WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Aveleda Casal Garcia Vinho Verde N/V, Vinho Verde, Portugal
$11.99 I 87/100
UPC: 5601096208308 Screw caps have done wonders for Casal Garcia, a delicate Vinho Verde that has blossomed without a cork. It takes guts to say no to corks in Portugal, but the result is a slightly frizzante note that lifts a green apple nose with just a whiff of lees. The almost watery attack is equally fresh with light lemon, lees, quince, and green apple. The price is a bargain. Think sushi, fish tacos, vegetarian pizza.
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2022, Veneto, Italy $19.99 I 88/100
UPC: 8004305000088 Crisp, fresh, and light on the nose, with a mix of lemon, grapefruit, pear, and green apple notes and a thin veneer of lees to give the palate a light, creamy texture. Soft and friendly, it slides down easily with just a hint of minerality in the finish. It's been much improved under screw cap — a solid white to pair with simple seafood, pasta, or vegetable sushi rolls.
Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road Vineyard 2022, Martinborough, New Zealand $31.99 I 94/100
UPC: 9421004550352
Wow, a fabulous wine that will age effortlessly under a screw cap. Te Muna Road Sauvignon is a pure expression of Sauvignon, packed full of minerality and acidity that electrifies the palate. Fresh, juicy lime leaf and passion fruit power a sophisticated, layered, complex white that stands alone in this category.
Mouton Cadet x Mathilde Rosé Merlot — Cabernet Franc — Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Bordeaux, France $21.99 I 89/100
UPC: 878448002289
A screw cap and a makeover have given this rosé new life. The colour is an attractive pale peony pink shade. The nose is bright and clean with delicate aromas of red fruits and fresh citrus peel. The palate is equally lively and fresh, with pear, kiwi, lemon, and grapefruit balanced by a candied strawberry undercurrent. It's pretty avant-garde for Mouton.
Garzón Cabernet de Corte 2020, Garzon, Maldonado, San José, Uruguay $22.99 I 89/100
UPC: 7730951081317 Cabernet de Corte is 80 per cent Cabernet Franc, 10 per cent Tannat, 5 per cent Merlot, and 5 per cent Marselan. The secret to this wine is the styling. They preach elegance at Garzon, so expect a tight mix of red and black fruit that opens with violets and wet stone, followed by raspberries, blackberries, and green pepper, kissed with dark chocolate. There is no oak here, just pure terroir under a screw cap. We like this with roasted pork ribs on fennel and leeks or pappardelle with a wild mushroom ragu.