THE PERFECT GIFT - WINE OF THE MONTH
Now three levels to choose from:
Quality - Two wines, one red and one white, chosen for their great value and taste with a touch of uniqueness, making each one a wine adventure. Never more than $30 plus tax for the pair.
Premium - One wine each month, alternating red and white, that showcase terroir, that "sense of place," from around the world. A perfect gift for the more experienced wine drinker who likes to enjoy a variety of fine wine. $30-40 plus tax per month.
NEW! - High-end Red - Small production, highly rated red wines you are sure to enjoy now or years down the road. Perfect for those just starting to fill a wine cellar or for the seasoned collector. $40-90 plus tax per month.
QualityJuly 2010
CHATEAU LOS BOLDOS
2008 "MOMENTOS" CARMENERE
Founded in 1991 and located in the Rapel Valley in Chile, Viňa Chateau Los Boldos earned its place in the market based on the quality of its wines. In 2008 Viňa Chateau Los Boldos was bought by Sogrape Group, a Portuguese family company known for brands such as Finca Flichman and Ferreira Port. Sogrape's widespread production facilities are in Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Spain and New Zealand.
The Carmenere grapes for the "Momentos" wine are manually harvested and then fermented in stainless steel tanks for a period of 8 to 10 days. These tanks control the temperature of fermentation to stay between 25-28 °C. Finally the wine is aged 6 months in French (50%) and American (50%) oak barrels, with 6 months in bottle, before release.
Although Carmenere is grown in other places, Chile is the most notable producer. This grapes stands out for its balance and its typical chocolate and blackberry jelly flavors. A medium weight and complex body with soft tannins, along with its dark fruit flavors make this Carmenere a wide-range food pairing choice.
Food pairing: exotic rabbit or buffalo sausages sautéed with garlic, onions and peppers and your favorite spices.
Price: 9.99
QualityJuly 2010
LOREDONA
2008 VIOGNIER
Loredona Vineyards crafts deliciously different, delightfully aromatic white wines from Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Viognier grapes grown in their beautiful family-owned, sustainably-farmed vineyard estate in Monterey and Lodi, California. They have the "Goldilocks" climate for these intriguing varieties - "not too hot and not too cold" equals the "just right" environment for bright, balanced wines.
Loredona made this wine from grapes grown in their Lodi Clay Station vineyard at the base of the Sierra Foothills, between Galt and Ione, where Viognier captures the warmth and cooling breezes. The vineyard gets its name from a stagecoach station that was in that location during the California Gold Rush.
Viognier (pronounced "vee-own-yay") is different from other white wines, notably in its bouquet. It has overtones of gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine,the truly sweet smelling flowers. The taste is often of stone fruits such as nectarine, peaches, or apricots. The lightness lends a crispness, but the alcohol content, higher than many light whites, makes it a viable wine for heavier foods.
Loredona's 2008 Viognier offers aromas of sweet oranges, white peaches and apricots with a hint of lychee and guava. These aromatics are complemented by crisp and refreshing nectarine and citrus fruit flavors on the palate. The luscious fruit character of this wine is balanced with a crisp acidity and mineral notes, especially on the finish, making this elegant Viognier a perfect match for a variety of dishes.
Try Viognier as a refreshing alternative to Chardonnay. It is full-bodied without any oak influence, so it matches well with calamari antipasto, pasta dishes with cream-based sauces, fresh seafood and spicy chicken curries.
The 2008 Viognier received a Gold Medal in the 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition, a Silver Medal at the 2009 California State Fair, and a Silver Medal at the 2009 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
Price: 9.99
QualityJuly 2010
DOMAINE LA GUINTRANDY
2008 SAINT-LEGER "COMTE DE GRIGNAN"
In the heart of the Rhone Valley of Southern France, just to the north of the famous vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape sits a little town named Visan. It is considered the best spot in the Valley for Cotes du Rhone wines. Since 1850 the domaine (winery and vineyards) has been a family estate and Marie-Claude and Olivier Cuilleras are the fifth and sixth generation of owner winegrowers.
The owners use a mix of traditional and modern methods to produce wines of distinction. Practically all of their wines are unfiltered. Also, they intentionally reduced the SO2 content of the wines in order to respect the wine's integrity and to avoid dry flavors (and headaches) that can sometimes be found in other wines. The grapes are tended by hand and are given gentle care, both in the vineyard and in the winery. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures and is bottled after 6 months of aging.
The 2007 Vin de Pays grapes (50% Grenache and 50% Syrah) grow on stony calcareous sandstone. The resulting wine is generous, well-structured and aromatic. It is juicy, fleshy and soft, with an easy-going style full of blackberry, cherry and raspberry notes with hints of violets and licorice.
This Vin de Pay wine can be laid down for a short time with no problem. The winery recommends that you decant it before a meal in order to benefit from the wine's full flavor. Food suggestion: Mediterranean cuisine.
Bonne degustation!
Price: 8.99
Premium July 2010
MAX FERD. RICHTER
BRAUNEBERGER JUFFER-SOHHENUHR
2007 SPATLESE
The estate of
Max Ferd. Richter has been under family ownership for more than 300 years. Today this enterprise is one of the leading producers of top Riesling wines in the heart of the central Mosel area with total holdings of 40 acres and an annual production of about 10,500 cases.
The reputation of the Brauneberg is reported far back in history. In 591 AD the Franconian King Childebert II gave his state property "Molendinum" (Mülheim) to the Archbishop of Verdun. The best vineyard was the Brauneberg. Thomas Jefferson, whose competence and fame as a connoisseur is still being reflected today by occasional auctions of bottles from his private stock, appreciated the Brauneberg wines as the best of those from the Mosel, which he had tasted when travelling through the Rhine and Mosel valleys in 1788.
order to reduce quantity and increase concentration, pruning is severe. The vintage is picked much later than that of most growers and is done entirely by hand. Three passes are done to select the best qualities to eliminate all inferior grapes and to keep perfect botrytis bunches or single berries for the Auslese quality level - and above. All estate wines are fermented and matured, temperature controlled, in traditional oak casks (Fuders) so that the individual character of each wine can develop to its full potential. Excellent storage facilities ensure careful ageing. Richter wines are made to last!
In a good year, from the end of the flowering to the start of picking usually takes 100 days but in 2007 it took 135 days. This slow ripening permitted Riesling to acquire a fresh, high mineral structure as in 2004, with crystal clear flavors and a lovely fruit balance. "The 2007 vintage might be compared in quantity and in quality with the splendid 1983 vintage," according to current owner Max Richter.
Food pairings: This Spatlese Riesling is very "food friendly" and pairs well with most white meats, game birds, spicy Asian and Indian cuisine. Also, a beautiful aperitif.
Price: 29.99
High-End Red July 2010
LEONETTI
2008 MERLOT
It is little wonder Leonetti Cellar wines are cherished by customers as something very special and a must for any discerning wine collector. Leonetti is one of the most famous small wineries in the Pacific Northwest - and perhaps in the nation. The Walla Walla, Washington winery's Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots have received lofty ratings by international wine media and are ranked as some of the best in the world.
Gary Figgins bonded Leonetti Cellars in 1977 and has been producing premium wine commercially since 1978. Leonetti is absolutely the pioneer winery of the Walla Walla Valley. They were the first to set up shop in Walla Walla, and with their estate vineyards, they helped to establish a reputation for quality that has now drawn more than 100 wineries to the region. Gary's son Chris is now the head winemaker, and the two "keep tweaking things in the vineyards and cellar as they move toward totally biodynamic farming. As usual, their wines are benchmarks against which others must be measured." (Jay Miller, writing in Wine Advocate, October 2009).
Leonetti wines are also difficult to find. One option is to join the waiting list for the Leonetti mailing list (the mailing list has been closed for many years). They currently estimate the waiting time at 5-8 years, so with any luck, you could make it onto the list in 2015.
The wines made by Gary and Chris Figgins are the most sought-after in Washington State. Much of the attraction for sophisticated wine lovers is the impeccable balance and structure from great fruit, winemaking experience and judicious use of oak aging. At this young age, the Leonetti 2008 Merlot benefits from decanting for breathing purposes and offers elegant cherry and blackberry aromas with complex toasty, herbal and floral aromas. The palate is tight with flavors of ripe cherry and cassis embraced by toasty oak and ample tannins. If you want to wait, give the wine three or more years age in your cellar.
Food pairing: rich beef dishes work wonderfully with this wine.
Price: 79.99
Beer July 2010
WEIHENSTEPHANER
HEFE WEISSBIER
WORLD CUP PACKAGE
As the oldest brewery in the world, Weihenstephan occupies an exalted site atop Weihenstephan Hill in the Bavarian city of Freising. It is this unique combination of tradition and custom, proven knowledge, and modern science, which gives the brewery its incomparable identity and permits it to brew beers of the highest quality. This Bavarian State Brewery, Weihenstephan, dates back to the year 1040. Internationally recognized as a site for brewing science and education, Weihenstephan combines tradition and craft to produce high-quality premium brews.
On the western edge of Freising is a former monastery complex. Many of the original buildings still stand in some form. Today the site houses Weihenstephan brewery. Their recipes date back to the earliest times of beer production.
Nothing refreshes you more than this naturally cloudy wheat beer with its wonderful yeasty fragrance and taste. It pairs well with dishes that do not have too intense a flavor, and of course it goes well with that Bavarian speciality white sausage called "Weisswurst."
We hope you enjoy the special packaging of Weihenstephaner's Hefe Weissbier, produced in honor of the World Cup soccer games.
Price: 9.99
