BUYING GUIDE

GREECE KIR-YIANNI PARANGA 2018, PGI MACEDONIA ($13.90)

Greece produces a great selection of wellmade wine at an astonishing price and this is a perfect example. Made of 80% Roditis and 20% Malagousia, this crisp dry white wine has a fairly oily texture with notes of lemon, rose, rosemary and litchi. A touch of carbon dioxide gives the wine an extra refreshing lift. Fried squid with tzatziki is an obvious match but it would also be a good partner to Thaï green curry seafood. (MB)

TROUPIS WINERY FTERI MOSCHOFILERO 2017, MANTINIA ($16.95)

Very pale in colour, almost water white. Spicy, Muscat-like honeysuckle and peach bouquet. Light-bodied, aromatic, with a white peach flavour. Very elegant. (TA)

ITALY E. VON KELLER PINOT GRIGIO 2017 DOC ALTO ADIGE ($18)

Clear pale yellow. Strong aromas of ripe luscious pear. Medium bodied. Completely dry but so fruit packed, with apples and more pears, that it feels sweet. Long classy finish. Will last another year or two. (RL)*

PIERSANTI 2017 DOC VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO ($15)

Clear medium gold. Forward nose of Granny Smith apple, pineapple, citrus, a bit reminiscent of a Chilean Chardonnay. Medium-bodied with apple and pineapple fruit in great balance with crisp dry acidity. Perfect with grilled, even blackened, white fish. Drink up. (RL)*

NEW ZEALAND KIRKLAND SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018, MARLBOROUGH ($12)

One of Costco’s house-label wines. Clear pale silvery-yellow. Medium intensity nose of guava, gooseberry, lemon and rich mown grass. Light- to medium-bodied, with the essential New Zealand gooseberry and grapefruit flavours, but the attraction here is the bright, lemony acidity, with a bit of citrus oil bitterness on the finish. Refreshing and moreish. Value. Drink up. (RL)

KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018, MARLBOROUGH ($14)

Clear medium-deep yellow. Fairly powerful nose of gooseberry and passionfruit. Full-bodied, almost viscous. Almost sweet from packed grapefruit, papaya and more passionfruit. Drink up. (RL)*

TAI NUI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018, MARLBOROUGH ($17)

Pale silvery-yellow. Robust nose of passionfruit, grapefruit, gooseberry and lime shouts “New Zealand!”. Full-bodied and full-flavoured, cuts like a knife through smoked trout served with bitter radicchio. Will be drinking at its best in 2020. (RL)*

RECOMMENDED AUSTRALIA WOLF BLASS RED LABEL UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2017 ($12)

Light-bodied with peach flavours, but bright acidity and a bit of bitter minerality give the wine structure and avoid fruit-bomb territory. Drink up. (RL)

FRANCE LOUIS LURTON LA VIE EST BELLE! SAUVIGNON BLANC NV ($12)

A dépanneur wine, about as good as the company it keeps. Clear pale yellow. An attempt at New Zealand style results in a medium-intensity nose of guava and gooseberry with some bitter grapefruit on the finish. Light-bodied, tasting of grapefruit, orange and green grapes. Acidity a bit too high. Would work with light cheese or white fish. Drink up. (RL)

UNITED STATES MORGAN BAY CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2017, CALIFORNIA ($17)

Extremely good value, showing citrus, apple, a creamy texture, good balance, a touch of butterscotch and a good, clean, slightly juicy finish. For all the banquet facilities serving undrinkable sugar-laden swill, this is a much better solution. (GB)

$20.01 TO $35 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CANADA RUST WINE CO CHARDONNAY 2018, OKANAGAN FALLS ($21)

From 30-year-old vines on loam above gravel and small boulders. All stainless-steel fermented, with no use of oak or malolactic fermentation. Orchard, citrus and stone fruit on the nose, followed by a generous, mouth-filling palate of apple, pear and melon notes buoyed by balanced acidity, creating a full-fruited, pure varietal expression. (TP)

CLOS DU SOLEIL WHISPERED SECRET PINOT GRIS 2018, SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY ($21.90)

From a cooler site on the valley’s southern edge, hand harvested and whole cluster pressed, fermented in stainless steel and some French oak puncheons, aged on the lees for four months. Fresh orchard and citrus fruits on the nose lead to a clean, refreshing palate of pear and apple over stone fruit and citrus. Wrapped in moderately juicy acidity, before a crisp, zesty close. (TP)

RUST WINE CO GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2018, GOLDEN MILE BENCH ($22)

From 50-year-old vines planted on now Golden Mile Bench, a classic varietal nose yields vibrant, perfumed floral and rose petal notes before a lush but well-structured palate of rose petal, quince and spice with lingering ginger and spice notes through the close. (TP)

TOWNSHIP 7 FOOL’S GOLD VINEYARD RIESLING 2017, SOUTH OKANAGAN ($24.97)

From a single vineyard in North Oliver originally planted by noted viticulturist Richard Cleave. Upfront vibrant citrus and stone fruit notes precede a keenly focused palate of peach and zesty citrus wrapped in bright acidity with a definite mineral streak before a fresh, clean close. (TP)

ROAD 13 ROUSSANNE 2017, SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY ($26)

Mainly Roussanne (96%) with 4% Viognier, sourced from Similkameen’s Blind Creek Vineyard, ripened during one of the hottest and driest summers on record. Whole bunch pressed and partially oak barrel fermented (30% new French oak) with monthly lees stirring. Vibrant gold in the glass, forward honey, herbal and tropical notes before a luscious and voluptuous but structured palate of pineapple and citrus before a lengthy close. An excellent varietal expression for drinking now or in a few years. (TP)

HUFF ESTATES CUVÉE JANINE 2016, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ($30)

90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay, 20 months on lees. Light salmon colour. Crusty baguette nose with wild strawberry aromas; light-bodied, dry, toasty, red berry-red cherry flavours. Beautifully balanced and elegant with great length. (TA)

HUFF ESTATES SOUTH BAY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2017, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ($30)

Light straw in colour with a spicy, gently oaky apple bouquet. Medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavours. Harmonious with judicious use of oak. Reminiscent of a Maçon-Lugny. Lovely mouthfeel with a fresh finish. (TA)

MISSION HILL TERROIR COLLECTION RIESLING 2018, OKANAGAN VALLEY ($30)

From the Simes Vineyard, on a north facing slope comprised of fine glacial silts and clay. Aromas of orchard and citrus fruits, followed by a well-balanced, focused palate defined by forward green apple and lemon-lime with pith hints and a touch of minerality wrapped in vibrant acidity. (TP)

MISSION HILL TERROIR COLLECTION VIOGNIER 2018, WEST OSOYOOS ($30)

An elegant and varietally precise expression yields lifted aromas of stone fruit and spice, which precede a luscious and juicy apricot and nectarine palate with a touch of peach pit, generous but focussed mouthfeel through a lingering finish. (TP)

TRAIL ESTATE HUGH VINEYARD RIESLING SKIN FERMENTED WHITE 2018, VQA LINCOLN LAKESHORE, ONTARIO ($35)

The trend of extended skin contact on white grapes has not escaped Canadian winemakers. And this is a delicious success. Beautiful peach and apricot aromas with a hint of white flowers. Bright acid with chalky texture and light tannins. Pleasant mix of aromatics and bitterness on the finish. Very enjoyable. (MB)

UNITED STATES KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2017, CALIFORNIA ($19.95)

Golden straw colour. Spicy, toasty peach and mango nose. Medium- to full-bodied. Ripe orchard fruit flavours with a note of pineapple and a touch of butterscotch sweetness in mid-palate. (TA)

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2017, CALIFORNIA ($21.95)

Straw colour, minerally, peach pit bouquet. Medium-bodied, dry with a white peach flavour. A touch of sweetness in mid-palate with lemony acidity on the finish. Perfect with a stewed rabbit in a mustard reduction. (TA)

RECOMMENDED AUSTRALIA SHAW & SMITH, SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018, ADELAIDE HILLS ($27)

Refreshing with bright acid and expressive yet not over the top. Notes of guava, lime, grapefruit and lemon with a touch of grass. Light body and pure with a medium finish. Shines when enjoyed with grilled asparagus and poached eggs lightly sprinkled with fresh Parmesan. (MB)

FRANCE CHÂTEAU DE LA MULONNIÈRE CHENIN BLANC ANJOU BLANC, 2017, LOIRE VALLEY ($25)

Delicately off-dry with a great balance between ripe sweetness and bright acidity. Notes of citrus, ginger spice and mineral. Crisp and persistent with a racy, persistent length. (GB)

DOMAINE DE TERRES BLANCHES ALCHIMIE BLANC, 2017, LOIRE VALLEY ($26)

Taut and angular with lively floral and white fruit aromas and flavours. Flinty, lightly herbal, mouth-watering acidity, well balanced with a juicy finish. A very good value and well-integrated Sauvignon Blanc. It’s easy to say goat’s cheese or oysters with this one but go outside your comfort zone an try with Thai fish cakes. (GB)

SOUTH AFRICA THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE UNOAKED CHARDONNAY, 2018, WESTERN CAPE ($22)

Fresh with good fruit and a creamy texture, subtle and balanced with a clean finish. The wine opened up with food and particularly did well with white fish and poultry dishes. (GB)