Edition #2: Week of July 10, 2023

    Welcome, my frugal friends, to the heat of the summer. We have a couple more months of this to go, so let's look for something refreshing. I've chosen a couple of sippers that will hit your palate with refreshing delight, whether you're knocking back oysters on the half shell or grilling up some burgers; just be sure to enjoy these sexy little numbers in good company with enough food to go around. Be sure to get to your local BCL to grab this delicious discounted booze.

2021 Mouton Cadet Blanc

$17.99 $15.99

Bordeaux, France

    The Mouton Cadet is a great entry-level wine to get into the world of white Bordeauxs -- the type of Bordeaux that not many people think about. A white Bordeaux is quite different from a red; they are generally light, bright, and tight, whereas the reds tend to lie on the heavy side, built with tannin and structure, but also to last. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon gives white Bordeaux some interesting characteristics.

    One of the first notes in the nose is of that old Sauvignon Blanc profile of “cat piss.” Yes, this one holds true to that terribly haunting cliché, but there is plenty more to back that up. Guava, lemongrass, gooseberry, lemon rind, and quince jelly are very prominent aromas in this wine. There also seems to be some veggie notes, primarily asparagus and cabbage. Not ideal, but still worthy.

    The palate holds nicely with vibrant acidity, and the wine tends to have a slight viscosity across the tongue due to the low alcohol content of only 12%. Any heat from booze in this wine is virtually unrecognizable.

    Keep this cold while you enjoy it, but be careful to not overchill, otherwise you’ll lose that mid-palate mouth-feel and be stuck with something running thin down your throat.

Food pairing: quiche, halibut, spinach pie, sushi 

2020 Crazy Rows Carignan 

$19.99 $17.99

Maule Valley, Chile

    Carignan is a blending grape from the south of France, and it is very rare to find it sit on its own in a bottle. Chile, however, is attempting to change that in their incredibly healthy wine industry. Most people look at Chile -- especially Maule -- as a haven for jammy Cabernets or vegetal Carmeneres, but there are some producers who are making some pretty interesting wines out of some pretty interesting grapes. That said, to truly discover what Chile needs to offer, you can’t really hang around British Columbia, since our international wine selection is so pathetic, but this Carignan from the big boys at Bisquertt Family can shed a little light on what’s going on down there.

    The first time I came across Carignan was when I helped a buddy of mine make a barrel in the Casablanca Valley (also in Chile,) and I was extremely impressed by what was happening. Coffee, black tea, ground tobacco... these aromas were present throughout fermentation, and they carried through into bottle. As I drank more of this grape, however, I discovered its versatility. The Crazy Rows lives up to the delight that is a Chilean Carignan, even if the profile is different from my primary experience.

    Aromas on this wine are of forest fruit, blueberries, blackerries, cassis, and as this sexy little number breathes, there is a swing towards a nuttier, earthier wine, with an emphasis on black pepper and leather. It’s light on the palate, balanced with subtle tannin and suave acidity. It goes down easy; a little too easy, as you can see below, as I didn’t even get a chance to take a photo of the bottle while it was still full.

Food pairing: barbeque ribs, grilled tofu, hard cheeses, and escargot.