Premium Wine Club - July 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:
ViniGalicia - Spain
2010 Conde de Orio Vino Tinto
The wine tradition of ViniGalicia was goes back over half a century to the Galician town of Chantada. In 1976, Manuel Méndez and his sons founded Vinícola de Chantada, S.A. Now, some 20 years after its foundation, with the third generation of the family now on board, ViniGalicia has been created: a company bringing together Vinícola de Chantada with other companies – Vía Romana Adegas e Viñedos, Conde de Orio – as well as other wineries around the different Galician designations of origin controlled by the group. It was the acquisition of those wineries in the main Galician and Spanish designations of origin allowed the company to enter into a new phase and develop its project in new markets it believed held potential. Only a love for wine can explain the struggle and determined effort to recover the historic vineyards of the area and to develop it with great hopes for the future. Today these motivations are joined by a new one: that its wide range of wine products should gain international renown. The latest offering from Conde de Orio is their popular Vino Tinto. This red blend is approximately 60% Tempranillo with the remaining equal parts Bobal and Syrah. All varieties are harvested & fermented separately at their right moments & blended just before maturing. Conde de Orio is a flavorful and traditional wine with great structure and body. It is brilliant and clean with an intense cherry-garnet coloring. In the nose it boasts ripe blackberry, cherry, violets and licorice with mineral and spicy notes. The first impression of this wine on the palate gives creamy earthy nuances and sweet tannins from the fruit followed by a medium and clean finish. Drink now through 2014. This wine would pair excellently with pork, chicken and other grilled meats. Try it with a ‘lamb-burger’ or even grilled salmon, it will surprise you!
Baron Philippe de Rothschild - Chile
2009 Escudo Rojo Red Blend
The Rothschild family’s involvement in the wine business dates back to the late 1800s. Today, the organization is chaired by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, great-great-granddaughter of founder Nathaniel de Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild banking dynasty. The organization runs two distinct operations: Châteaux wines and Branded wines. In 1930, the idea of a wine “brand” was in its infancy. Nevertheless, wine visionary Baron Philippe de Rothschild created Mouton Cadet, and in essence, created the world’s first modern wine brand. To expand their market the Rothschild family moved on to other regions of the world and arrived in Chile. Escudo Rojo is the literal translation of “Red Shield” or “Rothschild”. The 2009 Escudo is made up of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Syrah. The wine has a lovely color, dense and deep with a slight ruby tint, and a full, generous nose that reveals attractive blackcurrant, liquorice and cherry brandy aromas with spicier touches of nutmeg. It is round and rich on the palate, and its chocolate, vanilla, caramel and pepper notes are underpinned by a stylish tannic structure, powerful but restrained. The long, full-bodied and expressive finish combines tannins refined by the maturing process with delicious and persistent fruit and roasted coffee flavors. Drink now through 2014. It is excellent with fresh light dishes based in meats, vegetables and fresh herbs. It is also a good accompaniment to ripe cheeses such as Gouda, Gruyere or a dry goat cheese.
Bonifácio & Fils- Portugal
2011 Lomba da Fazenda Vinho Blanco
Founded in 1963 by António Francisco Bonifácio, Bonifácio & Fils has always focused their efforts to achieve the best quality with their products and they do this by managing their wines from the vineyards to the consumers’ doors. The Bonifácio family has hands on approach to their vineyards, wine production and bottling, that are all done in the west part of Portugal. The winery has benefited over the years, of numerous improvements and the introduction of recent technologies. A modern bottling line was also installed to increase production to the level that allows for export. This Lomba da Fazenda Vinho Blanco was designed specifically for export and features a fruit forward new world backbone along with old world Portuguese accents. Grapes used for this blend are indigenous Portuguese grapes Fernão Pires and Boal Alicante. The wine boasts a lovely citrine color. It carries floral aromas of peaches, apples, licorice, and lime. Concentrated, supple flavors of peach and apple with a firm mineral underpinning. Steely, firm, and persistent on the after-taste with subtle spiced apple and mineral notes. Drink now through the summer of 2013. It is an ideal warm weather wine, excellent for lunch and picnics, or an evening aperitif. This is an excellent aperitif or with a variety of white sauce pasta dishes, savory seafood such as salmon or fatty fish.
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