Bill Zacharkiw’s Wines of the Week: May 7, 2021 – Montreal Gazette

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

Under $16

Chardonnay 2020,Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Le Bonheur, South Africa white, $15.80, SAQ # 710780. If you are looking for a chardonnay that leans toward the riper and richer side, this is a great value choice. The fruit is bordering on tropical, with a touch of pineapple, but is principally apricot and peach. The mouth is buttery, the finish is expansive. Good wine, and it kind of brought me back to my early days of wine tasting, when this style was the norm. Grape variety: chardonnay. Residual sugar: 2.4 g/L. Serve at: 8-10 C. Drink now. Food pairing ideas: aperitif, grilled scallops, richer fish.

$16-$20

Bierzo 2019, Mencía, Mengoba, Spain red, $18, SAQ # 14426897. I like mencía as a grape. Grown in the mountains of northwestern Spain and despite the power and richness, there’s usually a refreshing, almost minty note that adds complexity and a certain lightness on the finish. Here, winemaker Grégory Pérez has crafted a wonderfully ripe wine in which he has added the minimum of sulphite. The result is super juicy, a touch spicy and very satisfying. Keep it on the cooler side. Grape variety: mencía. Residual sugar: 1.7 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2024. Food pairing idea: braised lamb with dates.

$20-$25

Minervois Rosé 2020, Le Régal, Le Loup Blanc, France rosé, $20.35, SAQ # 12883429. Organic. Spring came early, so let’s start talking rosé. This is one of the spicier pinks I’ve had in a while. It’s downright peppery! The fruit is there, nuanced and very fresh. There’s deceptive body in the mid-palate, especially if served a touch warmer, and the finish is delicious fruit mixed with that crazy pepper note. It is a rosé that begs to be paired with food to get the most out of it. Grape varieties: grenache, cinsault. Residual sugar: 1.2 g/L. Serve at: 8-12 C. Drink now-2022. Food pairing ideas: aperitif, couscous, shrimp brochette with lemon and pepper.

$25 and up

Faugeres 2017, Transhumance, Domaine de Cottebrune, Pierre Gaillard, France red, $25.35, SAQ # 10507307. One of my favourite wines from the Languedoc, Pierre Gaillard’s 2017 Faugères shows even more refinement than usual. Never a lack of power, you’ll find a host of dark fruits, ripe mouth-coating tannins alongside a gorgeous mix of dried herbs like thyme and rosemary. Fabulous complexity. I find the 2017 even more harmonious, more complete, more satisfying than the usual high standards Gaillard has set with this cuvée. Grape varieties: grenache, syrah, mourvedre. Residual sugar: 2.6 g/L. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2024. Food pairing idea: bavette with dried herbs and mustard.