Rogers & Company Newsletter Holiday Gifting November 2010 Greetings! In past years, we've offered wines from the top-tier of our portfolio for the holiday newsletter. However, we've found that what our clients really want is a selection of wines at "everyday" prices that can be used as gifts or poured at parties and dinners.  With this in mind I've selected a few wines that fit these parameters and that are not available at the LCBO - which I think makes them even more special. However, there were some wines that I just couldn't leave out of this newsletter. So, I have three categories for you to consider. The first are the 'everyday is special' wines described above.  Then I have a selection of mid-tier wines - wines that still offer fine value, but are built to impress.  Then I have a few big-guns, collectable, world-class wines that would make great gifts for close friends or family members, top clients or just to treat yourself to celebrate the successes of the past year. Prices here are per-bottle, HST in, exclusive of bottle deposit.  We sell only by the unmixed case and do offer delivery.  Our price lists are always available at Rogers & Company.  Please forward e-mail this to anybody who loves wine as much as you and I. Thanks for a wonderful 2010! Happy Holidays, Chris. Nino Franco "Faive Rosé" Brut 2009  [750ml/6case]   $22.95 From our world class Prosecco producer, were is a wonderful wine for all kinds of holiday parties.  It's not only a delicious, fruity and bubbly apertif, but it also has the body and complexity to pair well with a very wide range of foods.  Most of us enjoy turkey dinner at some time over the holidays and most critics recommend Viognier as the most versatile varietal for turkey with all the trimmings, but I think that the spiciness and cranberry flavours in this creamy, full bodied and bubbly wine are far more complimentary.  Packed in cases of six, this is a great style of wine to try for the first time. Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sur Lie "Les Pierre Blanches" 2009 [750ml/12cs]   $20.95 When Melon de Bourgogne is vinified by the region's top producers such as Domaine Luneau Papin, it produces one of Europe's most distinct and I think wonderous wines.  The "sur lie" aging, which means "on the lees" provides a depth of flavour and creaminess that you would normally expect to find in a wine from Burgundy.  The naturally high acidity in the grape balances this richness and produces a medium-full bodied white that displays elegance, minerality and impressive length.  Other than Champagne, there is no better wine for oysters or sushi. Grayson Cellars Chardonnay 2009 California  [750ml/12case]  $18.95 Grayson Cellars is new to the Rogers & Company portfolio.  They are a relatively young winery, purchasing high-quality fruit from premium regions like Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino and blending it to produce high-quality, varietally true wines at a very friendly price.  The previous 5 vintages have been awarded Robert Parker best buys. The 2009 was only recently released so has not yet been reviewed. He awarded the 2008 his best buy rating and 88 points and commented that, "There are 15,000 cases of the 2008 Chardonnay, which is completely fermented and aged in stainless steel. Elegant honeysuckle, orange blossom, and tropical fruit aromas are followed by a nicely-textured, medium-bodied Chardonnay displaying outstanding purity, freshness, and overall equilibrium. Enjoy it over the next year." Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Marlborough  [750ml/12case]  $17.95 Stoneburn is a small winery opened by Hunter's Winery in 1989  in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough, a sub-district renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc. This is classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with fresh aromas are of gooseberry, meyer lemon and light grassy notes.  On the palate you'll find flavours of white grapefruit and gooseberry enlivened by mouthwatering acidity. The finish is clean, lively and elegant. This is a beautiful companion for Thai foods, cold seafood or cocktail-party type appetizers. Rochford "Latitude" Pinot Noir 2008  [750ml/12case]   $20.95 The fruit for this very pretty wine is sourced both in the Macedon Ranges and Yarra Valley areas of Victoria. Both areas are well known for their affinities to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay because of the limestone soils and maritime influence. Inexpensive, good Pinot Noir is not always easy to find.  The thin skins and tight bunches make growing it difficult, but when it is done right, man, what a wine!  Mid cherry red in colour and brilliantly translucent. The nose shows distinct Point Noir fruit - a combination of lifted cherry and baking spice, forest floor and toasty oak. The palate is rich and soft with fine savoury note. Fine grape tannins support a long, clean finish. Château Le Breuil Renaissance 2007 Médoc  $18.95   [750ml/12case] Located in Bégadan in the northern Médoc, Château Le Breuil Renaissance has been in the care of the Berard family since 1920 but bottling of the estate wine began only twenty years ago. The vineyard, not far from La Gironde is calcareous clay and is therefore planted with 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, not the other way around as is the norm for "left bank" wines.  These vines average 35 years, but a small plot of 100 year old vines is still in production. This blend of approximately 60-40 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and it sees a 12 month French oak maturation, 30% of which is new. The 2007 reveals ripe red fruits, cherries and ripe plums on the nose. The palate follows through with ripe tannins and a long, fresh, fruity finish. That caress of French oak comes through in the finish. Drink this lovely Claret in the near-term, 3-5 years. Querciabella "Mongrana" IGT 2008  [750ml/12case]   $24.95 The Maremma region of Tuscany is exciting and relatively new, full of producers trying new winemaking techniques and experimenting with international varieties and blends.  This biodynamically farmed blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a serious mouthful of a wine.  Consider it an "everyday Super-Tuscan". The Sangiovese shows itself as the high-toned, almost balsamic-tinged cherry and pomegranate flavours, the Cabernet adds another layer of blue fruit flavour and the grip of tannin, and the Merlot contributes plumpness and mid-palate weight. This is a versatile wine, great with grilled meats, cheese platers or just all by itself in a tall glass. Neagle's Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 2008  [750ml/12case]   $26.95 Neagle's Rock is a small winery located in the Clare Valley region of South Australia.  The Clare valley is unique as far as wine growing regions goes in that the specialties are Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet.  Three varietals not grown side-by-side with much success anywhere else. However, the granitic soils and continental climate produce wines with a crunchy, minerally, soil driven character which I personally think is fantastic. This Cabernet is medium to full bodied, with flavours of black currants and black berries and hints of fresh herbs and sweet tobacco.  The acidity and tannins are in a nice balance.  I suspect this wine could age for quite a few years, but it is drinking really well now.  It is quite impressive for the price. Neagles Rock is a "4 star" winery, the highest award bestowed by James Halliday, Australia's most respected critic. Migration Pinot Noir 2008 Anderson Valley  [750ml/12case]    $39.95 Migration is a "sister" label to Goldeneye, Duckhorn Wine Company's premium Pinot Noir, not a second label.  Second labels imply lesser wine, this wine is made independantly of Goldeneye, using some lots that could make the cut for Goldeneye, and separate vineyards altogether. The nose displays bright cherry, strawberry compote, violet and rhubarb layers, alongside more exotic elements of Asian spice, hickory, earth and roasted meats. These aromatics are echoed on the palate, and further supported by juicy acidity and notes of strawberry, plum, toffee, pie crust and a hint of white pepper. Frog's Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay 2008  [750ml/12case]  $39.95 This lovely Chardonnay offers the best of all styles.  Initially some of the wine is fermented in steel and some in barriques, then portions of these wines go into oak for maturation and some of it stays in steel tanks, furthermore, some portions undergo malolactic fermentation, some doesn't.  The final blend offers the fresh acidity of non-oaked Chardonnay and the complex, toasty flavours of oaked Chardonnay.  Its really a quite multi-faceted flavour profile. Aromas of pear and white peaches are layered with delicate notes of honeysuckle and peach blossoms. The wine enters the palate with flavours of green apple, citrus, and a hint of vanilla; all underscored by its racier mineral-and-slate essence. With a finish that is clean and tart, it practically begs for the next sip-making it a great wine to pair with your meal. "Aromas of melon, pear and apricot fruit.  Crisp and juicy on the palate with a long, persistent finish." Decanter World Wine Awards, Oct 2010 St. Francis "Old Vines" Sonoma County Zinfandel 2006  [750ml/12case]   $31.95 When southern Italian immigrants first came to Sonoma County in the late 1800's, they brought with them any hardy vine that would produce a good crop and produce very flavourful wines.  The dominant varietal was Zinfandel.  Lucky for us that many of these families are still farming these vineyards today, which are now gnarled, low-yielding centenary vines, producing small, concentrated, deeply flavoured grapes. St. Francis has enviable long term contracts with these growers, providing the grapes for this blend which is very dark, but quite silky, with St. Francis' hallmark stamp of new oak.  It is a very versatile food wine despite its heft.  The tannins are quite fine and the finish is very long.  The alcohol is almost imperceptable, mainly providing a rich mouthfeel.  I can picture a char grilled porterhouse slathered in marrow butter right now. Frog's Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007  [750ml/12case]   $59.95 I can't say enough about the wines from Frog's Leap.  To me this wine is the definition of Napa Cab.  Fresh herb notes like thyme and bay leaf, a "fresh garden vegetable" component buried beneath mounds of black currant and strawberry flavours, gentle oak nuances - really balanced and juicy.  Wine & Spirits magazine just named this the Top "Cabernet or Cabernet Blend" of the year in their recent "Buying Guide",  I couldn't agree more. "John Williams at Frog's Leap is not out to make the ripest Cabernet in the valley. He's a grower, and it appears that he's tuned his organically farmed vines precisely to the long, moderate 2007 season, producing a wine that stretches from the roots to the leaves and reaches toward cool, pure, tightly balanced fruit.  It's an elegant Cabernet, the fruit transparent enough to show the character of Rutherford through the lens of woodland strawberries and red and black currants.  Delicious on release, this gets better with air, as it will in bottle.  A wine to cellar for 10 years and enjoy along the way with lamb." 94 points, Wine & Spirits magazine, June 2010 Duckhorn "Monitor Ledge" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006  [750ml/6case]    $99.95 In the shadow of Mount St. Helena lies Monitor Ledge Vineyard, at the southwest corner of the intersection between Larkmead Lane and the Silverado Trail.  The vineyard has been in production for over 100 years.  The soil structure and microclimate of the vineyard are ideal. Located on the alluvial fan of Selby Creek, the site is composed of cobblestones and a gravelly, sandy loam. Water drains rapidly in the lean soil, causing the vines to struggle to grow, thereby bringing about the fruit intensity and structure that make the wines from this area so unique. "If arguably a slightly smaller scaled wine than its more opulent mates, this bottling still shows fine fruity depth as well as the polish that seems a Duckhorn signature in 2006. It takes a somewhat more mannerly and elegant tack yet has a fine sense of muscle as well, and, while never a powerful wine, it hangs on and on at the finish. Tag it for drinking in three or four years, but know that its balance and depth will ensure a good ten years of life." 90 points, Connoisseur's Guide to California Wines, August 2010 Duckhorn "Howell Mountain" 2001  [750ml/6case]   estimated  $85.95 Our first shipment of this wine was pre-reserved quite quickly, so I am now offering reservations for 10 more cases.  Arrival would be in the new year, probably late January.  If I receive more than 10 requests for this wine, I'll do my best to be fair with the distribution. "Wildly fragrant aromas of freshly crushed blackberry, cocoa, dried sage and a hint of mint. Complex and richly textured with medium-full, integrated tannins, this powerful yet harmonious Merlot offers a deep core of blackberry-cassis fruit tinged with bright raspberry enhanced by nutmeg, bittersweet chocolate and creamy oak. A touch of dried sage emerges in the finish." Best Wines of 2005 and Top 10 Merlots, The Wine News, Dec 2005 Duckhorn "Howell Mountain" 2004  [750ml/6case]   $85.95 I have only 8 cases of this fantastic wine available, and according to the tasting note below, its just now coming into its prime drinking window.  Although I've not had this vintage (yet), some older Duckhorn "Howell Mountain" wines have been some of the most memorable wine drinking experiences I can recall. "Almost entirely Merlot, with a few drops of other Bordeaux varieties, this Howell Mountain red screams for time in the cellar. The tannis bite and dog the mouth through the long astringent finish. But chew on it for a while and you hit a deep core of blackberries and currants, and the more the wine warms up in the glass, the more impressive it gets. Cellar until 2010, and it should reward for years after." 95 points, Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast, December 2008 Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006  [750ml/12case]   est'd $115.95      ETA late-January 2011 Since we introduced this wine in the 2004 vintage it has received no less than 94 points from Robert Parker in any vintage.  This 2006 also received 94 points from Wine Spectator, following a 93 in 2005 and a 91 in 2004 (I don't agree with Mr. Laube on this score).  The 2006 was truly one of the top wines at our Portfolio Show 2010, held earlier this month, and to top it off, it was announced last week that the 2007 is Wine Spectator's #5 Wine of the Year for 2010.  Needless to say, we have to order more of the 2006 to meet the demand. Reserve your case now, they should be arriving in late January. "The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) possesses aromas of creme de cassis, white chocolate, espresso roast, dusty, loamy soil, and a full-bodied structure. With rich, powerful flavours that cascade over the palate as well as beautiful purity and depth, it will be even better with another 2-4 years of cellaring, and is capable of lasting 20-25 years." 94 points, Robert Parker, December 2009 "A brilliant 2006, showing gorgeous, rich, supple and juicy blackberry-laced Cabernet flavours that are bold and intense, yet supple and refined, with complex mocha, roasted herb, espresso and anise flavours that combine power and finesse.  Drink now through 2020." 94 points, Wine Spectator, May 2010 Continuum 2007   [750ml/6case]   $188.95 Continuum is the newest project from Tim Mondavi, of Mondavi Winery and Opus One fame.  This wine is grown on Pritchard Hill just above St. Helena, prime real estate for top Cabs from Bryant Family, Chappellet and Colgin.  In only 3 vintages it has quickly established itself as one of Napa's top wines. Robert Parker has yet to review this vintage, but he awarded the 2005 95 points and the 2006 96 points.  I hope there's a trend here - a 97 in 2007 perhaps? "A wonderful expression of Cabernet, sleek and polished, with a mix of rich, layered black cherry, currant, wild berry and plum fruit that's intense, concentrated, focused and stylish, turning spicy, with cedary anise and sage notes on a long, persistent finish.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2020." 97 points, Wine Spectator, April 2010 "Feels fancy and important in the mouth, with pure, refined tannins housing ripe, complex flavours of blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, chocolate, exotic spices and sweet, smoky oak.  The finish is dry but with a tinge of sweetness, like an infused blackberry liqueur, which probably is the result of high alcohol (15.3%).  Very rich and layered, and a great addition to the Napa cult Cab pantheon.  Cabernet, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot." 97 points, Wine Enthusiast, July 2010 Chris McLean 416 961 2294 x 29