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January 2007 Collector´s Club
2004 Marchetti Rosso Conero
This wine is the last of our 2006 series of wonderful wines directly
imported by our friends at Small Vineyards Imports here in West Seattle. Made by
Maurizio Le Marchetti, known to our customers for his impeccable Verdicchio, it´s
100% Montepulciano, but from the region of Le Marche, a somewhat cooler climate than the
grape´s normal home in Abruzzo. We learned at the Collector´s Club
tasting that it´s best to decant this wine or open it at least 30 minutes or so
in advance. Once decanted, it´s soft, smoky, and spicy - a great match for
roast beef or any Italian dish. It´s $14.00, and there´s a bit more
left.
2004 Colvin Walla Walla Red
Bear´s recent visit to Walla Walla over Thanksgiving weekend
confirmed the excellence of Mark Colvin´s current releases. His 2004 blend
of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot had to be sourced from Columbia Valley
vineyards due to the big freeze in Walla Walla in January 2004. Delicious and
smooth, with restrained tannins, good acidity and moderate alcohol, this ready-to-drink
wine will go well with both roasted and grilled meats. It´s $18.00 and in
good supply.
1999 Sequoia Grove Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Sequoia Grove has been making balanced, elegant wines since 1980,
and this is one of their best releases. Still a bit austere, this rich and full
wine will continue to develop for another three to five years. Serve it with
steak or game. We cleaned the distributor out and have a tiny amount left at
$45.00.
NV Bernard Rondeau Bugey Cerdon Sparkling Rosé
Bernard Rondeau makes this fruity, pink sparkling wine from
the Gamay grape in an obscure part of the French Alps. He uses the same process
and tanks employed by the makers of Moscato d´Asti in Piedmont. It´s
somewhat sweet on the finish and so would be a wonderful complement for red fruit
desserts. It´s $18.00 and we have a few bottles left over from the holidays.
2005 Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay
Many of the newcomers at our Collector´s Club tasting were
quite surprised to learn that this crisp, lively wine is 100% Chardonnay. It
comes from the Nantes region of the Loire Valley cooled by Atlantic breezes and more
known for the wonderful summer wine, Muscadet. Light and refreshing, it´s
worth trying either as an aperitif or with any but the heartiest of seafood dishes.
It´s $9.75, and there´s a reasonable amount left.
2005 Domaine de la Ferrandiere Viognier
This fragrant, fruity Viognier comes from a 100% organic estate in
Languedoc, between the appellations of Corbieres and Minervois. The estate is one
of the few left in France not plagued by the dreaded phylloxera bug, and so its´
rootstocks are ungrafted. Full and creamy, it is a good match for chicken or
seafood. It´s also $9.75, and there´s a good supply left.
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