WINES OF THE WEEK

UNDER $16

Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Porteño, Mendoza, Bodega Norton, Argentina white, $11, SAQ # 13289704: Excellent for the price. Has that wellwater texture, full of minerals and a touch of saltiness, but with none of the excessive greenness that plagues so many Sauvignon Blancs. A pleasure to drink, at a great price. Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc. Residual sugar: 1.7 g/L. Serve at: 8 C. Drink now. Food pairing idea: apéritif, fresh goat cheese, smoked salmon.

$16-$20

Rosso di Montalcino 2014, Caparzo, Italy red, $19.50, SAQ # 713354: Traditional, meaning this is about acidity and freshness, with fruit and earthier notes on the finish. Cherries, bathed in leaves and leather, with fine tannins. Might seem jarring as an apéritif, but no wine is better with tomato sauce. Grape variety: Sangiovese. Residual sugar: 3.4 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2019. Food pairing idea: veal Parmesan, spaghetti with meat sauce.

$20-$25

House 2011, Easton, California red, $23.65, SAQ # 10744695: Awesome. Bill Easton’s ode to the reds of Provence, with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This is what California should be. Ripe and inviting, with soft tannins and great fruit complexity. Acidity is there, as is generous fruit. So easy to drink and so interesting. Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah. Residual sugar: 2.7 g/L. Serve at: 16-18 C. Drink now. Food pairing idea: apéritif, burgers.

$25 AND UP

Côte-Rôtie 2015, Pierre Gaillard, France red, $73.75, SAQ # 12448179: Great Syrah. It’s worth your while every now and then to drink from the source. For Syrah, that’s the northern Rhône. Delicate, but not without power and length. Floral. Strawberry fields. Gorgeous. Richer texture than previous vintages, due to the heat of 2015. Grape variety: Syrah. Residual sugar: 2 g/L. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2025. Food pairing idea: duck with fruit-based sauce.