Champane's Wine Cellars February 2010 Newsletter

Champanes Wine Cellar & International Marketplace

Champane's Wine Cellars

February 2010

Tasting Notes

2007 MERCER RIESLING

If I could climb into a bell tower and shout out to all Riesling lovers, I would echo wonderful news. This Washington State Riesling is one of the most unique wines I've tasted in quite awhile. Made in the off-dry style, is erupts with great fruit components of apricot, peach, green apple, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit and crisp citrus. Every tastes brings out another complex savory flavor that makes it so lip smacking good. So non traditional creamy and juicy, this will pair wonderfully with a wide range of cuisine from Asian to Indian, from fowl to seafood.

2007 JC CELLARS IMPOSTER

Owner and winemaker Jeff Cohn, the Wizard that he is, is not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes as the name would imply. In fact, he has again hit pay dirt with this highly rated fantastic blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Syrah and Viognier. This small production beauty hits full throttle and pedal to the metal in black cherry and black currant fruit, with a back splash of black licorice, coffee, clove and spice. Super sleek and intoxicating with every sip, it imitates no one in it's realm. The Imposter stands alone as one superb effort from the one time guru behind many of the great Rosenblum classics. You won't be fooled, you won't be conned, The Imposter is the real deal for under $30.

2008 TERRE di SOLE SANGIOVESE

I went into tasting this inexpensive red with the notion that it was just going to be another everyday Italian Chianti from Tuscany. From first sniff, swirl, and taste, I thought this was equal to many Riserva's I've sampled at three times the price. Much to my surprise, it's not even Tuscan! It's from Sicily, and more intense than many of it's Northern counterpart. Ruby red in color, it explodes with plum and cherry fruit, with cocoa and a nice tobacco character that sits silky on the palate. Those who complain of unfriendly high alcohol beasts should adore this 12.5% gem which screams to accompany pizza and pasta on your next dinner meal.

2005 MR. BLACK'S CONCOCTION SHIRAZ - VIOGNIER

Those who seek meaty, beefy, big and bouncy, look no further than this deeply concentrated Aussie devil. With highly extracted dark fruit of blueberry and fig, black pepper, chocolate and licorice, it almost comes off as a poor man's Southern Hemisphere Amarone with it's thick rich characters. Despite it's high alcohol, it still comes off highly balanced and rusticly elegant. If you want a sure fire no brainer - teeth stainer under $20, Mr. Black is the fact jack!

Best Value of the Month Over $20.00

Moet Chandon
Rose Champagne

$47.99

Piper Heidsieck
Rose Champagne

$43.99

Roederer Estate
Rose Champagne

$28.99

Best Value Under $20.00

Cat Shaped Red Bottle of Riesling

$9.99

ChocoVine
a blend of Red Wine & Dutch Chocolate

$8.99

Menage-A-Trois
Rose

$7.99

DID YOU KNOW.................In jolly ole England, pub drinks are served in pints and quarts. English bartenders would respectfully ask unruly customers to mind their pints and quarts. This is said to be where the origin of the phrase "mind your P's and Q's came from.

WINE TRIVIA...............What do wine and marriage have in common? In ancient Babylon, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the Mead, a honey fermented wine, he could drink for a month after the wedding ceremony. Because of the lunar or moon based calendar, this period of free mead was known as "honey month", or more commonly referred to today as, the honeymoon.

	Great February 2010 Wines Values
Babbiano Chianti $6.99 Cotes du Rhone Rose Guigal $14.69 Dubonnet Red $10.99