On January 30 I wrote about a new category of red wines that are blends of various grapes with just a touch of residual sugar left over from fermentation. I said that one came in and sold right out, but by the time you read this, the wine will be here and I will not; I will be having a “cool” holiday in northern Wisconsin.

Back in the days when English jails were very overcrowded there were 19 crimes for which you would be shipped off to under-crowded Australia. I can understand setting forest fires, stealing fish from rivers and ponds and even carrying too many passengers in your boat on the Thames, but until I knew the details of “impersonating an Egyptian” I was stumped. Starting in 1788 you would find yourself on the way to a new country for life if you got caught doing any of the above as well as 15 other crimes.

Fortunately we can bring a shipment of 19 Crimes red blend in far quicker than the 252 days that the original boatload of convict/colonists took to get to Australia.

On the label you will see a mug shot of Irish poet John Boyle O’Reilly who was convicted of mutiny in 1866. Once in Australia he had an affair with a constable’s daughter and a wayward priest later helped him escape.

The grapes used in this red blend are Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon and together they offer a deep garnet red colour. The taste is of strawberry and cherry with a tiny bit of smoke from the barrels used. It is velvety and lush. $17.55.

We have just landed a Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from MOMO.

This is the Maori word for offspring and the name reflects its heritage as part of the Seresin family. Grapes are selected from Seresin’s three biodynamic vineyards as well as another grower who is in conversion to organics.

I think it fair to say that my overall favourite, Sauvignon Blanc from anywhere in the world, is Seresin and it certainly has a good following here and so it will be interesting to see how we fare with their “second” wine that sells for $17.80.

The nose displays aromas of tropical fruit and ripe pear. There is the expected herbaceous notes so typical of New Zealand and this is followed by a chalky minerality. It is fresh and crisp with lemon zest, passion fruit and kiwi fruit.

The MOMO Pinot Noir is certified organic. Upon tasting the first impression is one of plums and dried herbs but there is a hint of cedar and mushrooms as well. Salmon and tuna would be a perfect accompaniment.

Since you have made it to the end I will reward you by explaining why impersonating an Egyptian was such a serious crime in the 1700 and 1800s.

Apparently gypsies told fortunes by reading palms and this was considered a scam to relieve folks of their hard-earned money and for reasons that I do not fully understand, the general population confused Egyptians with gypsies.

•This column is a paid for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East. 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St. George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available online at www.wineonline.bm.