Wines of the Week: April 20-26

Everyday: For those leery about spending the $20-plus for a good Sancerre (or most any Sancerre), the 2012 Domaine Ricard Les Trois Chênes Touraine ($18) is a fabulous alternative. Seriously tasty fruit with citrus and pear notes and lush but tingly texture are the stars of the show, but alluring floral and fruit aromas and a super-clean finish shine as well. This is better than a lot of Sancerres I’ve sampled, and it’s a really versatile food wine, likely to play well with most any seafood preparation and perfect for salads with chicken in them. Plop in the plaintiff warbling of Iris DeMent and say hello to spring.

Occasion: When is a rosé worth splurge-errific prices? No, not when it’s brought to you by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (although the Miraval is a dandy wine). Rather, it’s when the wine is as ethereal, sexy and downright tasty as the 2014 Mathiasson Napa Valley Rosé ($26). A classic Provence-style rosé (syrah, grenache, mourvedre, counoise) coming in at 11.2 percent alcohol, this pale beauty delivers lovely berry and peach flavors and perfectly integrated acidity, dancing on the palate through the smooth, stunningly long finish. It plays well with everything fresh in spring — peas, greens, even asparagus — and most anything else, frankly. The sweet, soulful works of the criminally under-recognized NoLa clarinetist Dr. Michael White only enhance the proceedings.