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November's
Wines of the Month
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And Andrea's Italy Trip Part 2
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November 6th, 2009
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Greetings!
November is off to a great start ... the Yankees won the World Series! And yes, being there in person when your team wins the series is unbelievable! Enough said, let's talk about Italy some more.
This week, I want to share with you some thoughts about Tuscany. Even when you say, "Tuscany", certain images come to mind. Beautiful small towns, olive trees, fabulous food, gorgeous vineyards, all to be complimented by their delicious wines. For us, everything with our trip seemed to fall into place when we arrived in Tuscany. We had wonderful times in Florence and Siena, and incredible experiences with several wineries.
In Montalcino, home to Brunello, we were welcomed by Altesino. As we approached the estate we could still see the ancient coat of arms dating from the 15th century carved in marble above the door. We knew we were somewhere special. Over the last thirty years, Altesino has been setting the standards for Brunello, from being the first to use French oak to selling futures to designating select vineyards as cru properties. And the wines ... they were all delicious. We especially loved the 2004 Brunellos. Their 2004 Brunello di Montalcino was delicious and happens to be on Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Collectibles list for 2009. We fell in love with their 2004 Montosoli Brunello di Montalcino. Montosoli is one of the most special vineyards in Brunello and this wine totally shows why it deserves to be a cru. Both of these are now available in the store for you to enjoy, too!
Back in Chianti we were blown away by Buondonno. Located in the Chianti hills, halfway between Siena and Florence, their estate is split between vineyards and olive groves surrounded by woods. They have farmed this property organically for years, and were actually Italy's 17th registered organic farm back in the eighties! We loved their Chianti Classico and their Super Tuscan (which will arrive in the States in the next few months, yes, details will follow!). Their wines were delicious and really offer a lot of value. We even picked their Chianti Classico 2007 as one of our November Wines of the Month!
There are a few others we will share with you in the upcoming months. But, first we must get on to the wines of the month. Along with the Buondonno Chianti Classico 2007, we have chosen a few wines to get you ready for Thanksgiving and for you to enjoy throughout the month of November. These wines, along with the wines featured for Friday's and Saturday's tastings, are detailed below. We look forward to seeing you over the weekend and helping you choose a few to try. On to the details!
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November's Wines of the Month:
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Paringa Sparkling Shiraz 2008
$14.99 a bottle, $152.88 for a case, or $12.74 a bottle as part of a mixed case
Yes, this is a sparkling Shiraz, it is red, and we think it is perfect for the Fall. The juice used to make Paringa's Sparkling is the same as the Paringa Shiraz, except the result has bubbles and a dosage (a touch of sweetening that is added to sparkling wines before bottling). It's a dark, deep magenta red, rich, creamy, persistent,
and juicy - full of raspberry fruit. It is gorgeous to look at
and surprisingly complex and stunning to drink. Wonderful as a pre-dinner drink, it will be fantastic at Thanksgiving and excellent with desert. You gotta try it!
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Ott Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner 2007
$23.99 a bottle, $244.68 for a case, or $20.39 a bottle as part of a mixed case
We've decided that this year we would feature this Gruner Veltliner as one of our choices for Thanksgiving. From a warmer area of
Austria, near Hungary, Ott is dedicated to growing and producing Gruner
Veltliner. Their FASS 4 is a wonderful food wine. A smokiness is
evident over a background of tangerine and grapefruit. The spiciness
and fresh, velvety texture coupled with racy acidity makes it a
terrific food wine. It simply is a classic Gruner Veltliner with a smooth finish. And everyone who has tried it already, has come back for more!
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Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Vielles Vignes 2008
$18.99 a bottle, $193.68 for a case, or $16.14 a bottle as part of a mixed case
Domaine du Vissoux has shown that it is totally possible to be completely natural and
great, at once. Owner/winemaker Pierre Chermette's vineyard yields are very low
and the grapes naturally and fully ripen, so he does not feel the need to chaptalize. (There are many producers who chaptalize - they add sugar to the juice before and during fermentation in order to increase alcohol levels.) Also, he only uses indigenous yeasts (those natural, wild yeasts we have talked about several times), ferments the wine for a longer amount of time than his colleagues, and then bottles with no filtration. It is as natural a Beaujolais as
one could have had in a café in Lyon in the late 40's. The Vielles Vignes (old vines) is the emblematic cuvée from the estate. Freshness meets concentration with this wine and shows in ripe red fruit aromas and flavors. Try this wine to see what Beaujolais is really all about!
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Buondonno Chianti Classico 2007
$22.99 a bottle, $234.88 for a case, or $19.54 a bottle as part of a mixed case
As mentioned above, when visiting Tuscany last month, Andrea fell in love with this estate! Buondonno's vineyards are certified organic. The Buondonno Chianti Classico has an intense ruby red color, the fragrance has aromas of ripe red fruits with hints of spices and vanilla. The tannins are sweet and persistent. For all of our Chianti lovers, you have to try this wine!! See why Andrea fell in love with this estate.
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2007 Vintage Ports are starting to arrive!
2007 was a magnificent year in the Douro Valley. Some even say it is one of the top three vintages over the last fifty years! These are classic wines from stellar producers that will stand the test of time. The early reviews from the wine critics are outstanding.
If you are interested in 2007 Vintage Port from Graham's, Warre's, or Dow's, please let us know and we will hold a few bottles for you. These are all scheduled to arrive throughout the next month!
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Wines for Friday's Tasting:
Franck & Jean Francois Bailly Cuvee Chavignol Sancerre 2008
$25.99 a bottle, $265.08 for a case, or $22.09 a bottle as part of a mixed case
This excellent domaine produces classic, letter-perfect Sancerre: fruit, acidity, and minerality are all in perfect harmony, making them incredibly food-friendly and endlessly enjoyable. The present domaine was created in 1988, but the vineyards have been in the family since the turn of the century. You won't find artificial, enzyme-enhanced aromas and flavors here, nor will you find heavy-handed concentration or weight. What you will find is a pure, direct expression of skillfully grown Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre's inimitable limestone terroir. As is characteristic of the respective villages, the Sancerre "Chavignol" emphasizes lip-smacking minerality.
Owen Roe Sharecropper's Pinot Noir 2008
$32.99 a bottle, $336.48 for a case, or $28.04 a bottle as part of a mixed a case.
The 2008 Sharecroppers Pinot Noir was sourced from several sites in the Northern Willamette Valley, predominately the Eola-Amity Hills and the Yamhill-Carlton District. The long Indian Summer of 2008 allowed unusually deep aromatic development while the mild temperatures helped to preserve excellent crisp acidity. (To translate this winespeak - this wine is very well balanced, easy to drink!) The wine is just delicious, has a lovely plush texture and deep rich flavors of red cherries, cola, and coffee. Their 2008 is a gorgeous vintage not to be missed!
Buondonno Chianti Classico 2007
$22.99 a bottle, $234.88 for a case, or $19.54 a bottle as part of a mixed case
One of our featured wines of the month. Please see the column to the left for the details.
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Wines for Saturday's Tasting:
Bertrand Stehelin Sabelet Cote du Rhone Villages 2004
$22.99 a bottle, $234.88 for a case, or $19.54 a bottle as part of a mixed case
This wine, made from primarily Grenache, shows the elegant and subtle side of wines from the Rhone. Lovely flavors of cherries and blackberry are easy to sip. A beautifully made wine with well integrated tannins and the perfect amount of acidity. Just try it!
Domaine Thenard Givry Blanc 2007
$24.99 a bottle, $254.88 for a case, or $21.24 a bottle as part of a mixed a case.
We love this Givry Blanc from Domaine Thenard! Typical of the 2007 vintage, the Thenard Givry Blanc is a Chardonnay which is very aromatic and lively on the palate. It is medium bodied, on the nose it is filled with white flowers, and is packed with minerality on the palate. Just perfect for seafood dishes or as an aperitif.
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Our Wine Clubs:
Selections for October will be made the week of November 9th.
The Boutique Series
$50 a month plus shipping and handling,
complimentary local delivery
Grape Distinctions
$75 - $100 a month plus shipping and handling, complimentary local delivery
Cellar Collectibles
$100 - $150 a month plus shipping and handling, complimentary local delivery
To enroll or if you have questions about the clubs, email us at clientservices@tewksburyfinewine.com or call 908-439-0007.
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We look forward to seeing you over the weekend. We'll open the wines for Friday's tasting around 4:00. As always, we thank you for your continued support!
Cheers!
Andrea
P.S. - 97 days until the pitchers have to report for the new season!
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| Contact Information |
Andrea Maranca
One Old Turnpike, PO Box 377, Oldwick, NJ 08858
T: 908.439.0007 F: 908.439.9997 www.tewksburyfinewine.com
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