Wines of the week | On the hunt for (good) wines

I will refrain from commenting, but don’t blame me if the wines I am suggesting to you this week are not easy to find. With the recent conflict at the SAQ, the distribution of wines in the branches was seriously disrupted. The first wine is a basic product: it should be found easily. The two reds are new arrivals: they should be widely distributed in the network from December 20. That said, nothing is guaranteed … Please don’t blame the messenger!

Veronique rivest
Sommelier, guest collaborator

Everyday wine

A simple and light bottle and a screw cap: practical and ideal for a simple and honest white wine, perfect for everyday consumption. A nice fruity nose announces the deal, with aromas of yellow fruits and citrus fruits. On the palate, this Campagnola Chardonnay Veneto is dry, rather supple and round, but also fresh. It shows much more hold and balance than many wines at this price! A sure bet, it’s also versatile: enjoy it easily with popcorn while listening to a movie, or at the table with pasta with salmon or cream chicken, vol-au-vent, roast chicken.

Campagnola Chardonnay Veneto, $ 13.35 (12382851), 12.5%

Keep: to drink

A great discovery

This Hungarian wine, from the Szekszárd region in the south of the country, is a great discovery for the curious. Szekszárd, along with its neighbor Villány, is among the warmest regions of the country and is known for its red wines. The Kadarka grape is particularly popular on the loess soils of Szekszárd and produces light, fresh and fruity wines, not unlike Pinot Noir or Gamay. This one is indeed of a very pale color and offers delicate aromas of cherry, red apple, cranberry, with a spicy touch reminiscent of white pepper, and notes of fresh earth which develop in the mouth. Dry, light and very fresh, it has little tannins and is very charming. Serve chilled with goulash, stuffed peppers, breaded veal cutlets.

Heimann Kadarka Szekszárd 2020, $ 22.75 (14057219), 12.5%

Keeping: 2 or 3 years

Full of character

Vadio Bairrada 2018: here is another wine to discover if you are not familiar with baga. It is the emblematic grape of the Bairrada region, in Portugal, on the Atlantic coast, south of Porto. For a long time at the origin of rustic wines, he is able to give excellent wines in the right hands. This is the case here: the wine is complex and unique, full of character. Pale in color, it opens with a nose of strawberry jam, sundried tomatoes, tobacco and tea, with notes of spices, anise, garrigue. Rather light on the palate, but without lacking in substance or depth, it offers a lot of freshness, a greedy and tasty character, but with grain and moderate tannins. To be enjoyed at the table with grilled sausages, Portuguese chicken, duck confit.

Vadio Bairrada 2018, $ 23.90 (13620840), 12.5%

Keeping: from 3 to 6 years