Category Archives: Terroir

Raising the bar

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Some wines just deliver year in and year out and this Rasteau is one of them. A nice savoury, spicy palate. Dark red, slightly jammy red fruit.


A blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and Mourvede (10%) brings out the earthy terroir tones. 

 It’s full bodied and concentrated. It’s fresh and fruity yet earthy, complex and elegant too.
Egg noodle pasta, with mushrooms, spinach, red peppers, onion rings and shrimp worked so well with this.


RASTEAU – CAVE DE RASTEAU LA DOMELIERE 2019

$21.99 regularly $26.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03506707066419 

Full bodied and robust

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Hits the sweet spot of flavour and value.  The $18 to $24 range of Malbecs is full of great Argentinean wines.  

This young Malbec from Mendoza is already very approachable. Easy drinking and good by itself. Fruit forward and tasty.

It rates better than any other year from this vineyard  92 Pointer.  Great right out of the bottle, and gets earthier after an hour in the decanter. Tangy and a soft tannin finish.

I’m going to go back and grab another bottle and put down so we can revisit in about 2-3 years.

It’s straightforward and not complex at all but it is big, rich and doesn’t need food although BBQ, hamburgers, sausages and roast beef would all work with it.

MALBEC – MALBADO MENDOZA 2019

$17.99 regularly $22.99

14.5% alcohol

UPC: 00858108007120

A Glass Cork

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The Cusumanos are one of a handful of Sicilian families who put Sicilian winemaking on the map by crafting wines that reflect local viticultural traditions but also have immense international appeal. As one of the leading families of Sicilian viticulture, the Cusumanos have revolutionized the island’s winemaking styles by focusing on both native and international grape varieties. 

Sauve. sophisticated and debonair would be one way to describe the Nero D’Avola.  Bold and fruit driven.  High tannins … but not quite as high as a Petite Syrah or Barolo.

This is a nice, fruity red with lots of fresh red and black berry aromas and flavours. Medium-bodied with a balanced, fruity palate and just a hint of firmness at the end.

SICILIA NERO D’AVOLA – CUSUMANO

$16.99 regularly $18.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 08028262000141

A test of the Emergency Friendship System

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A Friend….

(A)ccepts you as you are

(B)elieves in “you”

(C)alls you just to say “HI”

(D)oesn’t give up on you

(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)

(F)orgives your mistakes

(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you

(I)nvites you over

(J)ust “be” with you

(K)eeps you close at heart

(L)oves you for who you are

(M)akes a difference in your life

(N)ever Judges

(O)ffer support

(P)icks you up

(Q)uiets your fears

(R)aises your spirits

(S)ays nice things about you

(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it

(U)nderstands you

(V)alues you

(W)alks beside you

(X)plains thing you don’t understand

(Y)ells when you won’t listen and

(Z)aps you back to reality

thoughts of Figs, Floral aromas and Toast

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These Chardonnay grapes come primarily from California’s Central Coast vineyards. The cooling influence of coastal Pacific breezes temper ripening and help the grapes retain acidity, ensuring concentrated flavour in the glass. 

Think apples, pears, peaches and pineapple. Add some concentration and balance.

The majority of this California white wine is aged in French oak barrels.

We paired it with apple turkey sausages, bacon/potato peroegies and yellow beans.

Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Select

$15.99 regularly $17.99

13.5% Alcohol

UPC: 00086003461925

Trivia of Today

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Trivia for all

  1. Why is Canadian Thanksgiving earlier than American Thanksgiving? Earlier harvest season
  2. Canadian Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday except where? Nova Scotia
  3. What does Quebec call Thanksgiving? Action de grâce
  4. When was Thanksgiving declared a national holiday in Canada? 1879
  5. True or False: Canadian Thanksgiving was initially celebrated in November? True
  6. How many cranberries does B.C. produce each year on average? 37 million kilograms
  7. What other popular event happens during Canadian Thanksgiving? Oktoberfest
  8. On what date was the first official Thanksgiving held in Canada? November 6, 1879
  9. Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Canada? Martin Frobisher

10. Before becoming an official holiday, what year was the very first Thanksgiving in Canada celebrated? 1578

Unlike many other holidays, Thanksgiving is a non-religious celebration that revolves around the idea of giving thanks. Thanksgiving is a holiday that holds meaning for many people, no matter what their cultures or beliefs are.What is it to you?

A Harvest Festival?

A football Classic?

Oktoberfest?

Wine Harvest?

Please. Share your thanks with the less fortunate.

Sniffers need Apply

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I’ve smelt gunpowder, but not tasted it … reviewers comments about gunpowder raised the stakes for the first bottle from Mystery Case #21.

The grapes are harvested by hand in different areas of Gualtallary (upper, central and lower) to bring the diversity of terroir to each bottle. The grapea are

pressed and fermented with native yeast in concrete with the purpose of obtaining honest wines.

This is about as light a pinot noir gets (12%).  There is a medium bodied palate, and lovely fine tannins.  The clarity of fruit is very evident.  Red cherries on the finish.

One well respected reviewer said: “Outstanding in this vintage are red fruits belended with minerals, herbs, gunpowder and graphite for a very smooth and fresh in the mouth”

Sliders and veggies were on the menu for sharing.  I will check the next delivery of gunpowder for a taste test comparison.

PINOT NOIR – ZORZAL TUPUNGATO

$17.49 regularly $20.49

12% Alcohol

UPC: 00813495010566

One to cellar one to drink now

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Located on the south-east mid-slope of the Saint-Amour vineyard in the lieu-dit of “Les Billards”. Piedmont soil and old alluvial deposits; heavy clay with some areas over very deeply weathered granite

In the cellar, the vinification is semi-carbonic and lasts between 12 to 15 days. A weighted grill keeps the cap submerged in the fermenting juice, which gives a very gentle extraction of tannins. The wines are aged in cement tanks.

This bright Gamay from a single estate is full of juicy red fruits and light tannins.  Deep and full bodied… almost tangy.  Marvelous balance and a long, complex finish.

Some cellaring would let the tannins soften up and this would certainly be one to put down for a few years.\

SAINT AMOUR – DOMAINE DES BILLARDS HERITIERS LORON 2019$27.99 

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03298660029715

Inner Painting

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The artist in the video is doing a Chinese art form called Inner painting or inside painted.

This art form involves glass bottles which have pictures and often calligraphy painted on the inside surface of the glass.

The bottles are produced by manipulating a specialized paint brush through the neck of the bottle.

To paint the inside of the bottle, the artist must paint backwards.

Concentration is crucial to make precise strokes.

A skilled artist may complete a simple bottle in a week while something special may take a month or more.

The best craftsmen may only be able to produce 85 bottles in a year.