WINES OF THE WEEK
UNDER $16
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Organic, South Australia, Angove, Australia red, $15.95, SAQ # 14198169. Great little cabernet that exemplifies the new-found restraint in Australian reds. You get the fresh blackberry alongside subtle herbal notes — minty in many ways — that add extra freshness. Tannins are ripe, so none of that drying on the finish. Not the biggest cab, but one that is very, very drinkable.
Grape variety: cabernet sauvignon. Residual sugar: 4 g/l. Serve at:
18 C. Drink now. Food pairing idea: bavette with beer marinade and caramelized onions.
$16-$20
Morellino di Scansano 2017, Moris Farms, Italy red, $19.55, SAQ # 13466205. Shows great ripeness and power for a Tuscan wine, but without any excess. Bright, red-fruited aromas mixed with typical sangiovese earthiness. It’s a wine for the table, alongside a piece of meat and a hunk of cheese. I drink every vintage, and it brings forth images of rural life. Authentic and honest. Grape varieties: sangiovese, merlot, syrah. Residual sugar: 2.4 g/l. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2022. Food pairing idea: veal Parmesan, strong and hard cheese.
$20-$25
Rioja 2018, Rayos Uva, Olivier Rivière, Spain red, $21.20, SAQ # 13076071. Drinks like Burgundy and Rioja’s love child. Has that youthful, exuberant fruit — cherry and strawberry. The tannins are so fine, so elegant. The finish is wonderfully fresh, with just a hint of tempranillo earthiness. Lots of interesting complexity. Grape varieties: tempranillo, graciano, garnacha. Residual sugar:
1.4 g/l. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now2021. Food pairing idea: fabada (Spanish bean stew with sausage).
$25 AND UP
Weissburgunder 2018, Trocken, Avantgarde, Pfalz, Bergdolt-reif & Nett, Germany white, $27, SAQ # 14199989. For you fans of buttery chardonnay, this is a jewel. It’s pinot blanc, but gives you all the richness you would want, with more nuanced aromatics. Pear, peach, a hint of spice — this is just so smooth and delicious. Delicate yet powerful — my kind of white. Grape variety: pinot blanc. Residual sugar: 7.1 g/l. Serve at: 8-10 C. Drink now-2022.
Food pairing ideas: apéritif, grilled
scallops, lobster.