Bill Zacharkiw’s Wines of the Week: March 12, 2021

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.

$16 and under

Douro 2018, Reserva, Cistus, Quinta do Vale da Perdiz, Portugal red, $16, SAQ # 10841170. You have to like fresh oak — this wine is teeming with it. But underneath is some pretty spectacular fruit. Remarkably fresh for a Douro. Rather than typical dried dark fruits like dates and raisins, you get fresher, redder field fruits. Over 15 per cent alcohol, but there’s a great balance between the heft and finesse. Grape varieties: tinta roriz, touriga francesa, tinta barroca, touriga nacional. Residual sugar: 2 g/L. Serve at: 16 C. Drink now-2023. Food pairing idea: baby back ribs with barbecue sauce.

$16-$20

Sicilia 2020, I Balzi, Grillo, Natale Verga, Italy white, $16.70, SAQ # 13640584. Organic. I wrote about the red last week, but I find the white even more impressive. This is a pure chugger. Kind of like a sauvignon blanc, but without the boisterous aromatics. Lemony, some melon and pear, but the key to making this so special is its slightly salty, lip-smackingly fresh attack and finish. Easy drinking, tasty, real. Grape variety: grillo. Residual sugar: 1.7 g/L. Serve at: 8-10 C. Drink now. Food pairing ideas: apéritif, ceviche, lighter white fish.

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$20-$25

Castel del Monte 2014, Riserva, Il Falcone, Italy red, $23.70, SAQ # 10675466. I have a few bottles of this in my cellar and opened one last week. So sexy. So delicious. And to my surprise, it seems the SAQ just received another order of the same vintage. The wine ages so well. I drank this wine at 15 years of age, and it was just so good. Here at seven years, it’s at a stage where the tannins are melting away into a beautiful tapestry of fruit and structure, but there is still some vibrancy. If you like Bordeaux, you’ll love this. Grape varieties: nero di troia, montepulciano. Residual sugar: 2.1 g/L. Serve at: 18 C. Drink now-2025. Food pairing idea: lamb chops with mint jelly.

$25 and up

Sancerre 2018, Domaine de Terres Blanches, France white, $33.50, SAQ # 14282301. I love the chalkier Sancerres. Great example here. The aromatics are more nuanced, with hints of citrus blossom and lime. The palate is fresh yet comfortable. The ending is the joy, where the wine dries up into a focused, mineral finish, leaving just a hint of the initial flowers and limes. Very cool. Very delicious. Grape variety: sauvignon blanc. Residual sugar: 3 g/L. Serve at: 8-12 C. Drink now-2023. Food pairing ideas: apéritif, snow crab and lobster, mussels with cream sauce.