Rack without the Ruin
The chateau is in decay, but he staked everything on the vines.
Improving production and vinification have put new recognition into the region and wines of the Minervois region of Languedoc Roussillon.
And Jean Paux-Rosset (owner) and Claude Gros (winemaker) are using some of the best grape growers in the region.
It’s a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault that takes advantage of the clay/limestone terroir.
Sample slow and often to get the best of it. Highly enjoyable.
Paux-Rosset Gros La Condamine Paulignan 2015
$22.99
14% alcohol
One Mystery Solved
What is the best white wine we’ve had so far in the mystery cases?
This is our first encounter with the Grillo grape … It’s confirmation that we tend to like grapes grown at slightly higher elevations (over 1000 feet).
Harvest is mid-August to retain a balance between sugar levels and acidity. The grapes are pressed, fermented and aged in steel to preserve the freshness.
The organic wine is very dry, light, but remarkably refreshing.
And I’ve already gone back for more – before you snatch up the remaining stock.
Sicilia Grillo – Rapitala Organic
13% alcohol
UPC: 08002010675423
$16.99
Curl up with a Good One
Adventures of a Columnist, Pierre Burton
Aristotle, Charlotte Witt, ISBN 0852291639
The Best of Antrobus, Lawrence Durrell
Call in the Pinkertons, David R. Williams
Cossacks: The Story of a Warrior People, Maurice Hindus
Drum Dumba, David Locke
Getting Past No, Wiliam Ury
Inner Speed Secrets, Ross Bentley
A Matrix of Evidence, Bruce M Olsen
Secret Corners of the World, National Geographic Society
Watching the colours
Happy with the Change Up
Very little stayed the same from initial thought to what ended up on the plate.
Everything changed around the lamb chops and we moved from a South African Cab Sav to Northern Portugal and a Touriga Nacional to go with it.
It all ended well and we very much enjoyed the wine. Expressive. Smooth and rich with just a touch of oakiness.
Serve it a little cooler than room temp and you’ll really experience the complexity.
When you’re looking for something to serve with spicy meats — this would be a great go to.
I’m going to look for some of the whites from Opta and it’s wine maker, Nuno Cancela de Abreu. I like the style of their wines and the uniqueness of the grapes.
Dao Touriga Nacional by Opta.
13% alcohol
Regularly $24.99, on sale for $22.49 when the Goddess of WHine put it in the 3rd mystery case.
UPC: 05604816000633
Reality Reminder
On the Hoof
Three for Three
This one is very quickly shaping up to be one of our favourite Rhone Valley vineyards.
The Goddess has directed us to the red and white varietals, and now we get to sample the rose.
Someone described this a funky – well, it does have a really nice edge to it. It’s clean, crisp, nicely dry and sticks around for a nice finish.
This is a certified organic blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache and 10% Syrah and 3 months in the tank with no oak. 3 generations of winemakers on this family estate in one of the coolest microclimates in the south of the Rhone Valley.
Chateau Pesquie Terrasses 2019 AOC Ventoux Rose
$20.99
12.5% alcohol
