Tag Archives: mystery case

An Inland Adventure

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North-west of the province of Zaragoza, in the Campo de Borja region, this is home to several large cooperative wineries, owned collectively by farmers, Garnacha wines of Campo de Borja are highly regarded as excellent values with great availability.

About 40% of the vines are between 30 and 50 years old with low production. Cold winters, long hot summers with dry winds give us lovely complex tastes.


From first taste to the long finish, we’re impressed.


First night was with lamb shanks, and I’m thinking it would go beautifully with pork chops and scalloped potatoes.


Borsao Granache 2018
14.5% alcohol
UPC:  08412423120036
$13.49 regularly $14.99

Vines on a Trellis

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The 40 year old vines are grown on trellis systems that are exclusive to the area.  The Mino River is close by and so is the Atlantic to give a soft climate without big temperature changes in O Rosal.


Major crispness and freshness from the Albariño grapes – unique to the region.


Remarkably dry with lots of aroma and a nicely balanced acidity. Think fresh fruit .. melons, and peach to build the complexity.


Serve it cold (10-12 C) and you’ll see that the finish hangs around for quite awhile.

Rias Baixas Rosal Albarino – Adegas Valmimor Davila 2017

$23.99 regularly, on sale for the Mystery Case at $22.49

13.5 % Alcohol


UPC:  08437000221111

What is this? Flat Cider?

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I won’t say it went downhill from there, but it was heading down a slippery slope.

Yet another attempt to wrap our palette around a Riesling. Wasn’t working well. It certainly wasn’t sweet – just a tad off dry. It wasn’t bubbly. It just wasn’t settling into hints of limes and pears like it was supposed to.

It moved up the scale to being just ‘weird’ in her opinion. Things improved somewhat as dinner was plated and she took a few more sips. Then, a cautious smile.

Not all grapes work with all tastebuds, and a Riesling doesn’t quite bring joy to us. Still, twas a good adventure. Western Washington’s Columbia Valley produced a better example than other areas with this one. If you’re into reislings, I would definitely recommend that you try this one because it definitely ranks higher than any others we’ve tried.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Reisling

12.1% Alcohol

$14.47, regularly $17.99

UPC: 00088586621840

It just goes

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Hailing from the coastal areas, hence Seaward, this is a narrow band that is close to the cool Atlantic and also the temperateFalse Bay.  Nature takes it course to produce big, flavourful harvests each year.


Multiple prominent reviewers have given this a 90+ points, and it won a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits competition of 2019.


To us, it went very well with our ‘all but the kitchen sink’ home made pizza.  Bright – just like the red and yellow peppers.  Fresh – like the garden tomatoes. Robust and able to hold it all up, like the Middle Eastern Pita base. Full of flavour like the garlic and red onion, and it really brought out the flavour of the Feta.

Spier Seaward – Cabernet Sauvignon

$19.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 00819457001320

High Approval

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Soft, stony soil. Atlantic Breezes. Welcome to the Maldonado district of Southern Uruguay.

Small town that has built world acclaim

This is a true terroir wine. A distinctive identity, strong personality and sense of place.
We loved it’s immediate intensity, the dryness and balanced acidity with a crisp finish.

New World Winery of the Year 2018 by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

This is one of the Goddess of Wine’s favourite whites and we heartily agree.

Garzon Reserva 2019 Albarino

13.5 % alcohol

$22.99

Rack without the Ruin

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The chateau is in decay, but he staked everything on the vines.  

Improving production and vinification have put new recognition into the region and wines of the Minervois region of Languedoc Roussillon. 

And Jean Paux-Rosset (owner) and Claude Gros (winemaker) are using some of the best grape growers in the region.

It’s a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault that takes advantage of the clay/limestone terroir.


 Sample slow and often to get the best of it.  Highly enjoyable.


Paux-Rosset Gros La Condamine Paulignan 2015

$22.99

14% alcohol

One Mystery Solved

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What is the best white wine we’ve had so far in the mystery cases?

This is our first encounter with the Grillo grape … It’s confirmation that we tend to like grapes grown at slightly higher elevations (over 1000 feet).  

Harvest is mid-August to retain a balance between sugar levels and acidity. The grapes are pressed, fermented and aged in steel to preserve the freshness.

The organic wine is very dry, light, but remarkably refreshing.

And I’ve already gone back for more – before you snatch up the remaining stock.

Sicilia Grillo – Rapitala Organic

13% alcohol

UPC: 08002010675423

$16.99

Happy with the Change Up

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Very little stayed the same from initial thought to what ended up on the plate.  

Everything changed around the lamb chops and we moved from a South African Cab Sav to Northern Portugal and a Touriga Nacional to go with it.


It all ended well and we very much enjoyed the wine. Expressive. Smooth and rich with just a touch of oakiness.


Serve it a little cooler than room temp and you’ll really experience the complexity.


When you’re looking for something to serve with spicy meats — this would be a great go to.


I’m going to look for some of the whites from Opta and it’s wine maker, Nuno Cancela de Abreu.  I like the style of their wines and the uniqueness of the grapes.


Dao Touriga Nacional by Opta.

13% alcohol

Regularly $24.99, on sale for $22.49 when the Goddess of WHine put it in the 3rd mystery case.

UPC: 05604816000633

Three for Three

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This one is very quickly shaping up to be one of our favourite Rhone Valley vineyards.


The Goddess has directed us to the red and white varietals, and now we get to sample the rose.


Someone described this a funky – well, it does have a really nice edge to it.  It’s clean, crisp, nicely dry and sticks around for a nice finish.


This is a certified organic blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache and 10% Syrah and 3 months in the tank with no oak. 3 generations of winemakers on this family estate in one of the coolest microclimates in the south of the Rhone Valley.  


Chateau Pesquie Terrasses 2019 AOC Ventoux Rose


$20.99

12.5% alcohol

Double Trouble

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This one over delivers with a nice blend of Grenache, Mataro, and Monastrell from the Jumilla region of Spain – on the south eastern, Mediterranean side. It’s hot and dry, but they’ve been growing grapes here since Roman Times.

JUMILLA – CASTILLO DE MADAX RED BLEND

Alcohol:  13%

UPC:  08436005760601
Now comes the part that’s surprising.  $7.99, on sale from $9.99

Definitely worthy of another trip back to get more to stowaway over the seasons change for when you need a quick lift to go with a hearty meal.  A certain someone will probably buy a case for unsuspecting relatives that drop in.

Was still thinking about Herr Stein when I making this selection.  The Goddess of Wine was on a well deserved break away from her tribe, so I was on my own with this – and my training wheels got a little wobbly.  

If His Impatience has sneaked a sample before the meal was on the table, he would have been disappointed in the organic choice.  

It was the blend that got my attention: 70% Aglianico, 20% Cab Savignon and 10% Syrah.


Once dinner was served and we poured more, things really changed.  REALLY changed.

Warm. Rich and avery nice structure gets you through your first taste. Now the Aglianico grape really had my attention. Slides down almost like velvet.


I’d like to try this with something a little gamey – maybe venison.


CASTEL DEL MONTE – TORMARESCA TRENTANGELI ORGANIC 2016

UPC:  08026530000862

14% alcohol

$22.99