WINES OF THE WEEK

Under $16

Douro 2015, Reserva, Gloria, Vincente Leite de Faria, Portugal red, $13.50, SAQ

# 11156297. Nicely done. Not overly oaked; it’s a juicy and fresh Douro that is dry, full of ripe dark fruit and with just a hint of smokey oak on the finish. Spicy, easy drinking. Great for the price. Grape varieties: touriga nacional, tinta roriz. Residual sugar: 3.3 g/L. Serve at: 16-18 C. Drink now. Food pairing idea: white meat roasts with fruit, leaner red meats with wild mushroom sauce.

$16-$20

Sicilia IGT 2016, Anthìlia, Donnafugata, Italy white, $17.60, SAQ # 10542137. Juicy and fruity, yet dry and focused on the finish. Has a subtle ginger note that makes me want to eat sushi. Always one of the more fun whites under $20, and now even less expensive. Party wine. Grape varieties: catarratto, ansonica, grillo. Residual sugar: 4.5 g/L. Serve at: 8-10C. Drink now. Food pairing idea: apéritif, sushi, egg rolls with plum sauce.

$20 -$25

Xinomavro 2014, Hedgehog, Alpha Estate, Greece red,

$21.90, SAQ # 12941060. Very interesting take on xinomavro. Comes from the cooler region of Amyndeon, north of its Naoussa home. None of those Greek salad notes that plague so many xinomavros, rather beautiful fruit, fine and razor thin tannins. Gorgeous wine. Grape variety: xinomavro. Residual sugar: 2.5 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2019. Food pairing idea: oily fish, ratatouille, turkey with herbs and mushroom sauce.

$25 and up

Côte de Nuits-Villages 2015, Henri Naudin-Ferrand, France

red, $36.75, SAQ # 11958564. Very good for a 2015; where many Burgundies are fruity yet simple, this shows some nuance and a beautiful freshness. No real wood notes, just a touch of spice on the finish. Sensual texture. Grape variety: pinot noir. Residual sugar: 2.2 g/L. Serve at: 10-12 C. Drink now-2019. Food pairing idea: apéritif, grilled salmon, salmon tartare.