BUYING GUIDE

OVER $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2017, VQA NIAGARA PENINSULA, ONTARIO ($66)

Rich nose with generous notes of butter, hazelnut, vanilla, toast and lemon rind that mingle. Equally bold on the palate but refined and elegant with fresh acid, a full body and a long, lingering finish. (MB)

FRANCE DOMAINE DE TERRES BLANCHES SANCERRE LE VALLON 2017, LOIRE VALLEY ($50)

Fresh, pure and focussed with a steely backbone. Rich, firm, leaning to austere, lime pith and salty notes, great vibrant tension and a mouth-watering long finish. (GB)

GÉRARD BERTRAND, CHÂTEAU LA SAUVAGEONNE GRAND VIN 2018, LANGUEDOC AOP ($55)

Lush notes of lemon zest, guava, garrigues and vanilla are in symbiosis. Full body with soft acid balanced by a pleasant and refreshing bitterness on the finish. Rich and textured, making it a great partner to seared scallops or veal served with a morel mushroom cream sauce. (MB)

ROSÉ G. DE FUEGO ROSÉ NV, SPAIN ($10)

From north-west Spain. Pale pinkish gold. Medium intensity nose of peaches, bananas and orange. Light-bodied with mild stone fruit flavours. Emphasis is on the tart and refreshing acidity. A bottle goes quickly. Value. Drink up. (RL)

KIRKLAND ROSÉ 2018, AC COTES DE PROVENCE, FRANCE ($15)

A Costco house-label wine. Clear medium-deep yellow-tinged vermilion. Forward and appealing nose of red berries, also peaches and bananas. But on the palate, the flavours of bananas and Maraschino cherry are heavy, sweet and crude. Initially appealing, but two glasses are more than enough. Drink now. (RL)

GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES 2017 AOP, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE ($19)

Unusual blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Clear pale vermilion (a colour commonly called “peach”, although the colour of this wine is quite different from that of peach flesh). Medium nose of melon, orange, nectarine and a hint of grapefruit. Light-bodied with sharp acidity, tasting of assorted red berries. Drink up. (RL)

WHEN PIGS FLY PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2018, NIAGARA ($20)

Product of a virtual winery made at Rockway Vineyards by winemaker Vadim Chelekhov using fruit from Vieni Vineyard. Pale salmon pink in colour with an amber tint. Minerally, cherry pit nose. Medium-bodied, cherry flavour with just a touch of sweetness in the mid-palate. (TA)

SPERLING VINEYARDS ORGANIC PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2018, SOUTH KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA ($20)

Grown on limestone rich soils on the long-established home estate. Careful handling and limited skin contact yields a pretty medium-salmon colour. Upfront red berry aromas lead to a keenly focussed palate of wild strawberry and sour cherry with some citrus hints. Crisp and clean, wrapped in bright acidity. (TP)

JOIE FARM RE-THINK PINK ROSÉ 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($20.79)

This blend of mainly Pinot Noir (58%) and Gamay (28%) with Pinot Gris (10%) and Pinot Meunier (4%) lures with red berries and herbal notes up front, followed by a palate of cherry and citrus, with hints of pink grapefruit and watermelon, defined by well-balanced fruit and acidity. (TP)

TOWNSHIP 7 ROSÉ 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($21.97)

Merlot (55%) from the Naramata estate with Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) from Oliver, Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Picked and co-fermented except for the Cabernet, which was added later to keep tannins in check. A definite and welcome nod to Provence, with red fruits up front followed by wild cherry, rhubarb and earthy notes with juicy acidity, through a crisp, dry finish. (TP)

DOMAINE CLOS BELLANE ALTITUDE ROSÉ 2018, CÔTES DU RHÔNE AOC, FRANCE ($22)

The elegance of this rosé made from 100% Grenache is a testament to Stéphane Vedeau’s sensibility. Bright acid with medium body and delicate notes of white peaches and pink grapefruit. More linear than one might expect from a rosé from southern Rhône, thanks to the cooler site of Clos Bellane planted at 410 metres on calcareous soils. Ideal as an aperitif. (MB)

MALIVOIRE, ROSÉ MOIRA 2018, VQA BEAMSVILLE BENCH, ONTARIO ($25)

Made from Pinot Noir, this dry rosé has appealing notes of juicy wild strawberries, pink grapefruit and white peach. Vibrant acidity with a nice creamy mouthfeel and a structure to match grilled salmon. (MB)

RED $20 AND UNDER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FRANCE GÉRARD BERTRAND LA CLAPE SYRAH CARIGNAN MOURVÈDRE 2016 LANGUEDOC ($18.95)

Dense purple colour. Cedary, spicy, herbal, blackberry nose with notes of pepper. Medium- to full-bodied, dry and savoury, firmly structured with black olive and black plum flavours, finishing on seductive ripe tannins. (TA)

CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE LA SOURCE 2014 AC COTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE ($19)

Clear deep plum red. Rich and mature nose of cassis and oak with blueberry and a touch of fig. Full bodied and mouth-coating with cherry and prune flavours seasoned with a dash of black pepper, finishing on bitter chocolate. Tannins still muscular and the acidity is a bit high. Value. Will last another year or two. (RL)*

GRAFFETTA NERO D’AVOLA 2014 DOC SICILIA ($16)

Clear medium-deep garnet. Bouquet of chokecherry, milk chocolate and a hint of barnyard. Full bodied and full flavoured with cherry and black liquorice. Lots of alcohol, this is a wine for red meat. Will last another year or two. (RL)*

SOUTH AFRICA PERDEBERG CELLAR THE VINEYARD COLLECTION, CINSAULT 2017, COASTAL REGION, SOUTH AFRICA ($16.95)

An extremely appealing pure nose with a mix of fresh crushed raspberries and strawberries. Equally charming on the palate with soft tannins, a silky texture and fresh acid. Light on its feet and dangerously easy to drink if slightly chilled. Fantastic value and, I would say, barbecued pork’s best friend. Would also accompany Dim Sum well. (MB)

RECOMMENDED FRANCE PIERRE-MARIE CHERMETTE, GRIOTTES 2018, BEAUJOLAIS AOC ($18.40)

Bright notes of sour cherries and raspberries with a hint of pleasing herbal aromas that lift the wine. Light body with soft chalky tannins and fresh acid. The strength of this wine is its simplicity and easiness to drink. Serve slightly chilled with raclette or a plate of pâtés and charcuteries. (MB)

SPAIN BODEGAS LOS FRAILES, MONASTRELL GARNACHA, VALENCIA DO ($17)

Abundant notes of raspberries, dark cherries and plums with a hint of clove provide the typical notes associated with Monastrell and Garnacha grown in southern climes. Full body with soft acid and round, ripe tannins. This organic wine is a good partner for Monday night’s burger. (MB)

$20.01 TO $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA QUAILS’ GATE PINOT NOIR 2017, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($29.99)

Ruby colour, black raspberry nose with a touch of vanilla oak. Medium-bodied, dry, elegant and well-structured. (TA)

MISSION HILL RESERVE SHIRAZ 2016, OKANAGAN VALLEY BC VQA ($31)

I have been trying this wine over many years and this might be the finest vintage of it I have had. Full body with chewy tannins and brisk acid are in harmony with the concentrated yet fresh notes of violet, black pepper and iron. Medium finish. Well-made and worth every dollar. If you like game meet, this is the wine to choose. (MB)

HUFF ESTATES PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2017, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ($40)

Ruby colour with a violet tint at the rim. Lifted black raspberry nose with oak spice and a light floral note. Medium-bodied, crisply dry, cranberry and sour cherry flavours; well-balanced and very Burgundian in style. (TA)

CANADA OROFINO PETIT VERDOT HENDSBEE VINEYARD 2016, SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY, BC ($45)

I love the unexpected, and this wine was just that. Tasted blind back in June, I had a preconceived idea when I was told it was a Petit Verdot from BC. How wrong I was! Full body with firm tannins, fresh acid and abundant notes of leather, dark plum and toast. One needs a piece of red meat to fully appreciate this wine. The tannins will mellow with proteins. (MB)

ITALY BIGAGNOLI BARDOLINO CLASSICO 2017, VENETO ($22)

Loads of dark cherry, spice and a hint of fresh herbs. Penetrating, textural and more spice on the finish. A good example of a lighter weight wine with loads of flavour. (GB)

UNITED STATES KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2017 ($24.95)

Deep ruby colour. Spicy, smoky, black raspberry nose with an oaky note. Full-bodied, dry, ripe strawberry and plum flavours with vanilla oak spice. Juicy and ripe. (TA)

RECOMMENDED FRANCE CHÂTEAU DE LA MULONNIERE CABERNET FRANCE ANJOU ROUGE 2017, LOIRE VALLEY ($25)

Elegant with notes of red fruit, tobacco and fresh herbs. Earthy mineral notes with smooth, well-integrated tannins, finishing with juicy fruit and hints of black pepper. (GB)