Monthly Archives: May 2021
Just cause
Fast track to Popularity
In a short period of time Mitolo has become recognized as one of the finest producers in McLaren Vale. They’ve done it because of individuality, and great quality. There is an evident passion to produce the best possible. Italian roots bring family traditions to good food and good drink.
The Jester Cab Sauv is bold, tending to tannic, dry and somewhat acidic but it grows on you with each sip. The flavours get more complex as you advance through the bottle. We opened it about an hour and a half before dinner. Next time I’ll open it at noon to let it breath more.
It would pair well with roasted lamb, but we settled for sirloins. I’m also thinking this would go great with pasta.
Mitolo The Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
$21.97 regularly $26.99
14.5 % Alcohol
Ribs or Pizza
Calatayud is a DO wine region in the southwest of the Aragon, northern Spain – located about 90 km from the provincial capital, Zaragoza. This arid area of rolling hills is almost entirely encircled by the Sistema Ibérico, a vast system of ranges which separate it from all those areas of Spain sitting to the south and west of the mountains and massifs. Calatayud borders the Carinena DO to the east.
The flavours of this 93 pointer are rich and intense. We like the 35% Tempranillo 65% Granache balance.
Dinner of slow baked short ribs didn’t quite come up to the usual standards of recipes from the Best of Bridge cookbooks. Good, but not quite company worthy. Just a little lacklustre. Next time for this red, I think I’d do our House home made pizza.
Hint to the Goddess: What about some of the whites from this region?
CALATYUD GARNACHA TEMPRANILLO – SAN GREGORIO LOMA GORDA 2018
$16.99 regularly $19.99
15% Alcohol
UPC: 00626990326700
Guardians of the Path
Named for the Trays
Arele is the name of the local wooden trays, where the grapes are laid down and dried prior to being gently pressed.
A southern/south-west exposure for the 4th Generation hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico area. The blend is Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Merlot grapes.
This is the first time that we’ve see Slavonian oak casks being used.
The color is intense, deep ruby red. The taste is full bodied, juicy, and spicy- leading to a long, refined finish.
Got a little lazy, used made up sausage mix into kefta. Roasted Veggies. I’m thinking about the deck – summer sausage and cheeses for the next bottle.
VENETO APPASSIMENTO – TOMMASI ARELE 2017
$23.49 regularly $25.99
13% Alcohol
UPC: 08004645317105
In the Pecking Order
Côtes-du-Rhône Villages is a French Wine Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the southern Rhone wine region of France.
Red, white and rosé wine are all produced within the appellation. The quality is superior to the generic Cotes du Rhone AOC. but below more specific appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC and Vacqueyras AOC. Côtes-du-Rhône Villages is the second largest appellation in the Rhône, only surpassed in size by Côtes-du-Rhône AOC.
In the red wines the Grenache grape must be present at not less than 50%, with 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. A maximum of 20% of other authorized varieties is permitted. The rosés must contain a minimum of 50% Grenache with 20% of Syrah and/or Morvèdre and a maximum of 20% of other authorised varieties to comprise not more than 20% of white varieties. Used are Grenache, Clairette, Marsanne, Rousanne, Bouboulenc and Viognier.
The white wines are a blend of Grenache white, Clairette white, Marsanne white, Rousanne white, Bourboulenc white and Viognier. Other varieties are allowed to a maximum of 20%. The minimum required alcoholic strength is fixed at 12% for all three colours.
Spiteful Woman
We all know Aphrodite. She’s the spiteful, mostly naked, love goddess who started the Trojan war and gads about on seashells.
If you’ve watched any of Bettany Hughes’ BBC series on Ancient Cultures in the Mediterranean you’d look forward to her latest book.
Venus and Aphrodite brings together ancient art, mythology, and archaeological revelations to tell the story of human desire.
From Mesopotamia to modern-day London, from Botticelli to Beyoncé, Hughes explains why this immortal goddess continues to entrance us today — and how we trivialize her power at our peril.
This isn’t Bettany’s best, but, still very enjoyable. Shorter, and lighter than her usual fare. It doesn’t do justice to the goddess – but it is a good historical survey of the Goddess.
It’s a relatively quick read. In the meantime, I’ll go back to watching her with her multi coloured Scarves on Knowledge Network.
Flashback Dinner
We were very pleased to see a Mondavi in Mystery Case #9. We remember a dinner at the Empress Hotel decades ago with representatives from Mondavi for a tasting and dinner. A MOST enjoyable time.
In tribute, we created tenderloin kebabs (pork/Japanese Eggplant/small tomatoes/red yellow peppers/mushrooms) for our flashback dinner.
This wine is more acidic than I’d have expected from a Californian Chard (and this is a good thing), the Oak is still a little overpowering in my view, but certainly not completely out of balance. It’s full bodied with a nice rich texture.
Not sure I’d call it ’new’ style, but it brings forward the not-as-oaky, unobtrusive flavours of the newer Chardonnays from California.
Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017
$24.97
14.5 % Alcohol
