High End Single Bottle Wine Club - August 2012
Learn the finer points to many of the wines we offer each month. Our club wines are expertly researched and selected for quality, value and uniqueness and every one has an interesting history. Here are some of the wines we are offering this month:
High End Single Red
Château Naujan Lapereyre - France
2009 Cuvee Tradition Bordeaux Supérieur
Like most Old World countries, France doesn’t traditionally promote the name of the varietal on the label, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Instead it regulates the grapes used in each wine producing region (appellation). In Bordeaux, the whites are primarily Sauvignon Blanc and the reds are a blend of grapes, primarily Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon depending on the region. Château Naujan Lapereyre 2009 Cuvee is a traditional Bordeaux blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. After going through the malolactic fermentation, the maceration before fermentation, and micro-oxygenation under pomace, the wine ages in oak barrels for 14 months (10% new barrels, 60% in barrels used once, and 30% in barrels used twice). The result is a well-made wine you can start to drink as of today (decant it about two hours before serving). The wine pours a lovely dark ruby color with orange highlights. The nose offers an elegant bouquet, that is both intense and complex where you can discover the aromas of candied red and black berries (cherry, blackberry), tobacco, leather and burnt wood. On the palate, tannins are present but well coated promote the development of aromas of cassis, blueberry, toast and fresh vanilla. The oak is well balanced and elegant. It is very round and has some heat in the mouth. Drink now through 2016.
High End Single White
Hahn SLH Estate - Soledad, California
2010 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
The spectacular beauty of California 's central coast is probably the best-known region in all of California for its unique lifestyle. Monterey County's dramatic ocean scenery, historic communities, artistic culture, verdant pine forests, and bountiful agriculture have beckoned adventure-seekers, seafarers, artists, writers and vacationers for over 100 years. And the 99 miles of breathtaking Pacific coastline is something no other California county can boast. With an inspiration to raise Monterey wines to the highest level, the wines of Hahn Winery are created with a philosophy that all great wines are special – akin to the region they were grown in. The Hahn wines celebrate everything that is Monterey – unique in thought, style and setting. Wines of Monterey Distinction. In German, “Hahn” means “Rooster” and for this reason a rooster embellishes the Hahn Winery label, honoring the Hahn family's European heritage. The Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay was harvested primarily from the 156-acre Lone Oak Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The gentle slopes of this northern vineyard face east, catching the early morning sun, while ocean breezes from Monterey Bay cool the vineyard, making it ideal for growing Chardonnay grapes. This golden-hued 100% Chardonnay fills the nose with pleasant aromas of ripe pear, violets and lavender with a subtle note of allspice. A distinct creaminess on the palate shows off the French oak aging and lees-stirring and lends this full-bodied Chardonnay a sense of opulence and sophistication. Try this wine with a Tuscan herb-roasted chicken, sweet potato gnocchi with brown-butter and sage, roasted wild salmon, or a rich and creamy risotto with shellfish.
Go to the High End Single Bottle Wine Club product page