|
|
| 2009 Maestoso and La Sophia! | November 2012 | |
|
Salve,
 | |
Severine holds a perfect bunch of Merlot grapes from the Maestoso block
|
If you've looked out the window you've no doubt noticed that fall is upon us. With the cold and wet weather here it is the perfect time to release our big red wines!
We are fortunate this year to have two big reds to release: the 2009 Maestoso Merlot, and the special edition 2009 La Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our regular drinkers are no doubt familiar with Maestoso; it is the most grandiose wine we make and a perennial favourite. Production of Maestoso in recent vintages is much reduced; only 148 cases were made in 2009, less than half what was produced in 2008. La Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps a little less known; we only make this wine in special vintages and have only released it once previously. The critical review on the 2009 La Sophia is incredible; one critic commented that it might be "one of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons ever made in Canada."
We guarantee that both are the perfect drink to help you weather the winter months.
In this issue:
Finally, don't forget that the holidays are right around the corner. The 2009 Maestoso and 2009 La Sophia make perfect gifts for the wine lover on your list. On top of this, LaStella offers some terrific gift boxes for the holiday season. You can see the available gift boxes here on our website.
Salute! |
New Release Wines
We've made both wines available for purchase on our website; however, due to the low production of these wines we are going to enforce bottle limits on purchases.
Keep in mind that we offer a 10% discount on cases of 12 bottles. Vivace Pinot Grigio and LaStellina Rosato make fantastic holiday sippers and are a great way to complete a case with the big boy reds.
|
 2009 LaStella Maestoso Solo Merlot (148 cases produced)
 This is our flagship wine: the jewel in own crown.
The 2009 growing season was the warmest anyone can remember in the last 15 years. The finished wines show exuberant, lush fruit and subtle yet exotic notes. Luckily, our desert climate gives us very cool evenings, which balance out the lush ripe fruit flavours with great natural acidity. In our efforts to add lift to this already breathtaking and astoundingly rich wine we blended in small amounts of Merlot from our Feuille d'Or vineyard in the Golden Mile.
Maestoso is always opaque in color; there is a pronounced nose of blue fruit, smoked meat and café mocha. Huge, mouth coating, creamy, ripe tannins lead through to an astonishing finish lasting well over a minute.
Food Pairing:
Maestoso demands the best cut of meat available. A simple preparation will let the wine speak to you and show you all that it has to offer.
Liam Carrier (Iconwines.ca)
"The Maestoso is a massive wine that seeks to knock your socks off with its unapologetic, Old World, heavy tannins and bone-dry texture. Comprised of 100% Merlot sourced from old vines on the Osoyoos Lake and Golden Mile benches producing intense dark berry fruit, huge ripe tannins and a touch of cool menthol. This wine needs a further 5-7 years to mature in order to properly appreciate the nuances of fruit, terroir and oak that are only barely perceptible today beneath the tannins. Bottled promise. Drink 2016-2019+." (92 points) |
2009 LaStella La Sophia Cabernet Sauvignon (48 cases produced)
 Unlike 2008 (a long and cool growing season), the 2009 vintage was hot from the get go - the sun shone brightly until the early frost in the second week of October. The resulting wines show ripe fruit, round acidity and slightly higher alcohol levels. In the Okanagan Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon rarely achieves a level of physiological ripeness that allows it to stand on its own feet. The warmth of the 2009 vintage, however, allowed us to do just that! La Sophia is akin to the great Cabernet Sauvignons from the coastal areas of Tuscany: Maremma and Bolgheri. Similarly La Sophia draws comparison to great Cabernets from Washington State, rather than the plusher and fatter examples from Napa Valley. La Sophia presents a great nose of cassis and cigar box mixed with pain grillé and smoked prosciutto. On the palate there is great weight, firm and present tannins and balanced levels of acidity. Food Pairing: The tannins are firmer and the acidity is higher than our Merlots. As a result the wine benefits from pairing with fattier cuts of meat and dishes that are higher in acidity. Herb crusted rack of lamb is a winning pairing. David Lawrason "This might just be one the greatest Cabernets ever made in Canada. It could be Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River, Coonawarra or Alto Maipo. There is as blast of blackcurrant, framed by mint, sage, chocolate and some animal notes. It is medium-full bodied, tense, deep and riveting on the palate. Yes, there's some greenness on the finish, with chewy tannins, but this has great penetration and vitality. It will drink at its best from 2015 to 2022 and beyond. (tasted 28 June, 2012)" (93 Points) Liam Carrier (Iconwines.ca)
"A stunning Cabernet Sauvignon that grips your attention from the first sniff of sweet, concentrated dark berry fruit and deep licorice aromas. The truly gorgeous palate follows with a near perfect balance between the ripe, silky tannins, elegant texture and smooth acidity. Complex, captivating and feminine this beautiful Cabernet should last and evolve over a decade yet is tasting very well today. Drink 2012-2019." (93+ points) |
Harvest 2012 is a Wrap!
 | |
Sangiovese Grosso hangs on the vine just before harvest
|
Harvest wrapped up for LaStella on October 26th this year as the last of the Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese arrived at the winery. This brings our harvest to completion almost exactly a month after it started on September 24th.
Overall we've been delighted with the fruit that we have harvested this year. After three challenging vintages in a row it was a pleasure to work through a comfortable, relaxed and, hopefully, perfect vintage like this!
Of course, at the winery the work has just begun. Fermentation has been underway for a month and will continue for several more weeks. After that the red wines will need to be pressed off their skins and reds and whites alike will be moved to barrel or stainless steel for aging and eventually blending. |
Introducing the Piccolo Club! The LaStella Piccolo club is the perfect way to make sure you never miss LaStella's new wine releases. In spring and fall each year when LaStella releases its new wines you will be the first to hear about it! Twice a year we will ship you a specially selected six-bottle pack of wines straight to your door. On top of being the first to receive our new release wines you will also receive a great package of membership benefits. For more details please visit our website. To join our close knit family of food, wine and music lovers please email us at piccoloclub@lastella.ca or call us at 250-495-8180 and ask to speak with your concierge Jeff Stewart. |
|
|
 Weddings at LaStella
Rolling hills, Tuscan inspired villa, manicured vineyards and views of Osoyoos Lake - LaStella is your perfect romantic venue for an unforgettable day. Contact us to begin your planning. |
|
Women United in Philanthropy
La Stella donates 2% of all website proceeds to the United Way's Women United in Philanthropy. The WUIP strives to ensure our community's most vulnerable children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school. By bringing together the knowledge, compassion and financial resources of women, we are helping change the future for children in the Lower Mainland. Donations raised by WUIP go towards programs that help parents and caregivers access the information and support services they need to nurture their children.
|
 Join us on Twitter for all the latest news and announcements! Keep your eyes open for contests and giveaways too!
 Check us out on Facebook for news, information and the latest photographs from the Okanagan Valley! |
|
| Save 10% |
Order online and save 10% when you order a case of 12 bottles (excludes library releases and special release wines)! Wines are shipped directly from the winery by DHL. On top of that 2% of online sales are donated to the United Way's Women United in Philanthropy.
|
|
|
|
|
