Rogers & Company Newsletter
July 2008
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Greetings!
Since I last wrote, the weather seems to have taken a turn for the better. Finally the lazy days of summer are upon us and we can all enjoy sitting by the pool, visiting friends, or dining outdoors.
I have a few vintages of wines to write about that are in short supply and some that would make nice additions to a cellar or lovely gifts; seasoned Bordeaux, 'Boutique' production wines, half bottles, award winners; so please enjoy and if you see anything you like, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Please visit our website to view our entire portfolio, or for more information and a current catalogue.
Rogers & Co Wines
As always, prices are per bottle, exclusive of GST and bottle deposit, and availabilities are subject to change.
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Château de Bel Air 2000 Lalande de Pomerol
[750ml/12cs] $36.90
 Lalande de Pomerol is a satellite appellation of Pomerol, the most famous wine region in Bordeaux. Famous for its Châteaux, its clay soils, its mastery of Merlot, and known infamously for its prices.
Mr. Coates refers to this estate as one of the leading properties in his book, 'The Wines of France'. Stating that Lalande de Pomerol offers wines that are "plump and fruity without seeming to be too Merlot-based and loose-knit in character. They are attractive and stylish, at their best between 3 and 8 years old."
This was written in 1990, a decade before this spectacular vintage, which Robert Parker rated a 95.
Château de Bel-Air shows the character distinction of a properly aged wine. The dark berry flavors and tight knit structure which are ample
and dense in youth have evolved with great elegance into a wine which is broad yet light on the palate, and complex in its earthy tertiary aromas.
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Château Mazeris 2001 Canon Fronsac
[750ml/12cs] $27.25
 Château Mazeris has earned a reputation in Bordeaux as an exceptional value, expressed here by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate:
"Produced
from very old vines, it has an uncanny resemblance to the great
Pomerol, Lafleur, at about one-seventh the price. Dense in colour with
an intense blackcurrant, plummy bouquet, great concentration, full
body, and plenty of tannins, this is an amazing wine to drink over the
next 10-15 years. Join me in line for it!"
The 2001 vintage was a sleeper, as far as pricing goes. After the sky-rocketing pricing of the 2000 vintage, the 2001s offer nice value. The vintage rating is 90 by Wine Advocate, and as a comparison, Mr. Parker's website lists the 2001 Lafleur to be available for $534-722.
Only 5,000 bottles of Chateau Mazeris are made each vintage.
Dense in colour, it has an intense blackcurrant and plum bouquet with
great concentration. Full-bodied and well-balanced on the palate with
slight peppery notes, it has plenty of fine, harmonious tannins.
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Château de l'Annonciation 2002 [750ml/12cs] $30.30
 This small property (only 5 Ha under vine) lies just north of the
medieval city of St. Emilion. The blend is typically 80% Merlot, 15%
Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the wine is matured in 25%
new French oak, 50% one to two year old French oak and the balance from
stainless steel to preserve the aromas of the lush, young fruit.
Maturation time is vintage dependent but is at least 12 months and the
wine is only released 2 years after harvest.
An intense ruby hue
leads to a bouquet of red fruits with a welcome toasty oak edge. In the
mouth, the fruit dominates through to the long finish. The wine is
finely balanced between wood and wine and the supple tannins ensure a
long life ahead. Château de l'Annonciation is the perfect accompaniment
to fine meats like game and a number of cheeses.
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Morey-Blanc Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" 2001
[750ml]6cs] $76.90
Volnay is, according to Clive Coates, M.W. "the epitome of elegance and delicacy, the most fragrant and seductively feminine expression of Pinot Noir in Burgundy".
Here you find very poor, very stony, reddish soils which contribute through their mineral content to the delicacy and finesse of the Pinot Noir.
Pierre Morey, winemaker for Domaine Leflaive, farms using biodynamic practices, which promote health in the vineyard and translates to health in the wines. This 'health' of the wines means, more definition of flavour, harmony, balance and ageability.
Surprisingly complex for a 2001, this wine is drinking now at its peak, and will for a few years to come.
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"...they craft some of the most expressive and refined negociant wines in Burgundy."
International Wineries of the Year
Wine & Spirits, October 2007
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Ralph Fowler Shiraz/Viognier 2006 Mt. Benson, Limestone Coast [750ml/12cs] $24.75
 In
keeping with the 'small production' theme, we also represent Ralph
Fowler Wines from Mt. Benson in the Limestone Coast, Australia. This area
incorporates Mt. Benson, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway.
Ralph
began his thirty year career at Tyrell's and then moved onto
Leconfield, before opting to start a 'boutique' winery with his family.
These
wines have a powerful elegance. Cold winds off the Southern Ocean and
elevated vineyards maintain acids in the grapes while the long sunny
days of Mt. Benson provide the energy for growing complex wines.This
wine is built along the same lines as the French
classic, Côte Rôtie.
The co-fermenting of a small amount of the full-bodied and spicy white varietal Viognier adds a floral perfume note that seems to lift the fruit aromas of Shiraz and make them more pronounced, while adding a shimmer of light to the body of the wine.
Winemakers have known this for centuries, but only recently have Aussie wineries made the distinction between the two styles - with or without Viognier.
This wine is matured in old oak barrels so
that the oak characters do not detract from the rich complex fruit
flavours created by the blending.
The 2006 Shiraz/Viognier is deeply coloured with a bright purple hue. Characteristics of mint, plum, mulberry and uniquely, golden pear dominate the aromas with a backbone of spice and earth.
The flavours are of berry fruits, black and blue, with a richness and acidity balanced by fine grained tannins that give the wine great length.
The fruit persists and linger on the palate. Give this wine 5 years in a cellar to develop more complexity and vinuous character.
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Vintages Release Follow-up
In the wake of an extremely successful Vintages release, I'm happy to tell you that we still have some cases of the Volpaia Chianti Classico available from the lovely 2005 vintage which rated was 92 points by the Wine Advocate, and produced wines that are are drinking very well young.
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Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2005 [750ml/12case] $24.95
 "Good
clean aromas and flavours of crushed currant and berry against a
background of fresh oak. Medium-bodied, with finew tannins and a tasty
finish of fruit and oak. Best after 2008."
Wine Spectator
"The estate's 2005 Chianti Classico (90% Sangioveto, 10% Merlot and Syrah) is fresh and aromatic, with ripe red fruit and a pretty, accessible personality. Medium in body, it is a delicious Chianti Classico to drink now and over the next five years or so."
Wine Advocate
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Half-Bottle Featurette
all are 375ml/12 per case
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Ridge Lytton Springs 2005 [375ml/12case] $26.95
 Lytton Springs bottlings are generally perceived as quintessential Zinfandel. They show the potent, ripe boysenberry and blackberry of old-vine
Sonoma Zinfandel, notes of leaf and briar, and the intricacy of
multiple varietals. Acid and tannin are firm, yet not overwhelming; in
youth, at least, fruit predominates. These balanced and powerful Zins always
become more nuanced with age.
"Deep red. Sweet dark berry and kirsch scents are complicated by musky herbs, dried flowers and minerals, with a suave undercurrent of oak spice contributing sweetness. Powerful cassis and bitter cherry flavours are firmed by youthful tannins, which add grip to the finish. Possesses the focus, balance and concentration to repay a decade or more in the cellar."
92 points, International Wine Cellar
"Deep, full bodied, blackberry, cherry, black pepper, anise, toasty vanilla. Classy, cellarworthy. Up to 2014."
5 stars, Decanter April 2008
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2003 [375ml/12case] $32.40
"Within the last three decades this estate has been
responsible for introducing many structural innovations
to hit the Brunello zone. Altesino was among the first in
this region to use French barriques back in 1979. They are
also responsible for promoting the concept of "cru,"
within the Montosoli (the most well known vineyard) of the
estate. Altesino became the first Montalcino producer to
sell its wines as "futures" when it sold the 1985
vintage five years before its official release in 1990.
These accomplishments aside, Altesino has
grown over time to become one of the leading Brunello producers
to grace the hills of Montalcino. Proof of their great success
was made official when Wine Spectator identified the estate
as the second most representative of Italian vineyards. Today the Altesino estate covers roughly
64 hectares, with 27 dedicated to vines. These 27 hectares
are further divided into three subzones, called Altesino,
La Velona, and Montosoli (making up 5 ha of prized vines),
with a primary emphasis on Sangiovese. Good things are sure to continue from this estate
that is a genuine living legend."
Italian Wine Merchants, NYC
"Good full, bright red. Vibrant if idiosyncratic nose offers exotic peach and blood orange suggestions as well as a piquant mineral character. Sweet, intense and cleanly made, with a distinctly penetrating, high-pitched quality to the juicy flavors of red fruits, orange peel and peach. Conveys a strong impression of cooler terroir"
90 points, Stephen Tanzer
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Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2006 Napa Valley
[375ml/12case] $26.00
also available in [750 ml/6case] $51.85
 Remember the movie 'Sideways'? Well, the next big wine movie is about to hit theatres. 'Bottle Shock' starring Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman (release Fall 2008) tells the story of the Paris Tasting of 1976 when this Chardonnay (1974) toppled France's greatest wines in a blind tasting and put California wines on the global stage.
Incidently, the 1974 was made by Mike Grgich now of Grgich Hills, a Rogers & Co winery, and the Ridge Monte Bello, also a Rogers & Co wine, came fourth among reds, and has since won three subsequent taste offs held every decade since.
"The 2006 Chardonnay has slightly more honeyed apple notes and hints of freshly squeezed orange juice and lemon zest. The wine is incredibly consistent from year to year, seemingly regardless of vintage conditions, and the 2006 just seems to be slightly more evolved and forward than the 2005, but both, I am sure, will still be humming along 10 or more years from now."
91 points, The Wine Advocate, Dec 2007
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Chris McLean,
Sales Representative for Private Clients
Rogers & Co Chateau, Villa and Estate Wines
416 961 2294 x 29
www.rogcowines.com
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