May 2012 Wine Club Selections

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May 2012                                                               Wine Club Selections

The May wines are in!  This month I chose two French wines that are both rated 90 or more by Robert Parker.  Although these wines come from different producers, they are both imported by European Cellars Selection (Eric Solmon).  They are one of the premier importers of Eurpean wines.  Robert M. Parker Jr. said Eric Solomon was his #1 Wine Personality of the Year 2002. 

Signargues Old Vine Cotes Du Rhone 2009 $14.99

In 1994 Eric visited the Vignerons d’Estazarques and met a young, passionate director/winemaker named Jean-Francois Nicq.  By the end of the day, he & Jean-Francois had decided on a custom bottling of old vine syrah from one of their best parcels, Andezon.  This opaque-black, blockbuster Syrah could have been Australian Shiraz.  What a find!  Previously sold in bulk (vinous suicide) to a very famous producer in the Rhone Valley, Eric jumped at the opportunity and over a decade later it remains one of the core items in the Eric Solomon portfolio.

Some years later, a spectacular parcel of old vine Grenache was found in the Côtes du Rhône Villages Appellation Signargues which would be developed in to ‘La Granacha.”  Signargues is the furthest south of the Côtes du Rhône Villages Appellation and it spreads out over 4 different communities : Domazan, Estézargues, Rochefort du Gard and Saze.  The terroir of Signargues is well known to historians going from the occupation of the area by the Romans to the battles of Charles Martel, from the Popes in Avignon to the cult of Bacchus.  Vestiges still exist, such as the double faced statue of Bacchus and Ariane which can be seen in the Louvre Museum, found by an archaeologist on the land.

91 Rating by Robert Parker! 

The 2009 Domaine d’Andezon (90% Syrah and 10% Grenache) is a tank-fermented and aged, unfined/unfiltered cuvee made only for the American market from 50-year-old vines. It offers explosive notes of smoky bacon fat, cassis, and blackberries, a deep, rich, chewy style, and an exuberant, flashy personality. With unbelievable flavor intensity and personality for its price, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next several years.

LaFage Cote Est 2010 $12.99

One of the oldest viticulture areas of France, vines in the Roussillon were cultivated by the Romans, and perhaps even before that. With some of the most dramatic topography in France, many of the zones are composed of extremely steep hillsides – resembling the Priorat in Spain in many ways.

One of the most sought-after winemakers of Europe at the moment, Jean-Marc Lafage lends his expertise with Southern European varietals to several top estates in both France and Spain (he makes Evodia  with Eric Solomon among other custom cuvee projects) and also in South America. However, his best work is perhaps at home at his estate in the hills of the Roussillon with his wife, Eliane, also a highly accomplished winemaker.

90 Rating Robert Parker! 

The Lafage 2010 Cote Est – comprising, as usual, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Chardonnay, and a bit of Marsanne – is delightfully scented with honeysuckle and iris, and its palate combination of juicy lime with the bite of cress, tangerine rind, and persistent inner-mouth florality put me in mind of some top-notch, lighter Gruner Veltliner. In fact, this harbors 13% alcohol yet finishes with a striking sense of levity, not to mention combining subtle but alluring textural enrichment via the lees with refreshing vivacity and intriguing, mouthwatering hints of iodine and salt. Look for it to prove phenomenally versatile over the next 12-18 months.  As explained in issue 183, this blend is assembled as juice (not as wine) following a 12-15 day super-cold but gentle settling period for each variety and lot – just one of the many examples of wholly unorthodox Lafage methods resulting in something extraordinary, here above all in terms of uncanny balance as well as improbable price-quality rapport.

Connoisseurs Club Selections

The DiStefano Winery was established in 1983 being one of the first 5 wineries in Woodinville, now known as Woodinville Wine Country and home of 90 tasting rooms. The winery produces high quality white and red wines made from classic varietals grown in Washington State such as Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
DiStefano winery does not own its own vineyards, but relies on long-term relationships and contacts with existing well know vineyards, such as Willard and Roza Hills in Yakima Valley, Bacchus and Dinoysus in Columbia Valley, Rosebud and Weinbau on Wahluke Slope, and Alder Ridge in Horse Heaven Hills.

Di Stefano 2008 Meritage  $24.99

This killer red is a blend of 50% Cabernet, 20% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot.  Only 600 cases of this classic blend where produced! 

Enticing clove, cola and raspberry aromatics with a depth of rich dark cherries, black pepper and spice enlightened with molasses, brown sugar and blackberry notes.

Zd Chardonnay 2010  $ 29.99

Producing world-class wines was the vision of two former aerospace engineers who in pursuit of their dream launched ZD Wines. The initials ZD were a very nice tie between the new partners last names and a quality control program they had worked under “Z”ero “D”efects! Over the years, ZD Wines have graced the tables of White House dinner parties, spanning three administrations. The wines have garnered over 342 awards of excellence in prestigious competitions; and in 1997, ZD Wines was named a Winery of the Year by the Wine & Spirits Buying Guide.

This 2010 ZD Wines California Chardonnay is yet another testament to our unique style and pursuit of richness and balance through our careful selection of cool, coastal vineyards from as far south as Santa Barbara and Monterey counties to our own Napa and Sonoma Carneros appellations. All of the grapes were harvested at optimal maturities and 100% barrel fermented in our cellar which is kept at a chilly 48°F during fermentation. This long, cool fermentation preserves the vibrant tropical and clean citrus aromas while also helping to inhibit any malo-lactic fermentation, thus maintaining a balance of forward fruit and bright natural acidity. Aromas of pineapple, guava and pear mingle with hints of vanilla and orange blossoms. The palate is full bodied and rich with the perfect balance between fruit, oak and acidity. Like many ZD Chardonnays, this wine is a joy to drink when young but will also age and develop beautifully for many years to come.

  • 90 Points – Highly Recommended –– California Grapevine, Oct. 2011
  • Double Gold Medal – San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2012
  • Best Chardonnay – Monterey Wine Competition 2012
  • Best of Class|Gold Medal – New World International Wine Competition 2012

April 2012 Wine Club Selections

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 April 2012           Wine Club Selections

Founded in 1970, with its first release in 1975, Marqués de Cáceres the Rioja bodega was established by Henri Forner, whose family has been active in the wine business for generations. The winery is named for a Spanish peer who was also an investor in the winery and a friend of Henri Forner.

The Forner family fled Spain during the Spanish Civil War and settled in France. In the early 1960s, Henri Forner and his brother Elysée bought and restored two abandoned châteaux, Château Camensac and Château Larose-Trintaudon. These châteaux are now recognized as two of the finest properties in Bordeaux. When Henri decided to establish a bodega in his homeland, he selected what he considered the finest viticultural area in Spain: Cenicero in Rioja Alta.

Emile Peynaud, former professor and chief wine researcher at the University of Bordeaux, was initial consultant to the winery. Today, Michel Rolland is wine consultant at Marqués de Cáceres and Henri and his daughter, Christine, are at the helm. The vinification methods at Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres are similar to those used in Bordeaux. Thus, French winemaking techniques and expertise have been applied to native Spanish grapes to produce one of the finest modern Riojas.

Marques de Caceres Reserve Rioja 2005 $ 19.99

winemaker’s notes:

Attractive, vivid ruby red color.  Intense, fragrant bouquet with a depth of blackberries, blackcurants, blueberries and vanilla.  Deliciously full and complex in the mouth with silky smooth tannins.  This reserva highlights the character of a unique vintage that is rich and structured, while combining the elegance of a splendid wine that promises to develop superbly over the next few years.

91 Points Wine Spectator

“This silky red offers fresh fruit flavors of plum and blackberry, with espresso and licorice notes. This is firm, bright and balanced, with a perfumed, floral finish. Drink now through 2018.”

Marques de Caceres Rioja Blanco 2010   $ 8.99           

winemaker’s notes:

Luminous, pale straw color with metallic highlights.  Lively bouquet combining pears and mineral notes with a discreet depth of grapefruit.  Well-integrated fruit flavors awaken the palate with their refreshing vivacity and persist in the mouth to give good length.

87 Points Wine Enthusiast  “Best Buy”

“A perennial Best Buy Rioja white that never deviates from the formula, which includes crisp aromas, fresh white fruit flavors and just enough sweetness so it doesn’t come across tart.  With proper acidity and weight, it hits the spot. Best Buy”

Connoisseur Club Selections

 Lemelson Vineyards Tikka’s Run Pinot Gris 2010  $ 19.99

Lemelson  Vineyards was designed with two primary goals: to produce the highest  quality Pinot noir from our vineyards and to create a winemaking  environment that is both aesthetically beautiful and highly functional.  The 21,000 square foot, gravity-flow facility features a unique mobile  grape sorting platform and three levels to accommodate gravity based  production of approximately 12,000 cases per year with extended barrel  aging of Pinot noir.  Complete in 2000, the winery is located at the  foot of the Stermer Vineyards, three miles east of Carlton, Oregon.  Lemelson  Vineyards owns seven estate vineyard sites that are located in the   Yamhill-Carlton, Dundee Hills and Chehalem Mountain AVA’s and are all   Certified Organic.

The 2010 Tikka’s Run is more floral and mineral than previous vintages with nectarine, almond, chamomile, wet earth and chalk.  The palate is soft on entry with pear and candied orange balanced by vibrant Meyer lemon that carries through to the chalky, mineral finish.  Time in bottle should produce deeper, more tropical aromatics and lovely, broad textures while still remaining food friendly.

Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco 2009 Sangiovese-Cabernet $32.99

Tua Rita is located in Suvereto, a small medieval town in the Tuscan province of Livorno, on the coast south of Bolgheri.  Rita Tua and her husband Virgilio Bisti bought the property in 1984 and planted it with Cabernet and Merlot.  They later purchased an additional 17.5 acres of land, bringing the total estate to 55 acres, of which about 45 are planted with vines.  The winery lies at just 300 feet above sea level, on a clayey, silty soil. Luca D’Attoma is the winemaker at the estate.  Yields are kept to a minimum to ensure concentration of flavors.  The estate’s total annual production is currently 130,000 bottles. The winery released its first vintage in 1992, and soon began receiving praise and accolades from wine enthusiasts worldwide for its rich, full-bodied wines.  Indeed, in just five short years, its (100% Merlot) had achieved cult-like status, receiving outstanding ratings from the world’s most prestigious wine critics and publications.  Wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr. called the 1999 Redigaffi “as close to perfection as a wine can get.”  The next year, he gave the 2000 Redigaffi a perfect 100 score.  The winery’s Bordeaux blend, Giusti di Notri, also garners near-universal praise.  Little wonder that Tua Rita’s wines are considered among the most difficult to find in Italy.

93 Rated by Robert Parker!

“The 2009 Perlato del Bosco is a stunner. Fresh delineated aromatics lead to layers of candied, expressive fruit. Silky tannins frame the explosive finish. In 2009 the blend is 60% Sangiovese – a touch higher than normal – and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. ”