Tag Archives: mystery case

Light, Crisp and VERY dry

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The diverse vineyard sites (Solano, Monterey, and Santa Barbara) span several hundred miles, and even subtle differences in temperature and the strength of the wind leave their mark on the grapes. 

The result is a wine that combines characteristics of this varietal, with fruit flavors, oak, and acidity in harmony and balance; this wine suits a wide range of palates. There is just enough acidity to help balance it out. 

I think it’s food versatile, and we had it with Chicken Cordon Bleus.

Sea Sun Chardonnay

$27.99

14.3% Alcohol

Why Wait for Summer?

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Chardonnay from the mountainous area of Trentino, Sauvignon Blanc grown near the warm shores of the Adriatic Sea, and a touch of Venetian Pinot Nero. 

Santa Margherita Rosé is lively and vibrant with fresh acidity and balance, with a pale pink hue and a uniquely light, floral taste.

Santa Margherita Rosé pairs well with salads, appetizers, pasta and risotto dishes, grilled meats, seafood, and soft cheeses.

AND, pork/lamb/beef meatloaf! First night was just as yummy – egg noodle pasta with lots of garlic flavour peppers/mushrooms and grilled scallops.

ROSE – SANTA MARGHERITA

$17.99 regularly $19.99

2.5% Alcohol

UPC: 08003930001323

Yoo Hoo … I’m here.

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The grapes for Faustino Organic comes from three ecologically cultivated vineyards. And the vines are  30 years old. 

It’s intense … but subtle.  Cherry red colour. Red fruit aromas. VERY pleasant with round tannins and a fruity aftertaste.

Serve it cool (7 – 10 C) to get the most out of it.

It goes with the flow of conversation, but will softly interrupt to say “I’m here and part of this get together”, and then go quiet again until it reminds you again that it’s there.  

Most enjoyable with soups, scallops, or homemade pizza.   It goes on the second list of great finds.

RIOJA – FAUSTINO ORGANIC WINE

$15.99 regularly $19.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 08410441112002

Earth meets ocean

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Strandveld Vineyards, Africa’s southernmost winery, situated in the Elim wine ward near Cape Agulhas has earned more top ratings for their cool climate Shiraz.

This is a medium bodied Shiraz which shows spicy, peppery aromas with red and black berry flavours.  It has a juicy palate with savoury tannins, subtle toasted oak with a long spicy finish and medium acidity.  It is sublime but quite complex.

It was excellent at a smorgasbord of meats, cheeses and delectable delights.

SHIRAZ – STRANDVELD VINEYARDS FIRST SIGHTING

$17.99 regularly $21.99

13% alcohol

UPC: 06009809240017

Harmonious sustainability

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Harmonious sustainability.

it uses sustainable and biological farming techniques for viticulture. It has won various international awards and exports to countries worldwide. 

This is really good value for money, the Pirramimma is a beautifully balanced wine, with fruit, subtle oak and tannin in harmony. 

The Grenache  exhibits aromas of berry, with hints of pomegranate (Yes!). On the palate it’s rich and intense. Everything is in harmony.

This fruit driven Grenache was produced from fruit selected from the old War Horse block planted in 1943.

It offers excellent weight and plush texture.Most Yummy with home made pizza one night and lambsie the other.

GRENACHE – PIRRAMIMMA STOCK’S HILL

$24.99 regularly $28.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 09315785006101

Wild BC

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We have been ravished with their Rose, and now we’r enchanted with the White blend.

This wine has aromatic notes of pear, apple, and hints of elderflower. It’s a little sweet on the nose, with a crisp finish.

The blend is 59% Pinot Blanc, 27% Pinot Gris and 14% Riesling.  No bubbles, so ’she’ didn’t catch on to the 3rd member of the blend.  

This is one to revisit in the summer – on the deck .. in the heat … Bring out the appy platter.

Maybe next year the Goddess will include the Red Blend in a mystery case.

GROW WILD – ENCHANTING WHITE BLEND 2021

$13.99 regularly $16.99

12.5% alcohol

UPC: 00776545600714

Pay Attention

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Following three generations of family footsteps that were first planted in 1904, Raimbault tends his vines in the town of Chancay in a lieu dit called Bel Air.

Situated between two rivers, the Brenne and the Loire, these are some of the best vineyards in Vouvray. Considered by many to be a top site or a Grand Cru vineyard, because it grows atop a meager layer of flinty topsoil, Raimbault’s 60 year old Chenin Blanc vines have immediate access to the chalk that sits below.

An off-dry Chenin Blanc from 60-year-old vines with a rounded texture  and fine, citrus-edged acidity. The finish is long and detailed offering wet stone minerality and balancing acidity.

This is one of the nicest whites we’ve had all year.  Definitely going back for more.

VOUVRAY SEC – VINCENT RAIMBAULT BEL AIR 2020

$23.99

12.5% Alcohol

UPC: 03496922012004

No Fuss. No Muss

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This is a fresh, dry white from high-altitude vineyards which bring freshness to the resulting wine. Lower yields in 2020 have brought a little more weight and depth to the wine, nicely balanced by the refreshing acidity.

Citrusy notes from a lemon yellow colour with greenish hues. Crisp on the palate, lively acidity.  Clean and fresh finish.

The Reserva Planalto is an unoaked blend of 25% Viosinho, 20% Malvasia Fina, 15% each of Gouveio, Códega and Arinto, plus 5% each of Rabigato and Moscatel. 

This certainly qualifies if you’re looking for a new house White. It’s dry, uncomplicated, and goes with just about anything you craft for a meal.

DOURO BRANCO RESERVA – CASA FERREIRINHA PLANALTO

$12.99 regularly $14.99

12.5% Alcohol

UPC: 05601012115505

Extremes

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Located 40 miles south of Madrid, the Castilla-La Mancha autonomía lies in the heart of Spain. The majority of wine production relies on the varieties Cencibel—a regional clone of Tempranillo—as well as Airén, a relatively neutral white grape that thrives in this hot and arid region. 

Here we have a continental climate, with large changes in temperature between hot and cold months, or even on different days. There are around 300 to 400mm of rain a year in this desert region. The soil mostly consists of dark, red sand clays, with a high amount of calcium in the subsoil. Soil retains moisture well and is an important part of healthy plant growth. Thanks to the high sunshine hours and temperature in this region, wines are typically ripe and higher than average alcohol level.

This Viura (aka Macabeo) gives us a crisp, fresh, aromatic, fruity white wine with clean herbaceous notes. It’s a good alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. I One of the best ways to drink Viura is alongside food. The wine’s medium to higher acidity and subtle bitterness make it work very well as a palate cleanser matching perfectly with with southeast Asian food, fish tacos, chicken, mild cheeses (e.g. Manchego, pecorino, feta), vegetables, tapas.  

We worked with lemon chicken souvlakis.

VINO DE LA TIERRE DE CASTILLA – VIVANCO PRENSA REAL

$8.99

12% alcohol

UPC: 08421735002060 

Now or Later?

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A smoothly textured, blend of Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), this wine has big tannins and rich potential. Solid structure, wood-aging flavours and broad fruitiness give it a good future. AB will probably want this one to lay down on the job for a couple of years.

It’s a truly elegant wine. This red has a full palate with refined, polished, and well-integrated tannins. 

This wine is the latest in a line of gold medal winning bottles. From the Château Belair-Coubet, comes wines made to perfection because they’re grown and vinified with passion. This red blend is aged 14 months in French oak barrels and then given to you to enjoy. 

If it hadn’t been so windy and cold outside I’d have flashed up the BBQ. Instead,  the whiner grilled spicy lamb kebabs.

COTES DE BOURG – CHATEAU BELAIR COUBET 2019

$17.99 regularly $19.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 03336580005218