New Favorites
August 08, 2009Saturday 4:00pm until 7:00pm (or until it's gone)
$5 per person
2008 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc $29.95
New Zealand, MarlboroughScented and summery, the 2008 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc has deliciously vibrant aromatics that infuse the tropical fragrance of fresh passionfruit and juicy pineapples with garden-fresh basil and the spiciness of crushed tomato leaves. The palate is long and succulent, combining exotic fruits with ripe, red capsicum and a twist of green olive ... beautifully complemented by crisp natural acidity and a hint of lime zest.
VINEYARD Grapes were sourced from estate and grower vineyards located in the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley. Free draining, stony soils typify the Rapaura and Renwick areas whilst Fairhall and Brancott are predominantly aged alluvial loams containing some clay. The majority of fruit was grown on a vertical shoot positioned (VSP) trellis, and the balance on the divided Scott Henry trellis system. In 2008, average sauvignon blanc yields came in slightly above the target 10 Tonnes/hectare (4.0 Tonnes/acre)
THE SEASON Idyllic flowering weather led to excellent set in all varieties, in particular sauvignon blanc, which bloomed into a bountiful crop. A warm summer followed and the season finished close to the long term average in terms of heat summation, sunshine hours and rainfall. The exceptionally dry ripening season was punctuated by two rain events during the second half of harvest, producing many a grey hair and speeding up the picking. All vineyards were picked in just over a month and the vintage was completed earlier than ever before.
HARVEST Harvest started slightly earlier than usual and was particularly condensed. The sauvignon blanc harvest commenced on the 25th of March under settled conditions, the first fruit coming from the stonier, warmer blocks around the winery. Harvesting continued steadily during the month through the progressively later ripening sites, with the last fruit coming in on the 20th of April. Open canopy management and tight pruning regimes came to the fore in allowing the fruit to reach ripeness before the rains in the later part of harvest. Flavours were superb and all vineyards produced ripe, concentrated fruit of exceptional quality.
VINIFICATION The fruit was machine harvested during the cooler night and early morning temperatures and transported directly to the winery. The grapes were de-stemmed and transferred straight to tank presses. Free run and lightly pressed juice was cold settled for 48 hours then racked and inoculated with neutral yeast strains. The fermentations were carried out in stainless steel tanks; after fermentation the wine remained in contact with yeast lees for around two months, prior to blending in July and subsequent bottling in August. Final wine analysis shows an alcohol of 13.5%, pH of 3.10 and titratable acidity 7.3 g/L.
2008 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay $23.95
US, CA, Santa Barbara CountyFounded in 1982, Au Bon Climat (which means "a well-exposed vineyard") produces internationally-recognized Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc wine from grapes grown in California's Santa Barbara County.
The Au Bon Climat winery is located on the world-famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, and is owned by winemaker Jim Clendenen. Au Bon Climat was listed on Robert Parker's Best Wineries of the World in both 1989 and 1990, while Jim Clendenen has been named Winemaker of the Year in 1992 by the Los Angeles Times, and Winemaker of the Year in 2001 by Food and Wine Magazine.
Burgundian in sensibility but with California style is one way of describing Jim Clendenen's Chardonnays — Structure and restraint melded with bountiful opulence is another. In the glass, buttery brioche marries with tropical fruits in an irresistible elixir that will leave the bottle drained before you know it. Try it with turbot for a match of delicacy and richness.
2007 Campobello — Tuscany Chianti D.O.C.G $9.95
Italy, TuscanyThe Campobello Brand was created by the Opici family in conjunction with a group of distinguished Tuscan growers. Each year, selected lots are sampled and selected based on the quality that the Opici family has brought to the market since 1913. Our rigorous selection process ensures the highest level of quality possible, while relationships with the growers that have spanned generations provide consistency year after year.
Campobello Chianti is made in the fashion of a young Bordeaux. Unlike the Grand Crus of the Medoc or the Chianti Classico Riservas of Tuscany, this dry red is vinified to capture the quality and essence of its more austere and longer lived counterparts, but in a classy, easy, friendly style. A careful selection of premium grapes (primarily Sangiovese) undergoes temperature controlled fermentation and a touch of oak. The resulting dry red is pleasant, vibrant and delicious, without the tannins of more costly Tuscan reds. Enjoy it young, although it will develop with moderate cellaring.
Characteristics:
The wine has a brilliant, ruby color, violets and strawberries in the nose, and a dry, fruity, harmonious taste with a pleasant finish. It is vinified to be enjoyed young.
Grape Varietals: 10% Canaiolo 90% Sangiovese. Alcohol: 12%.
Enjoy With:
Campobello Chianti goes well with poultry, pizza, burgers, pasta with tomato and meat sauces, chicken and veal parmigiana, and stews.
2007 Cline Cashmere $16.95
US, CA, SonomaIn the latter part of the 1800s, Oakley, Contra Costa County was a booming farming community with thousands of acres of orchards and healthy vineyards. Fred Cline's maternal grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi of pump and spa fame, called this place home. On summer visits to his grandparents, Fred learned both the love of agricultural life and the mysteries of vinifying grapes into wine. These lessons led Fred to obtain a degree in Agriculture Management from U.C. Davis. In 1982, with an inheritance from his grandfather, Fred founded Cline Cellars near Oakley, California. Here, he preserved and restored many ancient vine sites to their rightful reign as premier California wine lands.
In 1991, Fred and his wife Nancy relocated the winery from Oakley to the Carneros region of Sonoma County on a historic 350-acre estate with new vineyards and facilities. While much of the cool Carneros region is planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, Fred pioneered the planting of Rhône varietals including Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
Fred's innovation and experimentation led to producing rich, distinctive Rhône-style wines and intense, flavorful Zinfandels for which he has garnered enormous acclaim. In 2007, our 2004 Sonoma Zinfandel was rated 91 pts by the Wine Spectator, the 2004 Bridgehead Zinfandel was rated 90 pts, and the 2004 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre was named, "One of the top 100 values of the Year" by Wine & Spirits, June 2007 issue.
As rare as the goats in the Gobi Desert, this silky rich blend is a special treat.
Cashmere is one of the most precious gifts of nature. It evokes quality, luxuriousness, and something that is a labor of love to produce. Our Cashmere is a silky and wonderful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Just as with the processing of cashmere, the production of these meticulously farmed grapes and the blending of the components that result in this wine is something achieved only with extraordinary time and skill. Enjoy with foods and friends of distinction. Cline Cellars will donate $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength's Ride to Empower.
Wine Profile:
Vintage: 2007
Wine Type: Red Wine
Varietal: Blend
Appellation: California
Harvest Date: September 3-October 11
Acid: .63g/100ml
PH: 3.90
Bottling Date: June, 2008
Residual Sugar: .21%
Alcohol %: 14.5%
Vineyard Notes:
This Cashmere blend consists of 39% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 23% Mourvèdre. The lion's share of Grenache for this luscious blend is harvested from Massoni Vineyard in Oakley, California. Cluster-thinning and leaf-pulling to increase fruit concentration is common practice here. Our ancient vines Oakley Big Break vineyard which is planted in phylloxera-resistant sandy soil is another contributor to the Grenache piece of the blend. As well, this vineyard produces the Mourvèdre. Syrah is sourced primarily from Paso Robles where warm days and cool nights enhance the intensity of flavors.
Production Notes:
The individual lots of grapes were harvested separately according to ripeness and balance of acidity. The grapes underwent total de-stemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large proportion of whole berries in the must. Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel with select cultured yeasts at controlled temperatures. Grapes were pressed at dryness then settled for ten days and racked to 25% new French oak with a dark toast level for nine months.
Winemaker Notes:
We initially created this blend as an auction lot for the Hospice du Rhône held in Paso Robles each year. Cashmere is a very flavorful, smooth wine offering big cherry, raspberry and chocolate notes with hints of cracked black pepper and plum.
2007 Michael Pozzan Cabernet Sauvignon $15.95
US, CA, Sonoma CountyMichael Pozzan Winery is owned and operated by Michael and Mary Ann Pozzan, both natives of California. Michael was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but spent his summer months with his grandparents on their 35 acre vineyard estate in Sonoma County. Michael's grandfather purchased the land in the town of Healdsburg after WWII and planted Zinfandel grapes which he sold to local wineries. He always made sure that he retained a portion of the grapes to make his own wine. With roots extending to Piemonte, Italy, Michael's family still owns the original vineyard that Michael's great grandfather planted over 100 years ago. Michael has benefited greatly from his family's experience and expertise, and has continued the tradition by creating fine wines here in California. Michael Pozzan Winery was founded in 1991 and is based in Oakville, California, in the heart of the Napa Valley. The winery currently produces 95,000 cases a year and distributes its wine throughout the United States in selected markets. The wine is sold under four labels, Michael Pozzan, Annabella, Dante, and Contrada.
90% Sonoma County
10% Alexander Valley
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aged 15 months in French and American Oak
