April 2014 CRU & Table Club Wines

Host & Toast Cru Club

This month is different…you get a choice!  Taste 3 wines, choose the 2 you like the best!

Heartland Director’s Cut Shiraz, Australia, 2012

The deep color gives a clue to the concentration of arom and flavors to follow.  Dark cherry and blackberry fruit dominate the nose with undercurrents of blck licorice and pepper.  The palate brings to mind a berry compote enriched by elusive hints of spice.

Jonata Todos Vineyard Blend, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, 2010

95 POINTS—Wine Advocate

Over 75% Syrah, it offers up knockout aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness and a seamless, layered profile that is hard to resist. Blackberry liqueur, caramelized beef, chocolate and flowers are just some of the nuances here. This pure, polished 2010 can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade.

Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer, Alsace, 2011

Bright yellow with aromas of rose, jasmine and spices.  Flavors of lime, tropical fruit, and vanilla on the palate. An insanely good wine for the summer, it will pair well with French cheese such as Muenster and Roquefort.

Host & Toast Table Club

Come in to taste all 4, and choose your 2 favorite!

Praidis Vermentino de Sardignia, Italy

Straw in color with a hint of honeysuckle on the nose, this light and lively white wine is perfect with seafood dishes or sipped on its own.

Chateau Pilet Bordeaux Blanc

Fruity wine with nice notes of citrus on the nose and the palate.  Easy to drink alone or pair with cheeses or fish.

Reguengos Tinto, Portugal

Powerful, condensed wine with dark fruits and solid tannins.  Rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast, will age well.

Gran Passione Riserva, Salice Salentino, Italy

The wine displays a dark ruby red color, and the nose shows deep black fruits like cherry, plum, and raspberry, supported by pretty floral notes like violet and notes of oak such as coffee and spice.  The palate is forward and fruity, but complex with leathery notes.

April 2014 Table Club & Cru Club Selections

Table Club

Accattoli Verdicchio di Matelica
2012 Italy

Verdicchio is a grape that can be viewed as symbol for the Marche.  It is believed to be native to this region, and was mentioned in documents as early as the 14th century. Of the two appellations, Jesi and Matelica, we prefer the latter, which produces a firmer more aromatic wine.  The Accattoli winery nestled in the hills bordering Umbria, made this fabulous wine.

Front Label Translation:  " In the charming hills of Metalica, or Verdicchio is born, an ancient symbol of the Marche. The grapes are harvested at the end of October and vinified in a traditional manner. The wine has a straw yellow color with green reflections ......."

Tasting notes: Bright, lemony fruit with a creamy mouthfeel finishing with a refreshing crisp acidity.

Source: jgwines.com

Fabre Montmayou Rose
2013, Argentina

Crafted with European styling this is perfect for grilled summer fare. Only 1,000 cases made of this Malbec and Merlot blend, which underwent a short eight hour maceration. The nose gives off intense, creamy fruit and hints of tobacco and earth. In the mouth rich layered ripe and chewy sour fruit (cassis, blackberry, and dark cherry) with a hint of earth. Complex bouquet of alpine strawberries, orange rind, and mineral, with fleshy peach and berry notes on the palate. Lively acid on the attack, fuzzy tannins on the tongue. The wine finishes dry, with balanced acidity.

Source:  finewineandgoodspirits.com

Anciano Tempranillo 
Spain

Anciano Aged 10 Years rated 90 Points (2001, 2000, 1998 vintages) - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate “...a silky textured wine with savory flavors, excellent balance, and no hard edges.

Source:  ancianowine.com

M Malbec
2012, France

Deep colored, the nose shows sweet blackberry fruits, violets, and a hint of licorice.  The palate is quite full with sweet dark fruits and ripe tannins. Partner with grilled steak and rich casseroles.

Source: wineutopia.co.uk

CRU Club Selections

Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant, 2007, Central Coast, CA

The newly released cuvée is the 23rd edition of Le Cigare Volant, and it certainly shows the family flavor profile of red fruits, herbal, and earthy notes in a savory, medium-bodied package. Bright ruby red with a pale purplish rim, it offers cherry aromas with a bit of spice, menthol, sassafras, and black pepper. On the palate there is fresh cherry, pomegranate, and red bramble fruit. The wine is peppery and lively with good acidity around an earthy, savory core.

A blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre with just a soupçon of cinsault makes for a bright and wonderfully gamey wine. The chief red in residence, grenache, derives primarily from our traditional Biodynamic® grenache source from Alta Loma Vineyard in Monterey County. This is supplemented with a smidge of our own Estate grenache, adding a discreet spiciness to the attraction. The syrah is principally sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, which produces the closest analogue we have found to a Northern Rhône syrah—tannic and meaty in the lower registers; peppery, fruitful, and delicately floral in the top, all the while showing great balance and harmony. A group of non-irrigated, centenarian Contra Costa vineyards has provided mourvèdre for Cigare for many years. Finally, a dollop of cinsault provides a very particular fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs.

While the zesty and youthful '07 is excellent right now, aging it for 2-3 more years would be all to the good. We recommend a gentle decanting before consumption.

Source:  bonnydoonvineyard.com

Guido Sangiovese, 2010 Walla Walla, WA

Tastes of tobacco, tiny Italian cherries, leather, and anise. Tannins a plenty, tastes great with grilled Italian sausage, peppers and onions.

Source:  charlessmithwines.com

March 2014 Table Club Features

Altos de San Isidro Torrontes

From a 25 acre lot planted in 1970, yielding 10 tons per acre.Cold maceration for 8 hours then cold fermented at 22º C to obtain intense aromas and a clean and fresh mouth feel. No malolactic fermentation, and no oak. 

Guy Saget La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc

La Petite Perrière Sauvignon 2010 has a gold color with green gleams. The smell explodes with typical Sauvignon aromas. This vintage is pronounced by the thiols of fresh citrus and white flowers. Lively with good length, the mouth offers pear and litchee aromas with a good freshness resulting of lemony notes.

Lafite Bordeaux Rouge

It's good.
Tussock Jumper Zinfandel

Grapes for the TUSSOCK JUMPER Zinfandel are harvested predominantly from vineyards in the Lodi area in California’s Sacramento River Delta. Lodi has emerged as a star for producing intense, fruity Zin with ripe berry flavours. Grapes are cooled off on warm Central Valley days by the breezes off the Delta, extending the growing season and adding layers of flavour.  Crisp red berry and currant flavors, a touch of spice and a smooth yet crisp finish.

February 2014 Table Club & Cru Club Selections

Cru Club Selections
La Mondianese Barbera Superiore

A gorgeous bouquet, suggestive of currants, dark cherries and chocolate; in the mouth it is rich, full and velvety with a hint of dark berries and spicy overtones. Perfect accompaniment to a rich pasta, roast lamb or beef.

Tukma Gran Corte Red Blend

65% Malbec, 20% Tannat and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its intense red color with violet edges gives hints of what kind of wine is to come, and its complex aromas and flavors are of ripe and less ripe red fruits, red pepper, Asian spices, and mocha. It seems to go on forever on the finish. Only 10,000 bottles were produced.



Table Club Selections

Zoe White

The color of this Greek white is bright yellow, with green hues.  The nose is fresh with hints of fruit and avacado.  Flavors of orange and lemon blossom.

Zoe Rose

Aghiorghitiko 70%, Moscofilero 30%.  Vibrant red berry fruits, crisp acidity, elegant palate.

Gran Passione Rosso

Intense red-purple color, tending towards amber with ageing. The wine is full-bodied with good structure. Palate of ripe red and black fruits, fantastic accompaniment to roasted or grilled meats.

Crios Limited Red Blend

Deep ruby color with bluish hues.  Nose of black plums coming from Malbec, cherries from Bonarda, and black fruits from Tannat.  Dense and complex on palate, finishes smooth.

TABLE CLUB SELECTIONS

January 2014

Elizabeth Spencer 

Sauvignon Blanc

Mendocino, CA

Effusive, yet delicate, aromas of pear blossom, ruby grapefruit and a hint of slate leap from the glass. Luscious flavors of white peach, ripe nectarine and subtle citrus notes leaning towards ruby grapefruit along with hints of tangy apple drape over bright acidity and provide great accompaniment to the vineyard’s hallmark hint of slate and fresh-cut grass. This well-balanced wine holds a light and vibrant intensity consistently through to the finish, which keeps the lively palate refreshed and bright.

Domain Magellan

Vieilles Vignes

Grenache Roussanne

Deep golden in color, with flavors of apricot, vanilla, cream and spice. Rich and full-bodied, with a decadent finish filled with ripe melon and smoke. Distinctive.

Bon Marche'

Red Blend

Napa, CA

"Our red blend was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels.  Aromas of toasty oak, spice, black cherry, plum and vanilla carry over to the palate and are engulfed in a mouth-filling, flavorful, juicy package.  This wine was crafted for immediate enjoyment, but for those who enjoy a more complex wine dsiplaying some bottle-aged character, aging for another one to years is a good option."

Indaba Mosaic

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 

4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot

South Africa

This lip-smacking Bordeaux blend displays alluring aromas and juicy flavors of blackcurrant, ripe brambly berryfruit and dark chocolate, with subtle spice notes. Soft, gentle tannins coat the palate, enticing you to take another sip!

Table Club Selections

December 2013

Monteagrelo Syrah

Intense red color. Spicy aromas, coffee and cinnamon notes. Delicate and well balanced. Good concentration, ample in the mouth, elegant flavors, harmonious and a long finish.

Caldora Montepulciano

Ruby red with garnet reflections, intense and persistent fragrance, fruity with vanilla essence. Well-bodied, tannic and well-balanced, ready to drink.

The Curator

Shows range, with juicy Jonagold apple, white ginger, heather, honeysuckle and green almond notes, backed by an unadorned, juicy finish. Solid. Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Sémillon blend.

DMZ Rose

This crowdpleasing rosé displays alluring aromas and juicy flavors of pomegranate, watermelon and strawberries, accented with delicate floral and spice hints.

November 2013 Wine Club Features

Ara Single Estate Pinot Gris 2011

Ara’s first release of Single Estate Pinot Gris 2011 won Champion Pinot Gris at the inaugural Marlborough Wine Show. Small parcels of fruit were selected for their structure and weight as well as their aromatics then hand harvested and gently whole bunch pressed. The result is a highly aromatic wine with a concentration of flavors distinctive of Ara’s Single Estate Wines, balanced with a wonderful minerality and crisp citrus acidity.

Cameron Hughes Lot 324 Chardonnay 2010

Orange blossom, lemon curd, and toasted almond aromatics underpinned with spicy pear and apple aromas. Sourced from the Atlas Peak AVA in California.

Cameron Hughes Lot 254 Meritage 2008

This Bordeaux blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec that are sourced from vineyards and a winery in the Happy Canyon AVA which is located inside the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.  The color is ruby red with black highlights. The nose is strawberry and raspberry, cinnamon spice drops, a little cedar plank, some soft vanilla and a faint whiff of brewing coffee. There is a silky mouthfeel that contrasts nicely with a spicy mid palate. It starts with blueberries, cassis, French vanilla, cola, and curry spice. The mid palate adds Christmas spice, fresh juicy plum, orange zest and custard. The tannins are silky, the structure holds the flavors and textures together. The finish is complex and lengthy, it fades quickly, but never really goes away.

El Pajaro Rojo Mencia 2011

A rich and unctuous Mencía, this has a fluency in the mouth, deploying its ripeness, completely covering the palate with caramelized and voluptuous flavors. Great with grilled meats.  90 Points, Year's Best, Best Buy, 100 Best Values of the Year Wine & Spirits, Oct 1, 2012