Wines of the Month

November 2007

Lucien Albrecht Riesling Réserve 2005 - Alsace, France - $15

Maison Albrecht is a family owned and managed winery founded in 1425 now its ninth generation. The estate includes some of the most prestigious terroirs in Alsace including vineyards and monopoles in the Grand Crus Pfingstberg and several Clos, Clos Schild, Clos Himmelreich, Clos des Récollets. Lucien Albrecht’s vineyards are meticulously cared for. Organic farming is emphasized in the vineyards and minimal intervention in the cellars and endeavor to produce, in each vintage, hand-crafted wines that represent the vineyards, appellation and family. Riesling Reserve is made from their best selection of this noble varietal. The wine is 100% Riesling and is distinguished by a piercing and beautiful aroma suggesting spring flowers. The wine is bone dry and delicious. The Riesling is considered the signature wine of the Albrecht family. Quick, floral and mineral smell, it reveals itself slightly spiced and elegant in the mouth. – www.pasternakwine.com

Fuente del Conde Tempranillo Rosé 2006 - Cigales, Spain - $11

There is no region in Spain more traditionally associated with quality dry rosé production than Cigales, on the banks of the Pisuerga Rivera just north of the city of Valladolid. Logically, the region lies midway between the elegant reds of Ribera del Duero and the full-bodied dry Verdejo whites of Rueda. Fuente del Conde is produced from old-vine Tempranillo and Verdejo grapes, crushed, macerated and pressed together to obtain a jewel-like ruby must. A full-bodied, gently tannic dry rosé with gorgeous color, a soft, full palate and intense strawberry/watermelon aroma is the result. Irresistible! – www.classicalwines.com

Andrew Rich “Vin de Tabula Rasa” 2004 - Syrah based blend Columbia Valley - $17

Andrew Rich handcrafts wines using grapes from the Pacific Northwest's finest vineyards. The wines are created by Andrew at his winery in the Carlton Winemakers' Studio located in Carlton, Oregon, the nation's first "green" cooperative winemaking facility. The facility is home to several respected Oregon wine producers including: Hamacher Wines, Andrew Rich Wines, Bryce Vineyard, Domaine Meriwether, Dominio, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Soter Vineyard. Each winery will operate independently, with separate cellars and staff, but all will benefit economically from sharing state-of-the-art equipment in the gravity-driven building designed to use natural light, passive solar heat and recycled materials. – andrewrichwines.com Tabula Rasa (“blank slate”) is a Syrah-based Languedoc-style red, this red shows a rich, smoky raspberry and cassis nose, deep, chewy roasted fruits on the palate and a long, long mocha licorice and chocolate-laced ripe tannin finish. The postcard-style label is playful, and perfectly complements this fun, easily quaffable wine.

Casa Ferreirinha “Vinha Grande” 2002 – Touriga Nacional blend - Douro, Portugal - $17

Vinha Grande is a classic and intense Douro red, with a marked character reflecting all the richness and quality of the region in the creation of the best blended wines. Vinha Grande is part of the wine portfolio of Casa Ferreirinha, the brand with a greatest tradition in Douro quality wines and one of its main world-wide standard-bearers. The intense bouquet is dominated by ripe red fruits, floral notes (violet) and spices, reflecting the complexity of its preparation/maturing and its evolution in the bottle. On the palate it is a very well balanced wine, with the usual acidity of Douro wines and good structure. An intense wine, with an elegant and lingering finish. It is ideal for drinking after 3-4 years in the bottle and will improve over time. Vinha Grande is made from a selection of traditional grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz, from the company.s own estates in the Cima-Corgo region, near Pinhão and in the Douro Superior. –www.broadbent.com

Wines of the Month

November 2007

St. Innocent “Seven Springs Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2005 - Willamette Valley, Oregon - $41

Seven Springs Vineyard, overlooking the fertile Willamette Valley from its position in the hills west of Salem, produced the Pinot noir grapes for this wine. The grapes were grown on a steep southeast slope, protected from the maritime winds by a fold in the hills. The grapes were fermented in a small tank after two days of cold maceration. The wine aged for 18 months in 36% new French oak barrels and was bottled without fining or filtration. This Pinot noir complements foods with wild berry, earth, and spice flavors - gamebirds, venison, wild mushrooms. When served young, this wine is best decanted or allowed to breathe for several hours. It will benefit from aging up to 12 years.

Winemaker Notes - Seven Springs Pinot noir is a benchmark wine for St. Innocent. We have produced more Seven Springs Vineyard designated Pinot noirs than any other producer and the 2005 is our 16th Pinot noir from this site. The nose of the 2005 Pinot noir, Seven Springs Vineyard is dominated by wild, almost brambly fruits with pie spice, white pepper, and sweet cherry notes. There is a dusty quality to the aromas that reminds me of wild blackberries picked beside the road. Initially the layered dark red and black raspberry fruits dominate, then spices follow into its long finish. The tannins are full, but not heavy, and there is an attractive lushness over the entire palate. The finish is long and layered with fruit and spice. 2005 is a great aging vintage and this is one of my best wines to put away for a decade or more. I suggest that you either drink Seven Springs when it is young (up to five years from vintage) or wait until it is at least eight years old. In the early years, you will enjoy the freshness of the fruit balanced with its rustic qualities. By waiting longer, aged flavors develop and Seven Springs will increase in both intensity and purity of its components. It will be worth the wait. Seven Springs Pinot noirs will continue developing for 12-15 years. - www.stinnocentwine.com

Corino “Vigan Gianchini” Barolo 1998 - Nebbiolo - Barolo, Piedmont, Italy - $57

The Corino estate initially sold in bulk to negociants, but in 1985 began bottling a small part of production, and by 1987 the entire production was estate bottled under the family name by Giovanni Corino. In early 2006 the estate was divided between brother Giuliano and Renato. They are among the most talented winemakers of the new generation and the combination of owning top La Morra crus and extremely scrupulous practices in the vineyard and in the cellar ensure the release of outstanding wines. Giuliano maintained the original homestead, cellars and label design. This winery exclusively produces the single vineyard Barolo “Vigna Giachini” and red blend L'Insieme, while the regular Barolo, Barolo Arborina, Barolo Vecchie Vigne, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Dolcetto and Barbera are made by both estates.

”Deep red. Perfumed, precise aromas of red cherry, minerals and licorice. Elegantly styled and solidly structured; a very concentrated, intensely flavored wine that quite understated today yet already offers a wonderfully penetrating sweetness and superb delineation. The rather powerful tannins are to the fore today, and will almost certainly require several years of bottle aging. A wine of outstanding potential.” 91-94 points - Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec '00