WINES OF THE WEEK

UNDER $18 EVERYDAY DRINKING

Umbria 2013, Vitiano, Falesco, Italy red, $ 16.80, SAQ

# 466029: Nice, easy drinking red that still shows some good power. Sangiovese with cabernet sauvignon and merlot — lots of fruit and just enough tannin to hold it together. Keep it cool and pack it back.

Residual sugar: 2.5 g/ L. Serve at 16C. Drink now.

Food pairing idea: Beef brochettes, beef keftas with spice.

$18-$23 MID-PRICED MARVEL

Muscadet- Sèvre et Maine 2010, Le Master, Donatien Bahuaud, France white, $ 19.95, SAQ

# 12562545: Can Muscadet age? Try this. Gone is the slight fizziness and piercing lemon of a young wine and instead, you have white flowers and rocks on the nose, a juicy citrus note on the palate and a finish of lemon splattered on granite. So interesting, and all for under $ 20.

Residual sugar: 3 g/ L. Serve at 10C. Drink now- 2018.

Food pairing idea: Apéritif, cold shrimp, oysters, salad with fresh goat cheese.

$23 AND UP FOR A TREAT

Rioja 2005, Gran Reserva, Coto de Imaz, Spain red, $ 32, SAQ

# 11962651: Very finessed and delicate, but still has good power. I have a feeling that this is at its apogee right now, as the red fruits are slowly fading into cigar and tobacco, but the dark cherry is holding on. Tannins are perfect, with amplitude, offering great length but not drying at all. A wine at its prime.

Residual sugar: 2.6 g/ L. Serve at 18C. Drink now.

Food pairing idea: Pork roast with mushroom sauce.

ROSÉ OF THE WEEK

Coteaux Varois en Provence 2014, Château La Lieue, France rosé, $ 16.90, SAQ

# 11687021: Organic. After Pétale de Rose, a perennial winner of the top rosés available at the SAQ. Like previous vintages, a model of f i nesse and nuance, with f l oral notes and stone f ruits. Acidity i s perfect. Nothing more to say about this than simply, buy i t.

Residual sugar: 1.7 g/ L. Serve at 10C. Drink now.

Food pairing idea: Apéritif, shrimp brochettes, grilled salmon.