Every week, Bill Zacharkiw identifies his top wine picks available at the SAQ and offers ideas for food pairings.
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Every week, Bill Zacharkiw identifies his top wine picks available at the SAQ and offers ideas for food pairings.
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Under $17
Maremma Toscana 2019, Le Focaie, Rocca di Montemassi, Italy red, $16.15, SAQ # 11184968. This is an inexpensive wine that definitely punches above its price level. While it shows the classic red fruit and acidity of sangiovese, solid tannins give it some appreciable torque — enough that it will benefit from an hour in a carafe before serving. Very elegant and finessed, with lots of fresh fruit and some spice on the finish. Grape variety: sangiovese. Residual sugar: 3 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2025. Food pairing idea: spaghetti or lasagna with meat sauce.
$17-$22
Grüner Veltliner 2021, Vision, Weingut Markus Huber, Austria white, $18.15, SAQ # 14514310. Organic. This is what I look for in an apéritif wine. Light and dry, refreshing, and despite its quaffability, there’s no lack of complexity if you want to dig. Classic grüner, with citrus leading the way, and with the wonderfully floral and herbal edge that always reminds me of camomile. You get a hint of it on the nose, but it fades as the lime and orange dominate each sip. It returns on the finish, with that herbal note sharing the stage with the fruit. Grape variety: grüner veltliner. Residual sugar: 4.7 g/L. Serve at: 8-12 C. Drink now. Food pairing ideas: apéritif, cold crab salad, mussels and other lighter seafood.
$22-$27
Pinot Noir 2020, Niederösterreich, Markowitsch, Austria red, $26.40, SAQ # 12538570. Very alluring and surprisingly powerful pinot noir. It starts with the aromatics, full of fresh field fruit mixed with spice and rose. It gives so much, without being overly perfumed. The palate is juicy, fresh and suave. The finish shows just enough tannin to give the wine some focus as it transitions from the fruit to the spice and mineral notes. I really like this, and a great price for pinot of this quality. Grape variety: pinot noir. Residual sugar: 1.7 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2025. Food pairing ideas: tuna tataki, mushroom risotto.
$27 and up
Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes 2019, Valine, Vignoble Jean-Luc Jamet, France red, $32.50, SAQ # 14714688. In my view, Jean-Luc Jamet is at the summit of Côte-Rôtie. If you are lucky enough to find them, and can afford them, his wines walk the line between power and finesse like few others. His Vin de Pays shares many characteristics of the appellation wines, but at a fraction of the standard price. The florals are spectacular, like walking in a field of raspberry and violets. The fruit is juicy and red-tinged, and the tannins are so refined that you hardly feel them, except for the appreciable length. A touch of pepper on the finish adds to the fun. Grape variety: syrah. Residual sugar: 1.3 g/L. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2026. Food pairing idea: lamb chop with mustard and dried herbs.
