Category Archives: Terroir

You have been laying around all day ..

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not doing anything, so here’s your chance to really redeem yourself. [I’m taking to the wine, not poking at you]


First time in months, there have been mussels in the store, so they got scooped up.

Quick sauté of onion, leek, garlic and red pepper — in butter of course. Half a cup of home made veggie stock brought to a simmer, and in go the mussels.


Yes, there’s Olive bread to go with it … 


Salada is spinach, orange and date.


Now .. are you up for this? (talkin to the wine again)


You sorta did.  Mellow intro and Nice peppery finish.  But.  The Wine Goddess will have many other adventures for us to consider before I’d come back to you again for awhile.

The Andes meet a Middle East Street Market

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BC Liquor Code: 179937


$16.99 Montes Limited Edition  Pinot Noir


Chile’s Aconcagua Valley on the coast is ideal to grow Pinot.


At first sniff, I went and added more lemon juice to the Tzatziki.
At first sample, more cumin and a touch of tarragon went into the kefta mix.


This has been the toughest to evaluate.  It has left me confused – [hold thy tongue!]

It’s not Aussie Style Pinot and definitely not BC Style.  Just Different.


On its own, I can’t recommend it for just sipping.  It was light and enjoyable but doesn’t make it into the outstanding bracket.


By the time it got to be with food, it seemed to wake up and went quite well with dinner, and I did snitch a little extra.

The Tree House pairing tonight was Middle East Street Market style food.  Build your own. Lamb kebabs (baked), thin pita, with tzatziki and veggies and tabouli made with fresh local ingredients.


‘ert was cloved apricots over ice cream

This is the end of the FIRST mystery Case. There will be another!


Know anyone name Gloria?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvgd-xjR9LQ


If I turn it up loud enough, maybe she’ll come aknockin’ and bring some wine

Finally, he says

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Andy get represented with a wine from the Hunter Valley.


It could have gone either way – a red or a white. 
Mount Pleasant Semillon

Code: 664862

$25.99

Award Winning vineyard. (One of the top 3 Wineries in Australia).
It has lots of fruit forward and wakes up the taste buds on the way by with a great finish. Second sip is even better, and that continues with each sip. Stonefruit flavours.

Apple Cranberry Turkey Sausages, Fruit and Cheese Orzo and honey glazed Carrots. Turned out to be a great combo with the wine.

She (who shall remain nameless) forgot to put the Lindt bar (Sea Salt) in the crisper, so we had to have our square at room temp.  It IS better chilled – believe me!  You do chill your chocolate don’t you?

Can you spare me a rib … or Six

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DAO – PEDRA CANCELA SELECAO DO ENOLOGO


Code 890293$17.99


a 96 Pointer Gold Medal Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 


Lots of aroma. Medium Bodied with LOTS of flavour.

 
Dao is one of the oldest and most established wine regions of Portugal. (North Central) being first recognized in 1908.  They use lots of French and Portuguese Oak.  

A new experiment.  Instead of our traditional way of doing pork ribs, Bron decided that we would try Valerie Bertinelli’s version.  Less muss, easier clean up but just as tasty as Linda Gogolski’s version (which we’ve done since she did them for us 35 years ago in Washougal Washington).


Methodology certain is worthwhile – save 30% on prep and 90% on cleanup by doing it this way.  But, next time, will go back to using Linda’s sauce.


Musica was Madredeus – Portuguese Fado

Old Vines. Hand Harvested

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Pinot is a relatively easy grape to pick – as opposed to the smaller Gewurtztraminer. I know. I’ve picked both at Symphony Vineyard.


Code: 234901

$13.99 – a saving of $2 off the regular price.


Had a quick sample before prepping dinner to decide on how I was going to do the tenderloin.  Decided on grilled rings.


Chile does lovely Pinot Noirs and this is no exception. Casablanca Valley is where this one hails from.  Fabulous value for the money.


This pinot is light in colour – almost a pale purple.  I opened the bottle about an hour and a half before starting dinner – had a sip then.  Flavours expanded considerably by the time we sat down to eat.


Don’t walk by this one because of the goofy label.  

grilled red onion and mushrooms with the pork tendeloin; mashed yam, and pea pods.

Who has similar Ideas?

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BCLCB Code: 129820
Regularly $21.99, on sale for 17.99


Highly rated as a 93 pointer as a Best Buy from the Wine Enthusiast – and we agree!
Great floral tastes up front, smooth on the palate and a lovely finish.
Would be VERY nice with light cheeses and charcuterie or just sipping on the deck by itself.
Most worthy!  even at the regular price.  

Glaze

3 drops of Red Pepper Sauce – more spice at your peril to the balance of the wineWild HoneyOlive OilSalt and Pepper 
Stuff Feta under the skin
top with Sesame Seeds
Bake 350 C for 40 minutes
Serve with Spuds, Peas and carrots

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Music was 100 most relaxing Classical pieces

Who the Hell is Mary?

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Regularly $19.99, it was offered (and accepted) at $17.99 when Danielle put together the mystery case.

code: 862003

It even includes a vine cutting on the bottle. 
Lovely depth.  We have always liked Montepulciano and this one was especially nice … particularly after having been open for about 2 hours.

I’d call it full bodied and robust. VERY full glasses were savoured and sipped. Before and during dinner.

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They say where there is a vineyard – there is civilization.  So I figured I had to be somewhat civilized about the way I did the lamb roast.  Just a little guy, weighing in at slightly over a pound.  So the civilized part was simply salt/pepper/fresh rosemary and olive oil. Roasted veggies were leek, potatoes, Japanese Eggplant, yellow and orange pepper and some onion thrown in.  Anna Olsen provided the inspiration for the date/goat cheese/pistachio salsa.

Not oft travelled Isle

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The US Isle at the Goddess’s dairy.  I’d also have walked right by it because the bottle doesn’t even look like a wine bottle, and the label isn’t the most appealing.  But we’re glad she put this one in the mystery case.

On sale at $19.99, although $21.99 is the regular price

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The labels on the cap try to entice us with Fresh, Crisp, Bright and Exotic.  It certainly is the first 3.  Exotic It’s not. It IS an interesting blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Muscat Canelli and Viognier.


I can certainly see why Danielle picked this one because it does wake up your sense of taste and the finish is interesting.


We had some, whist preparing dinner (BC Spot Prawns [salt/pepper/safron threads/taragon] with couscous and coldslaw), and put a big dent in the bottle during dinner.  Don’t over spice whatever this wine is sharing dinner with.  Let it stand up by itself too.  Oh, and give it a good hour to breathe before sampling.

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Another RED tomorrow night – with a lamb roast.