Wines of the Week: Aug. 11-17

Everyday: Gone are the days when we had to search mightily for some fruit in super-chalky wines from Muscadat. The 2012 Domaine de la Pepiere Sevre-et-Maine Muscadet ($15) is astonishing, no less acidic that its forebears of yore but with vivacious Meyer lemon flavors almost literally bursting onto the palate. It would not be a reach to have a picture of Mr. Clean on the label, so pristine is this beauty. The long and lean flavors make this gem particularly suited for the freshest of seafood, although fried chicken tenders and salads starring just-picked tomatoes would serve as swell pairing options as well. Plop on the clean, pure sounds of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” and sip/slip into nirvana.

Occasion: Just as clean but with much more weight than the entry above, the 2011 Ermes Pavese Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ($25) is a stone-cold delight from Italy’s smallest (by far) region, the Valle d’Aosta. This probably has the longest grape name extant: “blanc de morgex de la Salle,” and the vineyards are some of the highest in the world at 4,000 feet. The wine actually has some cool, mentholated flavors that evoke the Alpine setting, plus a wet-stone texture and stone fruit aromas. This white sang with a crispy prosciutto sandwich and probably would play well with most any pork dish. Because of the Alpine origins, let’s go with “The Sound of Music” soundtrack for the musical accompaniment. Also because it’s pretty great tuneage.