Rogers & Company Newsletter
September 2009
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Greetings!
As the leaves change so do our schedules, eating habits and our palates. My summer taste for crisp whites and aromatic reds leans more towards softer, more full-bodied whites like Viognier, Pinot Blanc, and terroir-driven Chardonnay and to richer reds with more earthy character - Sangiovese, cool-climate Cabernet and Shiraz.
Complementary to these wines are heartier foods, the darker savoury flavours of autumn - stews, roasts, casseroles, "truffled everything" and my favourite, osso bucco or similarly braised dishes.
So, here are ten wines that I recommend, prices are per bottle, pre-GST. We sell only in unmixed cases and can offer free delivery for two or more cases in the GTA. As always, prices are per bottle, pre-GST.
Please visit Rogers & Company for a fully updated catalogue and to learn more about our wineries and upcoming releases.
My best regards,
Chris.
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Tiefenbrunner "Cuvée Anna" 2008 Pinot Grigio/Pinot Bianco
[750ml/6case] $24.95
 The
Sudtirol in Northern Italy may well be one of the truly unspoiled
corners of the world. The rivers run clean and clear and the
wind-whipped slopes of the Alps provide an unusually sunny yet cool
home for the 50 year old vines that produce this wine.
The Tiefenbrunner name will be familiar to many people as for years it
has been our benchmark for Italian Pinot Grigio. Cuvée Anna is a blend
of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco and comes from the wineries "Castel
Turmhof" range - a series of Estate bottlings a notch above our regular
offering.
There is
almost a sense of alchemy at work in this wine. Either variety on their
own produces wonderfully compelling wines but together there is this
amazing synergy. The Pinot Bianco gives the wines its intensity and
body and compliments the spicier elements of Pinot Grigio. This is a
succulent wine, beautiful in its youth but will fill out further and
become more enjoyable over 12 or more months in the cellar.
Although this 2008 is currently not rated, the 20007 received 89 points from Wine Spectator, with the following tasting note:
"Intense tropical fruit aromas, with hints of mineral and apple skin.
Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a lovely texture that
turns to cream and light toffee."
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Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2007 [750ml/12case] $21.85
 Six
vineyards contributed to the blend of this perennial favourite,
including
Byron Vineyard in Santa Barbara and Scheid Vineyard in Monterey. A
combination of stainless steel and oak fermentation creates complexity
in the aromas and flavours of bright clean fruit. Partial maturation in
a combination of French and Hungarian oak adds light, harmonious toasty
oak character. The perfect wine for those who like a little oak in
their wine but still want to taste bright primary fruit.
Gold Medal, Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition 2009
Double Gold Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition 2009
Gold Medal, Orange County Wine Society 2009
Silver Medal, California State Fair 2009
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Ridge "Santa Cruz Mountains" Chardonnay 2007 [750ml/12case] $57.95
 Although
best known for their long lived red wines Ridge has been producing
Chardonnay at Monte Bello in the Santa Cruz Mountains since the early
'60s. The cool climate and fractured limestone subsoil are well suited
to this variety.
The 2005 vintage was awarded Wine Spectator's #2 Wine of the Year in
2007.
"Combines
richness with an elegant, delicate mouthfeel, showing deep
layers of ripe fig and green pear, honeydew melon and smoky oak.
Balanced, focused, pure and lingering. Drink now through 2013."
93
points, Wine Spectator, July 30, 2009
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Hunter's Gewurztraminer 2008 [750ml/12case] $20.95
 Jane
Hunter, the first lady of the Marlborough wine industry has produced
another beautiful wine to complement the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot
Noir that we have in our portfolio. Less spicy and Muscat-y than
Alsatian or Canadian Gewurztraminers, this has an almost understated
elegance that makes it more food friendly.
This is an aromatic Gewurztraminer with aromas and flavours of turkish
delight
and cinnamon. The flavours linger through to a long off-dry finish.
It
is a well balanced wine that is appealing to drink now but will
reward 3-4 years cellaring.
It won best
of class at the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
"An ethereal Gewurztraminer that's delicately aromatic and has great
purity. The flavours are classically varietal; rose petal with a hint
of clove/spice. An off-dry style with subtle power."
90
points, Bob Campbell, Master of Wine |
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Ralph Fowler Limestone Coast Viognier 2006 [750ml/12case] $23.95
 Viognier
makes a lovely, exotic alternative to those that enjoy full bodied
Chardonnays. Coming from Mt. Benson in the cool climate Limestone
Coast region of South Australia, it has the character of white
peaches, lychees, custard,
apple and honeysuckle. The palate is broad and expressive. Intensely flavoured yet soft on the palate, with an elegant perfume,
this wine can
accompany a wide range of dishes and cheeses.
"Deep
colour; a bit of struck match complexity, with straw and spiced apricot
on the palate;
rich and long."
89
points, James Halliday, February 2009
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Querciabella "Mongrana" IGT Maremma 2007 [750ml/12case] $23.85
 The word "Mongrana" is a reference to Ariosto's epic poem "Mad Orlando", one of the most influential poems ever written. A fantastic love story of Paladins, Saracens, orcs, fairies and hippogriffs.
This wine is as magical as the poem - a biodynamically farmed super-tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the coastal Maremma region in western Tuscany surrounding Bolgheri.
An aromatic wine with a chewy, full mid palate, flavours of bright cherry, blood orange and pomegranate, well integrated seasoned oak, and a crisp, long finish. Mongrana is positioned as an "introductory" level wine in the Querciabella line-up - a real value for the quality that this esteemed winery is known for.
I recommend drinking this young for its exhuberance, but I wouldn't hesitate to hold a few in the cellar for 4-6 years and follow its evolution.
"This supple, spicy biodynamic beauty is one of the best Italian wines I've had in ages."
Jonathan Ray, The Daily Telegraph, July 28, 2008
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Kenwood "Jack London Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
[750ml/12case] $42.95 [375ml/12case] $21.75
 This volcanic-soil vineyard in Glen Ellen is not only famous for the homestead of writer Jack London, but for producing extremely long-lived, one-of-a-kind, rich red wines. The 2005 is the 29th vintage produced, and I can speak from personal experience that the 1994 is drinking beautifully right now and the 1997 is just a baby.
"Opulent blackcurrant nose, rich, vibrant and pure. Sumptuous and full-bodied, yet spicy and vigorous, beautifully balanced. From 2010."
5 of 5 stars, Decanter Award Winner, January 2009
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Duckhorn "Paraduxx" 2006 [750ml/6case] $59.95
 Paraduxx is
a unique Napa Valley Red Wine in the tradition of the world's great
blends. From the Super Tuscan wines of Italy to the Shiraz-Cabernet
blends of Australia, each great winegrowing region has created its own
authentic varietal pairings. The goal with Paraduxx is to craft a
world-class blend with a distinctly Californian personality by using
Zinfandel, a grape synonymous with California, Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon.
"This deep, impressively extracted version of this perennial CGCW favorite marries well-defined blackberry fruit with a layer of ripe currants, a good dose of sweet oak and touches of milk-chocolate. Its sense of layered richness and its accents of sweet earth speak to classic Napa Valley character, and, thanks to its provenance, its unique mix of grapes and the attention that the Duckhorn folks pay to it, it continues to be a more sophisticated wine than Zinfandel typically yields."
94 points, A highly distinctive wine. Likely to be memorable,
Connoisseur's Guide to California Wines, September 2009
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Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 [750ml/12case] $89.95
 Few
wineries in the world have have
the reputation for quality and consistency that Caymus has. Be it their
ultra premium "Special Selection" or this, their more modestly priced
"Napa Valley" bottling, 2006 is another highly regarded vintage for
this wine and is the last time it will be readily available in Ontario.
"Full-blown, ripe and rich, with intense and sharply focused dried currant, wild berry and blackberry fruit that's still fairly tannic at this stage. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Best from 2010 through 2015. 33,900 cases made."
92 points, Wine Spectator, web 2008
"Younger sibling of caymus' Special selection cabernet, it's similar in style: ripe, black fruit, concentrated, intense and with plenty of chocolatey oak, yet there is nuance too, with licorice, black olive and cedar shadings. From 2009"
4 of 5 stars, Highly Recommended, Decanter September 2009
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Balgownie Estate Shiraz 2006 Bendigo [750ml/12case] $28.35
 "Opaque ruby. Pungent red and dark berries on the nose, with a suave floral quality adding vivacity. Spicy raspberry and cherry flavours become sweeter with air and supple tannins gather strength on the back end. Maintains focus and energy through a long, juicy finish. This is an outstanding value."92 points, International Wine Cellar, July/August 2008
"The purple-coloured 2006 Shiraz contains 2% Viognier. Fragrant and expressive it offers up a nose of scorched earth, mineral, blueberry, and blackberry. Ripe and smooth textured, it has excellent depth and length. It will benefit from another two years of cellaring and be at its best from 2010 to 2018."
91 points, Wine Advocate, February 2009
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Chris McLean
Sales Representative for Private Clients
Rogers & Company
phone: 416 961 2294 x 29
chris@rogcowines.com
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