WINES OF THE WEEK

Every week, Bill Zacharkiw identifies his top wine picks available at the SAQ and offers ideas for food pairings.

UNDER $16

Minervois 2018, Cuvée Morgane, Château de Gourgazaud, France red, $12.80, SAQ # 22384.

This was one of the first Languedoc reds I ever tasted back when I made the fateful switch from dépanneur wine to SAQ wine. It's a SAQ classic, and for good reason. The tannins are soft and cushy, the fruit is at the forefront and there's just enough spice and herbs in the background to place it in southern France. An honest, easy red with a dry finish. Drink cool. Will please a whole range of palates. Grape varieties: syrah, mourvèdre. Residual sugar: 2.7 g/l.

Serve at: 15 C. Drink now.

Food pairing ideas: apéritif, pork

filet with mustard and herbs.

$16-$20

Saint-chinian 2018, Tradition, Domaine La Madura, France red, $20, SAQ # 10682615.

I really love wines like this. The aromatics are complex yet nuanced, showing violets, rosemary and lots of juicy red fruits. Like most southern France wines, the texture is silky, with finessed tannins that coat the mouth. Underlying acidity keeps the whole from getting heavy.

Ultimate table wine that is both easy to drink and incredibly interesting.

Grape varieties: carignan, grenache, syrah, mourvèdre. Residual sugar: 1.8 g/l.

Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2022. Food pairing ideas: beef stews, white meat roasts with herbs.

$20-$25

Chenin Blanc 2019, Western Cape, Reyneke, South Africa white, $20.40, SAQ # 14221242.

Organic. I love Reyneke's sauvignon blanc. The chenin is equally interesting, and more powerful than you might expect. There are the typical stone fruit and lemony notes, with an herbal, almost minty freshness on the attack.

But this gains body and depth as you drink it and as it warms, with a spicy, buttery note that shows itself on the finish. Lots going on here for a wine at this price. Would be interested in seeing this again in a few years.

Grape variety: chenin blanc. Residual sugar: 1.5 g/l.

Serve at: 8-10 C. Drink now2024.

Food pairing ideas: apéritif, seafood casseroles, seafood risotto.

$25 AND UP

Maremma Toscana 2018, Petit Verdot, Podere San Cristoforo, Italy red, $64.25, SAQ # 14127846.

Organic. From one of my favourite Tuscan producers, here's one for the cellar. Made entirely with petit verdot, this will satisfy both Super Tuscan and Bordeaux fanatics. The fruit is dark berry, both blue and black, with fine, sculpted tannins that give great length and offer a touch of bitterness on the finish. Oodles of power, but the beauty is in its elegance. The balance between heft and acidity keeps it nimble, and it finishes on a mineral, almost graphite note. Impressive, and will get even more interesting over the next decade.

Grape variety: petit verdot. Residual sugar: 2 g/l.

Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2028. Food pairing ideas: rib roast, centre cut; steak Florentine.