218 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 2 MARCH 2022
role in Marsala wines and is widely cultivated in Sicily. “Agramante” references
a Saracen king of Africa and fierce opponent of Emperor Charlemagne
in the 16th-century epic poem Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto,
and the wine label depicts Orlando in armour fighting the Saracens. Luna
Gaia labels collectively are a visual homage to L’Opera dei Pupi Siciliana
(the Sicilian Puppet Opera), a Sicilian storytelling tradition. The wines collectively
portray events from the Orlando Furioso story. Clearly the owners
love Renaissance literature. The wine began with a wild ferment on indigenous
yeasts and was aged in steel four months on the lees. It opens on the
nose with sweet pear mixed with aromas of spring flowers and light citrus.
The palate is juicy and full with apple and lime (reminding me of Sunripe
apple/lime juice I had as a child) plus some grapefruit and mineral leading
to a fresh and slightly saline finish. Enjoy it as an apéritif, or with white
meat or sablefish or shellfish stews. It is currently available as a special
selection at certain BC LDB stores.
HANS BAER PINOT GRIGIO TROCKEN 2019
QbA Rheinhessen, Germany #426888 $14.99
One links Pinot Grigio with northern Italy, but this German winemaker has
tried a variation with Rhinish influences. Definitely a cool-climate wine, it
is light with a very moderate 11.5 per cent alcohol level and has a citric
nose, with lime and orange peel, peach/nectarine and a touch of wet stone
minerality. On the palate, it is soft and slightly honeyed and shows yellow
apple and lemon-lime and hints of almonds on the medium-long finish.
Food matches include chicken breast or white fish in a light miso with
steamed vegetables, or a selection of fruit and cheeses.
BIELER PÈRE ET FILS ROSÉ CUVÉE SABINE 2020
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France #556126 $22.99
From a winery near the quaint city of Aix where my wife and I spent a
relaxing summer day a few years back, this wine is rated 90 points on
Vinous and is a blend of forty-one per cent Grenache, twenty-seven per cent
Syrah, fifteen per cent Cinsault, twelve per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and
five per cent Rolle. It has an attractive golden, slightly pinkish, hue. The
rosé wines of Aix tend to be fuller and more structured than those from
other Provence appellations. This one has blossoms, peach, red apple and
a bit of Meyer lemon citrus on the nose, and on its full body are more peach
and apple with a bit of strawberry and other berry fruit mid-palate and
touches of herbs on a long, slightly sweet finish. It is a great spring sipper
and will pair well with a rich fish or scallops, or pasta dishes such as