WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet Les Pins De Camille 2018, Languedoc, France
$17.99 I 88/100
UPC: 3186127768690 Another year, but not another dollar. Picpoul is not likely on any lists in your wine shop, but this skinny, fresh southern French variety made for oysters and other assorted shellfish is a delicious summer white. Fresh and citrus-scented with a mix of juicy grapefruit and ginger with a touch of quince. Serve well chilled and have some extra on standby. The price is a gift.
Lunessence Riesling 2019, Okanagan Valley $24.99 I 89/100
UPC: 793588413071
The 2019 Single Vineyard is all estate Summerland fruit aged on lees for five months. It has an attractive honeydew and mango aroma that spills onto the palate. It’s almost dry but perfectly balanced with ripe orchard red apple and pear, with juicy lime cordial and honey. Just on the edge of mouth-watering, this is a treat. At 10.5 per cent alcohol, it slides down easy and leaves you wanting to finish the bottle at lunch. Well done, in a drier, crisper tone. Food-friendly. Winery online/direct.
Viña Leyda Rosé 2019, Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
$15.99 I 88/100
UPC: 0987090873232
This Pinot Noir grows a mere four kilometres from the cold Pacific Ocean. And the result is a light fruity, fresh pink strawberry/grapefruit nose and palate with soft, slippery textures. An undercurrent of lees add a touch of complexity, but this is mostly ready to drink now with shellfish, cream cheeses and tomato pasta or pizza dishes.
Oak Bay Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Okanagan Valley
$20.00 I 87/100
UPC: 625259209181
The last time I tasted this, I noted that sometimes it is not what a Pinot Noir is, but it’s more about what it isn’t. This earthy, spicy, bright Pinot with bright red fruit and forest floor notes is soft and round on the palate, finishing with a dusting of balsamic notes. Dry with a touch of tannins, you can serve this now with cream cheese and salmon, or pork and vegetable kebabs.
Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon (3-litre bag in a box) $28.99 3L I 90/100
UPC: 625259209181
Santa Carolina has consistently produced a high-quality, low price Chilean Cabernet, so it is an easy stretch to reach for this three-litre box priced at the equivalent of $7.24 a bottle. Expect that classic red fruit, cassis, nose flecked with wild scrubland, or “boldo” notes. The weight is medium, the flavours a mix of black and red berries and cedar — a perfect barbecue red for the right size COVID bubble crowd. Good value.