WINE PICKS

Today, four wines from horizons worth discovering.

Famille Bougrier Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2015 Loire Valley, France 09632Z

$16.19

A pleasant and lively wine that opens with pear, citrus and mineral notes, it has a medium-body, refreshing acidity and good fruit concentration. It’s a great example of a crisp, zesty wine that is likely appeal to Sauvignon Blanc drinkers and would pair beautifully with cheese puff pasty or fish pâté.

Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2016 Minho, Portugal 11799Z

$15.09

It displays the very common spritziness of Vinho Verde’s when first poured with aromas of lime, lemon and a hint of white pepper giving the wine a pleasant savouriness. On the palate there is a nice balance between fruit and acidity along with notes of green and yellow apples with floral and mineral nuances. Pair it with fried calamari or crab cakes.

McManis Family Vineyards Viognier 2013 California, USA 09501Z

$21.49

Rich and complex, flavours of macadamia nuts, cream, dried apricots, peach and spice meld together seamlessly in an unctuous mouthfeel and a long finish. Think of this wine as a New World Chardonnay but with riper, more exotic flavours and lower acidity. It would make a bold statement served with duck breast served in an orange reduction or with pork loin stuffed with dried apricots and hazelnuts.

Goats Do Roam Red 2015 Western Cape, South Africa 08881Z

$14.39

This blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre is inspired by the wines of the Rhone Valley. In fact, the name of the wine is a play on Côtes du Rhône. On the nose, is ripe dark fruit (blueberries, blackberries) along with a hint of smoked meat. Mediumbodied with pleasantly rustic tannins, this wine was made to be paired with meat dishes, from ribs prepared with a chipotle-coffee rub to beef carpaccio sprinkled with top-shelf parmigiano reggiano shavings, fresh cracked pepper and olive oil.