Tag Archives: mystery case

First of the 3rd

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CHASSELAS – CAVE DE LA COTE ROMAND

UPC: 07610374831372

Alcohol: 12.5%

$24.99

In the last mystery case, the Goddess selected a Red from this group of vintners.  We liked that, and were very much looking forward to trying this.  It’s the first of the 3rd Mystery Case.


It’s from selected vineyards in the Romandie region of western Switzerland, in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. This wine is made from the Chasselas grape, a traditional and uniquely Swiss varietal.

Yo, Rosemary, Pistachio and Hellmanns over here want to talk to you about those bone-in skin-on chicken thighs he is going to roast. Gonna need your help too with the potato wedges that went in 20 minutes earlier.


No citrusy flavours.  Very Light. And I like it. A LOT.


This is one I think the Triumvirate should go back and revisit – I’ll bet it’s better than “K” remembers it.


Most definitely a wine to enjoy by itself or with something light in food fare. It would be great with a corn on the cob feast.

Lighter and Softer

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COTES DU RHONE – CHAPOUTIER BELLERUCHE 2018

UPC:  03391181110136

14% alcohol

The French don’t have Chateaubriand every night with their wine – and we don’t either, so we did our home made chilli to have with a little Cote du Rhone.

This one seems a little softer and lighter than some, which was a bit of a surprise considering the 14% alcohol content. But that also, generally, means that you can put it down for a few years to savour in the future.

James Suckling says “bright, simple and easygoing style”  We agree.

The anticipated blend of Syrah and Grenache but the % of each we don’t know.

Soil is made up of several major types of terroirs including pebbly clay soils, soils with layers of stones, stony clay terraces, and stony, silty-sand… All these soils provide the vine with a constant water supply and, at night, release the heat stored up by the pebbles during the day.

Memories are made of this

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I’ve walked by it many times. This time I stopped and picked it up.  And I knew just the occasion to share it with friends.


Boutari Naoussa

UPC:  05201022540504

Regularly $18.99, on Sale for $17.99

12% alcohol


For more than 10 years, this was a standard order for us when dining with our Greek friends.  The quality, unfortunately, varied between vintages.  But how times have changed since we gave them a rest.  The Wine, not the Greeks!


The Boutari family has been making wine in the village of Naoussa for more than 130 years and they are one of only 5 world-wide wineries to have been named the International Winery of the Year by Wine and Spirits.


Xinomavro is the grape, and it flourish on Mt Vermio at moderate elevation (700 to 1700 feet).  The other great wine from the region is the white, Assyrtiko.


The 2016 vintage is earthy, well balanced, and has a medium finish.


The occasion was a get together with two other couples who often shared the table with us and we used to work together.


As they were coming through the door, I started this.  It was the song that Patrick and his band Kefi started many a wonderful night of partying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhmDsJEr4cc


That sparked many great flashbacks and memories. Homemade rhubarb gin followed homemade ginger ice cream cones. 

Heading to the top

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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.

Rewarded for a return visit

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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.

Subtle and crisp

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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.

Yes Mummy. This is Yummy!

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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.

Everyone stepped up

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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/

Leaping Lizards and Blasted Rocks

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Frank even put on is Class winning Chilean Marathon T Shirt to celebrate the two wines that son Kevin had brought back from Chile for our sipping pleasure.


Joan crafted a wonderful lunch in the gardens of Towler-henge.


Poor Kevin only got a glass as he was late getting home from his physio treatment.  And unfortunately, the Goddess of Wine couldn’t  join us.  So that left Frank and I to take up the torch and drink their share.

Down to what’s really important:  Two Carmeneres from Kevin’s favourite vineyards discovered during his years in Chile.  


B and Frank tended to prefer the slightly peppery 2017 Alto Tierruca Grand Reserve to the Casas del Bosque Reserve.  I liked the longer finish of the year younger Casa del Bosque.  I suspect that the vines of the Alto Tierruca are older and from a higher elevation than the Casa del Bosque. Don’t get me wrong – both were very enjoyable and we’re trying to figure out how we can get a steady supply here and on the Goddess’ approved list.

Casa del Bosque grows cool climate varietals.  In 2013 and 2014, the prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) chose the winery as the “Chilean Wine Producer of the Year”.

The pricing would be mid-teens in Chile, where wines tend to be a lot less expensive than here.

30 is the new old

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SKU: 171496
$14.49
GEHRINGER – AUXERROIS OLD VINES GOLDEN MILE BENCH 2018
12.4% alcohol 

Tree fruits drive the taste of this one.


As a wine, Auxerrois is more full bodied and less crisp than Pinot Blanc, but the two varieties complement each other’s weaknesses.


Named after a historical province in France, it is widely grown in Luxembourg and Germany as well.


The Gehringer Brothers planted their Auxerrois over 30 years ago and these vines are producing lovely wine today.  And, winning awards.

Over the past 19 years, they have received 78 Platinum Awards – the most of any Winery in the Pacific Northwest.

Slightly fuller in flavour than Pinot Blanc.  It’s also slightly less acidic.


The Brothers G varietal is smooth and well balanced and tremendous value for the money.


We’ve paired it with salmon, quiche, and had it just as it is on the deck with cheese.  It’s great with Scallops or prawns.