Wines of the Week: Right here's easy methods to be a greater wine shopper

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My favorite a part of working as a sommelier is speaking to wine lovers. However I’m amazed how reticent some individuals are to taking recommendation, and even opening up about what they don’t find out about wine. I really feel under-used. So whether or not you’re at a restaurant or the SAQ on the lookout for a wine, listed below are just a few tips about easy methods to be a greater shopper.

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Present, or inform us, what you want. I get it, many individuals have a tough time remembering the identify of a wine they actually favored. I’m sorry, however “Château one thing” doesn’t fairly reduce it. If that’s you, then each time you drink a wine you like, take an image of the label. Figuring out what turns you on will assist us discover you one thing related.

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Tell us your journey tolerance. I like exposing folks to new types, however some individuals are simply not into that. They’re both afraid to strive one thing new or just simply love a specific model. That’s a disgrace as a result of there are such a lot of superb wines on the market — tell us how open you’re to new issues.

Be clear about how a lot you need to pay. Nothing is extra irritating than not figuring out how a lot the consumer desires to pay. Whether or not you give a worth vary or a most quantity, our job is to provide the greatest wine to your tastes and your pockets.

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Seafood and pink wine are a foul combine. There’s a faculty of thought that claims “folks ought to drink what they need.” In fact you’ll be able to, however I by no means attended that faculty. If you’re and anything-but-white particular person, recover from it. Crimson wine is just too highly effective for many seafood. White wine pairs greatest and I assure in case you make that leap, you’ll style your meals like by no means earlier than.

Ask your sommelier if they need a style of your wine. I all the time inform purchasers that is the perfect “pourboire” they can provide me. I don’t all the time settle for, but when it’s a brand new classic I haven’t tasted or if I’m simply thirsty, I’ll gladly take an oz or two. Whereas it’s a pleasant factor to do, that is particularly necessary in case you don’t “get” the wine. In the event you assume one thing could be “off,” ask somebody who is aware of higher to style it. On plenty of events, I’ve discovered small faults that most individuals overlook.

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Don’t Vivino each wine on an inventory. Vivino is a very talked-about app. However few issues rile me greater than folks displaying me Vivino shopper scores or the listed worth of the bottle. The value is in American {dollars} — due to taxes and markup, it’s costly to drink wine in a Quebec restaurant. As a purchaser, each wine I placed on the checklist is worthy. What Bob in Georgia thinks doesn’t matter to me.

Within the spirit of the approaching warmth wave, listed below are three summery wines I hope you take pleasure in.

Utiel-Requena 2021, Mariluna, Sierra Norte, Spain white, $14.40, SAQ #14234001. Natural. Onerous to go flawed with this, contemplating the worth. Lemon and peaches, contemporary however not acidic, and a dry, lingering end. Grape varieties: verdejo, macabeo. Residual sugar: 1.4 g/l. Serve at 8-10C. Drink now. Meals pairing thought: Aperitif, chilly seafood salad.

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Côtes du Marmandais 2021, Le Vin est une fête, Elian Da Ros, France pink, $24.20, SAQ #11793211. Vibrant fruit, simple tannins and tastes greatest on the cooler aspect. Bordeaux followers will love this because it exhibits an analogous refinement. Cherry, pink plum and only a contact of olive make for some respectable complexity. Residual sugar: 1.3 g/l. Grape varieties: merlot, cabernet franc, abouriou  Serve at 14-16C. Drink now-2023. Meals pairing thought: Pork roast with chutney, ratatouille.

Chianti Classico 2020, Sangió, Monte Bernardi, Italy pink, $32.25 (1L), SAQ #14990025. Pure wine. Completely scrumptious and nil added sulphites. In the event you’re on the lookout for a simple consuming pink that may pair with nearly something, together with salmon, then this litre of pleasure is for you. Cherry fruit, refreshing acids and simply sufficient tannin on the end to make it meat-worthy. Serve barely chilled. Grape selection: sangiovese. Residual sugar 2.5 g/l. Serve at 16C. Drink now. Meals pairing thought: Veal with grilled mushrooms and roasted beets, grilled salmon.