Peaches - As electic as it gets!

Yo folks! This week’s sample highlights are listed below.  Look forward to clicking with y’all soon -Sharmila

Cartlidge & Browne  - Chardonnay - 2005 (Erin M)

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: USA : California : Napa

Winery: Cartlidge & Browne Winery

Type of wine: White

Cartlidge & Browne Winery is based in a new 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in American Canyon at the southern end of the Napa Valley.
Tropical fruits, orange blossom, and gentle oak spice are keynotes of this Chardonnay.
The wine pairs well with poultry, seafood, and light cheeses.

Clariette De Die Cuvee Imperiale Jalliance (Melissa S)

Varietal: Clariette

Region: France : Rhone : Southern Rhone

Winery: Jalliance

Type of wine: White

From the area of the Drôme Valley in Provence — way, way south of the glorified Champagne region — comes Jaillance Cuvee Imperiale, a sparkling white wine made from the white Muscat and Clairette grapes. This friendly fizzer has forward floral and ripe fruit aromas, including notes of sweet pear and muscat. The bubbles dance on your palate and deliver super-ripe flavors of bright fresh pear, granny smith apple, and hints of peach and lychee. The fruit flavors are so ripe, it gives the impression of sweetness; however, it finishes almost completely dry and clean.

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Domaine le Peu de la Moriette 2007  (MC)
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Region: France : Loire Valley : Vouvray
Winery: Vouvray Producer Domaine Pichot
Type: White Wine

A French wine from the commune of Vouvray, east of Tours.  Their white wines are among the best rated in France.
Jean-Claude Pichot’s family is one of the oldest in Vouvray, dating back to 1739.  He is one of six sons and the only to carry on the tradition of vigneron.
Utilizes the Chenin Blanc grape.  Can contain a small amount of the Arbois grape (sneaky little sucker)
The wine is a classic sec-tendre (off-dry) white with aromas of honeydew, peach juice, and a hint of spice.  If you’re into sweet wines (ya know who you are) then this off-dry may be good option

Hartford Fog Dance Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 (JoAnne D)

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Region: USA : California :  SonomaCounty

Winery: Hartford Court

Type of wine: Red

They named this Pinot Noir out of respect for the dance performed by the Pacific Ocean fog, drifting through the vineyards and back again to the sea each day. This wine reflects its cool Green Valley terroir, showing the brightness and purity of cherry and cranberry flavors along with an elegant and refined texture. Pure aromas of Queen Anne cherries, rose petals and cinnamon are supported by flavors of cranberries, red cherries and allspice. Velvety, fine grained tannins complement a long and sophisticated finish reminiscent of black tea in this new Green Valley Pinot Noir.

90 points Wine Spectator : Complex crushed wild blackberry and raspberry fruit has a nice mineral and pebble edge, and this gains momentum and depth on the finish, holding its fresh fruit character while remaining elegant and stylish.

Smoking Loon – Pinot Noir – 2007 (Safina S)

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Region: USA :  California

Winery: Smoking Loon Winery

Type of wine: Red

Medium in both color and body, Smoking Loon Pinot Noir has all of the smoke and cherry cola flavors that Pinot aficionados enjoy, but also seductive aromas of eucalyptus, orange spice tea and anise. The fruit character is balanced with soft tannins and a smooth finish.

Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz – 2005 (Sharmila B)

Varietal: Shiraz

Region: Australia : South Australia

Winery: Penfolds Wines

Type of wine: Red

Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz has become an Australian classic. This wine style has universal appeal because of its intense fruit definition, ripe fleshy palate structure and generosity of flavor. A multi-district blend since the late 1970’s it has won “Red Wine of the Year” twice, in 1991 and 1995 at the International Wine Challenge, held each year in London

Wine Enthusiast: An intense, full-bodied Shiraz firmly in the Penfolds and Barossa styles, offering toasty, vanilla notes layered over almost crystalline blackberries. Shows good richness and depth and enough soft tannins to suggest cellaring for 5–10 years, although it’s certainly approachable now. Score: 90. —Joe Czerwinski, February 01, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GKQRfFKbNQ

Victor Caves & Domaines Merlot– 2005 (Sharmila B)

Varietal: Merlot

Region: Italy : Lazio

Winery: Domaine Victor

Type of wine: Red

Made from Merlot in Lazio region of Italy, south of Tuscany & home to the city of Rome. Kosher for Passover. Made from hand-harvested grapes and produced in stainless steel for a fresh and fruity style with no oak. Fruity, medium-bodied with notes of light cherries and berries. Low tannins.

Artesa- Chardonnay Carneros- 2007 (Nicole L)

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: USA : California : Napa : Carneros

Winery: Artesa Vineyards and Winery

Type of wine: White

An exuberant expression of great Carneros Chardonnay. Aromatically and in the mouth this wine is full of lemon, peach, apple, and melon with hints of kiwi and lime. Beautifully multi-layered, this wine also has some oaky smoke and spice that melt into a lingering vanilla and butter finish. Perfectly balanced with the gentle tingle of acid which keeps the fruit lively yet still preserving a silky texture and finish. This wine will age gracefully.

Michael-David Petite Petit 2006 (MC)

Varietal: Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot

Region : USA : California : Sacramento; San Joaquin : Lodi

Winery: Michael-David Vineyards

Type : Red Wine

Unique blend of Petite Sirah/Durif (85%) and Petit verdot (15%) fom Lodi with 14 months of aging in French oak.

1. California is among two of the leading producers of Durif (Australia being the other).  The durif vine is a popular planting in Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, and San Joaquin County.
2. Best description I read:  “the perfect wine for the election season. Circus elephants grace the label, and a couple of glasses will make you believe Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience.”  May also help that the alcohol content is a whopping 14.5%.
3. I found this wine because of the colorful label J  The big a$$ circus elephants are really good representations of the huge flavors coming out of the bottle from the blending of the two grapes.

Mr. Oko Lennon

Hello Everyone – This week we have a bit of a sampling - Domestic Wines vs. International Wines – may the best bottle win.   Enjoy! – Clare  

Whites – Domestic –  Upstate New York

Standing Stone Vineyards – Riesling – 2007 (Clare)

1. This off-dry Riesling is in the classic Finger Lakes style. Vineyards over limestone rich soil provide tropical flavors with an elegant mineral finish. Hints of pear and citrus combine for a lovely mouthfeel.

2. Riesling is the most versatile wine. This wine pairs well with spice food, grilled meat and vegetables, fruits and many cheeses.

3. Standing Stone Vineyards – “With its charming yellow farmhouse and its winery in a barn, Standing Stone appears to be an old-fashioned Finger Lakes winery, but it actually produced its first wine in 1993. Since then, owners Marti and Tom Macinski have consistently made an array of the region’s best wines: The Vidal dessert white is a knockout; Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Riesling are quite good; and while many wineries in the area try to make Cabernet Sauvignon, the Macinskis actually pull it off.”- The Wine Spectator, June 2005

Lamoreaux Landing – Chardonnay - 2006(Alex)
Lamoreaux has one of the more beautiful tasting rooms in the Finger Lakes, a wooden Greek Revival building with magnificent views of the vine-filled slopes and Seneca Lake. Owner and winemaker Mark Wagner’s wines are the perfect accompaniment to the view; his Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Riesling are particularly strong.

The Lamoreaux Chardonnay has tropical fruit with subtle scents of coconut and spice on the nose, followed by generous fruit flavors, a smooth texture, and a bright, balanced acidity. Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with shellfish, grilled salmon with mango salsa, and mildly spiced cuisines. 3 GOLD MEDALS!

Whites – International – Germany

2006 Bex, Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany (Nabil)
Comparable to New York varietals, this is a delicious wine with just enough sweetness to give it a refreshing edge. Not overly-sweet, just enough. The wine is at the QbA level from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. Loaded with peachy fruit and a layer of acidity against the fruit, the wine drinks so easily. Notes of honey, pear, and minerals linger in the palate afterwards. Drink this refreshing Riesling with dinner or by itself.

Reds – Domestic – California

Robert Mondavi – Cabernet Sauvignon –  2005 (Adam) –

Grapes sourced from central area of Napa Valley – Aged in French oak chateau barrels – Bottled unfiltered – Robert Mondavi Winery was founded in 1966 and was the first major winery built in Napa after prohibition was repealed – Robert Mondavi sold the winery in 2004 to Constellation Brands for $1.36 billion – 93 Wine Spectator rating

Bogle Phantom - Petite Sirah 54% – Zinfandel 43% – Mourvèdre 3% - 2005 (Eric)
-   Three unique varietals combine lush berry and fierce spice into a full-bodied wine.
-  Pretty much my favorite blended wine.
-  http://www.boglewinery.com/downloads/factsheets/bogle_05_phantom_factsheet.pdf

Red – International – France

Domaine Pere Caboche – Cotes du Rhone – 2007 (Eduards)
1. Fantastic fall/winter “earthy” wine
2. Is fruity, for a red, but with a great backbone. Slight hint of spice. Great nose.
3. Cotes du Rhone often holds up nicely to a steak or something equally as heavy. Vintage 2006 and 2007 is reportedly much better than the allegedly exceptional 2004 vintage—which was described as watery and surprisingly well-balanced for so young a wine.   CLARE

Portugal hipsters

Rachel:

1. About Aveleda:
   By the end of the 19th Century, Manoel Pedro Guedes da Silva da Fonseca – Mayor of Penafiel and Deputy to the Parliament – decided to leave the monotonous life in Lisbon and moved to his Quinta da Aveleda. This man was renowned for his bravery and vision and decided to redirect the estate’s production focusing on winemaking. For that, he defied the archaic habits of the region and replanted all the existing vines using the Cordon method and dividing each parcel by grape variety. Besides this, he built a huge and modern winery for that time, with the capacity of over 300 barrels.
2. Aveleda Alvarinho is a wine produced exclusively with the Alvarinho variety, a grape variety that is becoming more and more a flagship of the white varieties produced in Portugal.
3. Being one of the major producers of Vinho Verde, Aveleda created this wine to express the most noble character and complexity of this unique grape. Proud of the result, it is named after our winery’s name and our way of working with this fabulous grape.

Esra:

100 Marias – Vinho Regional Alentejano

1. A dry red wine from the Alentejo region in Southern Potugal, known for its hot weather. A blend of Aragonez and Trincadeira grapes.
2. It’s tank fermented then transferred to oak for a short three month maturation. The result is a very subtle, elegant understated wine with huge potential.
3. Full bodied with a very delicate and elegant palate displaying hints of dark fruits, tobacco and chocolate yet remaining incredibly smooth.
4. This is also a wine recommended for aging (~5 years).

Tu-Anh:

Vinho Regional Beiras White Wine, Mateus

1. The brand was created in 1942 and production began at the end of World War II.  The wine was especially styled to appeal to the rapidly developing North American and northern European markets. Production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s and by the late 1980s, supplemented by a white version, it accounted for over 40% of Portugal‘s table wine exports. At that time, worldwide sales were 3.25 million cases per year.
2. Sogrape, the family company which owns the brand and which is the largest wine producer in Portugal, has more recently diversified into other areas of the Portuguese wine industry, as the popularity of its Mateus brand has declined.
3. More recently a new variety of the wine has been marketed as “Mateus Rosé Tempranillo”, a deeper shade of pink than the original, but in a clear bottle with a silver foil, aimed at wine drinkers in their twenties, especially young women.

Karan:

2006 Fetish Wines, Barossa Valley

1) Shiraz 86%, Mataro 12% and Grenache 2%. They seem close ….. More than friends? The classic three way of the wine world, fetish brings together Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache .

2)       This is sold by ROLF BINDER WINES from the VERITAS WINERY in Australia.

3)       In 1968 Veritas purchased from local landholder, ‘Punch’ Hanisch, a block of ground that was then incorporated into the Chri-Ro Estate. These blocks were named by Rolf Senior after Christa and Rolf. This was planted to vines in 1972 and by the mid 1980′s it was recognized that one part of this vineyard made intensely expressive Shiraz.

Eliot:   Peique Tinto Mencia 2007 – Facts to follow

LV:   Surprise!

Happy Friday everyone!

On the wine list today are wines from the McLaren Vale wine region, located approximately 35km south of Adelaide in South Australia. Since I’m running out of time till wine club, lemme just get to the point J

The wine menu for today!

Gemtree Vineyards Moonstone Albarino 2008 (Ken)

Albarino is a magical variety hailing from the picturesque costal region of Galicia, locating in In Galicia it enjoys coroner of spain. For this reason and because we love the wines of Galicia, we decided to plant Albarino in our most treasured plot of dirt on our Tatachilla Road vineyard, which is situated 5km from the sea and maximises the influence of the climatic conditions in our area.
Albarino grapes develop thick skins contributing to their intense aroma of apples, peaches, pears and citrus. As a result we liken Albarino to a hybrid of Riesling and Pinot Grigio due to its gragrant aromatics and wonderful acidity.
We have left this wine as nature intended it, 100% natural fermentation, no additions and zero filtration so if diamonds appear in your don’t be alarmed, they are harmless
Ken uses “we” because he and is “we”-counterparts actually make this wine

Logan Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Div)

Vineyard: The grapes are grown at an elevation of greater than 900 metres on the slopes of Mount Canobolas.
Winemaking: Fermented over 18 days in stainless steel tanks. 5% of the wine was barrel fermented in large Hungarian oak barrels (500 L). The wine was lightly filtered before bottling.
Tasting notes: The Logan 2008 Sauvignon Blanc is pale gold in colour. It has a pungent aroma of passionfruit, guava and nettle. The palate zings with crunchy fresh flavours of pink grapefruit, green papaya and lime. The finish is long and crisp.

Chateau Reynella Shiraz Basket Pressed 2002 (Grant)

Reynella = start of sourthern oz red wine
http://www.atlasofwineries.com/wineries/chreynella.html
The Chateau Reynella Shiraz is typical of the full bodied style of Shiraz that can be made from McLaren Vale fruit. Parcels of fruit from select old vine vineyards were fermented in 7 ton open concrete fermenters and punched down by hand. The ferment was then basket pressed, ensuring the gentle extraction of only soft tannins and contributing to the rich, silky character of the wine. The wine was then transferred to oak barrels and was matured in American and French oak for a period of 18 months prior to bottling.

D’Arenberg Shiraz Viognier The Laughing Magpie 2007 (Big E)

The opaque purple-colored 2007 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz (90%)-Viognier (10%) offers up an expressive bouquet of smoke, mineral, violets, and wild blueberry
Scored between 91-93 points
Created by d’Arenberg is one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale. In 1912 Joseph Osborn, a teetotaller and director of Thomas Hardy and Sons, purchased the well established Milton Vineyards of 25 hectares in the hills just north of the townships of Gloucester and Bellevue, now known as McLaren Vale.

Hugh Hamilton The Mongrel Sangiovese Blend 2007 (Connie)

Hugh Hamilton is the fifthe generation fo the family who first planted vineyards at Glenelg in 1837 less than one year after European settlement in South Australia.
Sangiovese is the Italian variety native to Tuscany and Tempranillo the Spanish grape makes up 86% and 14% respectively
I got two free drinks for getting this for Connie…werd

Wolf Blass Yellow Label South Australia Riesling ???? (Cytena)

This Riesling is apart of the Yellow Label Range of single varietal wines sourced from premium vineyards throughout South Australia
It displays lifted floral and citrus aromatic characters
Wine is balanced with intense fruit flavours and a refreshing crisp finish
Screw caps are used to ensure freshness and preserve the characters of the wine. They’re also just cool.

And finally, King of the lab (for those Bones fans…a tv show) goes to the person that can answer this multiple choice question:

The region was named after

a) David McLaren
b) John McLaren
c) Chuck Norris…McLaren

Catch ya all at 3pm in Cascade (by the kitchen) for Clink time!

MC

The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvedre Viognier 2008 (Angie)

Syrah is a less common wine in S.A. spicy, aromatic blend. the name is a tribute to the pioneers who in the early days of the Cape erected a wolf trap at Boekenhoutskloof. To date, no wolf either real or mystical has been seen in the valley.

Beyond Byutebverwacgbtubgm Savingnon Blanc 2008 (Angie)
Byutebverwacgbtubgm which means “Beyond Expectaion” brings you a beyond mouth-watering full-bodied and fragrant wine.

Amanda BRAMPTON VIOGNIER 2007 (Amanda)
The aromatics are splendid: springtime perfumery, fresh ginger, peaches, apricots and honeysuckle. The palate is waxy and delicate yet with an underlying strength and focus. Aromas follow effortlessly onto the rich palate. Small parcels of judiciously chosen fruit were harvested by hand, chilled and then pressed to settling tanks thereafter transferred to barrel for natural, primary fermentation which was complete after 6-8 weeks. This wine was returned to barrel for a maturation period of 7 months. Racking, protein- and cold-stabilization took place after which the wine was bottled.

Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Amanda)
Made in a highly reductive way in order to maximize the fruit personality of the vintage, the 2008 shows more marked fruit aromatics than usual, while maintaining the typical Southern Right balance of Old World minerality and length with hints of New World palate coverage and body. 2008 is a wine that favours origin expressive individuality, minerality and palate complexity ahead of pure, pungent varietal aroma. A percentage of fruit from clay-rich soil has added an intense mid-palate structural component and addition overall complexity to this wine. “Gooseberry, pepper, fresh herbs and licorice on the nose and palate. Vibrant and varietally accurate; at once rich and gripping, with uncompromising dryness. Finishes brisk and perfumed, with lively hints of lemon peel and quinine. These vines are planted in a cool site barely two miles from the South Atlantic. Anthony Hamilton Russell is a co-founder here.”
International Wine Cellar

Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Byron)

Winery: Mulderbosch Vineyards

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: South Africa

Type: White Wine

Winemaker, Mike Dobrovic is known as South Africa’s Mr. Sauvignon Blanc, and for good reason. Pale straw with a green tinge. Packed with flinty gooseberry and a touch of citrus – yet maintaining its complex character of grassiness and nettle. This powerful and concentrated wine has become a trademark of Mulderbosch.Clear, lively green apple hues. A tropical nose packed with guava, ripe and green fig, granadilla, litchi, gooseberry and a hint of green pepper – yet still maintaining a complex character of nettle and freshly cut grass. The mouth-filling ripe fruit is supported by crisp acid.

Spier Private Collection Pinotage 2006 (Dave)

Winery: Spier Cellars

Varietal: Pinotage

Region: South Africa > Coastal Region

Type: Red Wine

TASTING NOTES:
Dark ruby in colour, the wine shows rich black cherry aromas with vanilla undertones. Forward fruit shows on a full-bodied mid palate with a silky smooth texture and a juicy, lingering finish. VITICULTURE:
Trellised, 9 year-old vines planted on south-eastern slopes facing False Bay yielded the grapes for this wine. The vineyards received supplementary drip irrigation and yielded 7 tons per hectare. VINIFICATION:
Grapes from selected vineyard blocks were hand-harvested at optimum ripeness, meticulously sorted, gently crushed and cooled to 10-12°C. Three days of cold soaking preceded temperature-controlled fermentation; 15% of which occurred in open top oak fermenters. The wine matured in a combination of French- and American- oak; with individual barrels selected for blending. Fact 1 – Pinotage is the result of a cross between the Pinot Noir and Cinsault varieties of grape.
Fact 2 – Pinotage was created in South Africa in 1925, by Stellenbosch University Professor A.I. Peroldt.
Fact 3 – Spier is part of the Cheetah Conservatory and have ambassador cheetahs at their vineyard in Stellenbosch. For a donation you are allowed to go in and pet one. Attached is a picture of my wife and I petting Joseph.

***Bonus Wine***

“rich grape” Sebeka South Africa Cabernet-Pinotage 2007 (Dave)

Winery: Sebeka

Varietal: Cabernet – Pinotage

Region: South Africa

Type: Red Table Wine

2007 Sebeka South Africa Cabernet-Pinotage is a fruit-driven wine with subtle oak flavors of chocolate and mocha that features the blackberry, currant and herbal notes typical of Cabernet along with red fruit, acidity and smoky earth notes typical of Pinotage, South Africa’s signature varietal. In 1925, Stellenbosch University developed the Pinotage grape, a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, as the grape most suitable for South African terroir. This well-balanced, crisp, and deep crimson wine won prestigious accolades in nine wine competitions held in 2008. It pairs well with a wide variety of rich foods, such as pasta, fire-grilled meats, and vegetables. Drink at time of purchase or age in the bottle for 2-3 years. The harmonious 2007 Sebeka South Africa Cabernet-Pinotage used grapes from South Africa’s finest vineyard districts located across the Western Cape. The most attractive Cabernet and Pinotage grapes were carefully hand picked and gently de-stemmed. To elicit a bright taste and retain bold fruit flavors, the grapes were then crushed, pressed and fermented separately in upright stainless steel tanks. The juice was allowed three days of fermentation on skins at 28°C to intensify color and flavor. After undergoing malolactic fermentation, the grape odor became richer, more vinous while achieving longer lingering notes, and a mellow, full-bodied, and buttery taste. The final wine is supported by good tannins and a velvety finish of toasted oak

In Argentina, wine production and consumption dates back from more than 400 years ago, when the first specimens of “vitis vinifera” were brought to America by the Spaniards, in the early 16th century. Catholic priests who came to America settled vineyards around their monasteries, so as to assure the wine to celebrate holy mass. Cabernet, Malbec, Pinot, Semillon, Merlot and Chardonnay discovered ideal weather conditions and prospered successful and rapidly, originating the first Argentinean fine wines. A proper temperature, long sun exposure sessions, low rainfall levels and humidity, and no strong winds together with exceptional soils, created the best ecological ambience for the production of top quality grapes.It is important to highlight that quality and an abundant grape production, within such a favorable ecosystem, make substantial corrections unnecessary, for which reason sugar addition to wines is legally forbidden in Argentina.

Cruz Alta President’s Reserve 2005
Facts:
1. Varietals: 85% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
2. Aged 14 months in new barrels and was produced by Bedegas Escorihuela Gascon out of Mendoza, Argentina. Limited edition wine from the company president’s personal cellar.
3. Paula Witkowski signed the bottle…hmm, Witkowski doesn’t sound like an Argentinean name to me…calling fubar on that one.

Gascon 2008
http://www.wine.com/V6/Gascon-Malbec-2008/wine/97640/detail.aspx
Winemaker’s notes:
Full-bodied wine with deep violet color, showcasing flavors and aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, dark cherry, and a hint of mocha. This wine is elegant and rich in texture, with soft and round tannins and a long velvety finish.

Alamos Torrontés 2008

Region: Argentina > Mendoza

Varietal: Torrontes

Type: White Wine

Torrontés has a unique expression in Argentina and has often been called the country’s signature white varietal. Alamos Torrontés captures all of the explosive aromatic character of this Argentine grape, with lively notes of citrus and peach fruit interwoven with delicate layers of jasmine blossom and fresh herbs. The wine is light and fresh on the palate with excellent balance and finishing with bright, crisp acidity.

Bodega Lurton – Pinot Gris 2008

Region: Argentina > Mendoza > Alto Valle de Oco

Varietal: Pinto Grigio

Type: White Wine

1. Rare in Argentina, the Lurtons harvest this variety first each year to retain the delicate bouquet and the rich complex flavors of peaches, apricots and raisins.
2. J & F Lurton was set up in 1988 by twin brothers Jacques and François Lurton, sons of Bordeaux producer André Lurton. Their firm background in wine and the experience gained as international consultants has been brought to bear on a range of wines from around the world, which aim to keep up with current trends and offer value for money.
3. In 1997 the brothers bought 225 hectares of land in the Valle de Uco, Argentina, which has been turned into a 125 hectare vineyard and a substantial winery. In order to keep up with demand, they also control many neighboring vineyards in the same region of the Uco.

Rose of Malbec, Crios de Susana Balbo
1. This rose is produced by using the traditional “saignee” method, a bleeding of the lightly colored juice from the skins of the fermenting old vine Malbec grapes at just the right time to generate the brilliant red color.
2. Old vine Malbec grapes create a richer, spicier wine than most from around the world.
3. Can be paired with many different types of food.
4. Bottle says it is extremely lovable and fun to be around!

Whaddup everybody!

We’ve got happy hours galore today it seems with wonderful weather ( K ) …My poor miata felt like a submarine on the ride in but hey, things are clearing up which should make my smoke breaks much more enjoyable.

Now let’s get this party started shall we?

Nicole:
Brand: Santa Margherita
Type: Pinot Grigio
Other: Santa Margherita introduced Pinot Grigio to America nearly three decades ago.

Mezzaluna Gavi 2006 (JoAnne)

Winery:  Mezzaluna

Region: Italy > Piedmont > Gavi

Varietal: Cortese

Type: White Wine

• Is a brilliant pale yellow wine, rich in fruit notes, elegant , dry and soft. Its fragrant and crisp body is a perfect companion to shell-fish, salads oysters, pizza and poultry, excellent as aperitif.
• Cortese is an Italian grape revered in the northern parts of the country, but seldom seen elsewhere. The best examples come from the DOCG of Gavi, in the region of Piemonte. Cortese di Gavis are light, crisp and have pleasant aromas of almonds, citrus fruits and freshly mown grass. It is also grown in the hills around Monferrato as well as in Lombardy where it is a part of the blend Oltrepo Pavese.

Sharmila:
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Black Label Claret

• Is smooth, perfectly blended, has a balanced and deep taste, and is consistent all the way through.
• Like pretty much all Coppola wines, it does not require breathing time and can probably sit around a good few years in the cellar if you like too.The Claret is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
• It won 2002 wine spec. award – 83 points

Erin:
2006 La Cattura Toscana

• This wine is obtained from Teroldego and Syrah grapes from of the “Vigna Nuova” in Poggio al Casone.
• The use of organic methods in the conduction of the vineyard and natural methods during vinification, makes “La Cattura” a fruity and fresh wine with a great intensity.
• Balsamic and refreshing wine with clear herbaceous hints reminding green stem and grass; rose and green bell pepper, blackberry and red currant.

Toscolo – Chianti – 2006  (MC)

Winery: Toscolo

Region: Italy > Tuscany > Chianti

Varietal: Chianti

Type: Red Wine

• Toscolo is a word from Renaissance Italian meaning “Tuscan boy”
• The Toscolo Chianti is the entry level of the three Tosculo Chiantis and is 100% Sangiovese.
• Chianti’s are Angie’s favorite wines She suggests you can serve this with just about anything…even mac-e and cheese. Mmmm…

As always clink time is at 3! Don’t forget the company happy hour at 4 w/ the wonderful tunes of Kevin Moore. If there’s a dance off, I’m in this time!

Bada bing,

MC

Caio tutti! Like how I threw a little Italian in there?…I’m international peeps Wow so it feels like its been a hot minute since last corked club and like the title suggests, we have been going through changes. It seems like the vino drinkers have been coming out of the wood works and we’ve definitely been growing in size since our first meeting about a month or so ago. Heh…that’s the meeting where we realized that two bottles was perhaps too much for four people…but that was a fun realization Trial and error ma friends!

Part of this trial and error was also to figure out a good reporting and record keeping platform for this group. We had originally gone with the google groups but that was turning into a project as it didn’t seem necessary since we had a work distro. So, we’re thinking of going with this:

http://corkedclub.blogspot.com/

The welcome page should have all of the info people need regarding the group (i.e. schedule, rules, info on Chuck Norris…I <3

And without further ado here is our menu for today!

Esra: 2006 Spanish Quarter Chardonnay Albarino

• The wine is suggested as a summer drink. (well, it IS almost summer!)
  
• Albarino, with an accept on the ‘n’ (pronounced Al-bah-reen-yo) was brought to Spain and Portgual by Cluny monks in the 12th century; it means “the white from the Rhine.”
• The blend with Chardonnay (60/40) is probably a response to the growing global wine market, and differs from what might have been a more traditional use of the grape. In its own right, it might be made into a lighter, sweeter wine intended for immediate consumption (which is still common in Portugal) and it may be carbonated. In this case, however, it is deliberately balanced as a stab at something more sophisticated for the export market. Nevertheless, it probably shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but expected to be something wet and tasty, but with enough substance to avoid feeling young. (yes, I researched this; no, I never had this wine before, this is not my experience—I was just curious about it.)

Eliot: 2001 Glen Ellen Cabernet Sauvignon California

1) Cabernet Sauvignon has 140 calories per glass

2) For many years, the origin of Cabernet Sauvignon was not clearly understood and many myths and conjunctures surrounded it. The word “Sauvignon” is believed to be derived from the French sauvage meaning “wild” and to refer to the grape being a wild Vitis vinifera vine native to France.

3) As global warming has increased the number of warm vintage years, the possibility of creating varietal Cabernet in Bordeaux has also increased, making the decision to blend based more on ideology and tradition.

Karan: 2005 Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Grand Reserve

1) Rating: 88 pts. Wine Spectator

2) Review: Supple and elegant, this is a touch earthy and savory, with spicy black cherry and wild berry fruit that’s delicate and easy-drinking already.

3) Karan smokes Marlboro lights…and knows that when he comes to Cascade, to bring an extra one for Tuey…not me, I would NEVER smoke…

Lauren: 2007 Martin Codax Albarino Rias Baixas

1) Rias Baixas is where Spain’s most respected white wines originate.

2) Martin Codax was a 13th Century Galician (language of the Western Ibero-Romance branch, spoken in Galicia, an autonomous community located in northwestern Spain) troubadour (was a composer and performer of Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages) whose romantic works are still sung and played in NW Spain. His music and poetry spoke to the inherent beauty of the Spanish countryside and coast.

3) Mineral, aromatic, floral, crisp, well-balanced, medium-body, acidic, citrus, pear, peach

Toby: 2007 Casillero del Diablo Merlot Chile

1) This was a donated bottle from the wonderful Toby

2) Toby’s name means “God is Good”. Mine means Master of Ceremonies. Not sure who wins…

3) Meh I’ll give it to Toby…he is pretty much way cooler than all of us! Thanks again Tobs!

Ok, as always clink time at 3pm at Cascade!

Make yourself a pleasant day and have a wonderful weekend!

MC

Btw, someone left me a msg saying that and I just loved it! I wanted to say that all day lol

I was hoping the cop that stopped me this morning for a speeding ticket was going to say the same thing…he didn’t. I plan on running him over during lunch >:| Anyho, no reason to NOT enjoy wine so without further ado here is our menu:

Angie: Chianti Classico Riserva 2004

Three interesting facts about Chianti:

1) Tuscany in Italy is the only place in the world that grows Chianti grapes

2) Chianti is for drinking in winter because it is warming

3) the rooster on the label, as well as the “reserva” indicate it is a good wine

Amanda: Cat Amongst the Pigeons Nine Lives 100% Barossa Valley Shiraz 2007

Three interesting facts about Shiraz:

1. Synonymous with Syrah. Called Syrah in its country of origin, France, as well as in Europe, Agentina, Chile, Uruguay , and most of the US. The name Shiraz because popular in Australia. Also called such in South Africa and Canada.
2. NOT the same as a Petite Sirah, which is a synonym for Durif.
3. Both came from out of the country via Hampden

Byron: TBD. He’s running out during lunch.

Three interesting facts about Byron:

1. He REALLY likes Britney Spears…his rendition of “Oops I did it again” is pretty spot on.
2. He secretly pockets money on his Thai Arroy runs…he got busted for that at his last job…it was a big stink
3. He’s got an awesome sense of humor Heh, ya know you’re the coolest Catholic school girl around!

Clink time at 3pm at Cascade J

MC