Old and New Favorites from around the world.
March 28, 2009Saturday 4:00pm until 7:00pm (or until it's gone)
$5 per person
2005 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris $16.95
Region: California, Sonoma CoastVarietal: Pinot Gris
Vinification: Grapes from premier Sonoma Coast vineyards contributed to the final blend of this wine. A long growing season saw the grapes harvested at the peak of ripeness in late September. The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed & the juice was cold-settled for 2-3 days to give the wine elegance and balance. The Pinot Gris juice was primarily stainless steel tank fermented for 10-14 days with temperature not exceeding 62° F, and 11% of the wine underwent sur lie aging for an average of two months in used French oak barrels. The wine has been aged in the bottle for two months prior to release.
Notes: California's Sonoma Coast is an up and coming growing region for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris because of its climate and soil. MacMurray Ranch crafts wines from this region with elegance, finesse and a distinctive sense of place.
MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Gris possesses an expressive fruit-forward character, exhibiting rich aromas of white peach and honeydew melon. The bright aromas and complex varietal characters of citrus and elements of spice add both weight and interest to the wine. The flavors of peach, melon and fig are melded together in a rich core, resulting in a round mouth feel which compliments its crisp, clean finish.
Serving Temperature:
Food Pairing: Pair this wine's richness with sautéed scallops, soft-shell crabs, lobster, foie gras or highlight its bright acidity and elegance with linguini and fresh clams or al pesto.
2006 Champalou Vouvray $21.95
Region: France, LoireVarietal: Chenin Blanc
Vinification: After a few months of watching the grapes evolution, harvest is carefully planned. The grapes worth being quality wine are picked from the chalk and clay terroir. They can only obtain this result if the work is started in the vineyard, by a short pruning and an early thinning out the leaves which promote a good ripeness to the Chenin. The wine is vinified in stainless steel tank to express all the fruit aroma of the Chenin.
The grapes for the Vouvray sec are cultivated on argilo-calcaire soils and are the earliest harvested to preserve their vivacity. The wine ferments at an even cool temperature and is aged in troglodyte 'cellar-caves' gouged from the limestone.
Notes: Didier and Catherine Champalou have been established in the heart of the appellation for over fifteen years and have acquired over 20 hectares of Chenin. Their philosophy is simple: to create wines that respect the grape variety, the terroir and the nature of the vintage. The Champalous are registered with the Terra Vitis programme which is a charter that promotes sustainable farming and respect for the environment by maintaining a good balance in the soil, the terroir and the plant and limiting chemical applications.
Champalou makes beautiful, ethereal Vouvray. His wines have a rounded, tender, almost buttery texture with suggestions of apples and ripe quinces sheathed in delicate threads of honey. The balance that the Champalous seek to achieve in this wine is 'sec tendre', in other words dry but soft and supple in the mouth.
Serving Temperature:
Food Pairing: Delicious with rillettes, grilled fish, rabbit, camembert and pork.
2006 Alexander Valley Estate Merlot $19.95
Region: California, Alexander ValleyVarietal: Merlot
Vinification: Barrel Regimen Aged for 12 months, 25% in new and 75% in 1 and 2-year-old French and American oak
Notes (Winemaker): Merlot has received a bad rap in recent years as a wimpy wine, but we're convinced we will change a lot of minds with our 2006 Estate Merlot. It's dense and rich, qualities a lot of folks associate with Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Kevin Hall calls this a Merlot that thinks it's a Cab.
The 2006 growing season started out cool and wet and there was about a week of blistering temperatures in the summer. Yet more temperate conditions returned just in time for harvest, allowing the fruit to ripen evenly and develop some deep color.
The long growing season delivered a beautiful Merlot showing aromas of black cherry, plum and pie spices like nutmeg and clove. In the glass, the wine opens up to reveal flavors of plum, vanilla, cherry and a touch of cranberry.
Serving Temperature:
Food Pairing:
2005 Elderton Friends Shiraz $19.95
Region: Australia, Barossa (90% Eden Valley)Varietal: Shiraz 95%, Mataro (Mouvedre) 5%
Vinification: The wine is made in the Elderton style of being big, soft, rich and juicy. The fruit is sourced from friend's vineyards in the Barossa, other than the Elderton Estate. It has developed further complexity from 8 months maturation in American and a
little touch of French oak puncheons
Notes: It has taken many years to find and develop relationships with many small growers in the Barossa, but now we can truly say that these new wines are sourced from our friend's vineyards. We now believe with the new labeling and improvements to wine styling and focus, we have created one of the best bargain wines in the Barossa.
In typical Barossa style, the wine shows both power and refinement. The wine starts off seductively earthy but then turns to glorious crushed berries, chocolate and hints of plums and vanilla. The small percentage of Mataro (also known as Mouvedre) is used to give the wine a silky taste and texture. The wine shows plenty of flesh and good concentration and drinks well today but can be cellared into the mid term.
Serving Temperature:
Food Pairing: Ragu, BBQ sausages and steak, pizza or matured cheddar cheese.
