July 2014 Wine Club Selections

July 2014                      The Oconee Wine Club

This month’s white wine comes from a very well known winery located in Adelaide Hills, Australia called Jacob’s Creek.  In 1847, a young Bavarian immigrant called Johann Gramp missed the wine he used to drink in his home land. Instead of changing his habits, he decided to start growing grapes and attempt to make the wine himself. It was a way of adapting to a new country, but still staying true to his character.  What he didn’t know was that when he planted the Barossa Valley’s first commercial vineyard along the banks of Jacob’s Creek, he was also planting the seeds of one of the most popular wine brands in the world that would be named after the waterway.  Today,  Jacob’s Creek remains one of the most well known, trusted and enjoyed Australian wines around the world. It delivers fresh, elegant and great tasting wines that show true varietal character.

For the Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2013, they reserved selected parcels of grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia. The cool climate of the Adelaide Hills ripens the fruit, developing  a crisp acidity.  Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay exhibits regional characteristics of white peach, nectarine and lemon zest with hints of tasted cashew.

Rated 90 by Wine Spectator, “This bright and inviting white exhibits lively flavors of lemon curd, pineapple and pear on a taut frame, lingering expressively. Intense and stylish. Drink now through 2017.”  This wine represents a superb value at only  $11.99 per bottle!

The red for this month is the Red Knot Cabernet 2012 by Shingleback.  Grapes grown in the McLaren Vale area of Australia are used to make this delicious Cabernet.  The McLaren Vale region is located 45 minutes south of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. The area is bound to the south by the Sellick’s Hill range, extends east to Clarendon, reaches to the north just beyond Reynella and is bordered on the west by the waters of the Gulf St. Vincent.

The Red Knot family of wines are designed for immediate enjoyment, full of ripe, fruit driven flavours. The style is bright, fragrant and varietal with the emphasis on fruit richness, giving the wine lover a delicious wine experience at an affordable price.

Deep magenta. Cassis, cherry and bramble aromas are highlighted with hints of couverture chocolate and cedary French oak. Rich blackberry fruit, firm chocolatey tannins and savoury notes define the palate and linger.

Rated 89 by Robert Parker,  “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2012 Red Knot Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a fragrant nose of cassis, violets and eucalyptus with an undercurrent of chocolate box. Medium to full-bodied with well-married blackcurrant and menthol flavors, it is nicely framed by a medium level of fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity and a long finish.”  Another killer value from Australia for only $16.99 per bottle!

Connoisseur Club

The red for this month is the Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2012.  Chakana founded February 1, May 2002, unknowingly at first, the same day the Southern Cross (constellation called Chakana by indigenous Andean highlands) assumes its upright signaling the start of a new agricultural cycle.  Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Juan’s mission is to create an integral experience to introduce world consumers to the taste and culture of the Andes. His vision is to become one of the top 20 exporters of wine from Argentina, by consistently offering outstanding value for money.

“100% Malbec aged in new and used French oak for 18 months exhibits a dense, saturated ruby/purple color along with a sweet perfume of charcoal, white chocolate, blueberries and blackberries intermixed with hints of forest floor and spring flowers. A wine of delicacy, suppleness and full-bodied power as well as tremendous harmony and purity, it will provide pleasure over the next 7-8 years. ”
92 PointsThe Wine Advocate              

The white for this month is the Jean Reverdy La Reine Blanche Sancerre 2012.  This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes grown in Verdigny, one of the top villages in Sancerre. It dates back to 1650 and has been in the family for about 10 generations. Originally the family was growing vines and diverse polycultures, but since the 1950’s they have been focusing on producing wine only. Christophe Reverdy, son of the late Jean Reverdy, now produces around 100,000 bottles per year on average and exports 70% of the total production to UK, Germany, Sweden, Japan and the USA.  The Domaine spreads over 12 hectares (29.64 acres): 9 hectares Sauvignon, 3 hectares Pinot Noir, and produces red, rosé and white wine. The age of the vines is 25 years and older. The vineyard is divided into 15 parcels located on the hills of Verdigny, Saint Satur, Sancerre and Thauvenay.

The vineyards are planted on three different types of soil:

– silicious-clay soils, “Terres a Silex” (east of the hills) – 55%
– pebbly limestone soils, known as the “Caillottes” – 35%
– clay and limestone white soils, the “Terres Blanches” (west of the hills) – 10%

Try this wine with any seafood dish especially oysters and you are sure to experience what white wines made in the Loire Valley of France are all about.  $ 26.99 Retail.