This week at the SAQ #17

This property, which has existed as a wine-producing entity since 1630, has recently come under the stewardship of the young Chatin family. With experience gained in Champagne and Argentina, Amélie, who is in charge of winemaking, has taken over the estate from the experienced hands of the Bonnet family.

In the extreme south of the Graves (still 50 km from Bordeaux), it is practically more Southwest than Gironde. They obviously make reds there, but also affordable whites with the two flagship grape varieties of the Bordeaux region: Sauvignon and Sémillon.

On the first nose, the Sauvignon expresses itself through a fruity and refreshing structure. On the palate, the Sémillon stands out with a smooth and honeyed texture, before giving way to the liveliness of the Sauvignon and its citrus notes. Only stainless steel tanks are used for this wine.

An excellent quality-to-price ratio for this aperitif white.

• To accompany it: a nice goat cheese 'gratinéed' on artisanal bread with a touch of honey,
• For the anecdote: Toulouse-Lautrec, a nephew of one of the owners, reportedly spent summers painting at the château.
• To better understand white Bordeaux: Get on the waiting list for the workshop on the subject in the fall of '24!
• If you ever want to explore the impact of barrel aging on the estate's white wines, you can place side-by-side the Cuvée Callipyge 2022, from the same château, for $26 at the SAQ (15156163)

Veneto is the Italian region that produces the most wine. It produces almost twice as much volume as Puglia, the second most important region in the country. With styles as varied as the number of lakes in Quebec, we can say that navigating the Venetian sea of wine to fish for the right bottles is sometimes complex!

Giuseppe Quintarelli was a master of the Valpolicella region and an ace of passerillage (drying grapes), the process that leads to the production of great Amarones. He left us in 2012 at the age of 84, but he trained several winemakers who are now flying with their own wings and passing on the expertise in the region.

The Marion estate is one of the many "Quintarelli offshoots" found in Veneto, and the farm was acquired by the Campedelli brothers in the 1980s. Until 1993, the grapes were sold to a cooperative cellar, and in 1996, the brothers released their first vintages with sober and distinct packaging (the brown label...). All of these vintages are vinified with a minimum of 30% dried grapes up to 100% for their Amarone. All are great, racy, powerful wines built for long aging.

For almost 10 years, a range of wines from this merchant has been on SAQ shelves, distinguished by its white label and the absence of dried grapes, making them more accessible in their youth.

It is with this logic that we will enjoy this Valpolicella, which is all finesse, juicy, fresh, fruity, gulpable, and perfect for the beautiful summer season.

Fans of Beaujolais crus or Poulsard from the Jura will be delighted with this Borgo vintage from Marion.

• To accompany it: a charcuterie board and a few Italian cheeses
• For the anecdote: the real name of this vintage is Borgomarcellise, in connection with the valley where the property is located
• To better understand Veneto: Get on the waiting list for the workshop on the subject in the fall of '24!
• If you ever want to explore the Marion product range, the SAQ will satisfy you with a good quantity of products.

This Schiava from Alois Lageder is a rarity. Recorded since the High Middle Ages, this grape variety with two names (Vernatsch being the Germanic inclination) nevertheless played a predominant role in the region's viticulture, with nearly 70% of the surface area planted until the 1980s. Today, however, there are fewer than 500 hectares planted, almost exclusively in South Tyrol.

It is in this magnificent region that the Lageder family has been based for 200 years, with their 50 hectares farmed biodynamically. As pioneers in renewable energy, sustainable practices, and social engagement, the family is today a flagship for this region, the most northerly in Italy, at the foot of the Alpine Dolomites.

And where does Schiava fit in all this? Schiava wines generally produce light and accessible wines with pleasant tannins and acidity. Elegant, they will be easily accessible in their youth. This Schiava from the commune of Cortaccia is no exception to the rule and will present itself elegantly at the aperitif or at the table.

• To accompany it: a homemade pizza with excellent Tyrolean speck!
• For the anecdote: Few grape varieties have such a complex linguistic history as Schiava. The Lombards (coming from the North) reportedly named the variety *vineis sclavis* (slave vine), and the name later transformed into Vernatsch, a name very close to Vernaccia...
• To better understand rare grape varieties: Get on the waiting list for the grape variety aperitif on the subject in the fall of '24!
• Once again, the SAQ will surprise us this week with a second Schiava from the Lageder house, this one parcel-based and with some barrel aging: the Römigberg 2022 at $28 at the SAQ (14923746)