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Category Archives: Terroir

Milestone 100

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

The 100th post today.


Lots of things have happened in the last 100 days.

The eldest great granddaughter, at age 5, got to hear her first song in English when she was here recently.  I figured that it’s an appropriate beginning – and timely for this time of the year.

Gracie – Seasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajl3fE5VYOA


It wasn’t as easy as you think to pick that first song.  I could have started with the likes of Santa Esmeralda, or Tina, or Er-wick, or …. 


She has also added a Polish song to her list of International Drinking songs: to go with the German, Greek, and French.


Looking forward to the seasonal changes we are about to experience, with the advent of the Fall colours and the photo opportunities.


Haven’t started it yet, but have boxes, and I mean BOXES, of negatives and slides that need to bescanned to digital.  My latest excuse is I’ll wait till the rains come.


In the meantime, I’ve started editing the libraries (4) in an effort to cut down on what I want to keep and remove what’s not of relevant interest any more.  More than 40 books got the toss from the first book shelf in my office.


After books, comes pictures; then we will get to CDs. (THAT is going to be a biggie).  By that time, it should be Spring.


It’s perfectly acceptable to drink white wine after Labour Day, and we’ll soon be continuing with a 3rd Mystery Case from the Goddess of Wine.


I’ve done some change-ups to the site, so have a wander around beside the blog.

If you’re that bored with what’s going on, put up the Christmas tree and have a virtualChristmas dinner.  I’ll be handing out some other ideas over the next while.

Heading to the top

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir 1 Comment

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.

Cabernet Savignon Merlot mystery case Spain syrah Tempranillo

Rewarded for a return visit

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir 1 Comment

CABERNET SAUVIGNON – MONTES LA FINCA COLCHAGUA 2018

$17.99
UPC:  00628451651208
14% alcohol

We’ve been to this Vineyard before on the Goddess’ recommendation (Pinot Noir), so thought we’d return totry the Cabernet Sauvignon.  Glad we did.


Works really well with pork chops, pasta or braised meats.


This one is nicely balanced for acidity and is medium bodied with a nice smooth finish

.
There’ll be another visit to try others from this Colchagua Valley collective.

Cabernet Savignon Chile mystery case

Create it, we’ll wear it

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Book Power

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Everything is Miscellaneous: The power of the new Digital Disorder, David Weinberger, ISBN 978-0-800-8043-8


Wild Swans – Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang, ISBN 0-385-42547-3


Markings, Dag Hammarskjold, IN 394-43532-X


View from the Summit, Sir Edmund Hillary, ISBN 0-385-60020-8


Darrow A biography, Kevin Tierney, ISBN 0-690-01408-2


Spirit of Place, Lawrence Durrell


Education of a Wandering Man, Louis L’Amour, ISBN 0-553-28652-8


Blessings in Disguise, Alec Guinness, ISBN 0-00-637108-6


Blisters and Bliss – A Trekkers Guide to the West Coast Trail – David Foster Wayne Aitken, ISB 0-938567-27-6


The Greeks have a word for it – Barry Unsworth, ISBN 0-393-32148-7

Subtle and crisp

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

VALDADIGE PINOT GRIGIO – SANTA MARGHERITA 2018

UPC:00632987111112

Regularly $20.99 on sale for $18.99


12% alcohol

ALTITUDE: 985 – 1475 ft. above sea level

TYPE OF SOIL: Moderately loose and pebbly of morainic and fluvial origin.  In the Italian Alps region of Alto Adige.Soft crushed.


Very dry. Serve it nice and cold.   It’s a great way to start any meal (fish, shell fish, chicken).  Flavours are subtle, but stick around.  The next bottle of this will be with cheeses.

Italy mystery case Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita

Quote the Author

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Visual History of the World; National Geographic, ISBN 978-0-7922-3695-5


ANY of Pierre Burton’s Books, especially The Last Spike,  Klondike: The last Gold Rushand Klondike Fever.


Alexander the Great, a Novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, Translated by Theodora Vasils ISBN 0-8214-0663-9


Travels with a Tangerine: From Morocco to Turkey in the Footsteps of Islam’s Greatest Traveler, Tim McKintosh-Smith, ISBN13: 9780330491143


The Dictionary of Global Culture, Edited by Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ISBN 0-394-58581-X


Ideas: A History from Fire to Freud, Peter Watson, ISBN 0-7538-2089-7


A short history of Progress, Ronald Wright, ISBN 0-88787-706-4


the Mediterranean, Saga of a Sea, Emil Ludwig


The Search for Alexander, Robin Lane Fox, ISBN 0-316-29108-0

Yes Mummy. This is Yummy!

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

RIOJA RESERVA – BERONIA 2014


750 ml | SKU: 216770
Regularly $24.99 we got it for $22.95
14% alcohol


Tempanillo matured for 3 years in French and American oak barrels. This is big.  It’s bold.  It’s a lovely balance between acidic fruit and oak. Pretty complex with a very long finish. A hybrid barrel invented by winemaker Matias Calleja, American staves and French tops. Garancha, Graciano, Maturana and Mazuelo all play important roles both in blends and increasingly on their own as single varietals.Some guts to it. …and has definite backbone.


Bodegas Beronia is situated in Ollauri, the heart of Rioja Alta. To the North, the Cantabria Mountain range and to the South the Demanda Mountain range. It is a unique area for the production of high quality wines. The influence of the Atlantic and the minerals from the Ebro river convert this area into a privileged area for the cultivation of the vine. In addition the diversity of the soils gives a great complexity and marked character to the wines.

Beronia Graciano Granach Maturana Mazuelo mystery case Roija Spain Tempanillo

Everyone stepped up

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Code: 423954

Italian Azelia Dolcetto d’Alba

Regular $28.99 On Sale: $26.49
13% Alcohol

Dolcetto means ‘little sweet one’.  It’s a black Italian grape grown widely grown in the Northern Italian Piedmont Region. The wine is NOT sweet. Easy growing, early ripening and grows well at higher elevations.  This one is from the town of Albaand. The average age of the vines is 55 years.  Single Family vineyard of 16 hectares and it’s average annual yield is about 80,000 bottles.

Soft and Fruity and very aromatic. Earthy flavours that go well with spiced meats.
At first, I thought I might be drinking a Barbera, but the flavours opened up much more than a Barbera, but seemed lower in acidity and slightly higher in tannins than the last Barbera we had.

The Goddess of Wine suggested we save this one for BIG lamb. So we did. Shanks. We waited till our current spell of great weather came to a halt with some grottyness.  Long, slow cooking. Fully spiced, Mediterranean style/

Italian lamb shanks mystery case

Gaining a better Understanding

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

World History of the Dance; Curt Sachs, ISBN 0-393-00209-8 (including abdominal dance)


A history of the world in 6 glasses; Tom Standaage, ISBN 0-385-66087-1


Isadora A Sensational Life; Peter Kurth ISBN 0-316-50726-1


The Elements of Style; Struck Jr and White, ISBN 0-02-418200-1 [should probably pay extension to this again – it’s been a few years]


The  Day the  Universe Changed; James Burke, ISBN 0-316-11706-4 [companion to the BBC Series]


Connections; James Burke, ISBN 0-316-11681-5 [companion to the BBC Series]


Paris 1919; Margaret MacMillan, ISBN 0-375-50826-0


Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam


30,000 Years of Art The Story of Human Creativity across time and Space; Phaidon,ISBN 978-0-7148-4789-4


The Cretan Runner; George Psychoundakis,  ISBN 960-226-013-0

books
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