wine of the month club october 2013 newsletter

Wines evaluated last month: 287 • Rejected: 241 • Approved: 46 • Selected: 12 OCTOBER 2013

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What's new 2Classic Series: Campo Marin Tempranillo Crianza 3Classic Series: Libertas Sauvignon Blanc 4Classic Series: Sycamore Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 5Classic Series: NickName Chardonnay 6Classic Series Earlier Selections 7Cellar Notes 8Vintners Series: Pig & Poke Pinot Noir 9Vintners Series: Losen-Bockstanz Riesling 10Vintners Series: Prahova Feteasca Neagra 11Vintners Series: NXNW Chardonnay 12Vintners series Earlier Selections 13

Facebook 14Limited Series: Patagonia Pinot Noir 15Limited Series: Raphael Sallet Chardonnay 16Limited Series: Regina Viarum Mencia 17Limited Series: Coral Do Mar Albariño 18Limited Series Earlier Selections 19For Members Only 20Gifts & More 21Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Piedmontese Sauce 22Recipe: Shrimp Scampi 22Tasting Notes 23The Cork Board 24

I N S I D E T H E T A S T I N G R O O M T H I S M O N T H

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OCTOBER 2013 hat a debacle. It is

always quality firsthere, tasting thewine, then pricing.Sometimes winery

representatives like to holdoff telling me the pricebefore I taste; thinking thatthe taste gets better as thecost gets lower. I won't playthat game....I tell them “Iam not tasting until you tellme the price” I mean, seri-ously, I taste 300 wines amonth, do you think you aregoing to 'trick' me into whatI taste in the wine...basedon the price. Really.

Paul KalemkiarianOwner/Cellarmaster

WWhat’s New This Month?What’s New This Month?

ow...what a celebration. My oldest daughter

Sara was married on the 17th of August and it

was quite a soirée. Sandra really pulled all the

stops to make sure this wedding was family yet

elegant, comfortable yet tasteful. And of course, my job

was to make sure the wine was tasteful.

I chose the 2008 Heritance Cabernet Sauvignon for the

main dinner red wine and the Glen Carlou South African

Chardonnay for the white. Really good wines. And I found

the Ayala Champagne for the toast (only Champagne to

make the Spectator top 100 wines of 2012). All good.

I went to the warehouse (three days before the wedding)

to finish my selections. I was thinking I would pour a

different red and white at the bar...common practice and

a nice touch. So I find the Mirage 2009 Cabernet that I

thought would make the perfect companion to the

Heritance. As I reached to re-taste, I notice the bottle is

partially empty and sticky on the outside. NOT GOOD! I

grab another and the same problem. I grabbed 7 bottles

from 7 different pallets and took them to the tasting

room. ALL BAD. ALL FIZZY. Not only did I have to think of

a new wine for the wedding bar, I had 12,000 bottles of

bad Cabernet Sauvignon and nothing for the club for

next month! And I was about to print 20,000 newsletters

with this wine being described throughout. OMG! I

believe things happen for a reason. I think it is not the

situation but how you react to the situation. More on that

next month.

WWhat’s What’s NewNew This Month? This Month?What’s What’s NewNew This Month? This Month?

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ITEM #: C1013R1IS

Retail Price: $18.99/each

Member Price: $10.98/each

Reorder Price: $7.99/each

58% Discount

TempranilloCrianza

(Temp rah NEEYO Cree an ZA)

2008

Campo MarinCariñena, Spain

Color:Deep purple

Nose:Currant, blackberry

and cedarPalate:

Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins

Finish:Long and forebodingwith a berry and vanilla swash

Alcohol:13%

Drink now through 2016

WOMC RATING94 Points

essentially the same as theRoman design. The Cariñenawinery is now the mainaging and bottling facility.

The noble varietals ofTempranillo, Cariñena,Garnacha, Cabernet, Merlotand Macabeo constitute thebase of excellent wines witha perfect production-qualityratio. To achieve this, integralecological methods of agriculture are applied, such

as the use ofpheromonesto con t ro linsects instead o f u s inginsect ic idesout of respectfor nature andto the benefitof healthygrapes.

Each varietal is plantedaccording to the type of soil determined by soilanalysis and microclimates,as well as the vines beingoriented so that the warmth provides maximumair circulation between the rows evenly. Most of theirvines are trained in the traditional goblet form which necessitates hand harvesting; the balances aretrained on trellises.

Our selection is aged for 6months in small French oak barrels. Its intense, fruity aromas are punctuatedby small black and redberries, spices and herbalnotes of the Mediterraneanundergrowth.

he Marín familyowns the mostimportant privately

held Bodega in Cariñena,Spain and are among the top10 family wineries there.Their roots go back to 1903,the year in which Mr. IgnacioMarín founded a winery inhis village of Encinacorba atthe southern extreme of the Cariñena region. In thissmall village, he built thefirst of three wineries all of which arenow in use.

This originalwinery is stillin use for storage of f i n i s h e dwines. Theconcrete vats,in which theyare held in, are ideal for long term storage due totheir thermal stability. Somebarrels are also stored hereand in special tanks built into the ground for maximumthermal stability, largedeposits of older wines up to25 years old are held.

In 1939, he built the secondwinery in the “City” ofCariñena, a small town of4,000 that was officiallydeclared a city by the KingAlfonso XIII of Spain becauseof its importance in the early wine industry. It wasoriginally founded by theRomans in the 3rd centuryBC. Evidence of the vinegrown here can be tracedback to its Roman origins. In fact, the grape pressesused up to the 1600s were

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and nighttime temperaturevary in the summer as wellas the full exposure to sunlight during the ripeningperiod allows for superb tannin development andexcellent concentration ofaroma and color. The vineyards are located lessthan 60 miles from thePacific Ocean at 300 feetabove sea level. The vineyards’ 600 acres are dripirrigated in order to carefullycontrol the healthy growth

of the grapes.

The first vines tocks werebrought to Chile by the Spanishpriest Francisco de Carabantes in1548. A few yearslater, Francisco deAguirre plantedthe first vineyardsand produced thefirst harvest in

1551. It was not until themid-nineteenth century thatChile saw a significant transformation of its wine-making industry when anumber of wealthy familiesintroduced top-quality vinestocks, such as CabernetSauvignon, Merlot andMalbec.

From generation to genera-tion, the art of winemakingin Chile has evolved andimproved to where it hasnow earned a world-classreputation. Five hundredyears of history and traditionguarantee that our winerywill keep its promise of quality in every single bottle.

odegas y Viñedos deAguirre S.A. wasfounded by Don

Pedro Félix de Aguirre andtoday is cared and managedby his family, all of them professionals and executivesof the winery. The vineyardsand winery is located in Villa Alegre, 180 miles south of the capital, Santiagode Chile. Villa Alegre islocated in the Maule Valley, atransversal valley betweenthe mountain range ofthe Andes andthe Pacific Ocean.The vineyardsare planted in an area boasting aprivileged micro-climate with athermal variancebetween 59 to 65 degrees. Thisallows for the harvesting ofgrapes of extra-ordinary quality.More than 600 acres are planted with vineyardsand irrigated by technifiedsystems.

Winemakers, engineers andtechnicians work in the manufacturing and produc-tion of their wines. The modern infrastructure has a storage capacity of morethan 2 million gallons.Fermentation occurs in stainless steal containers and a touch of wood isadded with fine French oakbarrels. The entire produc-tion is bottled at their estate with grapes from theirown vineyards.

The vineyards enjoy anexceptional climate. The day

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ITEM #: C1013W1IC




56% Discount

Sauvignon Blanc(Soe ving YAHN Blonk)

2012

LibertasMaule Valley, Chile

Color:Pale yellow

Nose:Herbal with hints of

white peach

Palate:Clean and ripe withswashes of grapefruit

Finish:Long and crisp withpeach and lime

Alcohol:13%



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ITEM #: C1013R2DC




43% Discount

CabernetSauvignon(Kab air NAY

Soe ving YAHN)

2012

Sycamore LaneLodi, California

Color:Medium magenta

Nose:Blackberry, black

cherry and chocolatePalate:

Cherry with hints ofearth and spice

Finish:Very berry with cherry and vanilla

Alcohol:13%



to offer "a great product for afair price," even as itacquired more vineyards andadditional wineries.

Today with Roger Trincheroleading the way, TrincheroFamily Estates representsover 27 brands in the United States and Australia,including Sutter Home andSycamore Lane.

Winemaker, Mario Monticelli,grew up in Northern

C a l i f o r n i awhere h i sI t a l i a n - b o r nfather sparkedhis interest inwinemaking atan early age.Mario has manyc h i l d h o o dmemories of

visiting his grandparents’home in Madera, Californiawhere he was exposed toevery aspect of the wine-making process; from drivingtractors in the vineyards topicking the grapes.

Sycamore Lane CaliforniaCabernet Sauvignon was produced primarily fromgrapes grown in the Lodi area, California's fastest-growing premium wine-growing region. The winewas aged for approximatelyone year in a mixture of newand used American oak. Thisis an easy drinking stylewine that would blend wellwith veal or even chicken.

n 1947, brothers Johnand Mario Trincherotraveled to St. Helena,

California near the renownedNapa Valley growing regionand purchased Sutter HomeWinery. With its first SutterHome harvest in 1948, theTrinchero Family crushedthree tons of grapes to begina long and fruitful history asone of the world's leadingproducers of fine wines.

As the Trinchero familyexpanded, sotoo did thec o m p a n y .Mario's son Bob joined theteam in 1958and eventuallybecame thehead wine-maker after hisuncle John retired. Bobfocused on growing his family's efforts and just 10years after coming on board, he helped SutterHome become the first northcoast winery to producecommercial wine from SierraFoothill grapes. He evendeveloped the revolutionaryWhite Zinfandel varietal.

In the 1980s and 1990s, theTrinchero family continuedits efforts to produce high-quality, affordably pricedvarietal wines by purchasingseveral more California vineyards in areas withchoice weather and soil conditions. The family hasnever lost sight of SutterHome's original philosophy

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ITEM #: C1013W2DC




53% Discount

Chardonnay(Shar doe NAY)

2010

NickNameLodi, California

Color:Pale gold

Nose:Fresh apple and

vanilla

Palate:Rich pineapple with

a hint of spice

Finish:Apple and vanilla

Alcohol:13.5%



food makes him a pivotalmember of the Lange Twinsteam. In addition to makingtheir wine, David is also arestaurateur owning SchoolStreet Bistro located in Lodi,California. Along with hiswife Trisha, David enjoys hisdowntown Lodi restaurant,collecting vintage posters,golfing and skiing.

Lodi is often, and mistakenly,near the Central Valley

which is arather hot andi n t empe r a t egrape growingarea. While itshares proximi-ty to the Valley,its climate doesnot. Rather, it is more likeCarneros in that

the ocean breezes from theSan Pablo Bay keeping temperatures 20+ degreescooler than the Valley.

This Chardonnay is craftedfrom their estate grownvineyards within the Lodiand Clarksburg Appellations.Lush layers of rich tropicalfruit flavors of pineapple andbanana come together with juicy ripe golden apple notes. The fruitcharacters are balanced withcreaminess from malo-lacticfermentation and wrappedin the warmth of toasty oak with a smooth vanillafinish. Try with crab salad,chicken cordon bleu or lobster in a slightly spicytomato cream sauce.

ome give nicknamesand others get nick-names. Nicknames are

usually familiar or humorousor simply geographicallyconvenient. In any case, theyare used to not only identifythe vineyard but also to addcharacter to the individualityof each distinctive block.

This Nickname comes fromone of our favorite wineries,Lange Twins. Although theyhave the latestw i nemak i n gtechnology attheir fingertips,they never losesight of the factthat only greatwine can bemade fromgreat grapes.

David Akiyoshi, a secondgeneration winemaker whograduated from University ofCalifornia, Davis, is a 25 year veteran winemakerfrom Robert Mondavi. AsDirector of Winemaking atWoodbridge by RobertMondavi, he led a team ofenologists in creating andevolving their wine style toimprove the quality ofWoodbridge wines. Hehelped pioneer winegrowersin specific lots in order to getspecific feedback, supportedbarrel aging of premiumwines for enhanced qualityand drove stylistic wine-making for hundreds of different wines.

Today, his belief in true varietal expression andwine’s natural marriage with

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Reg Reorder CaseItem # Wine Name Retail Price Price Price

C0813R1DC – Petite Sirah, 2011. Oak Grove $15.99 $7.99 $95.88“Blueberry and raspberry fruit flavors”

*Featured in the California Wine Series

C0813R2DC – Syrah, 2012. Goose Creek $16.99 $7.99 $95.88“Smooth and fruitful flavors”

C0813W1DC – Organic Colombard, 2011. Inspring $15.99 $6.99 $83.88“Fresh herbs, pear, melon and lime”

C0813W2IG – Riesling, 2005. Klostor $15.99 $6.99 $83.88“Lovely peach, lemon peel and apricot”

C0913R1DW – Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008. $21.99 $7.99 $95.88Whispering Tree “Very rich and concentrated cherry with hints of leather and spice” *Featured in the California Wine Series

C0913R2IA – Malbec, 2009. $16.99 $7.99 $95.88En Buena Compania “Soft red fruits”

C0913W1II – Chardonnay, 2012. $13.99 $6.99 $83.88Mezzacorona “Apple, pear and cinnamon”

C0913W2DC – Vermentino, 2011. Uvaggio $15.99 $6.99 $83.88“Fresh and supple, lively with subtle flavors of lime, quince and pear”

C1013R1IS – Tempranillo Crianza, 2008. $18.99 $7.99 $95.88Campo Marin “Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins”

C1013R2DC – Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012. $13.99 $7.99 $95.88Sycamore Lane “Cherry with hints of earth and spice”


C1013W1IC – Sauvignon Blanc, 2012. Libertas $15.99 $6.99 $83.88“Clean and ripe with swashes of grapefruit”

C1013W2DC – Chardonnay, 2010. NickName $14.99 $6.99 $83.88“Rich pineapple with a hint of spice”

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CELLAR NOTES

Cellar Notes: A report on how previous selections are faring with age.Obtained from actual tastings of wines under optimal conditions.

Classic Series:

October 2011:Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008. Trace. Sill Great.Pinot Gris, 2009. Firestone. Drink up.Cabana Red, 2007. Cabana Wine Co. Best now.Malvasia, 2009. Del Fiore. Drink or hold.

October 2012:Garnacha, 2009. Dragonia. Still great.Sauvignon Blanc, 2009. Geneseo. Drink up.Merlot, 2011. Wild Brush. Drink for the next 2 years.Sauvignon Blanc, 2009. Tik Toc. Perfect now.

Vintners Series:

October 2011:Zinfandel, 2005. Lapis Luna (Romanza). At its best.Pinot Grigio, 2010. Tiamo. Drink or hold.Carmenere, 2009. Caliterra. Drink or hold.Pinot Gris, 2010. Innocent Bystander. Drink up.

October 2012:Syrah, 2010. Conde de Alicante. Drink or hold.White Grenache, 2011. Dom Cayrou. Drink now.Carmenere, 2010. Sol de Chile. Still great.Sauvignon Blanc, 2010. Hunters. Drink now.

Limited Series:

October 2011:Zinfandel, 2006. Rotta Still going strong.Tempranillo, 2008. Fita Preta. Great now.Chardonnay, 2009. Sentall. Drink up.Catarratto Ansonica, 2010. Anthilia. Drink or hold.

October 2012:Malbec, 2010. El Plata. Drink or hold.Petite Sirah, 2009. Beaver Creek. Still great.Pinot Grigio, 2011. Simboli. Drink up.Cattaratto, 2011. La Mura. Drink or hold.

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site is distinct in the grapesthat are grown there, fromaromatic and delicate to bold and expressive. The cool maritime climate andwell-drained soils producewines that are compellingand unique.

Monterey County is a grapegrowing area of Californiathat is both gorgeous andunique. Picturesque in itsnatural beauty, it’s an

u n d u l a t i n g ,n a t u r a l phenomenonthat beginsw i t h t h erugged Pacificcoastline to thew e s t a n ds e g u e s t o fertile valleys

framed by ascending moun-tain ranges to the east.These lush valleys are knownfor perfect grape growingconditions; abundant sun-shine by day and cool oceanfog by night. Ancient alluvialsoils give this region a reputation of producingworld-class wines.

The wine was handcraftedwith a minimalist approach.It was aged in French oakbarrels of which about 28% were new oak for 10 months before being bottled. Pig & Poke has allthe delicacy and nuance weexpect from beautifullymade Pinot Noir. It is softand supple on the palate anda spectacular choice withgrilled chicken or salmon.

he winemaker forPig and Poke isAnnette Hoff Danzer,

Manager and ExecutiveWinemaker for Cima Collina.Annette began her wine-making career in 1994 inNapa Valley under the guidance of vintner Bill Dyer at Sterling Vineyardsbefore moving South toSaintsbury Vineyards in theCarneros appellation. Hereshe realized her passion for Pinot Noir.That passioncarried her toNew Zealand in1998 to explorethe country'sapproach toPinot beforeEstancia Winerylured her backto the States a few monthslater to head their Pinot Noirprogram in Monterey.

She joined the then start-upCima Collina in 2004 whereshe was given free rein asWinemaker and was chargedwith overseeing the day-to-day management of thewinery. Annette works closely with the growersfrom whom she sources her grapes and overseessales and marketing for CimaCollina, but she's at her best in the vineyards and the cellar.

The grapes from this blend of 100% Pinot Noir were harvested from three selectfamily-owned, sustainablyand organically-farmed vineyards in Monterey. Each

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ITEM #: V1013R1DC




50% Discount

Pinot Noir (PEE no No WAHR)

2009

Pig & PokeNapa Valley, California

Color:Light Magenta

Nose:Bing cherry with hints of cinnamon and cotton candy

Palate:Tart, sweet cherry with hints of spice

Finish:Lovely spice with

touches of candy apple

Alcohol:14.1%

Drink nowthrough 2014


Featured in theCALIFORNIA WINE SERIES

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Johannisberg. K losterEberbach was established by Cistercians in 1135.

The planting of vinesreached a high point in the15th century when the areaunder vine was four timeslarger than it is today. Thisincluded Alsace, which wasthe most highly esteemedregion during that period.The most important earlyvariety was probably Elbling.Silvaner, Muskat, Traminer,Spätburgunder and Trollinger

were a l soknown. Ries-ling arrived relatively lateand is first reliably docu-mented in theRheingau in1435 and inthe Mosel notmuch later.

Our selectioncomes from

the vineyards around theMosel River and its two mostrenowned tributaries, theSaar and Ruwer. These winesare primarily made from the Riesling grape and arearguably the finest inGermany.

This Riesling is a classicGerman offering, which alsomeans there are few equalsin the world. The grape is aconduit to the soil. It reflectsthe properties in the soilmore than any other and the diversity of soils alongthe Mosel is perfect for it.Here you experience classicpeach and apricot flavorsalong with the slate andchalk of the soil.

he Losen-Bockstanzestate, situated inthe town of Wittlich

has been producing wines inthe Mosel since the 16thCentury. They own vineyardsin Wittlicher Klosterweg,Ürziger Würzgarten, andWehlener Klosterberg, allconsidered prime locations.The estate remains a familyowned operation managedby the vibrant young wine-maker Thomas Losen. Hetakes great pride in using the most modern cellar techniques toachieve fineand elegantwines.

The w inesproduced inthe location ofWittlich showthe distinctivecharacter ofthe soil, partlyl oam andpartly red sand-stone ascompared to the slate soils at Urzig and other spots in the Mosel. While the focus of production is Riesling,Thomas also releases delicious Kerner and superbSpatburgunder (Pinot Noir).

The origins of viticulture inGermany can be traced back to the Romans, at thefirst century. The earliestvineyards existed at the left bank of the Rhine andplantings spread to theMosel probably around the 3rd century. The vineadvanced further in theMiddle Ages, mainly throughthe church, its monasteriesin part icular. In theRheingau, Benedictinesfounded an abbey whichlater became the Schloss

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ITEM #: V1013W1IG




40% Discount

Riesling(REES ling)

2011

Losen-BockstanzMosel, Germany, France

Color:Golden straw

Nose:Apricot, slate and citrus

Palate:Lovely apricot, lemonpeel and nectarine

Finish:Crisp and clean withgranite and stone fruit

Alcohol:10.5%



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the territory that is Romaniatoday for thousands of years.

Feteasca Neagra (“BlackMaiden”) is a traditionalRomanian wine, which hasbeen produced from thesame grapes within the territory for thousands ofyears. The legend says thatsome 21 centuries ago,Burebista, a king of Dacia,the old name of the territorythat is Romania today,ordered the soldiers to

destroy thelocal vineyardsbecause thevillagers weredrunk all dayand could nottake care ofthe cultivated

land. Most of the vines survived though.

This Feteasca Neagra hasbeen produced from grapesgrown in the Dealu Mare(The Big Hill) Region; an areawhere the best dry andsemi-dry red wines Romaniahas to offer.

It is a fine, complex wine,matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. Thewine displays a distinctivered color with violet hues. Inthe nose, one can detectnotes of forest fruits,caramel, toast and spices.Our Feteasca Neagra is a full-body wine which lingersin a long, unforgettable finish. Definitely a grilledmeats kind of wine, especially a flank steak withgrilled onions or a spicysausage mix.

he producer ofFeteasca NeagraSpecial Reserve

2010 is Halewood Romania,a subdivision of HalewoodInternational. HalewoodInternational was founded in 1978 by John Halewood.Today they are the largestindependent wine producerand distributor in the United Kingdom. HalewoodInternational began import-ing wines from Romania in1987 and ten years later, t h e g r o u pfounded itsfirst Romanians u b s i d i a r y ,H a l e w o o d -Romania, inthe Dealu MareRegion, thecradle of the best red winesRomania can offer. Afterinvesting more than $10 million in vine growing, wine producing and wined i s t r i bu t i on , todayH a l e w o o d - R o m a n i a manages almost 4,000 acresof vines in three majorRomanian wine areas: DealuMare, Transylvania Plateauand Murfatlar near the Black Sea.

The overriding aim of thecompany is to produce and market the bestRomanian wines to meet the international customers’expectations. The companyuses international grape varieties like Pinot Noir,Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,Chardonnay and Pinot Grigioas well as the amazing local, traditional varietiesFe teasca Neag ra o rTamaioasa Romaneasca,which have been thriving in

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ITEM #: V1013R2IO




45% Discount

Feteasca Neagra (Fet TEESE ka Nee EGRA)

2010

PrahovaProhova, Romania

Color:Dark purple

Nose:Tobacco, blackberry

and plum

Palate:Leather and earthmixed with lots

of spice

Finish:Concentrated, tannicwith blackberry fruit

Alcohol:13%



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think of Seattle as cold andrainy, it is not the case in theColombia Valley in EasternWashington. It’s a vast areaof rolling farmland protectedfrom the west coast by the Cascade Mountains. Ittypically enjoys hot, drysummers and cold winters.

Virtually all of Washington’s11 million-acres of vineyardsare in the Columbia Valley.What makes this area exciting is not the dryness of

the climateo r t h e s u i t a b l esoils, it is the latitude.While overallcooler thanNapa Valley,

the Columbia Valley actuallygets more sunlight duringthe critical growing period,June through September. The longer days and cooler climate allows the vines toabsorb the sun’s rays whileretaining the grapes naturalfruit acids. This is importantfor producing structure andage ability.

The grapes were hand-picked, whole clusterpressed and s lowly fermented. The wine werethen aged for five months in 20% New French Oak barrels. This treatmentaccounts for the vanilla, oak,pear, honeysuckle and a hintof vanilla and peach of toffee. It finishes with goodweight and a long finish with crisp acidity.

xNW is made byKing Estate inOregon from grapes

grown in Washington. Thename represents the termNorth by Northwest as thegrapes come from grapegrowing appellations of theColumbia River Basin ofOregon and Washington. TheNxNW winemakers havedeveloped strong, creativerelationships with growersand fellow winemakers in the Columbia RiverAppellationand through-o u t t h en o r t hwe s tv i t i cu l tura lregion, lead-ing to thisi nnova t i veproject. NxNW is as uniquelens for capturing theessence of terroir, the character of the people andthe quality of the wines fromthis great new emergingwinegrowing region.

NxNW produces a number ofwines which are availablenationwide, including theirHorse Heaven Hills Rieslingand Chardonnay, ColumbiaValley Cabernet Sauvignon,Syrah and Red Blend, theirsignature wines, the WallaWalla Cabernet Sauvignonand Syrah and a single vineyard Horse Heaven Hillsdessert Riesling.

Washington's 16,500 acres isroughly half of the plantingsof New York and about 2% ofCalifornia. However, it maybe the best place in Americato grow grapes. While we

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ITEM #: V1013W2DW




37% Discount


2011

NXNWColombia Valley,Washington

Color:Light straw

Nose:Orange zest, lime, floral blossom and pear

Palate:Citrus fruit, candiedapple and papaya

Finish:Viscous, refreshingwith lively acidic

Alcohol:13.5%



Earlier VINTNERS SERIES favorites at REORDER prices!



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V0813R1DC - Pinot Noir, 2009. OMG $24.99 $13.99 $167.88“Tart, strawberry with hints of spice”


V0813W1IG - Riesling, 2008. Klostor $18.99 $11.99 $143.88“Lovely peach, lemon peel and pear”

V0813R2DC - Pija Blend, 2007. Talmage $22.99 $12.99 $155.88“Ripe berry and plum”

V0813W2IR - Chardonnay, 2011. Zee $17.99 $10.99 $131.88“Fresh melon, pear and pineapple”

V0913R1IF - Syrah-Grenache, 2011. $23.99 $13.99 $167.88Tortoise Creek “Berry and cherry components”

V0913W1IF - Clairette/Grenache, 2012. $22.99 $11.99 $143.88Grange des Dames “Pure berry components and spices”

V0913R2DC - Field Blend, 2010. Stonegate $19.99 $12.99 $155.88“Very clean cranberry black pepper and spice”


V0913W2IC - Sauvignon Blanc, 2012 Kunza $18.99 $11.99 $143.88“White nectarine with a hint of spice”

V1013R1DC - Pinot Noir, 2009. Pig & Poke $25.99 $12.99 $155.88“Tart, sweet cherry with hints of spice”


V1013W1IG - Riesling, 2011. $19.99 $11.99 $143.88Losen-Bockstanz “Lovely apricot, lemon peel and nectarine”

V1013R2IO - Feteasca Neagra, 2010. $21.99 $11.99 $143.88Prahova “Leather and earth mixed with lots of spice”

V1013W2DW - Chardonnay, 2011. NXNW $18.99 $11.99 $143.88“Citrus fruit, candied apple and papaya”


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In compensation for its cooler climate and lower latitude, it is warmed by 'LaZonda', a wind created onthe eastern slopes of theAndes Mountains. This wind brings warm, dry airsweeping across La Pampas,bringing warmth to the vineyards of Patagonia andaiding bud-break. In fact,vines stressed by year-roundhigh winds and the free-draining alluvial soils have

a tendency togrow smal lerbe r r i e s w i th thicker skins, leading to a higher concentra-tion of sugars,acids and tannins.The wines madefrom these berriesare intensely f lavored withexcellent structure

and firm, ripe tannins.

While Malbec still plays acentral role in Patagonianwine, it is Pinot Noir that has become the region'siconic grape var iety. Excellent white wines made from Chardonnay,Sauvignon and Rieslingshowcase the freshness ofthe region's climate.

This Pinot Noir is the bestwe’ve tasted from SouthAmerica yet. It is fresh andfruity with a very intensecolor. Best if paired withrisotto, ravioli and pasta withany sauce featuring lamb,duck or chicken.

he vineyard that produced grapes forthis wine is located

in south Argentina in thearea of Neuquen, Patagonia.With cooler climates than thenorthern Argentine regions,the vineyard, located 1,000feet above sea level, has along outgrowing season. Soilis sandy loam.

The grapes for this winewere harvested in March &fermented inFrench oak withmedium toast. Theterm “toast” hererefers to howmuch the stavesfor the barrel arecharred so thatthey can be bentto make the barrel. It can leavea slightly smokyaroma in the wine.

Patagonia is South America'ssou the rnmost w ine -producing region. Despitebeing one of the world'sleast obvious places for quality viticulture, the cool,dry climate in this desertregion has proved itself wellsuited for producing elegantred wines from Pinot Noirand Malbec.

This geographical region covers a vast area, aroundtwice the size of California,and stretches across southern Argentina andChile. Patagonia has a 200mile viticultural zone that iscloser to the Andes than tothe Atlantic Ocean, but is at amuch lower altitude than itsnorthern cousin of Mendoza.

T

ITEM #: L1013R1IA




38% Discount

Pinot Noir(PEE no No WAHR )

2012

PatagoniaPatagonia, Argentina

Color:Light magenta

Nose:Cherry and spice

Palate:Fruity with hints

of earth

Finish:Very berry with

vanilla components

Alcohol:14.5%



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Chardonnay is the maingrape grown in the district.This area is home to many of the finest and mostexpensive white winesmade in the world.Chardonnays from smallvineyards here can costupwards of $500 per bottle.This is why the Macon is considered one of the bestbargains for white wine,especially Chardonnay in theworld. These wines are

e x t r e m e l yfriendly andeasy on thepalate, yetthey are notsimple. Thereis a core of f lavors thatinvade thepalate thatmakes youlook twice at

the attractive price.

The grapes are vinified and a pneumatic pressingensures a complete but careful extraction of thejuice. All the stainless steelvats are temperature controlled. The malolacticfermentation is followed bya light filtration before anearly spring bottling. No oakageing is used.

Here is a classic, well-craftedoffering worthy of its stature.Lovely hints of spiced appleand peach meld with the soil components featuringgranite and stone. Perfectwith Monkfish in a slightlyspicy nantua sauce.

he Domaine RaphaelSallet is a 59 acrevineyard located in

the villages of Chardonnay, afew miles from the famousvineyards of Pouilly Fuisse.Few people realize that thiswine is not just made fromthe Chardonnay grape but isin fact from the village calledChardonnay. The vineyard iscomprised mostly of clay,limestone and sandstonepebbles. The average age ofthe vines is over 25 yearsold. The vine-yard is sustain-ably farmedwi th on ly limited use offertilizers.

Raphael Salleti s mak ingsome remark-able winesand is puttingthe village ofChardonnay on the vinousmap. The wine is beautifully fresh and crispbut with a lovely fruit concentration. Think of freshpears and maybe even atouch of nectarine on the finish. This is one ofBurgundy’s best bargains.

The Mâconnais district islocated in the south of theBurgundy wine region inFrance, west of the SaôneRiver. It takes its name fromthe town of Mâcon. It is bestknown as a source of goodvalue white wines madefrom the Chardonnay grape;the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are particularlysought-after. Almost all thewine made in the Mâconnaisis white wine.

T

ITEM #: L1013W2IF




40% Discount


2011

Raphael Sallet Maconnaise, France

Color:Very pale

Nose:Fresh apple and pear

Palate:Fresh and crisp with afruit concentration

Finish:Apple and vanilla witha touch of nectarine

Alcohol:13%



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working these steep terrainsthat the work is known as“Heroic Viticulture”.

Galicia is a historic region in Northern Spain. It was aGermanic post-Roman kingdom, one of the firstones to separate from theRoman Empire. Based in theformer Roman provinces ofGallaecia and northernLusitania, the defacto kingdom was established by the Suebi about 410 and

dur ing the 6th century it became af o r m a l l yd e c l a r e d k i n g d o m i d e n t i f y i n gwith Gallaecia.It maintainedits independ-ence un t i l585, when it

was annexed by theVisigoths and was turnedinto the sixth province of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania.

During the Middle Ages,eastern Galicia situatedbetween Hungary, Polandand the western principali-ties of Kiev and Volhynia wascoveted by its neighbors for its fertile soil and its important commercialconnections.

Our unique selection offersintense color, attractive blackcherry with violet aromasand a ripe red fruit favor. Thefresh fruit combined with themineral background gives arounded structure and velvety texture in the mouth.A must have with venison.

he vineyards arelocated in the steephills of the canyons

at the creek of the Sil andMiño Rivers, boasting in irrigation and cultivation system created by theRomans 2,000 years ago.After a few invasions fromdifferent cultures, the regionwas rescued by the monkswho built monasteries alongthe riverbank and gave theregion the name of RibeiraSacra “Sacred Riverbank” in Galician,the officiallanguage ofthe region. Itis not possibleto use themodern tech-nology in thisregion, due toits peculiartopography.

Recognized as an appellationsince 1996, Ribeira Sacra isthe only wine producerregion in Galicia to producemainly red wine. Almost all of it is made with Mencía grapes along with avery limited production of white wines made withGodello grapes.

The steep inclines can reachangles of 85 degrees. It is for this reason that the idea of banked terraces was invented. This elevatedterrain makes Ribeira Sacra one of the most unique regions of mountainviticulture. The terraces aretoday, one of the definingfeatures of the landscapeand they give the grapestheir special characteristics.It is due to the difficulty of

T

ITEM #: L1013R3IS




38% Discount

Mencia(Men CIA)

2011

Regina Viarum Galicia, Spain

Color:Deep purple

Nose:Currant, blackberry

and cedar

Palate:Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins

Finish:Long and forebodingwith a berry and vanilla swash

Alcohol:13.5%



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A few of the sub-districts inRias Baixas are more proneto blending Albariño withsome other indigenousgrapes which can make thewines more aromatic orfuller-bodied. Both singlevariety Albariño and blendedwines excel in this area.Aromatic and light, one whiffof these whites may bringthoughts of a SauvignonBlanc but after one sip the creamy texture says

o t h e r w i s e .T y p i c a l aromas andflavors arepeach, honey-suckle, limeand vanilla.

White winemade entirelyf rom theA l b a r i ñ o

grape variety from theirvineyards in the designationof origin Rias Baixas is an incredible delight. The vineyard is lined in trellises,which allow for clusters thatare perfectly airy and sunny.The granitic terrain helpsavoid many of the pesticidesand provides naturally lowacidity. This also helps bringforth the delicate aroma and fresh taste characteristicof this varietal.

This selection offers anexplosion of ripe tropicalfruit with myriad flavors oflychee, guava and honey-suckle. It is no less thaninspirational and deserves anappropriate food like crab inblack bean or lobster sauce.

oral do Mar is asmal l bout ique winery in the

Northwest corner of Spain ina region called Rias Baixes.It is home to one of themost exciting and unusualgrapes in the world. Albariñois the signature grape varietyof the region, just like how Cabernet Sauvignon isthe signature variety fromNapa Valley.

Spain produces mostly redwine and hasmany famousred w iner e g i o n s .However, it is in this coolm a r i t i m eregion of RíasBaixas thatwhite grapesexcel produc-ing the finest white wines of Spain. Even if you are adedicated red wine drinker,these wines will convert you with their distinctivestructure, rich aromatics, fruit intensity and long, dry,crisp finish.

While the different sub-zones of Rias Baixes expresssubtle differences, the wines all share a number of characteristics. They aretypically pale golden lemoncolored, elegant and fresh.Bone-dry and aromatic,these wines are packed with flavors of white peach,apricot, melon, pineapple,mango and honeysuckle. The wine has good naturalacidity, mineral overtonesand are medium-bodiedwith moderate alcohol.

C

ITEM #: L1013W4IS




40% Discount

Albariño(Al ba REEN yo)

2012

Coral Do MarRias Baixes, SpainReeash Bashas

Color:Light golden

Nose:White peach,

honeysuckle and floral

Palate:Asian pear and lychee

Finish:Clean and crisp floral notes

Alcohol:12%



LIMITED

SERIES


Earlier LIMITED SERIES favorites at REORDER prices!


L0813R1IF - Gamay, 2009. Celebration $24.99 $15.99 $191.88“Pure strawberry and jam”

L0813R2IF - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010. $24.99 $14.99 $179.88Bateaux “Full with touches of berry and earth”

L0813W3II - Riesling, 2012. $22.99 $14.99 $179.88Willamette Valley “Granny smith apple and stone fruit”

L0813W4DC - Chardonnay, 2012. $22.99 $13.99 $167.88Glen Carlou “Fresh melon, pear and pineapple”

L0913R1IA - Malbec, 2010. $25.99 $15.99 $191.88Cavas de Crianza“Leather and earth mixed with lots of blackberry”

L0913R2IA - Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011. $23.99 $14.99 $179.88Tierra del Sol “Cherry with hints of earth and spice”

L0913W3II - Verdeca, 2011 Moi $21.99 $12.99 $155.88“Apple, pear and almond”

L0913W4DC - Sauvignon Blanc, 2012. $22.99 $13.99 $167.88Chacewater “Fresh herbs with kiwi and melon”

L1013R1IA - Pinot Noir, 2012. Patagonia $25.99 $15.99 $191.88“Fruity with hints of earth”

L1013W2IF - Chardonnay, 2011. $24.99 $14.99 $179.88Raphael Sallet “Fresh and crisp with a fruit concentration”

L1013R3IS - Mencia, 2011. Regina Viarum $25.99 $15.99 $191.88“Very clean grapey and cherry with soft tannins”

L1013W4IS - Albarino, 2012. Coral Do Mar $24.99 $14.99 $179.88“Asian pear and lychee”

MEM

BER

S

QA. Talk about a loaded question! That is probably one of the most difficult;

it's not impossible things to quantify. If for no other reason than eachperson has different likes and dislikes, it is very difficult for most tasters, even professional ones, to separate their personal tastes from an accepted norm.

One of the main problems is to establish an accepted norm! Part of ithas to do with what each country feels is important in wine evaluation.For instance, since most old world wines are labeled by where theycome from, as opposed to what the grapes are, “typicity” is a veryimportant point. A professional taster in Bordeaux may downgrade awine from Pomerol that you and I think are great because it doesn'ttaste like Pomerol. It tastes more like Pauillac! In California, if we likea certain Cabernet Sauvignon, we don't care where it comes from.Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Temecula or wherever, is not as importantas the taste of the wine.

Great wines, in the broadest sense, have a few general assets whichcan be discussed. They should look and smell like what they are. Inmany tasters opinion, a wine that looks and smells like a terrificChardonnay, but is really a Riesling, is considered flawed. It doesn'ttaste like what it is, regardless of what it tastes like. That's a flaw.

If, on the other hand, it tastes like a great Napa Cabernet, but reallycomes from Mendocino, who cares? At least it tastes like Cabernetand not Pinot Noir. Great wines should promise something in thesmell that can be delivered in the mouth. The flavors should hang inthere until the wine is consumed and linger on the palate for at leasta few seconds afterward. The best professional tasters can separatethemselves from their personal likes and dislikes and determine ifa wine smells and tastes like what it is, even if the taster doesn'tlike it and evaluate it as such. This is normally quite difficultbecause anyone that evaluates wine is personally involved and has some strong biases that are much more difficult to ignore thanif they were evaluating something they could care less about. In other words, the intense interest these people have in wine is the same thing that causes them to have a great difficulty evaluating it. And it will probably always be so.

F O R M E M B E R S O N L YF O R M E M B E R S O N L Y

“Paul, What do professional tasters look for in a great wine?”~ J.D. ,Englewood, CC

Q&A


21

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w . W i n e o f t h e M o n t h C l u b . c o m

f o r g i f t b a s k e t s , g i f t m e m b e r s h i p s a n d v a r i o u s

w i n e a s s o r t m e n t s .

Gifts & MoreGIFTS &

MORE

A. Classic Series Gift Membership The gift that makes everyone smile, this ISthe club that started it all—I mean reallystarted “wine to your door.” The founding feature of Wine of the Month Club is theClassic Series. First shipment arrives in ahandsome burgundy linen gift box and isaccompanied by a personalized gift card.

4 Months: $142.99 (plus applicable state taxes)6 Months: $209.99 (plus applicable state taxes)12 Months: $408.99 (plus applicable state taxes)

Shipping & handling included*

B. Vintners Series Gift MembershipThe most recent addition to our family at Wine ofthe Month Club, the Vintners Series gives your giftrecipient an opportunity to experience wines in aprice range that offers a wider variety of grapes andgrowing regions. First shipment arrives in a hand-some burgundy linen gift box and is accompaniedby a personalized gift card.



C. Limited Series Gift MembershipIf your gift recipient appreciates the delicate subtleties of a fine premium wine, the exceptionalspecial occasion selections you’ll find in theLimited Series are bound to please. First shipmentarrives in a handsome burgundy linen gift boxand is accompanied by a personalized gift card.



A

B

C

*Shipping included for shipments going to contiguous US states. Call for Alaska, Hawaii and/or other rural US territories.

Recipes

22

Preparation:

Grilled Flank Steak with Piedmontese Sauce

Preparation:

Ingredients:

5 tbsp. unsalted butter2 tbsp. olive oil1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails

attachedKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper,

to taste¼ tsp. crushed red chili flakes

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped2 shallots, finely chopped½ cup white wine¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)1 tsp. lemon zest (same 2 lemons but

zest them before you squeeze them)1 lb. thin spaghetti, cooked¼ cup roughly chopped parsley

(about half a bunch)

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Ingredients:STEAK2 teaspoons fennel seeds2 teaspoons black peppercorns1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak (3/4 inch thick)3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

PIEDMONTESE TOMATO SAUCE1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and

roughly chopped1 medium tomato, cored and roughly chopped1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oilFine sea salt2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

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TASTIN

G JO

URNAL

THE CORKBOARDTHE CORKBOARD


Membership in the Wine of the Month Club is open to anyone with an interest in andappreciation for superb wines...and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE.

Wine of the Month ClubP.O. Box 660220, Arcadia, CA 91066

Website: www.WineoftheMonthClub.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/WineoftheMonthClubTwitter: http://twitter.com/wineofthemonth

Newsletter written by: Ed Masciana, Wine Author

CALL: 1-800-949-9463 or [626] 303-1690EMAIL: [email protected]

wine of the month club october 2013 newsletter

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