Valpolicella Classico was praised by Hemingway as “a light, dry red wine, as friendly as the house of a favourite brother”
I simply call it the Enhancer. It’s very versatile and goes with meat, soups, pasta, complicated, and simple dishes too.
It’s Simple. Dry. Refreshing. Mild. Fresh. The grape varieties: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara.
VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO – MASI BONACOSTA
$17.49 on sale from $19.99
12% alcohol
UPC: 08002062000037
Before anything else – We REALLY like this wine from the Puglia region (heel of Italy).
A blend of Primitivo (70%) and Negroamaro (30%) that gives an intense and rich bombardment of the senses.
It’s made via the appassimento method. After alcoholic fermentation, the Negroamaro grapes are partially dried, and then blended with the Primitivo. And then aged for a short time in oak barrels to be rounded. The word appassimento translates to “passionate.”
While it would work well for you ‘griller’s”, we decided on the long slow method of baking and a low heat.
The wine is intense. Very rich in flavours and has quite a complex finish.
Put this near the top of your list to find.
Gran Appasso Puglia 2018
$17.99
14.5% Alcohol
Two books by Louis de Bernieres
Birds Without Wings ISBN
Birds Without Wings ISBN 978-1400079322
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin ISBN 978-0679763970
Entertaining. Thoughtful. Historical. Tragedy and Comedy all in one.
It is slightly sweeter than we usually like, but it’s beautifully balanced to the point of being mellow.
The grape blend is: ocai Friulano, Trebbiano Toscano, Cortese, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Garganega, Tocai Italico, Chardonnay.
From Bianco di Custoza · Italy. It starts a bit fresh, but ends warm and pretty long. Very pleasant long finish.This would a wine to drink when it is fresh and young but the quality has remained.
Pork tenderloin kebabs and house couscous were a great accompaniment to the wine.
Dora Maria Pradera kept us entertained with Fado.
CUSTOZA SUPERIORE BIANCO – MONTE DEL FRA CA DEL MAGRO 2016
$!9.99 regularly $21.99
13% alcohol
UPC: 00838547000050
DNA research tells us that it is a cross between Gouais blanc and Pinot, the same ancestry as Chardonnay. The name Auxerrois blanc has actually been used as a synonym for Chardonnay in the Moselle region in France, which explains why there is also a longer name (Auxerrois Blanc de Laquenexy) for the grape variety.
Auxerrois grows well on Vancouver Island, but it’s hard to find it in reasonable quantities at the local dairies. You have to go to the winery – such as Unsworth or the Duncan Project. It’s like Ortega – an Island secret that only we shall know.
Most agree that the origins of the grape in BC dates back to the early 1970s when Grey Monk brought vines here from the Alsace.
Our mini tasting consisted of Gehringer Brothers Auxerrois, and Grey Monk Pinot Auxerrois.
The similarities and contrasts were more striking that when the Goddess paired two Chardonnays in the last Mystery Case.
Grey Monk’s varietal is a little softer, and longer in flavour. Extremely well defined.
The Brothers G is a little fuller, a little more mellow. Excellent Structure.
Bone-in Skin-on chicken breasts. Lemon rind grated, squeezed lemon juice, BC Honey, tarragon, small clove of crushed garlic and baked. The side was the house Spinach/orzo, pine nuts, currents with chunks of Feta.
And for the second night, we did our version of Mediterranean style home made pizza.
Maintaining the flow was “Guitars for Small Rooms”, playing in the big room. Second night featured blues and Jazz.
GRAY MONK – PINOT AUXERROIS 2019
$16.99
11.6% alcohol
UPC: 00778829111183
GEHRINGER – AUXERROIS OLD VINES GOLDEN MILE BENCH 2019
Regularly $14.49, on sale for $13.49
12.4% alcohol
UPC: 00623871010031
Not often that we get to compare two of the same grape back to back.
Just because Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular wines, it doesn’t mean it is the most prominent in our wine rack. The Goddess makes sure that we try a lot of different grapes.
These two choices are great – but quite different in flavour and texture.
The Tom Gore had a longer finish whilst the Villa Maria highlighted what’s important as it works it’s way through the range of your taste buds.
Both are full, with creamy textures and have slight suggestions of oak.
The Tom Gore grapes are sourced from North and Central California Coast vineyards and have a 2% addition of Sauvignon Blanc.
Villa Maria has a blend of Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Waipara fruit.
We kept the food light with both. Next time, I think I’d try both with soft and mild cheeses or a light lunch just to let the winesspeak louder than the meal.
Tom Gore Chardonnay
$19.99
13.5%
AlcoholUPC: 00086003248014
Villa Maria East Chardonnay
$15.99
13.0% Alcohol
UPC: 09414416501876
Not us! (Well me in particular).
This is a very nice, crisp, and lively Rose. It has a very nice lingering after finish.
We paired it with baked prawns and scallops, and of course, our usual couscous. An orange salada round out the main course.
Remember this one for the summer, when you want to just sit out on the deck or patio and relax.
SAINTLY – THE GOOD ROSE 2019
BC VQA 2019
12.5% Alcohol
$15.99 regularly $17.99
UPC: 00063657041536
We have two favourite Vintners in the ‘reasonable’ price range. The Wineries of Famille Perrin and Meffre.
Saint Mapalis is patron saint of the village of Jonquières, located at the heart of the “Plan de Dieu” vineyards. The quality of this vintage is wonderful. Intense. Ripe and rounded.
Grenache 65 %, Syrah 30 %, Mourvèdre 5 %
At first I thought maybe it was the 5% Mourvedre that was the differentiating factor. After the second sip we came to the conclusion that it was a glorious combination of true terroir. Climate, Soil, full fruit and wine crafting experience.
Pleasure is taken in more than one glass.
COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES PLAN DE DIEU – MEFFRE ST MAPALIS
$17.99
14% Alcohol
UPC: 03142920024401
A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:
1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal
3. The Grand Canyon
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. St. Peter’s Basilica
7. China’s Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.
The quiet girl replied:
“Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”
The teacher said:
“Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.”
The girl hesitated, then read:
“I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:”
1. To touch
2. To taste
3. To see
4. To hear
. . . She hesitated a little, and then . . .
5. To run
6. To laugh
7. And to love
