International Wine Club - October 2012
Learn the finer points to many of our Wine of the Month Club. 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:
Bodega Norton – Argentina
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva
Bodega Norton was founded by Edmund James Palmer Norton, an English engineer, in 1895. Norton bought the estate and land in Perdriel, Lujan de Cuyo, and planted vines creating a winery soon thereafter. Bodega Norton is the first winery in Argentina south of the Mendoza River. In 1989, Austrian businessman Gernot Langes-Swarovski (of the famed crystal-making family) acquired the winery convinced of the high potential of Argentina. Today, thanks to the top-notch technology and the passion of the people who work there, international accolades abound and uphold Bodega Norton's place as one of the leading and oldest wineries in Argentina. Bodega Norton's “Reserva” line is made from carefully selected grapes from vineyards more than 30 years old. The wine is aged in French oak barrels and then additionally in bottles before release. The harmonious coexistence of fruit and wood over time has made this a great wine, characterized by elegance and complexity. This offering is sourced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Finca La Colonia Luján de Cuyo appellation of Mendoza. After fermentation the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak, and then aged an additional 10 months in the bottle prior to release. The result is an exceptional wine that is very toasty while showing mocha and spice aromatics. There is also plenty of flesh, with lush raspberry, fig and plum notes that follow through on the long, polished finish. Serve at room temperature with crown roast of lamb, veal chops, beef Bourguignon (beef stew Burgundy style), and aged cheeses. Perfect now through 2014.
Santa Ema - Chile
2006 Amplus Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Ema offers premium quality wines due to the combined effect of optimum raw materials and cutting-edge technology. The best European strains found fertile soil and a benign climate in the Central Valley of Chile-a country with a long wine-making tradition-where they flourished as well as, if not better than they did in their native countries. Santa Ema wines are the product of privileged soils in the Maipo and Cachapoal valleys. Benefiting from the extraordinary particular conditions of its vineyards, the winery has placed special emphasis in incorporating geared to the production of top quality wines. This special care and concern has widely opened the doors of domestic and international markets for Santa Ema. The winery runs a steady production of white and red varieties, and its management system has always aimed toward compliance of quality standards rather than sheer quantity. The word ‘Amplus’ comes from Latin for important, sophisticated, distinguished, and honorable. This line represents the union of tradition and distinction of its Italian ancestors with the innovation of new times. These are modern wines with tremendous complexity and elegance. The Amplus Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from 100% Cachapoal Valley Caberent. After fermentation the wine was aged 12 months in French oak barrels (70% new 30% second-use). The finised wine pours a deep, intense red in the glass. It has complex and intense aromas of dark fruit, such as blueberries, cassis, and blackberries that lend tremendous typicity and complemented by a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate it is mouthfilling and highly concentrated with firm, ripe tannins and persistent fruit on the finish. Drink now through 2015. Drink with beef and lamb stews. Also excellent with ripe cheeses.
Les Caves Fleury - France
2010 Leo Vinis Bordeaux Sauvignon
Residing in Bordeaux for several generations, the Fleury family finds its roots in the 15th century through its Dutch ancestor, who settled on the banks of the Chartrons in Bordeaux to start a wine business with his home country. Today, Les Caves Fleury is co-managed by Marie-Bertrande Fleury, who heads the Administrative and Financial Department, and her son Xavier, who, after a rewarding experience in the USA, returned to the company in 2006 as the Export Manager and took over the operational management in 2009. The company headquarters in the Chateau Grand Chemin in Cérons, 15 minutes from Bordeaux, is right in the heart of the Graves and Sauternes vineyards. An additional production unit is situated in the 19th century Chai in Barsac, surrounded by vineyards where the delicate blends are grown, processed and bottled. Bordeaux is most noted for the red wines of exceptional quality that it produces but fantastic white wines are also produced. Based on the centuries of grape growing and winemaking history in the region, the local regulations allow only three grape varieties to be used in the production of white wine. You can actually grow whatever you want, but only the 3 authorized white grapes can be used and labeled 'Bordeaux'. They are: Sémillon (just 8% of Bordeaux production), Sauvignon Blanc (only 4% of Bordeaux production), and Muscadelle (only 2% Bordeaux production). The Leo Vinis Sauvignon is sourced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine's aromatic intensity expresses the typical characteristics of a fine Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc. Rigorous fruit selection results in an extensive array of aromas, ranging from a hint of box, through a rich palette of citrus fruits, finishing on delicate, tropical notes reminiscent of passion fruit. This concentration of aromas is underpinned on the palate by the magnificent harmony of the wine's fleshy character and refreshing liveliness and acidity. Pair with pork, seafood, white sauce pasta dishes, meat-based salads and roasted turkey or chicken.
Montes Winery - Chile
2009 Limited Selection Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley
The history of Montes seems like a dream, and that’s truly how it began, gradually becoming reality. It was in 1987 that the two original founders, Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, both hugely experience in the world of wine, wanted to realize their dream of producing Chilean wines a quantum-leap higher in quality than the norms at the time. In 1988, they joined up with the other two founders, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, who brought their own complementary skills and expertise to the venture. And thus Montes was born, at first called Discover Wine. It was a dream come true for four great visionaries who succeeded in taking Montes wines from nowhere to over 100 countries worldwide, by making ‘first growth’ wines respected and admired by the world’s critics and trade, and drawing attention what Chile was capable of producing. Montes Limited Selection is a small collection of individual wines. This offering is 100% pure Pinot Noir heaven from the famed Casablanca Valley. This wine has 6 months of ageing in French oak and a very soft filtering. Aurelio is proud of this wine’s strong varietal character and great complexity. A little darker than typical Pinots, it has a deep ruby color. The aroma, however, is classic Pinot Noir, with strong hints of violets and berries. A very satisfying wine with a long, smooth and elegant finish. Decanting a few minutes before serving is recommended. Drink now through 2015.
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