018. Food pairing ideas: ratatouille, chicken with black olives.

$16-$20 Langhe 2015, Beni di Batasiolo, Italy

red, $16.45, SAQ # 611251: Each of the three Piedmontese grapes plays its part perfectly. You get the bright dolcetto fruit, the fine acids of barbera, and the nebbiolo’s finely grained tannin. Very fresh with a subtle mushroom note that anchors this in the earth. Residual sugar: 3.5 g/l. Grape varieties: dolcetto, barbera, nebbiolo. Serve at 16 C. Drink now.

Food pairing ideas: spaghetti with meat sauce, veal scaloppini.

$20-$25 Riesling 2015, Trocken, Nahe, Schlossgut Diel, Germany white,

$25, SAQ # 13347919: Excellent. Dry-style riesling that has a touch of carbon dioxide that tickles the tongue and adds extra freshness. So interesting. It’s a rock and fruit festival. Wonderfully balanced. Almost fleshy in terms of texture. Residual sugar: n/a. Grape variety: riesling. Serve at 8-10 C. Drink now-2020.

Food pairing ideas: aperitif, raw oysters, shrimp curry with coconut milk.

$25 AND UP Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough, Seresin Estate, New Zealand red,

$29.15, SAQ # 13227204: The perfect mix of Marlborough aromatic brightness and acidity with more characteristic Burgundian texture and depth. Very aromatic — floral and red fruited. Touch of oak in the background adds spice. One of those pinot noirs that drinks almost too easily. Residual sugar: 1.6 g/l.

Grape variety: pinot noir. Serve at 16 C. Drink now-2019.

Food pairing ideas: aperitif, grilled salmon, squash soup with pancetta.