Wines evaluated last month: 274 • Rejected: 44 • Approved ... · activities include racing...

Wines evaluated last month: 274 • Rejected: 44 • Approved: 230 • Selected: 12 JANUARY 2014

JANUARY 2014

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What’s new 2Classic Series: Suspicion Cabernet Sauvignon 3Classic Series: Sachet Chardonnay 4Classic Series: Torrevieja Malbec 5Classic Series: Albamar Chardonnay 6Classic Series Earlier Selections 7Cellar Notes 8Vintners Series: Kunza Reserve Carmenere 9Vintners Series: Marlo Chardonnay 10Vintners Series: Marlo Cabernet Sauvignon 11Vintners Series: Haus Creek Chenin Blanc/Sauv. 12Vintners Series Earlier Selections 13

Facebook 14Limited Series: Sendero Royal Tempranillo 15Limited Series: Titus Lombardi Cab. Sauv. 16Limited Series: Pouilly sur Loire Chasselas 17Limited Series: Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc 18Limited Series Earlier Selections 19For Members Only 20Gifts & More 21Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Moroccan Spices 22Recipe: Seafood Soup 22Tasting Notes 23The Cork Board 24

I N S I D E T H E T A S T I N G R O O M T H I S M O N T H

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owza….What a season.You guys almost woreus out…but that isfine…I hope you all hada Merry Christmas and

Happy Holidays. I am so gratefulto all our loyal members and customers. It is such an honor toserve you and provide the servicethat you have come to expectand enjoy. We are here for yourneeds and enjoyment (though Ihave to admit, tasting all thesewines is my pleasure).

So what about 2014? I know that my resolutions contains thefollowing: Listen more, talk less(can’t we all learn that lesson);continue on with my regime ofmore vegetables and fruit, lessmeat (I did lose 35lbs and havemanaged to keep it off) and togive off the joy that ChristmasEve brings all year round.

Paul KalemkiarianOwner/Cellarmaster

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What’s New This Month?What’s New This Month?

What’s What’s NewNew This Month? This Month?What’s What’s NewNew This Month? This Month?have had many calls. Many requests. Many“what are you going to do’s?”. Anyone thathas read the Huffington Post about theglobal wine shortage is asking. And frankly,

I haven’t read the article myself. You see, wehave been in the wine industry in California for aslong as it has been popular (the 1970’s) and wehave heard and seen it before. Yes, there is possible a global shortage of wine because of theChinese…they are becoming prolific consumersof wine. They also mix it with Coke. Ugh. Barringthat, this will not and does not affect us. They liketo buy the ultra-fancy or sheer plunk (after all,after you put the coke in, who cares?). And thatis really not the main reason we won’t see theirconsumption effects. We deal with small houses,small makers of wines that never make it out ofCalifornia sometimes. We deal with wineries thatsell all that they make in the states…i.e. theworld demand does not affect them nor us.Everyone is thinking they can retire on theChinese wine bubble…I heard from a supplier inChile that they only buy wines that they can getby the container load for the equivalent of$1.50/bottle…ouch. Folks, rest assured we are ingood shape and in fact, I am finding the exactopposite right now…we have lots to choose fromand lots of good wine coming. Salud!

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ITEM #: C0114R1DC

Retail Price: $18.99/each

Member Price: $10.98/each

Reorder Price: $7.99/each

58% Discount

CabernetSauvignon(Kab air NAY

Soe ving YAHN)

2009

SuspicionSierra Foothills, California

Color:Dark purple

Nose:Earth, licorice and

black cherry

Palate:Ripe berry and plum

Finish:Concentrated, tannicwith plummy fruit

Alcohol:13.4%

Drink now through 2015

WOMC RATING94 Points

vineyard soils but seems tothrive in soils with a highconcentration of limestone,having the potential to produce elegant wines withforceful aromas. In theBordeaux region of France,especially the village ofPauillac, Cabernet Sauvignonthrives on the highly infusedshale-clay soil known asGalestro, similar to the highSierras. The grape requires along growing season, as it

buds early andis slow to ripen.

Our selection isproduced fromCabernet grapesprocured fromseveral selectvineyards in theSierra Foothills,

California’s most up andcoming wine appellation.This area is considered theCentral Valley but shares amore temperate climatewith Napa as the coolbreezes from San Pablo Bayproducing a much coolergrowing condition than anyarea in its proximity.

This superb CabernetSauvignon has true varietalcharacter, great depth,intense flavor and a soft tannin structure. Enjoysuperlative flavors of blackcherry jam, bacon bits, coffee and dark chocolate. Itis an absolute must withprime rib or rack of lamb.

he grapes for ourSuspicion label weregrown on a small

vineyard, only 4 1/2 acres, in the Calaveras Countyappellation of the SierraFoothills. It is made from100% Sangiovese grapesha rves ted by hand , fermented dry and aged in oak for two years. Thewarm days and cool nightsare just like what this grapeis used to in its native lands,Chianti locatedin the Tuscanhills of Italy.When properlyg r o w n , i t produces a rich,f u l l - b o d i e dwine of intensecolor and flavor.This selection istruly a tribute to its greatItalian heritage.

There is also limited rainfallhere. As a result, the grapesoften ripen under waterstress. By virtue of the vineyard’s elevation, thegrapes must make up formost of that lack of precipitation with generallycooler temperatures, betterventilation and more hoursof sunlight. With a highertemperature sum and a finalstage of grape ripening inthe latter half of Septemberand early October, these are ideal weather conditionsfor this grape.

Cabernet Sauvignon hasshown itself to be adaptableto many different types of

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Featured in theCALIFORNIA WINE SERIES

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ITEM #: C0114W1DC




65% Discount

Chardonnay(Shar doe NAY)

2010

SachetMonterey, California

Color:Pale gold

Nose:Fresh apple and vanilla

Palate:Rich pineapple with

a hint of spice

Finish:Apple and vanilla

Alcohol:13.5%



d'Asti wines of Piedmonte, awine made with the MoscatoBianco grape varietal. It isslightly sweet and is used for both an aperitif and adessert wine.

Craig and Peter searchedevery appel lat ion inCalifornia looking for a vineyard that would producethe essence of Chardonnaythey were looking for. Theyfound it in the Montereyappellation with its fossilized

seashell soil,cool coastalconditions andlong growings e a s o n . A vineyard thatp r o d u c e s h e a v e n l y aromas andc o m p l e x flavors, this

Chardonnay is crafted toallow the natural expressionof the grape to shine. This isreminiscent of our favoritewines from Burgundy regionof France, which is whatChardonnay should be.Monterey is quite unique inthat regard as its jutting noseinto the Pacific also protectsthe vineyards from theinlands hot air. When combined with the incrediblesoil, wines of distinction arethe norm here, not theexception.

Our selection has an aromaof apple, melon and pearwith a crisp mineral character. Its crisp acidity andlovely spice componentwould be perfect with searedscallops in a light tomato saffron sauce.

orn and raised inSanta Barbara, Sachetowner Peter Price’s

activities include racing sailboats, rock climbing, riding mountain bikes andmotorcycles and backpackingin the hills above SantaBarbara. While attending CalPoly San Luis Obispo he wasstricken with the “WineBug”, an incurable, non life-threatening illness that hebattled by spending freetime hanging out at wineriesin the PasoRobles Winereg ion . Therest, as theysay, is history.

W i n em a k e r ,C ra ig Reed ,s ta r ted h i scareer in thewine businessat the age of 17 mowing thelawn at the Martin BrothersWinery in Paso Robles. At theage of 20, he becameAssistant Winemaker underNick Martin's tutelage andthree years later becamewine director and crafted topscoring wines in his first vintage. This is a classic story of a self-driven, cellartrained winemaker with a palate and nose for producing well-made wines.This year Craig will celebratehis 25th vintage at the age of 42.

Craig is known throughoutAmerica as the Godfather ofMoscato having crafted thisunique wine for over 20years. It all started withCraig's extensive travelsthroughout Italy and his discovery of the Moscato

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ITEM #: C0114R2IA




53% Discount

Malbec(MAL beck)

2012

TorreviejaArgentina

Color:Dark purple

Nose:Tobacco, blackberry

and plum

Palate:Leather and earthmixed with lots of

blackberry

Finish:Concentrated, tannicwith blackberry fruit

Alcohol:13.7%



make Argentine wines worthseeking out. The warmerregions and lower altitudesmake for riper, rounder andfleshier wines with up-frontfruit and softer tannins. They tend to be cheerful,easy-going wines. AlthoughMalbec's origins are inBordeaux's illustrious vine-yards, the grape variety is at its pinnacle of quality inArgentina. Fortunately forwine lovers, Malbec is themost-planted grape in

Argentina.

A r g e n t i n a ’ sMalbec vines areungrafted andover 100 years old.Marcelo thinks the reason forMalbec’s successin Argentina is thelong hang time.

These wines tendto show the best

that Argentina has to offer;they are completely ripewith rich concentrated fruitbalanced by fresh acidity, butthe wines aren't heavy. Inred wines, the tannins aresoft and velvety rather thandry or bitter.

Our selection is a classicArgentine Malbec. Tons ofjuicy, grapey fruit hits thepalate and doesn’t let up. Asyou swallow, the soft tanninsbegin to take over and finishwith a dollop of earth andleather. A tremendous valueand one that would takeover a nicely marbled rib eyecharred over mesquite.

orrevieja means“old tower” inSpanish. The winery

is actually in a 100-year-old tower, now equippedwith modern winemakingequipment. It is a 90 year oldwinery using grapes fromvines that are even older,some over 100 years old.This is what accounts for the tremendous flavors intheir offerings. Winemaker,Marcelo Bocardo, is a seventh generation wine-maker whoseroots go back toItaly. Marcelo isable to crafte x t r a o r d i n a r yw i n e s a t tremendous pricesusing old worldtechniques, newworld science andequipments.

T h a n k s t oArgentina's manyaltitudes and temperatures,which create numerous anddistinct climates, the countrycan successfully grow arange of grape varieties usedto make red, white andsparkling wines. When itcomes to Argentina’s exportsto the United States, mostwines are red and most are Malbec. CabernetSauvignon is a distant second fol lowed byChardonnay, Syrah-Malbecblends and Torrontés withthe other local red, Bonarda,farther down the list.

Ma lbec i s ce r ta in l yArgentina's star in both quality and exports but each of the other varietals

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ITEM #: C0114W2IC




53% Discount


2012

AlbamarCasablanca, Chile

Color:Very pale

Nose:Fresh apple

Palate:Slight with a hint

of spice


Alcohol:13%



Chile predates California’sentry into the wine arena by300 years. Diego Garcia deCaceres first planted vines in1554 in Santiago. The grapesfrom the Santiago area wereused in the mass productionof wine, according to recordsdating back to 1555. The cultivation of vines and wine production movedsouth during the next onehundred years, reachingbeyond the Bío Bío River.

Located along the Pacific coast of Chile, theCasablanca Valleyi s w i d e l y recognized as one of the bestspots in the world for growingChardonnay andP i n o t N o i r .Maritime breezeskeep tempera-tures cool whilebright daytime

sun encourages a lengthygrowing season. Sandy clay loam soils allow the naturally low-vigor vines toproduce bright, tropical fruitflavors, while slow ripeningensures the development ofnatural sugars to balance thefruit's characteristic acidity.Our selection is the bestwe’ve tasted to date. Itoffers all the clean, freshpurity of the Chardonnaygrape without the overlyoppressive oak componentthat too often dominates the flavors and finish. The Albamar Chardonnaywould be an outstandingaccompaniment to a shrimpand sausage pasta, crabbisque or halibut.

ust west of Santiago,on the road toValparaíso, is theCasablanca Valley. A

cool coastal climate makesthis wine-growing regionideal for white varietals andaccordingly the CasablancaValley is known for its premium Chardonnay, PinotNoir and Sauvignon Blanc.Wine production began inthis region in the 1980s and as a result, the winefacilities here have a verymodern feel.

A l bamar i s a property ownedby William ColeVineyards, whichlies deep withinChile’s prestigiousCasablanca Valley,o f ten ca l l ed“Chile’s Burgundy.”This cool climatevineyard near thecoast, which iscomprised of over250 contiguous acres, provides a long, warm growing season with coolnights to develop excellentacidity. Owned by Bill Coleand his Chilean family, the winery specializes in cool climate varieties, likeChardonnay and Pinot Noir,making cool, crisp, clean andcomplex wines.

The Chilean wine historybegins with the arrival ofSpanish conquerors in themid-sixteenth century. Themissionaries introduced thevines to produce wine for the mass. It is believed thatthe first vineyards in Chilewere planted by Francisco de Aguirre Copiapó in northern Chile.

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Reg Reorder CaseItem # Wine Name Retail Price Price Price

C1113R1IC - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011. $15.99 $7.99 $95.88Hermoso Hermosa “Very clean cranberry and soft tannins”

C1113R2DC - Merlot Zinfadel, 2011. $19.99 $7.99 $95.88Barricade “Ripe cherry, brambleberry and plum”

*Featured in the California Wine Series

C1113W1II - Moscato, 2011. Mezzacorona $14.99 $6.99 $83.88“Good balance, firm acidity, spice and honeysuckle”

C1113W2DC - Pinot Blanc, 2010. Mary’s $17.99 $6.99 $83.88“Very clean pear and a silky texture”

C1213R1IA - Cabernet/Merlot, 2011. $18.99 $7.99 $95.88Diamante River “Cherry with hints of earth and spice”

C1213R2DC - Field Blend, 2010. Stonegate $19.99 $7.99 $95.88“Very clean cranberry black pepper and spice”


C1213W1DW - Chardonnay, 2009. $19.99 $6.99 $83.88Duck Pond “Apple, pear and Cinnamon”

C1213W2DC - Chardonnay, 2010. $15.99 $6.99 $83.88Mommy Juice “Rich pineapple with hints of lemon grass”

C0114R1DC - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009. $18.99 $7.99 $95.88Suspicion “Ripe berry and plum”


C0114R2IA - Malbec, 2012. Torrevieja $14.99 $6.99 $83.88“Leather and earth mixed with lots of blackberry”

C0114W1DC - Chardonnay, 2010. Sachet $19.99 $6.99 $83.88“Rich pineapple with a hint of spice”

C0114W2IC - Chardonnay, 2012. Albamar $16.99 $7.99 $95.88“Slight with a hint of spice”

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CELLAR NOTES

Cellar Notes: A report on how previous selections are faring with age.Obtained from actual tastings of wines under optimal conditions.

Classic Series:

January 2012:Malbec, 2009. Raza. Still Great.Riesling, 2009. Next. Perfect now.Zinfandel, 2005. JanKris (Picaro). At its best.Chardonnay, 2009. Karma. Drink up.

January 2013:Syrah/Tempranillo, 2011. 2 Copas. Still Great.Chardonnay, 2011. Cardiff. Drink or hold.Fairy Tale Red, 2008. Beaver Creek. Drink or hold.Chardonnay, 2009. Twin Bells. Drink up.

Vintners Series:

January 2012:Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009. Accoutre. Still Awesome.Chardonnay, 2010. Tic Tok. Drink now.Merlot, 2008. J and J. Drink or hold.Viognier, 2010. Tortoise Creek. Drink up.

January 2013:Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010. Babcock. Still awesome.Pinot Gris, 2010. Cooralook. Drink now.Malbec, 2009. Cas'Almare. Still great.Viognier, 2010. Peralta. Still going strong.

Limited Series:

January 2012:Syrah, 2005. Blue Cellars. Perfect now.Chianti, 2009. Castellani. Drink or hold.Bordeaux, 2010. Chat Tertre De Launay. Perfect now.Colombard, 2010. Rieux. At its best.

January 2013:Bordeaux, 2009. Cazat de Beauchene. Awesome.Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009. Route 1. Still great.Picpoul de Pinet, 2011. Felines Jourdan. At its best.Colombard, 2011. Chateau Fitere. At its best.

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are distributed in over 20countries around the worldand recognized as one of thefinest small producers in the country.

Our selection may be a bitforeign sounding to us, but itis a staple in Chile. You’veprobably never heard ofCarmenere. But you haveheard of the grape that it isoften confused with, Merlot.Carmenere is an ancientgrape grown in Bordeaux

and was thoughtto be Merlot asrecently as 1991.I t was then discovered that itwas close but nottechnically thesame grape.

C a b e r n e tSauvignon is theworkhorse red ofChile. Some of themost renowned

wineries in the world havecome here to plant it. Nameslike Rothschild, Estansia andMondavi dot the landscapehere, investing millions ofdollars and euros on this perfect landscape in thehopes of adding to Chile’salready expanding marketaround the world. But, it is the Carmenere that is turning heads these days.

Our selection has an intensered-violet color and ripe redfruit aromas. It is soft andround with sweet tanninsand would be a great companion for red meatsand soft cheeses especially a ripe, aged brie.

laudio Gonçalvesgraduated as anagriculture engineer

with a specialty in wine-making from PontificiaUniversidad Católica in Chile.Since then, he has had awealth of exper ience working in the vineyards of Chile, Spain and NewZealand. His experienceoverseas has been importantin contributing to the myriadof different styles of wine in Chi le and accounts for Goncalves’embracing of newtechnology whilestill adhering tothe tradit ionswhich continue tomake Chile one ofthe most excitingwine areas in theworld.

Given his knowl-edge, background,experience andeducation, Mr. Gonçalvesbecame winemaker incharge of Bodegas y Viñedosde Aguirre winery in 2007,producer of our Kunza selection. His style of wine-making starts in the vine-yard, producing balancedgrapes with yields carefullycontrolled. He takes a creat ive approach to winemaking in order toexpress the extraordinarygrape quality and soil of VillaAlegre. This combinationtranslates into best valuewines of Chile.

All his wines have attainedinternational status and havehelped grow Villa Alegre’sreputation. To that end, they

C

ITEM #: V0114R1IC




48% Discount

Carmenere (Kar men AIRE)

2012

Kunza Reserve Maule Valley, Chile

Color:Deep magenta

Nose:Blackberry, black

cherry and chocolate

Palate:Cherry with hints of

earth and spice

Finish:Very berry with cherry

and cocoa

Alcohol:13.5%

Drink nowthrough 2016


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enjoyed with friendsbecause they believe thatwhen good wine goesaround, great things comearound. What comes aroundhere is a cool climateChardonnay without a lot of oak to muck up the clean flavors.

Most Chardonnays fromCalifornia are not built to lastmore than two or threeyears. There are exceptionsand all of them come from

cooler climateareas such asMarlo. A coolclimate allowsthe grapes tomature on thevine for alonger period of time, thusletting the rootsystem deposit

more flavors to the grapes.

Grapes for this wine wereharvested during coolernight and morning hours tohighlight the crisp citrus flavors balancing the fruitflavors in our wine. Aftercrushing, the must was fermented for up to twelvedays at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Aportion of the blend wentthrough malolactic fermen-tation, adding a silkiness and body to the wine.

This is a classic food winewith lovely green apple and pear flavors to get youstarted and an engaging,snappy finish to delight with a hearty fish stew orchicken paprikash.

arlo’s winemakerselected grapesfrom vineyards

across California’s best coolclimate growing regions. For2011, they harvested grapesfrom the North Coast downto the San Joaquin Region.With warm, sunny daysmoderated by cooling influences, conditions inthese areas create an idealc l imate for growingChardonnay. Grapes harvest-ed from a variety of vine-yards and areaseach provideunique flavorc omp o n e n t sthat togethercreate a bal-anced, complexand harmo-nious wine.

This vintagewas in an ideal growing season with mild tempera-tures and opportune heatspikes to get the grapes tofull maturity. Harvest wasfinished just in time beforeMother Nature delivered thefirst storm of the season. The weather they had thisgrowing season ensured full development of theChardonnay grape while protecting the delicate characters that this variety isknown for. This combinationof highs and lows in theweather gave them qualityat such a high level. OurChardonnay shows great fruit character, finesse andfullness in the palate.

Crafted by talented wine-makers in a modern facility,Marlo wines representexceptional value. They arecreated to be shared and

M

ITEM #: V0114W1DC




48% Discount


2011

MarloSan Joaquin, California

Color:Pale gold

Nose:Fresh apple and

vanilla

Palate:Rich pineapple with

a hint of spice


Alcohol:13.5%



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vineyards in the Lodi,California’s most up andcoming wine appellation.This area is considered theCentral Valley but shares amore temperate climatewith Napa as the coolbreezes from San Pablo Bayproducing a much coolergrowing condition than anyarea in its proximity.

Lodi is often, and mistakenly,though to be in the CentralValley, a rather hot and

i n t empe ra t egrape growingarea. While itshares proximi-ty to the Valley,its climate doesnot . Rather, it is more likeCarneros in that the oceanbreezes from

the San Pablo Bay headstraight for the vineyards,keeping temperatures 20+ degrees cooler than the Valley.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a natural here. It likes a bit ofheat in the daytime but thecooler temperatures keepthe natural acids at a higherlevel thus insuring longerlived and livelier tasting one.

Our superb CabernetSauvignon has true varietalcharacter, great depth,intense flavor and a soft tannin structure. Enjoysuperlative flavors of blackcherry jam, bacon bits, coffee and dark chocolate. Itis an absolute must withprime rib or rack of lamb.

rapes for our selec-tion were harvestedfrom California’s

finest Central Coast and LodiValleys. In these areas, warmdays allow the grapes toripen with complexity andrichness of flavor while coolnights preserve the grapes’crisp acidity.

While the 2011 growing season was challenging forgrowers in many areas,California’s Central Coast andLodi saw anexcellent grow-ing season and harvestedo u t s t a n d i n ggrapes as aresu l t . The coo le r thannormal weath-er extended thegrowing seasonwith most of the region’sgrapes harvested before theOctober rains. Thus resultingin grapes with excellent flavor development andmaturity. Wines from 2011tend to display ripe fruit aromas and flavor, richnessand balanced acidity.

Grapes for this wine werehandled gently to minimizebitterness and fermentedwarm to maximize color and flavor extraction. Thefirm structure of theCabernet was tempered witha touch of Merlot which addsrichness, smoothness andstructure. The wine was agedfor up to one year in newand used American andFrench oak.

Our selection is a producedfrom Cabernet grapes procured from several select

G

ITEM #: V0114R2DC




56% Discount

CabernetSauvignon (Kab air NAY

Soe ving YAHN)

2011

MarloCalifornia

Color:Dark purple

Nose:Earth, licorice and

black cherry

Palate:Ripe berry and plum

Finish:Concentrated with softtannins and rich fruit

Alcohol:13.8%



Featured in theCALIFORNIA WINE SERIES

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Ranch in the Pope ValleyRegion of Napa Valley. PopeValley Winery is situatedabove Napa Valley on thenorthern face of HowellMountain. Pope ValleyWinery is noted for itsCabernet Sauvignon EstateReserve, Zinfandel Port andChenin Blanc.

The Meyercamp Ranch is asixty acre ranch owned byHenry Eakle who purchasedit from the Meyercamp

brothers in1 9 9 5 . T h eM e y e r c a m pRanch has fiveacres planted toC a b e r n e tSauvignon andfour acres toChenin Blanc.The MeyercampChenin Blanc

vines are sixty years old.

Our selection is a 90%Chenin Blanc and 10%Sauvignon Blanc. It's allstainless steel ferment tokeep a crisp profile. TheSauvignon Blanc wassourced from Rutherford.

Chenin Blanc played a keyrole in California’s wine history. It was the workhorsewhite that could be, andwas , p l an ted a lmos t anywhere, producing a fresh,clean and flavorful offering.This Haus Chenin Blanc is acut above the rest. It offersall the tactile and engagingfruit components of greatChenin with even more complexity and character.Extraordinary with a seafoodpasta, poached salmon oreven spicy shrimp dishes.

ucked away, deep inthe recesses of theNapa Valley you’ll

find one of California’s secrettreasures. Pope Valley is one of the fastest growingwine regions in America, yetit still retains that peaceful,country feel. With over acentury of history, the PopeValley Winery elicits the feel of the early Californiapioneer lifestyle and provides our visitors with achance to reflect back onsimpler times.

Pope Val leyWinery wasfounded in1897 by EdH a u s . T h e winery is ashowcase of19th centuryw i n ema k i n gtechnology; the main build-ing situated on top of theHaus Creek that meandersthrough the property so as toconserve usable land risesthree stories against a hillside. This allows the winery to use gravity tomove the wine from stemmer/crusher to pressand barrel.

The winery is built into the hillside to create cavelike cool temperatures andhigher humidity for the bottom barrel room. Also onthe property is the originalhomestead family house and a blacksmiths workshopwith century old equipmentinside.

Pope Valley Winery hand-crafts wine from their estatevineyards on Eakle Ranchand the nearby Meyercamp

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ITEM #: V0114W2DC




43% Discount

Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon(Shenin Blonk/Soe ving YAHN)

2012

Haus CreekNapa Valley, California

Color:Pale

Nose:Melon and Citrus

Palate:Fresh melon, pear

and lime

Finish:Clean, crisp and citrusy

Alcohol:14.5%



Earlier VINTNERS SERIES favorites at REORDER prices!



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V1113R1IS - Mencia, 2011. Via Appia $22.99 $14.99 $179.88“Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins”

V1113W1DC - Chardonnay, 2010.Epilogue $21.99 $12.99 $155.88“Rich pineapple with a hint of spice”

V1113R2IU - Grenache, 2012. Wreak Havoc $18.99 $12.99 $155.88“Spice and blackberry abound with soft tannins”

V1113W2IC - Sauvignon Blanc, 2012. Mayu $18.99 $12.99 $155.88“Lovely ripeness with citrus and quince”

V1213R1DC - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010. $19.99 $13.99 $167.88Ruby Red “Cherry jam with hints of bacon bits”


V1213W1DC - Sauvignon Blanc, 2009. $18.99 $12.99 $155.88Messenger “Rich peach with a hint of spice”

V1213R2IS - Tempranillo Merlot, 2008. $18.99 $13.99 $167.88Javier Asensio “Ripe plum and dark berry”

V1213W2IC - Chardonnay, 2014. $18.99 $12.99 $155.88Valdivieso “Slight with a hint of citrus”

V0114R1IC - Carmenere, 2012. Kunza Reserve $22.99 $11.99 $143.88“Cherry with hints of earth and spice”

V0114W1DC - Chardonnay, 2011. Marlo $24.99 $12.99 $155.88“Rich pineapple with a hint of spice”

V0114R2DC - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011. $26.99 $11.99 $143.88Marlo “Ripe berry and plum”


V0114W2DC - Chenin Blanc/ $22.99 $12.99 $155.88Sauvignon, 2012. Haus Creek “Fresh melon, pear and lime”


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The vineyards have been inthe family for generations,selling grapes to the different Bodegas of Rioja. Apartnership began withoenologist Rodriquez and the Ruiz family who havevineyards in Rioja as well.Javier has winemaking andmarketing skills to add to themix. He helped build thewinery and now overseeswinemaking and helps withmarketing. Rodriquez has his own business, Valsanzo,

where he has similarpartnershipsin differentwine regionsof Spain, sucha s T o r o ,Bierzo, Priorat,Rueda, etc.

Tempranillo isthe main grape here whosecharacter has a very Spanishsoul and a touch of oak,which brings out its lengthand silky texture. This grapeis a bit of an anomaly in that it comes off rather light in its youth but agesincredibly well.

This selection has an intensecherry-red color with a bluishrim and violet glints. Thenose displays highly intensearomas of black, ripe fruitand mineral nuances whichblend well with those of the oak. Great with medium-aged cheeses, stewed redmeats, roast lamb and gamedishes and strong stews likered beans with pork.

odegas Sendero Royalis located in the village of Aldeanueva

de Ebro in La Rioja, Spain.The winery was created in1998 by Gonzalo Ruiz Pastorand his family. There are 150acres of vineyards with anaverage 25 years of age.Vinification and winery work is conducted by AlfredoRuiz and oenologist JavierRodriquez.

These vineyards are locatedat 550 footaltitude in theCidacos Valleyof Rioja Baja,a n a r e aknown toh a v e t h elargest knownd i g s o fD i n o s a u r fo ss i l s i nSpain. La Rioja receives influences from both Atlantic(cool winds) and its warmthfrom the Mediterranean Sea. The blend is 100%Tempranillo. The wine isstainless steel using natural,indigenous yeast and thenfermented at controlled temperatures followed bymalolactic fermentation. It isthen aged in 50% new,American oak barrels for fivemonths. Barrels have ridgesscraped into the inside toincrease wood to wine ratio allowing for a shorterstay in wood to preserve the balance of oak to fruitflavors.

Gonzalo is the patriarch of the family. His son,Alfredo, oversees the winery.

B

ITEM #: L0114R1IS




38% Discount

Tempranillo(Temp rah NEEYO )

2011

Sendero RoyalLa Rioja, Spain

Color:Bright purple

Nose:Currant, cherry

and cedar

Palate:Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins

Finish:Long and foreboding

with berry and vanilla components

Alcohol:14%



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richness comes from thatlong barrel sit and the use ofnew oak in these portions.

In short, 2006 was a verygood vintage around thestate. Not as prolific as the2005 but regionally manywines were of equal or better quality. In Paso Roblesarea, the cool slow start tothe growing season and arelatively mild summermeant later ripening datesand therefore longer “hang

time” for thegrapes, pump-ing up the flavors withoutcompromisingacidi ty andquality winec h e m i s t r y .Ha rves t i n 2006 ran wellinto November

with relatively sunny and dryweather allowing for clean,perfect fruit.

In general, the winemakingreports out of Paso discusswines of lower alcohol andtherefore more elegance,with good varietal definitionand solid but not over-the-top extraction. This wine hasenjoyed tremendous successin other countries like Japan,China and Europe.

Our selection comes grapesgrown in Paso Robles butexhibits a classic Napa ValleyCabernet with ripe, red fruitsright up front with the earth,licorice, leather and spice. Tomatch with a prime ribwould be heavenly indeed.

ur Titus Lombardiselection comesfrom a blend of

grapes from Paso Robles andMendocino with a small lotfrom the up-and-coming RedHills appellation in LakeCounty on the shores aboveClear Lake. The Paso vine-yards are from some of ourfavorite “Eastside” Cabernetvineyards including two thatare above 1,000 feet abovesea level and therefore much cooler and more conducive togreat Cabernetgrapes . Th i sw i n e wa s handled morelike a high-end wine withe x t e n d e d maceration ofthe grapes toget more extract and color as well as extendedbarrel aging for roundnessand length

The various lots were fer-mented and aged separately.All fermentations took placeunder controlled conditionsallowing for slow fermenta-tions for maximum extractand color. They were thenracked for extended barrelaging of 14 - 18 months. A combination of French,Hungarian and American oakwas used in various ratiosdepending on the lot. TheNorth Coast lots receivednewer oak and longer barreltime as they were originallydestined for higher-end programs. Some of thesmooth, mellow, textural

O

ITEM #: L0114R2DC




52% Discount

CabernetSauvignon(Kab air NAY

Soe ving YAHN)

2006Titus LombardiPaso Robles, California

Color:Deep magenta

Nose:Blackberry, black cherry, earth and chocolate

Palate:Hints of earth, leather

and spiceFinish:

Very berry with cherryand vanillaAlcohol:13.5%



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wine. We call it a “stuck” fermentation.

By controlling the tempera-ture, Moreux is able to use the natural yeasts of the grape. Some believe that using natural yeasts produces more harmoniousflavors and leads to a loweralcohol wine. Empirical dataonly half-heartedly confirmsthis, as it is a very elusivepoint to judge. Yet, many

w inemake r spride them-selves on thistechnique andmany of theirwines haveg e n e r a l l yreceive ravereviews.

A n o t h e runique aspect

is that this wine is aged onits fine lees. The “lees” arethe tiny bits of solid matter,undetectable to the eyewhen in suspension. Duringfermentation, the pulverizedbits of stems and seedsbecome the lees. They arepractically disintegrated, butnot liquefied. As the winesits in the tank, the lees fallto the bottom and by stirringthem occasionally, theyimpart texture and mouthfeel to the wine.

All these factors combine topresent us with a myriad ofcomponents that dance onyour tongue and around your pallet like tiny balletdancers. This selection wouldbe a fine accompaniment toraw oysters or chicken salad.

rance counts only twoappellations made of100% Chasselas, the

best one is located in theLoire Valley, known as Pouillysur Loire. This area takes up2,500 acres of the Pouillyappellation but only 75 acresare planted with Chasselas,the rest is Sauvignon Blanc.Before the arrival ofPhylloxera, Pouilly wasplanted only with Chasselasbut the Sauvignon Blancreplaced it dueto its betterr e s i s t a n c e .However, fewwinemakerscontinue tocultivate it.P a t r i c eMoreux ownsa mere 2.3a c r e s o fChasselas ashe proudly continues thetradition.

Another unique aspect ofthis wine is that there is nocommercial yeast used. Mostwines of the world are fermented with commercialyeasts which are heartierthan the indigenous yeastfound on the outside of thegrape. Before the productionof these “super” yeasts,winemakers had to use the yeast Mother Naturegave them. As is the casesometimes, Mother Natureslips them a curve. Becausethe natural yeast is generallyweaker, it would sometimesdie off before finishing its jobof converting all the sugar tocarbon dioxide and alcohol,thus leaving sugar in the

F

ITEM #: L0114W3IF




43% Discount

Chasselas orPatrice Moreux

(SHASS a less)

2011

Pouilly Sur Loire Pouilly Sur Lorie, France

Color:Light straw

Nose:White peach and citrus

Palate:Fresh herbs, mineral

and lime

Finish:Tart and herbal

Alcohol:12%



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become an industry leaderproducing award winningwines.

In pursuit of his lifelongambition, Glenn set his siteson finding a new vineyardand winery location. Aftersearching throughoutCalifornia for the finest terroir to meet his require-ments, he settled on PasoRobles. Glenn was impressedwith the regions outstandingreputation for quality winesand its natural beauty.

In January of 2000, Bianchipurchased 40acres of vine-yards on theEast side ofPaso Robles andbuilt a show-case wineryand spectacularh o s p i t a l i t y center on theproperty.

Situated on a gentle rise, thenew Bianchi Winery has acommanding view lookingwest over undulat ing vineyards dotted withancient oaks. The state of theart stainless steel fermenta-tion tanks provide the winemaker the latest computerized monitoringsystem and the option toselect limited productionwines. Our selection comesfrom vineyards just North ofthe winery in the cooler climate of Monterey, wherethe grapes enjoy a long season of enrichment.

This is a classic SauvignonBlanc featuring a lovelywhite peach and guavanotes and a lively finish.Can’t miss with black cod inlime vinaigrette.

he Bianchi family ofwines ranges fromthe familiar favorites

Chardonnay, SauvignonBlanc, Cabernet Sauvignon,Pinot Noir, Merlot, PetiteSirah, Syrah and Zinfandel –to more unfamiliar gemssuch as Italian Refosco and Barbera.

The Bianchi family has a longhistory of involvement in thewine Industry, dating back to1974 when Glenn and hisfather, Joseph, invested in awinery and vineyard on thebanks of theSan JoaquinRiver in theCentral Valleyof California

It was GlennBianchi’s life-long ambitionto produceultra-premiumwines withfinesse and complexity. Aftersearching throughoutCalifornia for the finest terroir to satisfy his require-ments, he chose 40 acres inPaso Robles. In 2000, Glennplanted varietals suitable forthe Paso Robles terroir, builta state-of-the-art winery anda welcoming Tasting Roomoverlooking a serene Koilake. Utilizing the best fruitfrom the estate vineyard and select v ineyardsthroughout the Central Coastcombined with the talents ofBianchi winemaker TomLane, Bianchi is producingacclaimed wines and establishing Bianchi as oneof the premier wineries inPaso Robles.

Utilizing the most advancedfarming and production technologies, the Bianchifamily quickly grew to

T

ITEM #: L0114W4DC




42% Discount

Sauvignon Blanc(Soe ving YAHN Blonk)

2012

BianchiMonterey, California

Color:Light Golden

Nose:White peach and citrus

Palate:Fresh herbs and lime

Finish:Tart and herbal

Alcohol:15%



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Earlier LIMITED SERIES favorites at REORDER prices!


L1113R1DC - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010. $24.99 $14.99 $179.88Wilson Daniels “Ripe berry and cedar”


L1113R2IS - Garnacha, 2012. Aldeya $22.99 $14.99 $179.88“Cherry and plum fruit characteristics with soft tannins”

L1113W3IC - Chardonnay, 2012. Merino $24.99 $14.99 $179.88“Slight with a hint of spice”

L1113W4IF - Viognier, 2012 Routas $23.99 $14.99 $179.88“Clean and crisp with lingering apple”

L1213R1IF - Syrah Grenache, 2010. $25.99 $16.99 $203.88Poulvarel “Earthy and gamey with berry and cherry”

L1213R2IS - Tempranillo, 2011. Murviedro $24.99 $15.99 $191.88“Ripe plum and licorice”

L1213W3DC - Chardonnay, 2010. Blackburn $22.99 $15.99 $191.88“Rich pineapple with a hint of spice”

L1213W4II - Pinot Grigio, 2012. Ferrante $22.99 $15.99 $191.88“Lovely pear nuance with honeysuckle”

L0114R1IS – Tempranillo, 2011. $25.99 $15.99 $191.88Sendero Royal “Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins”

L0114R2DC – Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006. $32.99 $15.99 $191.88Titus Lombardi “Hints of earth, leather and spice”

L0114W3IF – Chasselas, 2011. $29.99 $16.99 $203.88Pouilly Sur Loire “Fresh herbs, mineral and lime”

L0114W4DC – Sauvignon Blanc, 2012. $23.99 $13.99 $167.88Bianchi “Fresh herbs and lime”

MEM

BER

S

Q

A. Excellent question! The answer is—“sort of.” The wordpinot is derived from the French word pin which translates to pine and refers to a pine cone. The shapeof the grape clusters on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris (a.k.a.Pinot Grigio) and Pinot Blanc resemble a pine cone.Chardonnay was once called Pinot Chardonnay for the same reason. These grapes all have a botanicalconnection, such that even though one may be redand the other white, they once were the same. Overcenturies they developed into different varieties ofgrapes. Traminer and Gewurztraminer share manycharacteristics. As a matter of fact, one is just aslightly different version of the other. At one timeboth vines were called Traminer. Vintners noticedthat some plants had grapes of a slightly differentcolor and when these grapes were vinified separately, they produced a spicier version of thecommon Traminer. So, they named the new version

“Gewurztraminer” because gewurzt means “spicy”in German.

F O R M E M B E R S O N L YF O R M E M B E R S O N L Y

“Some wine names use the same terms like Pinot Noirand Pinot Blanc, and Traminer and Gewurztraminer.Are they related”

~ SB, Long BEACH, CA

Q&A


21

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w . W i n e o f t h e M o n t h C l u b . c o m

f o r g i f t b a s k e t s , g i f t m e m b e r s h i p s a n d v a r i o u s

w i n e a s s o r t m e n t s .

Gifts & MoreGIFTS &

MORE

A. Classic Series Gift Membership The gift that makes everyone smile, this ISthe club that started it all—I mean reallystarted “wine to your door.” The founding feature of Wine of the Month Club is theClassic Series. First shipment arrives in ahandsome burgundy linen gift box and isaccompanied by a personalized gift card.

4 Months: $149 (plus applicable state taxes)6 Months: $223 (plus applicable state taxes)12 Months: $446 (plus applicable state taxes)

Shipping & handling included*

B. Vintners Series Gift MembershipThe most recent addition to our family at Wine ofthe Month Club, the Vintners Series gives your giftrecipient an opportunity to experience wines in aprice range that offers a wider variety of grapes andgrowing regions. First shipment arrives in a hand-some burgundy linen gift box and is accompaniedby a personalized gift card.



C. Limited Series Gift MembershipIf your gift recipient appreciates the delicate subtleties of a fine premium wine, the exceptionalspecial occasion selections you’ll find in theLimited Series are bound to please. First shipmentarrives in a handsome burgundy linen gift boxand is accompanied by a personalized gift card.



A

B

C

*Shipping included for shipments going to contiguous US states. Call for Alaska, Hawaii and/or other rural US territories.

Recipes

22

Preparation:

Ingredients:

¼ cup olive oil4 cloves garlic, minced1 small yellow onion, minced1 small green bell pepper, minced4 cups coconut milk2 cups fish stock¼ cup packed basil leaves, thinly sliced2 tbsp. finely chopped oregano1 tbsp. finely chopped sage

Seafood Soup

Ingredients:3 scallions, white ends only, chopped1 clove garlic, peeled2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped 1 tsp. salt1 1⁄2 tsp. sweet paprika1 pinch hot paprika1 1⁄2 tsp. ground cumin1⁄4 cup butter, soft4 poussins or 2 small chickens

Preparation:

Grilled Chicken with Moroccan Spices

1½ tsp. ground cumin1 tsp. sugar1 lb. crab meat8 oz. calamari, sliced crosswise into ¼" rings1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined8 oz. cooked lobster meat, cut into 1" pieces8 oz. mussels, scrubbed and debeardedKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper,

to tasteLime wedges, for serving

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TASTIN

G JO

URNAL

THE CORKBOARDTHE CORKBOARD


Membership in the Wine of the Month Club is open to anyone with an interest in andappreciation for superb wines...and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE.

Wine of the Month ClubP.O. Box 660220, Arcadia, CA 91066

Website: www.WineoftheMonthClub.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/WineoftheMonthClubTwitter: http://twitter.com/wineofthemonth

Newsletter written by: Ed Masciana, Wine Author

CALL: 1-800-949-9463 or [626] 303-1690EMAIL: [email protected]

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