Tag Archives: mystery case

A red doing a white’s job

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From the cool, coastal Leyda Valley in Chile. The winter was very dry. There was some minor rainfall in spring but this did not impact flowering. The temperatures were medium to high in summer.  It was an early harvest which gave us a medium, smooth, dry, and soft wine; with a nicely balanced acidity.

Our initial impression was of being quite light in structure, but very quickly realized that it is extremely food friendly.  It would go very nicely with white meats like duck, chicken or pork.  We had it with pasta as part of a medley stir fry (grilled sausage, peppers, onions and mushrooms).

PINOT NOIR – MONTGRAS RESERVA 2020

$18.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 07804407002642

Chasing Windmills and Pounding Rocks

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Don Quixote battled windmills, and that currently compose the most typical image of La Mancha in history books. Los Molinos Tempranillo uses a selection of grapes to create a light and harmonious wine full of red fruit flavours.

Valdepeñas is Val-de-peñas – Valley of Rocks. Located in the South of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. The area is almost entirely encircled by both La Mancha Denominación de Origen on the North border and Andalusia on its Southern limits. 

It experiences extreme weather conditions, with temperatures reaching up to over 40 ºC in the summer and dropping to as low as -10 ºC in the winter. 

Tempranillo is a grape variety that enjoys the ability to age well as crianza, reserva and gran reserva.The result is a light, balanced wine that is packed with flavour. The sensation of volume and sweetness of the tannins is achieved through malolactic fermentation.  Ripe summer fruit flavours.  This is an elegant, soft and fruity wine with a well balanced finish.
And the lovely surprise?  It’s very inexpensive!

Los Molinos Tempranillo

12.5% Alcohol

$10.99

The Right Choice

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The meat pies on Takeout Wednesday were awful. So we fired the cook and made it a liquid dinner.

Negroamaro is a dark-skinned grape variety that has been associated with the Puglia region in southern Italy for at least 1,500 years. Most commonly found in a blend, alongside Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, Sangiovese or Montepulciano, Negroamaro is valued for its deep color, medium-full tannins and dark berryfruit flavors.

These organic Negroamaro grapes are harvested by hand and later fermented in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

When turned into a Rose, it adds earthy tones to the complexity. A nice crisp, refreshing finish.

PUGLIA NEGROAMARO ROSADO – CRUDO ORGANIC

$18.99

12% Alcohol

UPC: 07340048603256

Buy Two

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Bodegas Muriel was founded in 1982, when Julian Murua Entrena revived his father’s, Jose Murua’s winery (which dates back to 1926) located in the Rioja Alavesa – one of the three subregions of the Rioja appellation. The cellars are in the historic village of Elciego, surrounded by some of the finest terroir in Rioja. Julian and his son combine traditional and modern winemaking techniques to coax the best out of their vines. All Bodegas Muriel wines are 100% Tempranillo. The macroclimate of the region, influenced by the Mediterranean, Continental and Atlantic, helps the vines produce very aromatic and elegant wines. The name Muriel comes from the combination of the family name, Murua, and the name of the town itself, Elciego.

One word review: Yummy

Three word version: Bold. Dry. Soft.

Six word thought:  Earthy. slightly oaky … but very elegant

 Definitely a full bodied wine. Firm and silky tannins. Gorgeous finish. 

I opened early, and we savoured late. It definitely woke up the grilled lamb medallions.

I am going to buy another and see if I can keep it in the dungeon for another year or so.

$28.49

13.5% Alcohol

Martha wants to party

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Martha is at it again …and says she’ll come with some of HER wine

California, not Australian grapes. It has a nice complexity.  Floral edge on initial taste. The acidity gives this Chardonnay excellent length, the flavors roll on and on.

The flavor held its own, but the minerality stole the show at the end.

I’d invite her back. .. the wine .. that is.

CHARDONNAY – 19 CRIMES MARTHA

$19.99

13.8% alcohol

UPC: 00012354007437

Another new Star

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Emiliana is the largest organic winery in the world, and has come up with another winner.

We’ve had their Cab Sav/Carmenere and Sav Blanc, so were eager to try the Pinot Gris. Novas means new star – and it certainly is.

An organic Chilean Pinot Gris that starts with citrus aromas, and ends with floral notes on the palate. Medium acidity, medium-bodied, smooth finish. Paired it with grilled pork chops and scalloped potatoes.  It also went well with Chinese food the night before too!

Novas Gran Reserva Pinot Gris

Tough Decision – drink or hold?

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Rocky, sandy soil – 550 m above sea level big contrasts between night and day temps to give us plummy, peppery, velvet smooth flavours and a long and spicy finish.

The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and undergoes a full malolactic fermentation prior to ageing in small American oak barrels for six months. A portion of the grapes are dried in appassimento style.

Forget the two night rule.  Bring out the BIG glass.  This is a wine for a long evening at the dinner table.  Don’t hold back any for another night.  We decided on a mezes evening of Middle Eastern finger food.  Tree House pizza on thin pita, Lamb/pork/beef mix for the kefta (meat balls), lots of garlic in the tzatziki, hummus, spinach pies.

Just what is needed for relaxed conversation and a hearty wine to go with it all.

For the decision – Easiest solution is to go back and buy another bottle (or two) and hold them for another year or so.

Falernia Carmenere Gran Reserva 2017

$16.99 regularly $19.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 07809623200322

The Colour of Summer

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The South Okanagan a couple of years ago was full of a cool, wet May and June that slowed the grape growth but things really  blossomed when summer got underway.  Healthy canopies gave the vines a chance to respond to the great growing weather.

It’s a beautiful blend of  65% Gamay Noir, 35% Merlot 

Don’t bother grilling veggies. But, Start making the potato salad when you crack the bottle, the salmon will only take 12 minutes at 400 F.

It would go great with kalameri too.

Sandhill Rose 2021

$20.99

12% Alcohol

UPC: 00058976501212

Can’t spell, but make nice wine

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It’s a second label for Laughing Stock Vineyards, that was purchased by Arterra Wines Canada in 2017.

One of the first wineries on the Naramata Bench, Laughing Stock was founded in 2003 by David and Cynthia Enns. The couple, who worked in financial services in Vancouver, produced 500 cases of a red blend called Portfolio, which quickly became one of the Okanagan’s most coveted labels. At the time, Cynthia explained the winery name showed an effort to mix a “serious enterprise with a light-hearted attitude.”


This medium bodied wine offers excellent balance and a slight sweetness on the finish. Aged in 100% stainless steel.
100% sourced from Thomas Ranch Vineyards slopes located on the east side of the valley provides the perfect late afternoon sun exposure. 

The funky and catchy name makes it easy to remember that you should pick up a bottle.  We heartily enjoy our’s.

IMBZZL – DOUBLE CROSS PINOT GRIS

$19.99

13.9% alcohol

UPC: 00063657043172

Become a frequent purchaser

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Beira Interior is a rather disparate region covering a vast swathe of inland Portugal south of the Douro and east of Dão. Vineyards are grown at altitude on granite soils. In the north, grapes are similar to those of the Douro while the south has a whole mix of varieties. 


A wet and fertile area, the grapes ripen with moderate sugar levels and refreshing acidity, meaning that the wines are usually lowish in alcohol at about 10-11%. Astringent, low alcohol red Vinho Verde is also produced. 


Despite the challengingly arid climate here, this is a dynamic region, referred to sometimes as Portugal’s ‘new world’.


60% Loureiro, 20% Alvarinho and 20% Avesso. These grape varieties tend to produce more complex and structured wines than some of the other Vinho Verde varieties. 


The nose is fragrant, crisp flavours and a very good acidity. The mouthfeel is pleasant. It finishes long, with salty lemon flavours.


Write it on the back of your hand.  Take the picture with you.  This is a selection you want to make at your next visit to the ‘dairy’  Be Brave and adventuresome, and you’ll be rewarded with it becoming your next favourite.

VINHO VERDE – BICO AMARELO

$13.99 regularly $15.99

11.5% alcohol

UPC: 05604882810105