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August 2007 Collector´s Club
2004 Matthews Cellars, Claret
Matt Loso, of Matthews Cellars has always focused on producing
world class Bordeaux blends; including his limited production, age-worthy Red Wine
and his Claret - a wine typically crafted from declassified lots that did not meet
the rigorous standards of the Red. In the challenging 2004 vintage though, he
felt that not enough of the available lots met the exacting standards for the Red,
and he made the difficult decision to declassify all 40 barrels and put them into the
2004 Claret. The result is a spectacular table wine, dark, elegant, and velvety
smooth. And more available (and affordable at $29.75) than the Red would have
been. It´s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec and
Syrah. Enjoy it now through 2015 with any hearty meal.
2004 Fattoria Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso, Chianti
They say size doesn´´t matter, but if it´s a
bottle, and it´s full of great Chianti, then we think bigger just might be
better. When we first tasted this wine, we had to double-check: was it really
$15.00? For a magnum? The answer was yes and the decision was made:
this one´s going into the club, even if it doesn´t fit into the boxes.
Tough! This wine comes from one of Chianti´s oldest and most prestigious
producers. We´ve carried this Small Vineyards wine before, but this is the
first time it´s been available in large format. We may not be able to get
any more so enjoy this delightful food wine with just about anything, next time
you´re expecting a crowd.
2005 Domaine Bott Frères, Pinot Blanc
Ah, there´s just no end to the choices for refreshing,
summertime sipping. Now that we´ve all come to love Rosé and
Riesling (did we ever not?), here´s another source of light, refreshing wines -
Alsace. This Pinot Blanc comes from Bott Frères, an estate in Alsace
that, over the generations, has preserved traditional methods (such as aging their
wines in century-old casks), while judiciously incorporating modern winemaking
technologies. This Pinot Blanc is a light, clean, flavorful wine with enough
complexity to pair well with just about anything you throw at it (how about Thai,
or Japanese?) Or, if you´re having meat and want a white wine, try this
one. At $13.75 it should be in good supply for a while.
2006 La Quercia Rosato
We tried this wine earlier this year before it was officially
brought into the country. It has just arrived, through our good friends at
Small Vineyards and we´re excited to share it with our club members. La
Quercia is an organic estate in Abruzzo, and they make some of the best Montpulciano
in southern Italy. They produced this Rosato from 85% Montepulciano
D´Abruzzo and 15% Sangiovese, and it is clean and dry with a wonderful
earthiness. We may be able to get more, at $11. August is typically the
sunniest month of our summers. Here´s something to savor with the sunshine,
with food or on its own.
2006 Château Saint-Jean-des-Graves, Graves Blanc
Château Saint-Jean-des-Graves is situated in the heart
of the Graves region on Bordeaux´s left bank, and the estate has been in the
same family since 1860. Graves is the only region in Bordeaux known for both
its red and white wines. This white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, which gives
the wine its fresh, aromatic crispness; and Semillon, which provides weight and
finesse. It sees no oak, so all you taste is the fruit, in all its complexity
and depth. All this for $14! No need to even think twice; just open this
one up with shellfish (or any fish dish) or enjoy it as an aperitif.
2004 Mas Carlot, "Les Enfants Terribles"
The Mas Carlot Rosé that came in on the Bobby Kacher
Rosé parade last month was a huge hit and sold out quickly. With a
healthy dose of Mourvèdre, it had a great earthiness and rich backbone,
especially for a Rosé. Now we share with you a red from the same
producer. "Les Enfants Terribles" is a 50/50 blend of Mourvèdre and
Syrah and is full of dark fruit, yet still pretty, layered and smooth. Nothing
"Terrible" about it. At $11, it´s in good supply and it
will drink well now, or over the next couple of years, with hearty fare, or savory
appetizers. Say the winemakers: "Like our children, the charm of this wine
is found in its complexity."
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