Wine Club subscriptions make the process of exploring wines, you can’t find in a wine shop, the smart way to get your hands on the wines you know and love. The subscriiption also gives you the opportunity to try highly rated wines you’ve only read or heard about but haven’t been able to find.
The frustration of the hunt is over. Here is my personal selection of Moon Curser wines currently featured for August on WineClub.ca.
Moon Curser Roussanne Moursanne
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley
Varietal: 79% Roussanne 21% Marsanne
Vineyard: Osoyoos East Bench
Appearance: A clear, rich gold in the glass
Nose: Opening with the beautiful scents of Jasmine followed by ripe stone fruits. Freestone peach and a touch of honey. As it sits a hint of Greengage plum.
Palate: Expressive and well integrated flavours of stone fruit with some richness on the tongue. Velvety smooth with good body that’s more full bodied but balanced with very good levels of acidity. A touch of vanilla and some subtle spicy notes. A pleasant lingering finish with a quiet touch of oak.
Food Pairings: The wine would go well with pork ribs, either with a traditional bbq sauce or just with honey and freshly ground black pepper. Also it would be an interesting match for Asian dishes, mainly vegetable based.
Decanting: This is a wine that needs no time to further open but is deliciously satisfying from the first sip. Although many whites fare better when less chilled I found the balance of the Roussanne and Marsanne was superb even when quite cold, but if you are looking for the oak to present itself then I suggest not so chilled, but good either way.
So much rich goodness in one glass. A wine that deserves to be savoured, never rushed. The wine makes an excellent pairing companion but it is so delicious on its own. That’s versatility.
Moon Curser Dolcetto
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley
Varietal: 100% Dolcetto
Vineyard: Osoyoos East Bench, Fernandes Vineyard
Appearance: A medium dark purplish red in the glass
Nose: A cornucopia of ripe berries. Almost every domestic berry hits the nose; raspberry, boysenberry, even a touch of cranberry underlined with a peppery note. Not a breath of oak.
Palate: Lush, rich and fairly bold but with control.. The mixture of fruits follow to the mouth. Adding some blackberry to the raspberry and boysenberry notes. The tannins are smooth and compliment the medium body of the wine. Quite fruit forward with a lingering finish.
Food Pairings: A pepperoni pizza comes to mind first. Or any meaty tomato dish would be ideal, from simple to more elaborate. Even a rich lasagna would go nicely.
Decanting: I would definitely recommend decanting the wine for a couple of hours. As is my practice also some chill is a good idea. Try 30 minutes in the refrigerator followed by 30 minutes at room temperature. The Dolcetto is inviting on its own and would also benefit from a slight chill.
Moon Curser Viognier
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Osoyoos East Bench
Appearance: A clear and glimmering light golden hue in the glass
Nose: First hints are of floral, a bit of gardenia but quite subtle rather than harsh. Followed by some fresh stone fruit and slices of white peach.
Palate: The palate follows the nose but at the same time brings a more expressive flavour with some tropical notes. A bit of orange peel and peach mix to create a pleasant but mostly medium body that is enhanced by its excellent acidity and a touch of minerality.
Food Pairings: The acidity in the wine lends itself to rich seafood dishes, coquille St. Jacques or even Thanksgiving Turkey. I’m partial to serving a Viognier with sockeye salmon accompanied by a summer salad of arugula and mixed seasonal fruits. Of course it also pairs perfectly with a mixture of soft and hard cheeses.
Decanting: Although Viognier doesn’t need decanting a bit of air never hurts and can add to the smooth mouth feel. You’ll appreciate it’s more flavourful notes if the wine isn’t too cold.
Overall this is such a good expression of Viognier, a wine I confess can be challenging for me if it has too much going on. The Moon Curser Viognier has just the right balance of fruitiness and acidity with the added minerality to make it deliciously rich but still refreshingly satisfying.
Moon Curser Riesling – Confiscated 2024
Geographical Indication: Lake Chelan AVA (Lake Chelan, WA, USA)
Varietal: 100% Riesling
Vineyard: Clos CheValle Vineyard
Appearance: Lightly coloured in the glass
Nose: Yummy scents of fresh Granny Smith apple slices leading to some stone fruit. Ripe and juicy peach with a note of pineapple.
Palate: Superbly rich and unapologetically opening with some sweet notes that are packed with wonderful flavours. A mingling of all things from the orchard. Peaches, Bartlett pears and green apples combine with a touch of citrus and excellent acidity to become a cornucopia of deliciousness.
Food Pairings: So many wonderful dishes would pair nicely. Foods that are spicy, or fatty. Rich foods like Asian inspired, or East Asian dishes with cardamom or turmeric flavours. Prawn dishes, even with creamy sauces, or baked oysters.
Decanting: Riesling doesn’t really need a decant but it can sometimes benefit from some air. Often holding it’s quality over a few days making it very desirable if you’re the only one who favours a sweeter expression of this grape. Well chilled will balance the sweetness, less so will enhance it so the choice is yours. Either way it’s a delight.
Moon Curser Syrah 2022
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Vineyard: Osoyoos East Bench, Bartsch Vineyard
Appearance: Somewhere between ruby and purple on the spectrum the appearance suggests what is to come.
Nose: Bolder ripe fruits including Italian plum, a touch of torte and an underlying hint of cranberry and just a very faint touch of sweet pipe tobacco.
Palate: Rich but at the same time dry with a better than medium body. Cooked red fruits and lush, ripe berries flow smoothly over the tongue. An enticing depth of richness that says more than just words can express. As diverse as B.C. wines are if this one could be worn down to just one varietal that best expresses sense of place it would be Syrah. A consistently high quality varietal in the right hands. You’ll want to take your time to enjoy the mellow highlights of this gorgeous wine.
Food Pairings: My first thoughts go to something decadent like a plum torte, slightly still warm from the oven, served with soft vanilla ice cream. Also almost any cut of beef, from steak to prime rib roast would be ideal.
Decanting: Yes, although richly delicious on opening the wine can be decanted for a short period of time making sure the temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius for maximum enjoyment.
Moon Curser Vineyards
At Moon Curser, winemaking starts in the vineyard, where nature leads the way and every vintage reflects the character of the season. Known for their adventurous approach, they champion uncommon grape varieties like Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, and Carménère, proving that these bold choices can thrive in the unique terroir of Osoyoos. Their passion for crafting the wines they love to drink is what makes every bottle stand out.
Leading that vision is winemaker Christian Scagnetti, whose unconventional journey into wine helped shape Moon Curser’s innovative spirit. From their East Bench vineyards overlooking Osoyoos Lake, he creates wines that showcase the remarkable potential of Canadian winemaking, inviting every sip to challenge expectations and celebrate the extraordinary.
Wine notes are my own. Wines were provided by Moon Curser to facilitate both this feature and the Wine Club Canada subscription reviews. I received monetary compensation for my reviews. All images: MyVanCity