The workers at Cono Sur are as organic as the grapes.
the wine is very fresh, well balanced and quite complex. Focuses one on how friendly it is.
It was a TreeHouse Greek Night: Spinach, Pies olives, 2 kinds of Feta, along with a Tabouli Salad. Lovely, small tomatoes from the Lower Mainland.
Would be just as refreshing by itself on the deck.
We’ve never been disappointed with any wine from Cono Sur.
CHARDONNAY – CONO SUR ORGANIC 2020
$13.99 regularly $15.99
13.7% alcohol
UPC: 00089419429039
The Women of Wine in Umbria – The Lungarotti Family live the land, nurture the terroir, and produce lovely wines.
They are solid – like the wine. Heady, chocolatey aromas. Full bodied and intense. Fresh acidity, well balanced with a slight mineral finish.
To put it simply – a really lovely wine that is VERY food friendly. it went extremely well with grilled lamb chops.
Rubesco” is derived from the Latin verb “rubescere,” to blush, and has a joyous significance.
ROSSO DI TORGIANO – LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO 2018
23.97 regularly $25.99
14% alcohol
UPC: 08016044010501
There are daze when the brain isn’t connected. Took a bottle from the rack, saw the first part, Pinot, and immediately plunked it in the fridge. A couple of hours later was looking for something and realized the second word was Noir, not Gris. Outta the fridge and on the counter, beside the thawing bone in skin on chicken thighs..
Now what? Honey garlic glaze, that’s what to go with a slightly chilled red.
Should have been all wrong with the vino, but the reconnected tastebuds enjoyed both.
A couple of surprises along the way. Anticipation that a Rothschild wine would be this inexpensive was one, but it IS an entry level offering. Very cherry flavours on the palate that sauntered into medium tannins. A much smoother transition than expected. Lots of flavours from a diverse terroir.
This one needs to do it’s deep breathing exercises to be enjoyed, so open the bottle at least an hour and a half before quaffing.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Pinot Noir
12.5% Alcohol
Veuve du Vernay was first made in the 1960s by Robert Charmat, the son of scientist, Eugene Charmat who patented the Charmat Method of producing sparkling wines. Robert Charmat employed this method of trapping the carbonation from secondary fermentation to make his own sparkling wine full of fresh aromas and flavors. Robert named his wines for a widow in Vernay who helped his father during his early winemaking days. Veuve in French means widow.
Although the cuvee is typically created from wines of a single vintage, Vernay is not vintage dated in order to allow the winemaker the flexibility of including wines from other vintages for balance and consistency. Veuve du Vernay is typically Blanc de Blanc, a white wine made exclusively from white grapes, and it is a Brut (dry) sparkling wine, but it is not austere – rather it suggests the characteristics of the fine varieties from which it is made. Many discriminating consumers of champagne have embraced Veuve du Vernay as their favourite French sparkling wine.
The goal is to achieve a harmonious freshness and complexity, making every table festive! Works for us.
And here endith the lesson. Onward to the suck-em-up.
It’s fresh and easy drinking. Dry Palate. Almost velvety bubbles. We had pistachio-encrusted sole fillets and Mediterranean style salada as an accompaniment.
VEUVE DU VERNAY – BRUT
$14.99 regularly $16.99
11.5% Alcohol
UPC: 03058080097547
And thats a good thing.
95% Gargenega and 5% Trebbiano di Soave. Often small amounts of Chardonnay or Pinot Bianco massage the flavours.
Big Names. Bolla (owned by the largest wine producer in Italy) has been producing wines since 1883. Banfi is a massive distribution partner. Soave means “soft” in Italian. And it’s said that Frank Sinatra wouldn’t sit in a restaurant that didn’t have Soave Bolla on the menu. Soava represents both the region (North Eastern Italy) and the style of wine.
It’s not often that one finds a wine that will stand up to being on it’s own, served with lighter fare like grilled seafood, chicken, fish-based pastas and entrée salads, or as an appertif. This one works with whatever/however you serve it.
Notes of melon, pear and ripe apple abound, followed by a long and lingering finish.
Great Value and a really nice wine for all seasons.
SOAVE CLASSICO – BOLLA
$12.99 regularly $14.99
12% Alcohol
UPC: 08008960684461
The region produces wonderful Malbecs. 85 year old vines usually produce great wines. Unfortunately, this one is neither wonderful nor great. There isn’t a lot of complexity and there isn’t any bounce to the step. There is medium body, tight tannins and a ripeness to the finish.
It’s still quite enjoyable, but we don’t feel the price is justified.
We’ve had nicer wines from the region at a more reasonable price. Maybe it needs more time in the bottle, or possibly it needs something carnavore-ish to be served with it to distract.
MALBEC – LUIS SEGUNDO LAS ACEQUIAS MENDOZA 15
$24.99
14.5% Alcohol
UPC: 07798067080693
A simple, unobtrusive label doesn’t prepare you for what’s inside. I probably would have passed it by, but our Goddess of Wine made sure it was in the mystery case so we wouldn’t miss out on a real treat.
Wood aging brings out the beautifully structured blend of Malbec and Merlot. Rich tannins, almost dark chocolate texture.
It’s Bold and Structured.
We teamed it with cranberry, basil, fresh chicken sausages and it was a great pairing.
Château Eugénie 2018 Réserve de l’Aïeul (Cahors)
$21.47 regularly $23.99
13% Alcohol
Le Bonheur 2020 Chardonnay from the Western Cape wine region is dry, medium-plus-bodied and bright, with mineral notes. Nicely balanced and excellent value. This winery dates back to the 1700s when the original owners, the French Huguenot De Villiers family, named the winery “Le Bonheur,” which translates to “happiness.”
Buttery and Complex
Pick a food. Pick a mood. Pick an occasion – and you can pick this one to go with it.
CHARDONNAY – LE BONHEUR
$15.99 regularly $17.99
13.5%
UPC: 06001497413209
Right off the top, this is one of the nicest blends we’ve ever had.
Two of the main white grape varieties are sourced to produce Nespolino. The wine celebrates Nespoli and not only its local flavors, but also its combination with an international variety which has good results in the Romagna area. Citric Trebbiano blended with the tropical fruit aromas of Chardonnay get you right after the intense perfume. All followed up with a well balanced, lingering finish.
Serve it nicely chilled (8-10 C)
Trebbiano Chardonnay Nespolino 2020
$12.99
12% Alcohol
Softer and more subtle. Oak from Croatia for barrels. Slavonian barrels tend to be large, and because of the ratio of the wine’s surface area to the inside of the barrel, larger barrels are said to impart more subtle flavours and softer tannins.
6 to 8 months aging for these Sangiovese di Montalcino grapes.
Huge aroma from this classic Rosso brilliant ruby-red colour. Generously well rounded and well balanced. Serve it sightly cooler than room temp. (around 16 C)
ROSSO DI MONTALCINO – ALTESINO 2018
$29.99
13.5% alcohol
UPC: 00662255300337
