Very well structured. A lovely wake-up call when you take your first taste. It’s medium bodied and the flavours continuethrough a lovely finish.
Boneless lamb shoulder roast. Slow baked for over 2 hours, along with roasted Veggies. The wine brought out the best in everything.
The Nk’Mip band has built a great Driver Enthusiasts Experience too. Area 27. Designed by Jacques Villeneuve.Go for a ride https://area27.ca/circuit/
Nk’mip Merlot
$21.99
14.5% Alcohol
UPC: 00836909000021
Forethought in planting the vines in the early 90s has today produced a lovely series of Merlots.
Peppery, black cherry tones and a hint of plum and blackberry. B called it warming. That’s probably because of the 18 months in French and American oak.
We had it with pork chops cheese sauce on cauliflower and local baby potatoes.
This is one of the first BC wines we’ve had this year that we consider really good value for the money. An excellent legacy to Harry McWatters.
This is REAL terroir. The right location, the right soil, and the right grape planted that will drive the roots deep into the almost desert like soil.
Not once, but twice we have been blessed with out introduction to Black Sage. First by the Goddess of Wine for including it in our last mystery case – a 2018 offering. And then again by visiting friends who brought a 2017 version.
It was great to compare the two vintages. The 2017 is slightly bolder and the finishwas a little longer.
Black Sage Vineyard – Merlot 2017
13.% Alcohol
UPC: 00063657031506
$23.99 regularly $26.99
MONTSANT – CELLER DE CAPCANES MAS DONIS NEGRE
Montsant, Spain
UPC: 08427154011935
13.5% alcohol
$17.99
Full and Robust combination of Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.
The grapes come from old vines between 30 and 60 years old, planted on clay and granite soils located on terraces.
This could very easily become one of our favourite red blends yet, because it’s pleasing from beginning to end. Lovely bouquet and a strong finish. It will go with just about anything the cook prepares.
Glen Carlou Grand Classique
14.5% Alcohol
$22.99
The components used in Grand Classique, a blend of 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, with 13% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot, are all individually vinified to allow for the development of each one’s unique character. After assemblage the blend is barrel matured in 225L French barriques for 18 months. The mouthfeel is richly textured with a firm yet accessible tannin structure.
Glen Carlou Vineyards is less than 35 minutes’ drive from Cape Town in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa and covers a 145 ha property. The vineyard is well known for it’s award winning whites. (We’ll be going to to try to find some of these.)
You get a full palate that lingers through to a lovely finish. Full Bodied and well balanced. Deep rich red colour. Initially it comes off as spicy and peppery and then settles down into almost an elegance.
We teamed it with a mixed charcuterie, potato salad and coleslaw.
It should have been Raki, instead of Sambuca, with the mixed fruit on frozen yogurt. [Hee Hee]
Guest Andy Brown:
I decided to treat myself today.
A Sterling Silver Striploin steak with baked potato, grilled yam and peas, washed down with a delectable Inniskillin 2009 “Dark Horse Estate” Meritage.
Don’t have an exact price on the wine but it was in my $40+ section of the wine cooler.
Whatever, it was worth it. An excellent complement to the steak. It is composed of 50% Merlot, 30% Cab Sav and 20% Cab Franc. The description says the careful crafting of the individual wines “has yielded a deep purple toned wine with ripe cherry and chocolate aromas, firm tannins, and rich flavours of vanilla-infused oak and plums.” The components underwent extended fermentation in their skins, followed by barrel aging for 12 months in French and American oak.
Being in the bottle for 11 years did not hurt I’m sure. I made a special toast to Di who I’m sure instigated this purchase. She was the real wine aficionado- I can’t think of any of her selections that I did not like.
Photos: Andy Brown
