Tag Archives: mystery case

Pairings

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This chardonnay from the Margaret River of Western Australia is right up our alley.  

It paired wonderfully with a lightly garlic’d chicken stir fry with German egg noodles (instead of traditional Italian spaghetti), because no particular flavour dominated either the wine or the dinner.


The wine has a lovely balance to it. A pale gold colour introduces you to a natural acidity and then depth right through to the finish.


Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer kept us entertained.


I’m beginning to think that the Goddess of Wine is setting us up for a Chardonnay Taste Test.  This is the 5th in the last two mystery cases.

CHARDONNAY – DEVILS LAIR HONEYBOMB MARGARET RIVER 2018

$21.99 regularly $24.99

13% Alcohol

UPC: 09310194002461

Decidedly Chilean

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Not quite Aussie ‘medium bodied”, but certainly more so than many BC and California Savignons. Stone fruit aromas open up to spicy tones and then a lush oaky finish.  It’s nicely structured.


The wine hails from the Coastal area of Maipo Valley, near the Maipo River – Chile’s prime wine region.  Warm days, cool nights and a dry-ish climate.  Texture and rounded tannins come from French/American oak barrel aging.


Grilled pork chops, peas, and yummy scalloped potatoes were a great accompaniment.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON – CHOCALAN RESERVA MAIPO 2018

$15.49 regularly $17.99

13.9% alcohol

UPC: 07804603660400

Dry and Lean Mixology

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Taking the best of different regions on the South Island of New Zealand, we have the best characteristics all in one wine.

Soil mixes, rootstock mixes and clones – all blended for a unique profile.


Partially aged in French oak barrels, then aged in a mixture of French oak barrels and tank for five months. 


It was superb with herb-crusted lamb chops.  Next time, we’ll try it on it’s own.

PINOT NOIR – KIM CRAWFORD SOUTH ISLAND 2018
$21.99 regularly $23.99

13.5 % Alcohol

UPC: 09419227005193

We like your attitude

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We’re from the North, but only 30 degrees south of the equator – in the Elqui Valley of Chile.


A couple of thousand feet up with relatively young (2-15 year old) vines. The grapes thrive in the daytime heat and cool nights.

Carmenere is actually an historic Bordeaux varietal and is often mistaken for Merlot.  

The vintner  originally hails from Veneto Italy.


It is a real gem. This Chilean Carmenere has a silky, concentrated palate, and  a dry finish that goes on and on.  It’s best served in a big glass. And continually refilled!

CARMENERE – FALERNIA GRAN RESERVA ELQUI VALLEY 2017

$16.49, regularly $19.99

14.5% alcohol

UPC: 07809623200322

Tralcetto

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“Tralcetto” is the one with the little twig tied to the bottle with a piece of straw.  That’s one way to get rid of your vine trimmings!


We’ve had the red by the same vineyard and very much enjoyed that one, so we had good expectations for their Pinot Grigio.

Not disappointed in the least.  Smooth from beginning to end.  Silky is another way to describe it and there is a lovely balance to the wine.

Grilled pork chops with cauliflower in a white sauce made it a very tasty dinner accompaniment to the wine.

Brazilian Jazz Piano kept us entertained.

PINOT GRIGIO TERRE DI CHIETI – ZACCAGNINI TRALCETTO 2018

$19.99

12.5% Alcohol

UPC: 08028938090452

Everyone Brought Something to the Table

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The Phoenecians brought the first vines, then the Monks brought a few ideas on how to work them.  For 700 years the Moors imposed their ideas. Then the Monks came back.


Even the Americans showed up, late, with some oak to store the wine for 24 months.


Being even later to the party, we decided to add pita and tzatziki from the other end of the Mediterranean, butspice the kefta Moroccan Style.


This is Most worthy.  surprisingly silky.  60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Cariñena.  All from 40 to 50 year old bush vines. The grapes were handpicked in the morning, then cold-soaked prior to fermentation for 96 hours at 43º F to extract color, fruit and flavor. Fermentation took 8 days in stainless steel tanks at 82º F; the wine stayed on the lees up to 20 days. Tempranillo and Cariñena aged for 24 months in French oak barrels; Garnacha aged for 24 months in American oak barrels of 225-liters. After blending, the wine spends an additional 36 months in bottle.


Buy two, and put one away for a later date.


CARINENA GRAN RESERVA – MONASTERIO DE LAS VINAS 2011

Regularly $19.99, The Goddess had it on sale for $16.99

13% Alcohol

UPC: 00814095060425

Don’t think Bubble Gum

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Strangely this reminds me warm days on the deck waiting for Mr. Bee to show up to see what’s for dinner.


Just like the summers, it’s dry, fresh, and balanced.   Lovely long finish.  Proof there are good values under $10 in wine.


Have it on it’s own, or serve with any of the usual bad boys: smoked meats, soft cheeses, seafood.


The South of Spain produces a lot of the native Bobal grape.  Gently pressed, decanted, then transferred to ferment in steel.


Bobal Rosado – Sierra Salinas


$8.49 regularly $9.49

12% alcohol

UPC: 08420202250270

Even Hemingway likes it

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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

Outta Long, had to settle for short ribs

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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

Get it before it’s too long in the bottle

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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