Four Great Rieslings! - 90+ points Wine Spectator

4 GREAT Rieslings!

Rieslings are wines that you can age for years!

I just tasted these with Justin of Wicked Wines. These are incredibly good and great values!

All 4 are from Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler (you should see the photos of this place!). All 4 are from the Mosel.

The Mosel is dotted with wine villages - these wines come from Bernkastel (3) and Wehlen (1). Dr. Peter Pauly and his wife, Helga, own 2 estates - "Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler" and "Peter Nicolay." These vineyards are on steelp, difficult-to-farm hillsides along the river. Peter Pauly is the offspring of the famous Bergweiler and Prüm families, who are first mentioned in official records in 1156. Pauly made wine with Christian Labonte and Josef Staab at Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau. His grandfather, Zacharias Bergweiler, was for many decades one of the most respected wine-growers on the Mosel.

Dr. Pauly took over his grandfather's estate while still a student in 1959, subsequently completing his doctorate and writing a thesis on the economic opportunities offered by the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine-growing region. Helga Pauly married Peter Pauly in 1971. Her family, the Berres, owned the "Peter Nicolay" estate. Carl Hubert Berres was one of the greatest competitors and closes friends with Zacharias Bergweiler. Their son, Stefan, runs the winery today with his sister, Ulrike.

The vineyards are 12.5 hectares (about 32 acres) are kept to low yields to produce the best grapes. The winery makes about 12,000 cases of wine each year (140,000 bottles). It uses stainless steel tanks and makes wine from 15 vineyards.

Have you ever wanted to know how to read a German label?

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett Mosel Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg 2007

• Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler - the winery
• Riesling - the grape
• Kabinett - this tells you the quality of the grapes. Once these words are written on a label, generally we are in the category of really good wines. Kabinett is the first (lowest) of the six subcategories of qualitätswein mit prädikat (QmP)- the highest quality-wine category in Germany. Kabinett wines must contain minimum amounts of natural sugar. These are the lowest minimums for QmP wines, and these wines are therefore usually the driest and least expensive. The other 5 subcategories are Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese going from 2nd lowest to the highest.
• Mosel - the region
• Bernkasteler - the "er" at the end means "of" or "from" - so this is from the village of Bernkasteler.
• alte Badstube am Doctorberg - the vineyard.

The 4 wines!

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett Mosel Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg 2007 (Germany) $27.99 - This is a SINGLE VINEYARD wine from one of the greatest vineyards in the Mosel Valley, alte Badstube am Doctorberg. The vineyard is sout-facing. The vines are at least 40 years old. Wines from here can age for YEARS! A plush, pillowy version, with good acidity defining the smoky apricot, orange and mineral flavors. Delicate and balanced, with a touch of vanilla on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 500 cases made. Wine Spectator, 91 points

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Spätlese Mosel Bernkasteler Badstube 2007 (Germany) $32.99 - "Badstube" means "spa" (in the Middle Ages a hot spring created a "spa" here. Today, this area is synonymous with great wines. This vineyard is around the town of Bernkastel. The Badstube vineyard is not as steep as most of the Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler vineyards and it has a richer Devon slate stone soil. A distinctive mix of candied berry, floral and citrus aromas and flavors that pick up salty, mineral notes as it glides across the palate. Lovely texture and harmony, with a tangy, savory aftertaste. Drink now through 2030. 1,000 cases made. Wine Spectator, 93 points

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett Mosel Bernkasteler Badstube 2007 (Germany) $22.99 - Needs a little air to reveal the peach, nectarine and salty, minerally elements. This is very savory, with fine balance and a saline, orange aftertaste. Drink now through 2022. 2,000 cases made. Wine Spectator, 90 points

Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett Mosel Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2007 (Germany) $28.99 - From the famous "Sundial" vineyard facing the town of wehlen across the Moselle. This vineyard produces full-bodied wines! The vineyard is 165 acres, but it is divided into a large number of individual parcels. This vineyard led to the citizens of Wehlen being well-off. In the early 20th century they built a suspension bridge across the river - that bridge and the sundial are historical landmarks. Plump, yet well-defined by its lively structure. Peach, lime and mineral notes are accented by strawberry and vanilla in this complex white. Fine length. Drink now through 2022. 700 cases made. Wine Spectator, 90 points

Freeport Cheese & Wine

December Wines We Love, #1

December Wines We Love - Great for the Holidays!

Featuring Italian Wines from Winebow

& Mariner Beverages

Wines

Sparkling

Juve Cava (Spain) $15.99 – delicious! Brand-new to Maine!

Whites

Valle Reale Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2007 (Italy) $13.99 - limited wine in Maine. Just a few cases came to the state and I have most of them! Trebbiano is produced all over Italy. Not all Trebbiano is alike. This certainly isn't! This has rich, fragrant aromas. Aromas of citrus, white pepper and flowers. In the mouth this is zesty and crisp and pops! It's full-bodied and just fills your mouth! Well-balanced acidity. 100% Trebbiano. Stainless steel fermentation at cool temperatures to make sure the fruit is bright & fresh! I bought the only cases in Maine! Food pairing - poultry, sushi, shellfish, lobster and olive oil pasta dishes.

Zenato Pinot Grigio 2007 (Italy) $12.99 - Fabulous Pinot Grigio from one of our favorite winemakers and wineries – & our favorite importer of Italian wines! Aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe, apricots) and minerals. Flavors of pineapple, minerals & lime. Refreshing and smooth, with a crisp, silky, dry & long finish. Aged 4 months before bottling and a few months more in the bottle before releasing to the market. Food pairing – lighter foods, grilled or roasted poultry or pork, white meat fish, shellfish, lobster, risotto dishes, many soups….drinks well on its own!

Westerland Celebration 2006 (South Africa) $10.99 - Blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Rosé

Valle Reale Vigne Nuove Cerasuolo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Rose 2006 (Italy) $14.99 - The 4th wine from Valle Reale! An AWESOME Italian Rosé! Unique and delicious rosé that is different from your typical Provencal French rosés! Spicy, peppery and light-to-medium bodied. Not a fruit bomb - this has bright, fresh strawberry aromas and flavors coupled with flowers, earth and minerals. Just a gorgeous wine that is a beautiful salmon pink color and a pleasure to drink! 100% Montepulciano. Aged in stainless steel. Bottled young and meant to be drunk young! Food pairing - salmon, tuna, grilled chicken or pork, spicy Asian dishes, spicy Tex-Mex dishes. Drinks well sitting with friends! PERFECT, I mean PERFECT, with poultry! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

Reds

Falesco Vitiano Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet 2006 (Italy) $11.99 - This is, plainly put, a TASTY wine! An absolutely GREAT value!!! Deep ruby red color. Rich, fresh fruit aromas and flavors. Spicy, peppery finish. Well-balanced fruit and acidity. Medium-bodied. Just a classic Italian! Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend (equal parts). Aged 3 months in Nevers oak. Food pairing – grilled meats, mushroom dishes, lasagna, spaghetti, roasts & flavorful aged cheese. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points, “…it’s almost too good to believe at this price.”

Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2006 (Italy) $10.99 – Each time we taste this, it impresses us! Excellent wine! Great value! Aromas and flavors of red and dark berries and mint. Smooth and refreshing in the mouth with tons of fresh fruit. Light, fresh finish. Food pairing - Great compliment to anitpasta and grilled meat. It can really handle any foods you throw at it. Great game wine. A pleasure to just drink by itself. Aged 6 months in oak. Terrific value – drinks like a Chianti costing 2-3 times. Wine Spectator, “Top Values for Under $15”

Valle Real Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 (Italy) $19.99 - Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2005 (Italy) $19.99 - Excellent, excellent, smooth and lush wine from this family-owned winery! Aromas and flavors of dark berries, spices, smoke, licorice and more. Silky smooth tannins. Full-bodied, and still it is soft and smooth. Long, long finish. 100% Montelpulciano from this estate's oldest vineyards planted back in 1975. Hand-harvested in latter October. Aged 12 months in used French oak barriques. Bottle aged for 8-12 months. Food pairing – rich and hearty pasta dishes, roasted or grilled meats, lamb, beef, mushrooms, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points

Argiolas Costera Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 2006 (Sardinia, Italy) $17.99 - We just love this – it’s awesome! Wonderful flavors and aromas! This is a Sardinian Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Intense berry, spice, bacon fat, licorice and earth aromas. Nose carries through in the flavors. Hint of black pepper in the mouth. Dry. Medium-bodied. Well-balanced. 100% Cannonau (Grenache). Aged 6-8 months in French oak barriques. Single vineyard. 2009-2014 maturity. Food pairing - Goes well with beef, lamb, grilled meats, tomato-based dishes and truffles or mushrooms. Decant this – needs to breathe. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre 2004 and 2005 (Italy) $22.99 – I have some of both…..both are awesome! What a rich, soft, elegant, great-tasting wine! A SPECIAL wine! For Amarone lovers, w/o the Amarone price tag! Velvet in a glass. Rich, complex nose – ripe fruit and spicy oak. Mouth-filling wine, but soft feel. Smooth tannins balance the dark berry and cherry flavors. Powerful. Long finish. Single vineyard blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella & 5% Sangiovese. Food pairing - Great food wine! Rich meals – game, mushroom risotto, lamb & more. For a special treat – try with GOOD bittersweet chocolate! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

Sacred Stone Master's Red Blend - $10.99 - California "field blend"

Westerland Celebration 2006 (South Africa) $10.99 - Blend of Pinotage and Cinsault.

La Dote Pinot Noir 2008 (Chile) $10.99 -

Thunder Stone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $14.99 - Great value and great tasting California Cabernet!

Dessert

Trentadue Chocolate Amore Port (California) $26.99 - Merlot-based Port with real dark chocolate blended in it!

Portuguese Wine and Port Tasting

We are doing this tasting regardless of whether or not it snows!

Portuguese
Wine & Port Tasting
Featuring importer Augusto Gabriel of Signature Imports
Wednesday, Dec. 17th
5:30-7:00pm
$10/person to taste a flight of these 15 wonderful wines
*Purchase a case of wine (and you may mix wines in that case) and use the $10 fee towards that case (limit, 1 $10 fee/case)
Please e-mail back or call the store (865-3993) to register and reserve a place!

What makes these wines so interesting is that we are looking at 4 distinctly different wine making areas in Portugal AND we are going to taste some higher end Portuguese wine!

• Duoro River Valley (this is where Port is made and some IMPRESSIVE "still" wines made from the Port grapes). The designated "Duoro" wine area is the eastern part of the valley. The hillsides are extremely steep here and only in the last 20 years has Portugal had enough money to create ready access to this area - this has opened up the area for better winemaking b/c the growers can now get their grapes quickly to the winery.
• Dao - just south of Vinho Verde and Duoro. Still in northern Portugal. Dead center in terms of east-to-west.
• Vinho Verde - northwestern Portugal. The western part of the Duoro River passes through Vinho Verde.
• Alentejo - this is the explansive plain in Southern Portugal that pushes up against the Spanish border and the hill towns along the border. This area is due east of Lisbon and a touch south of it along the Spanish border.

Portugal is an area that US winedrinkers are still discovering - although Portugal is an ANCIENT winemaking area! In the 1600's the British began importing Portuguese wines - eventually adding brandy to the casks to improve flavor and stability of the wine during transport - creating Port (it's fortified with brandy).

As a result, much of the world associated Portugal with fortified wines for centuries and never really thought about its "still" wine (the Portuguese call red and white wine "still" wine). Also, Portugal for much of the 20th century was dirt poor after decades of economic and political isolation (they suffered under a comparable dictatorship to the Franco one in Spain). This resulted in little attention or investment in winemaking - since the 1980's and integration into the European Union, that has changed and Portuguese wineries are roaring into the world's forefront!

The grapes are unknown to us in many ways - Touriga Nacional, Arinto, Aragones, Tinto Roriz (what the Spanish call Tempranillo), Trincadeira, Alfrochiero Pretoand Castelao.

Remember, this is not a seminar. You may come at any time between 5:30 and 7:00pm.

The Wines:

Whites:

Casa da Vila Verde Vinho Verde 2007 (Vinho Verde) $9.99 - lusher and richer than most Vinho Verdes. Bottled without any CO2, so this doesn't have the slight effervescent spritziness of many Vinho Verdes. 11.5% alcohol versus 9.5% for many. Estate grown and bottled (most Vinho Verdes are not). Blend of Trajadura and Loureiro. We are going to taste another Vinho Verde, not one of Augusto's, side-by-side with this as a comparison.

Casa da Vila Verde Alvarinho 2006 (Vinho Verde) $12.99 - This is a wonderful white wine! From the same grape the Spanish call Albarino! At a much lower price! Aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, grapefruit, peaches and green apples. Stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing - great with seafood.

Casa de Santar White 2007 (Dao) $16.99 - Floral and stone-fruit (apricots and peaches) aromas. Soft texture. Blend of Encruzado, Cerceal-branco and Bical. Estate-grown grapes. Hand-harvested. Stainless steel fermentation. "Battonage" done (they stir up the "lies" or residue in the vat - this softens the wine). 50% goes through malolactic fermentation (this is what makes some Chardonnay "buttery and creamy" - this wine is not "buttery and creamy" - the malolactic fermentation adds more of a velvety texture to the wine. Food pairing - seafood, shellfish, great with appetizers.

Reds:

The following winery, Quinta de Ventozelo (3 wines and 3 ports), is the oldest property in Duoro and the Wine & Spirits "Winery of the Year" in 2005.

Quinta de Ventozelo "Vinzelo" Duoro 2006 (Duoro) $10.99 - Fresh and easy wine. Not complicated! Just good! Red blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Nacional. Stainless steel - sees no oak. Filtered. Food pairing - pizza, pasta, roast chicken, mushroom dishes, etc.

Quinta de Ventozelo Touriga Nacional 2003 (Duoro) $26.99 - Dark red color. Aromas of blackberries, red berries, baking spices and coffee. Flavors of fresh dark fruit, stony minerals and more - this is not "just a fruit bomb." Coming into its own - this will easily last another 2-3 years and maybe longer. 100% Touriga Franca. 8 months in American oak. 6 months minimum bottle aging before release. Lightly filtered. Wine Enthusiast, 90 points.

Quinta de Ventozelo Touriga Franca 2003 (Duoro) $25.99 - This might not be for everyone. I think it's kinda cool and interesting. More of a food wine. Just beginning to come into its own. 100% Touriga Franca. 8 months in American oak. 6 months minimum bottle aging before release. Lightly filtered. Food pairing - lamb, aged cheese, roasted poultry, etc.

Casa de Santar Tinto 2003 (Dao)$13.99 - Bright ruby color. Long silky finish. Blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Alfrochiero. Estate-grown grapes. Hand-harvested. Aged in American oak casks for 4-6 months (barrels have been used at least 1 time). Bottled and aged for another 6-12 months before release.

Casa de Santar Reserva 2003 (Dao) $24.99 - Deep color. Velvety texture. Aromas of mocha, chocolate, coffee, smoke, raisins and dark fruits. Flavors of dark fruits, dark chocolate, spices, rich earth.....long finish! This is the crown jewel of the Casa de Santar line-up! Aged 1 year in 100% new Seguin Moreau French oak barrels. Wine is fined, but not filtered. Blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Alfrochiero Preto.

Marques de Borba Tinto 2006 (Alentejo) $16.99 - Joao Portugal Ramos might be Portugal's leading winemaker (these other wines are so good, it's hard to say!). Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has called Portugal Ramos one of the "emerging superstars of winemaking in Portugal." He's worked with the Rothschild-owned Quinta do Carmo. Now, he works for himself! New moder-winery that is also traditional (new stainless steel fermenters, traditional stone lagars for crushing the grapes by foot, naturally cooled cellar). Located near the gleaming white buildings of Estremoz, a hill town in the district of Borba. Rich, medium-bodied red. Aromas of strawberries, spices and flowers. Blend of Aragonez and Trincadeira. Hand-picked grapes. De-stemmed and then crushed. Aged 5 months in oak barrels.

Pontual Touriga Nacional/Trincadeira 2004 (Alentejo) $25.99 - One of the better wines I've tasted in ages! Big red! deep tannins that are tamed and softened with some age. Aromas and flavors of black plums and flowers and notes of spices and vanilla. 65% Touriga Nacional & 35% Trincadeira. 12 months in French and American oak.

Ports:

Quinta de Ventozelo used to sell their Port grapes - then they started making Port.....I'm glad they did! This "quinta" dates back centuries - it's one of the oldest on record and its grapes have made award-winning Ports for other names for decades. Now, it is making its own award-winning wines!

Quinta de Ventozelo Late Bottle Vintage 2000 $29.99 - Deep ruby Port! Aromas and flavors of black cherries, dark chocolate, vanilla and hints of aged wood. Great length on the flavors. Aged 4 years in casks and then bottled and aged some more! Blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao. Grapes are crushed by foot without destemming. Fortified by adding 100% natural grape brandy. Unfiltered. Food pairing - serve with Aged Gouda, Manchego, blue cheeses, nuts, chocolate, spicy apple pie. Wine Enthusiast, 89 points.

Quinta de Ventozelo 10-year Tawny Port $39.99 - Aromas and flavors of raisins, caramel, toffee, dried fruits....Blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao. Grapes are crushed by foot without destemming. Fortified by adding 100% natural grape brandy. Unfiltered. Average of 10 years in "pipas" (550-litre casks of native oak and chestnut). Food pairing - blue cheese, softer cheeses, quiche, coffee, dried fruits, pate & foie gras. In warmer weather, chill and serve as a cocktail. In cooler weather, cuddle up in front of a fire! Wine Spectator, 90 points.

Quinta de Ventozelo 20-year Tawny Port $64.99 - Clear, rich amber color. Softer and more blended aromas than the 10-year - raisins, cocoa, melted brown suger and butter and dried fruits. Flavors of figs. Long and smooth. Blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao. Grapes are crushed by foot without destemming. Fortified by adding 100% natural grape brandy. Unfiltered. Average of 20 years in "pipas" (550-litre casks of native oak and chestnut). Food pairing - blue cheese, mature aged cheeses, dried figs, dates and apricots. In warmer weather, chill and serve as a cocktail. In cooler weather, cuddle up in front of a fire! Wine Spectator, 89 points.

X Port - I'm missing my notes on this one and the name! It's a ruby and it's about $26-30.

We hope to see you there!

Eric

Freeport Cheese & Wine
Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 865-3993

November Wines & Cheeses We Love!

Freeport Cheese & Wine
27 Bow Street
Freeport, ME
(207) 865-3993

New Cheeses (I'm going to be doing this going forward each month - 2-3 new each month):

• Vermont Cloth Aged Cheddar - probably the best cheddar I've tasted in a few years!
• Great Hill Blue - a classic blue from Massachusetts
• Willow Hill Farm La Fleuire - a camembert style cheese from Vermont

Fra'Mani Salame Salametto - Another of the BEST Salami in the WORLD!!! All natural. Hand-made. Rich. Fatty! In a good way! Look, lean Salumi is just.....leanly lame! Fra'Mani is the best! Pork Salumi at its best....hand-made by a chef in San Francisco from naturally raised pigs.

The WINES......

Sparkling Wines

Familia Oliveda Cava Rosat NV (Spain) $15.99 - Familia Oliveda is a family owned company that has been making wine at this estate north of Barcelona since the mid 1700's. This rose Cava is a blend of Pinot Noir and Grenache grapes. As you'd expect from Pinot Noir it has very pretty delicate floral aromas and cherry fruit. The Grenache gives it a bit more body and a richer finish.

Bisol Jeio Prosecco Brut (Italy) $14.99 - This is a tasty sparkling wine and a great value! Fine, soft bubbles. Starts soft and refreshing. With a touch of flowers and almonds as well as subtle acidity. Flavors of apples and pears. A nice, delicate, lingering finish. Food pairing - Great as an aperitivo or with antipasto, seafood or lighter white meat dishes. Goes great with smoked salmon or trout. This will go great with spicy food, especially Thai and Pacific cuisines. Excellent as a sparkling wine for a party!

Whites

Cascina Ca’ Rossa Roero DOCG Arneis “Merica” 2006 (Italy) Reg. $19.99 Sale $14.99 - This is a beautiful wine! Reminds me of a really good, refined, complex Alsatian Pinot Blanc. Medium-bodied & has a smooth, round feel in the mouth. Aromas & flavors of flowers, almonds, tart green apples, white peaches and pears. Much of the flavor is driven by this cool wet minerality halfway through. Well balanced acidity. Nice length on the finish - the finish is driven by acidity, a slightly bitter almond note and minerals. Food pairing - Great as an aperitif or cocktail wine. Perfect with cold salads, especially seafood or chicken salad. Has enough depth to hold up to salamis and other typical Italian antipasta foods.

Jelu Torrontés 2008 (Argentina) $12.99 – New vintage of a wine we just love! Torrontés is the grape and it is the dominant white grape in Argentina! This is really floral, kind of Muscat or Viognier like aroma. Lots of orange, apricot and some pineapple. That fruit is the first thing you taste, but then you get a hint of spice midway à la Gewürztraminer and then the finish is very clean and dry. Totally not what you expect from that first smell. Really cool wine! Food pairing – shellfish, seafood, lighter pasta dishes, grilled chicken or pork. Drinks well with or without food!

Alexander Valley Vineyards Mendocino County “New Gewurz” Gewurztraminer 2008 (CA) $9.99 - Made in celebration of the new harvest each year! Fresh. Delicious. Fruity. Off-dry. Touch of spice. Great floral aroma. Flavors of peaches and ripe pears. This is a crowd-pleaser. Food pairing - Goes well with hors d’oeuvres, fresh fruit, roast pork, poultry, spicy Asian dishes and creamy cheese.

Celestin Blondeau Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (France) Reg. $10.99 Sale $9.99 – Completely different wine than the Kim Crawford! As Sancerre prices have shot through the roof, this winery has done something smart! They source grapes from Touraine and Anjou (both are good growing regions) and they make an excellent Sauvignon Blanc at a great price from the Loire Valley! Crisp with green apple fruit and notes of lemon grass. Food pairing – oysters, fish, pork or chicken.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (New Zealand) $19.99 - Truly one of the best New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs made! This is a fresh, lively, fun to drink wine. Great grapefruit, passion fruit, melon, lime green apple flavors & aromas in this classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Great depth of fruit. A subtle touch of pepper spice & lemon grass. Stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing - Enjoy with seafood, lobster, grilled tuna, spicy chicken or spicy Asian food. Wine Spectator, 91 points, #40 Top 100 Wines 2008

Reds

Georges DuBœuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 (France) $10.99 - Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" It’s balanced, fruit forward and without a lot of tannins….flavors and aromas of raspberries, strawberries, black cherries and a hint of spice. Food pairing – A CLASSIC Thanksgiving Dinner Wine! Food pairing - Good with poultry dishes and lighter foods! Celebrate the season!

Château des Capitans Juliénas Cru Beaujolais 2006 (France) Reg. $15.99 Sale $14.99 – If we’re tasting a Beaujolais Nouveau, we have to taste the “big daddy” from the region – a Cru Beaujolais! This is AWESOME! Ripe, rich dark berries in the nose. Packed with aromas & flavors (cherry, blackberry, raspberry, pepper). Medium-bodied. Well-balanced acidity & tannins. Rich, LONG finish. 100% Gamay. Aged in 20% oak barrels. Joint project of Georges DuBoeuf and William Deutsch. Drink over the next 7-8 years. Great vintage! Food pairing – duck, turkey, pork, chicken, etc. Drinks well on its own.

Cantele Salice Salentino Puglia 2003 (Italy) Reg. $12.99 Sale $10.99 - Excellent wine from this family-owned winery in Southern Italy! Ripe and juicy – this drinks smoothly….lots of ripe, dark fruit. Soft tannins. No bitterness. 85% Negroamaro and 15% Malvasia Nera. Aged 3 years in stainless steel with selected lots in used oak barriques. Aged in bottles for 6 months. 2,500 cases made. Food pairing – pasta and meat dishes, goat cheeses. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 87 points

Vacceos Tempranillo Rueda 2005 (Spain) Reg. $13.99 Sale $12.99 - Rueda is more know fo rproducing white wines, but since 2001 some enterprising 100% Tempranillo made entirely in stainless steel. It has ripe cherry and blackberry fruit with a hint of earth and briars followed by tannins that are soft and polished. but it also has peppery dusty qualities and a dry finish that give the wine more.

Echeverria Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Chile) $12.99 - The Echeverria Family has been making wine in Chile since the 1600's and this excellent Cabernet demonstrates their expirience. Its cherry fruit is ripe and lush but it also has peppery dusty qualities and a dry finish that give the wine more depth.

Joan D’Anguera La Planella Montsant 2006 (Spain) $21.99 - Fabulous wine! Deep purple/ruby color. Rich aromas of dark fruits (black cherries, blackberries, dark plums), minerals & Provencal herbs. Medium-bodied. La Planella is a blend of 40% Mazuelo, 20% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20%. Montsant is near Priorat (it’s actually named after a mountain in Priorat) in northeasternmost Spain (southwest of Barcelona). Joan's father, Josep, started replanting his family’s vineyard back in the 70's so the vines are all older now and produce very concentrated fruit from their rocky hillside vineyards. Food pairing - Excellent with grilled and roasted meats, mushrooms dishes and more!

d’Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2005 (Australia) Reg. $17.99 Sale $15.99 - Outstanding wine! This is drinking great! A huge hit at a recent wine wine tasting! Bright and fresh. Plum, cherry, blackberry and currant aromas. Subtle hints of licorice, anise, sweet earth, cedar and pepper. Smoky. Nice, soft & long finish. Unfiltered and unfined…classic winemaking…just yummy and big and smooth! Food pairing - Great with hearty foods, roasts, grilled meat. Decant this wine – both to open it up and because it has sediment. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

Myuge Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (California) $34.99 - Ned Swain of Devenish Wines came to me with this wine.....I love it when Ned comes to me with obscure wines he loves.......I taste A LOT of wine. Ned tastes a SCARY HUGE amount of wine. And, he calls a bad wine a bad wine and he RAVES about a really good wine....and he doesn't use geeky wine words (Ned and I have talked about wine for nearly 4 years and we've never gone "wine word geeky" - the big phrase is, "This is good - I like this!). Ned has an e-mail newsletter and he even recommends wines he doesn't sell (that's a BANKABLE recommendation, right there!).

Abe Schoener, a professor of Ancient Greek Philosophy, started making wine in 1998 by interning at the Stag's Leap Winery when he was on sabbatical. Then he became the winemaker at Luna for a few years before starting this very special and specialized project. Everything Abe makes is made in TINY quantities. Less than 100 cases per wine as a rule. He makes everything at his new winery in the Suison Valley just east of Napa. The Suison Valley is listed on the Myuge label. Now we know this wine is from Rutherford.....beyond that, we don't know much - we've asked the broker who sells it to Ned. They don't know. We've tried tracking down Abe....no luck, yet on that one. So, we don't know the particulars - aside from this is a side project of Abe's AND it tastes really good!

The wine is dark, dark ruby to nearly black in the center. It looks unfiltered - so DECANT this both for sediment reasons and to open up the wine's aromas and flavors!

This is powerful and full-bodied - it's really a mouthful of wine! It opens with black cherry fruit that blends into the mid-palate and picks up hints of juicy plums and cinnamon along the way. At the back are notes of cedar. The finish is long and smooth. There are definitely tannins in this wine - they are dry and dusty in the way Rutherford Cabs are supposed to be, but they are integrated into the wine. This is a young Napa Cabernet with a lot of structure and depth to it. The aromas are seductive and the complex flavors are well-integrated.

I am in love with this wine and think it's a steal at $35 or so. It drinks like a much better Napa Cabernet, in fact all the online websites I've found list it for over $40. Regardless, I'm excited to have found this because so many Napa Cabernets are either really expensive or just simple and don't have the structure Napa is famous for. This wine is really a gem! As another wine merchant said, "Wherever this comes from there is some serious wine making behind it!" Food pairing – steak, lamb, big foods. DECANT this wine when you drink it!

Dessert

El Maestro Sierra Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Spain) $19.99 - This sherry is made entirely from the Pedro Ximenez grape and has beautiful aromas of hazelnuts, caramel, and apricots. The wine is aged in the solera style for 15 years before release, giving the wine time to develop all of its rich depth.

Wine Tasting featuring Kysela Wines

Wine Tasting Featuring Wines from Kysela Imports

".....one of the finest palates and selectors of top wine....., Robert Parker"

The Tasting

Wednesday, Oct. 22nd

Where: Hilton Garden Inn, Park Street, Freeport (that's just across the railroad tracks and around the corner from my store)
When: 5:00-7:00pm, Wed., Oct. 22nd (if you can't be there right at 5:00, don't worry....show up when you can)
Cost: $10/person
RSVP: Please call Freeport Cheese & Wine to reserve a spot – 865-3993; it is okay to just show up, but it helps us to prepare if you callWe are thrilled about this event!

The tasting features wines from one of the best importers of wines in the United States, Fran Kysela Pere et Fils. Robert Parker says about Fran Kysela, “…One of the finest palates and selectors of top wine….” Patterson’s Beverage Journal, in October 2006, called Kysela, “…America’s Next Top Wine Importer.”

The tasting features wines from Kysela Imports and Davine Wines, their Maine Distributor. Leading the tasting is Robert Jones, the national sales manager for Kysela Peres et Fils.

Robert is one of only 160 Master Sommeliers in the WORLD. He's forgotten more about wine than most people ever know! At the same time, he is down to earth, fun, friendly and informative – he treats wine the way it should be treated - a fun beverage that can improve a meal or an event! If you really want to learn about wine, this tasting is the place to be!

The Wines

The Sparkling:

Charles Duret Crémant de Bourgogne (France) $19.99 – Have you checked Champagne prices lately? THROUGH THE ROOF! Crémant de Bourgogne is a “newly” designated wine area in France – 1975. The sparkling wines from Crémant are made in the same fashion as Champagne (secondary fermentation in the bottle – “Méthode Champenoise”).

This is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Delicate, long-lasting bubbles that are just like Champagne’s…..this is a “Blanc de Noirs” because it has a red skinned grape in it and is a white wine. This has those hazelnut aromas that remind me of many champagnes. Food pairing – great as a sparkling wine for a party or reception or with foods with creamy wine sauce.

Kerisac Sparkling Cider NV (France) $10.99 - This is tasty! The cider is produced from these five following types of apples: Kermerien (bitter), Bedan (sweet), Douce-Moën (bitter-sweet), Petit Jaune and Avrolles (acidulous). This cider is from Brittany in northwesternmost France. This special cuvée is low in alcohol (only 2.5%). Food pairing - Refreshing and fruity, it is ideal as an aperitif and excellent when poured over desserts and sherbets.

The Whites:

Saumaize Michelin St. Veran “Les Creches” 2006 (France) Reg. $32.99 Sale $29.99 – if you ever wanted to know what “stirring of the lees” means, look at this picture! (4th picture down). You’ll also see some gorgeous photos of Burgundy and an awesome cliff!

This small estate has about 45 acres of Chardonnay and 1 acre of Gamay (for Mâcon Rouge). All of the wines are 100% barrel fermented (10-25% new barrels per vintage) and go through 100% malolactic fermentation. They make about 3,800 cases of wine per vintage. The family estate is owned by Roger and Christine Saumaize-Michelin. They built new cellars in 1991. Anthony Dias Blue, in his “Pocket Guide to Wine 2006,” says of Roger Saumaize, “(he’s a) “….meticulous vineyardist and skilled winemaker, makes Mâcon whites…..dense and rich for the region, they behave more like great Côte de Beaunes.”

Elegant and fruity nose with great minerality. Round, rich, fresh and well balanced. You notice this wine is aged on its lees. Aromas of apples, pears, baking spices and citrus peel. The apple notes pick up in the flavors. From vines in Davaye and planted in limestone-based soils. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 89 points

Domaine de Régusse Aligoté 2007 (France) $13.99 – This wine estate is at about 1,500 feet in altitude. The winery is in the Alpes de Haute Provence, at the start of the Luberon Mountain Range, about 50 miles from Marseilles. It is certified “Viticulture Raisonee Controlee,” which is very close to organic viticulture (it means that they intervene in the vineyard only when necessary). Think of this as going to the doctor to deal with strep throat or a heart murmur – dealing with a specific health issue in a specific way. This estate produces Aligoté and Pinot Noir, 2 grapes best suited to the cooler climates of Burgundy – so you get an idea that the climate here is not the “hot” South of France. Aligoté is the “other” white grape from Burgundy. Crisp, fresh and fruity wine. Nice acidity. I might call it a refreshing cross between a good Sauvignon Blanc and a Chablis. Food pairing – shellfish, grilled chicken, salads or by itself.

Wolfberger Edelzwicker 2007 (France) $15.99 - With a Master Sommelier on hand, we had to head to Alsace! This is a good tasting blend from Alsace and given that it is in a one Liter bottle (1/3 more wine), an even better value! Aromas of almonds, walnuts, minerals & citrus fruit. Flavors of fresh lemons, grass, minerals and a hint of spice. Blend of Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Sylvancer and Chasselas. Each of the grape varietals is picked individually (early-mid October). Food pairing - fresh salads, smoked fish, freshwater fish, shellfish, seafood, ham and more! Drinks well on its own! GREAT with THANKSGIVING DINNER!

Château Vessière Costières de Nîmes Grenache – Roussanne 2007 (France) $16.99 - Wonderful blend from Southern France! Aromas and flavors of peaches, citrus, white flowers, minerals and honey. On the finish, there is grapefruit and honeysuckle (that honey/honeysuckle is the Roussanne). Round, soft, rich wine. Great acidity that balances the fruit. 85% Roussanne and 15% Grenache Blanc. 7th generation winery. The Ancient Greeks revered wines from this site….as did the Romans. Food pairing - seafood, shellfish, salads, creamy pasta dishes.

The Reds:

Gourt de Mautens Cotes du Rhône Villages Rasteau 2005 (France) $79.99 – This is a bottle you will want to age and cellar. This is not for drinking now! You will do yourself and the wine a disservice! It needs at least 6-7 years right now and could go 15-20 years and still be peaking!

This is considered an “insider’s wine” – generally, you have to know someone to get this. Not much is made – 1,700 cases. Little is imported to the United States – 100 cases. 20 cases are in Maine. Less than that are available today!

Winemaker Jérôme Bressy farms just over 20 acres of vines. He is fanatical about grape quality. He farms organically. While his old-vine vineyard naturally has low yields, he pushes them lower by “green harvesting” to increase the quality even more.

This is one of the best estates in Rasteau. The REVUE DU VIN DE FRANC, France’s famous wine magazine, enthusiastically called Bressy “the new star of the Rhône!” In the “Bible” of French wine writing, Le Grand Guide des Vins de France, famed French wine reviewers Bettane & Desseauve call Gourt de Mautens “one of the best of the French wineries,” and they put it at the same level as the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape wineries Chateau Rayas and Domaine Henri Bonneau – yes, they are equating a Cotes du Rhône Villages from Rasteau with legendary Châteaneuf-du-Pape wineries!

Jerome Bressy – in his own words:

"I’m willing to make the best possible wine and to equal the great wine makers. To do so, I’m always trying new things and I am always questioning myself. I’m not one to make the same wine year after year, there must be an evolution and sometime even a revolution! That’s why one could be surprised tasting the difference between two vintage years of Gourt de Mautens. Nothing’s for granted on the path to perfection, I keep on learning and expressing new things. Each year I try to make the best of what the vine has to offer. But it all depends on nature, on the earth, the weather, and I try to feel that and do the best out from that osmosis.”

The wine:

Beautiful blackberry and black cherry fruits, licorice and spice. Notes of earth, chocolate, pepper…..a little of that Old World dusty rusticity. Right now, this wine is tannic and MASSIVE! You are going to have to think about this one and WONDER what it will taste like in 6-15 years!

Unfiltered. Unfined. Natural yeast. Aged 12 months in demi-muids (300 liter barrels) and foudres (large barrels); then 18 months in concrete vats (these are lined so you aren’t tasting cement). The 2005 harvest was bottled in June 2008 (30 months of aging). 1,700 cases made. This wine is made for LONG-TERM cellaring and aging. It develops very slowly and 2005 was an EXCEPTIONAL vintage. Blend of 70% old-vine Grenache with the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92+ points (tasted from the barrel)

Domaine de la Mordorée

Fran Kysela calls this “arguably the top estate in our Portfolio. Domaine de la Mordorée (woodcock), located in the town of Tavel, in the Southern Rhône Valley, is the most consistent producer of top quality wine in my entire selection.”

Robert Parker, in his book, The World’s Greatest Wine Estates, says of Domaine de la Mordoree, “Christophe Delorme’s objective as a winemaker is to be unintrusive and maintain total respect for his terroir and the fruit it produces. His dream is to achieve a perfect balance between concentration, terroir and flavors. Delorme seems to be moving in the direction of biodynamic farming. He represents the best of an enlightened approach to winemaking that has one foot in the traditions of the past and one in the future” (if the print on that linked page looks small, click on the little icon at the bottom of the page).

This winery practices “culture raisonee” in the vineyards, which is very close to organic viticulture (it means that they intervene in the vineyard only when necessary). Think of this as going to the doctor to deal with strep throat or a heart murmur – dealing with a specific health issue in a specific way.

We are tasting 2 wines from this estate:

Domaine de la Mordorée “La Dame Rousse” Lirac Rouge 2005 (France) Reg. $29.99 Sale $24.99 – This is a beautiful wine – I find it both elegant and powerful! Aromas and flavors of black raspberries, figs, licorice, smoky meat, minerals, red and dark fruit…..This is medium-to-full bodied, but not overpowering. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah from 40 year-old vines. 100% destemmed grapes. You’ll be able to age this for another 5-8 years. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points; Wine Spectator, 90 points; Wine Review Online, 91 points

Domaine de la Mordorée “Renaissance” Rouge 2005 (France) $14.99 – This has a deep red color. Loads of blackberries, raspberries and flowers (violets) on the nose. In terms of the flavors and feel, this is rich and big and has the same red and dark berries as in the aromas. Well-balanced tannins and acidity. Blend of 50% Marselan (a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache) and 50% Merlot. Food pairing – most any grilled and/or red meats. Awesome with game birds! Rich mushroom dishes. Hearty stews.

Les Hauts de la Brune Côteaux du Languedoc Saint Felix-Saint Jean 2005 (France) $14.99 – This shows lots of ripe, fresh fruit – cherries, raspberries and red plums. It picks up some blackberries, licorice and a little earth. Some spices. Clean and pure! The tannins are smooth. Blend of 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. They destem the grapes and age them in concrete tanks after stainless steel fermentation.

S.C.V. Castelmaure Col de Vents Corbières Rouge 2006 (France) $12.99 – This winery makes 90% red wine – 80% is A.O.C. Corbières. The A.O.C. Corbières was created in 1985. This winery is a “co-op.” It has 65 members and it dates to the 1920’s. It’s in the unofficial Corbières cru site of Durban (11 unofficial Cru’s in Corbières)….Durban will become an official cru along with Alaric and Boutenac. This area is protected from weather systems off the Mediterranean Sea by mountains to the south. This winery takes quality seriously. This wine – 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache and 15% Syrah. Aromas of blueberries, cherries, raspberries, spices and black pepper. Long, smooth finish. Easy drinking but still with complexity! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 87 points

Wine Tasting, Lindsay Stanley of Stanley Lambert

Hello,

I just had an opportunity fall into my lap!

An Australian winemaker!

Lindsay Stanley is a legend in Australian winemaking!

So, we're having a winetasting!

Wine Tasting
Featuring winemaker Lindsay Stanley of Stanley Lambert

& Rodrigo Alcalde from Chile's Vina Los Maquis

Friday, Sept. 26th
5:00-7:00pm

Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport
(the Hilton is just around the corner from my store - going away from LL Bean on Bow Street, cross the railroad tracks and turn left onto Park Street and there is the Hilton!)

$10/person to taste a flight of these wonderful wines
Please call the store (865-3993) to register and reserve a place!

Remember, this is not a seminar. You may come at any time between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Also, we are doing this tasting outside of the store because Maine law limits retailers to 1 wine tasting in the store per month.

We have to charge a small fee (and $10 to taste 12 wines, especially these wines, is a pittance!) to cover the costs at the Hilton. Many thanks to Jeanne Carpentier and her awesome staff at the Hilton Garden Inn for making this happen at the last moment!

The Wines and the Background Story on both wineries

Vina Maquis

The Hurtado Family has owned the Vina Maquis vineyard for more than a century. 10 years ago, the family decided to make their own wine out of the terrific grapes in their own backyard. They built a gorgeous, modern, state-of-the-art gravity flow winery and set out to make a "Super Chilean" blend from the vineyard's best grapes. "Super Chilean" is just a play on "Super Tuscan" and really means "red wine made from the grapes we want to use" - that's what it means in Tuscany!

VIna Maquis is located in the Valle de Colchagua! The Tinguiririca River and the Chimbarongo Creek - two large streams - brought tons of alluvial sediments down from the Andes. Today, these streams act as pathways for cool coastal breezes that help moderate the hot summers in Colchagua. This helps produce better grapes.

Rodrigo Alcalde is hear from Chile representing Vina Los Maquis with 2 wines, Maquis Lien and Calcu. He's the marketing director at Vina Los Maquis.

Stanley Lambert

Lindsay Stanley has been making award-winning wines for over 30 years in the Barossa Valley. Early in his long career, he started working with the legendary father of Penfold's Grange Hermitage, Max Schubert. Penfold's Grange is Australia's most famous and esteemed wine! You can see Schubert's influence on Lindsay's winemaking today with wines such as the "Family Tree" Shiraz and "Silent Partner" Cabernet.

After leaving Penfolds in 1991, Lindsay started Stanley Brothers (now Stanley Lambert). Since 1991, he has produced award-winning wines that are widely distributed across Australia, Asia and Europe. Recently, the wines have come to the United States

Jim Lambert made a fortune in business in Denver and decided to "retire" to Australia and buy a winery. While in the Barossa Valley, he stopped in a local pub and asked the bartender who was the best winemaker in the area. The answer - Lindsay Stanley. Lambert asked where he could find Lindsay and the bartender pointed at a nearby table! Over several beers, Stanley Lambert was born.

In 2003 Jim Lambert purchased a premium 100-acre old-vine vineyard. Most of the fruit in that vineyard was sold to Turkey Flat Vineyards and Peter Lehmann Wines for their premium wines. Jim and Lindsay decided to create their own wines from that superb vineyard.

Barossa is unique in that it has never had an outbreak of phylloxera - so it is sitting on the proverbial motherlode of old vine vineyards - some of the oldest original rootstock vineyards in the world!

Jim Lambert is farming his vineyard sustainably and using environmentally-friendly practices. He is in the process of creating an ISO Certified "Green Vineyard (it'll be one of the first in Australia).

Winemaking at Stanley Lambert is pure - no centrifuge to spin the solids out, no "toys" to "help" the wine and the winemaker.

The Stanley Lambert wines

Whites

Pristine Chardonnay 2005 - $11.99 - called "pristine" because of the use of no oak or malolactic fermentation. Aromas and flavors of ripe melons and green apples. 1,500 cases made. Food pairing - Perfect wine as a cocktail wine for a party or with lighter dishes.

Thousand Word Chardonnay 2007 - $18.99 - Aromas and flavors of green apples, pears, nuts, cashews and maybe even anise. From the oldest vines on the Lambert Estate Vineyard. Slowly cold fermented over 6 weeks to retain the natural fruit characteristics of the grapes. Aged on lees for 8 weeks to add character and complexity. Gentle use of oak - only used wood from the heart of the tree from Limousin, France (you're going to have to ask Lindsay why). It's this oak that lends the nutty, cashewy flavors. 600 cases made. Food pairing - chicken, oysters, seafood creamy pasta dishes. Silver Medal, 2007 Barossa Wine Show

Reds

Mustang Sally Shiraz 2003 - $11.99 - a soft, spicy Shiraz with nice earth and dark fruit. Sweet, soft tannins (this doesn't mean the wine is sweet). This is a "drink now" Shiraz - it's made to drink young. 2,500 cases made. Food pairing - drink with grilled meats or just when sitting around with friends!

Dundee's Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2001 - $11.99 - The Cab adds rich black currant and dark berry notes. The Merlot adds violets and red berries and a silky texture. Medium-bodied wine. This is the wine I know the least.....so, it'll be an experiment for all of us!

Black Sheep Shiraz-Malbec-Merlot 2002 - $16.99 - easy drinking blend. The Shiraz adds ripe blackberry and raspberry flavors, the Malbec adds weight and depth and dark cherry flavors and the Merlot kicks in with violets and a silky texture to soften the wine! Blend of 60% Shiraz, 25% Malbec and 15% Merlot. Aged for 8 months in previously used oak barrels. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years. Food pairing - great with lamb, quail, veal, duck and pasta dishes. Pizza.

Thoroughbred Cabernet 2002 - $21.99 - One of the wines Lindsay loves to make is Cabernet Sauvignon. Well-structured wine that is more about elegance rather than trying to overpower you! Aromas and flavors of blackcurrants and plums, vanilla. Fine-grained tannins and a rich finish. This will age well for a number of years. Aged in French and American oak casks for 30 months! This was the first wine Lindsay Stanley made under his own label in 1991 - that vintage walked away with the "Cuno Pacific Trophy" at the Barossa Wine Show. Food pairing - steak, lamb, grilled meats.....drinks well without food. Wine Enthusiast, 90 points, "Best Buy"

Three's Company GSM 2006 - $19.99 - GSM is shorthand for Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre. Handpicked grapes from the oldest vines on the Lambert Estate Vineyard which surround the Lambert's house. Grenache adds strawberry and red berry notes, the Shiraz adds dark berries, the Mourvedre adds plummy notes and leather and smoke. Medium-bodied wine. Each variety was harvested and vinified separately and then blended to make the final wine. After blending, the wine aged 6 months in barrels used for the "Family Tree" Shiraz. 1,000 cases made. Food pairing - any foods, barbecue, meat, appetizers, etc.

Family Tree Shiraz 2004 - Reg. $49.99 Sale $39.99 - Excellent Australian Shiraz! Silky and soft. Aromas and flavors of baking spices, black cherries and blackberries. Long finish. 60-year-old vines. 350 cases made. Single vineyard wine from the best blocks on the Lambert Estate Vineyards. This will easily age for another 7-8 years. This is the FIRST release of ultrapremium wines from Stanley Lambert. Lindsay hand-picked the best new American oak, where the wine aged for 15 months. Wine Spectator, 90 points

Silent Partner Cabernet 2005 - Reg. $49.99 Sale $39.99 - Delicious! The 2nd wine in a series of ultrapremium wines from Stanley Lambert. Rich and elegant wine. Smooth, lush finish. Hand-picked grapes. Single vineyard with low-yielding vines (they suffer growing on higher rocky soil - and vines that have to work hard produce the best grapes!). Aged in fine-grained American oak hogsheads for 18 months. Lindsay Stanley considers the Cabernet Sauvignon grape to be the best wine grape in the world. 1,000 cases made. Food pairing - rich foods. Bronze Medal, 2007 Barossa Wine Show

Choc-o-bloc Port $26.99 - Tawny Port infused with chocolate. Delicious! Rich dark chocolate flavors with a luscious mouthfeel. Food pairing - great sipping with friends or serve with strawberries or raspberries.....or pour it and the berries over vanilla ice cream!

Vina Los Maquis Wines

Both wines are reds.

Maquis Lien 2004 (Chile) $18.99 - "Super Chilean." Concentrated and rich wine! Aromas and flavors of mocha, toast, ripe plums, blackberries and blueberries. Fleshy, ripe and rich. Hints of loamy earth. Not tanninc. Low-yield vines. Only the ripest grapes are used - all of the grapes are hand-sorted at the winery. 50% Syrah, 23% Carmenere, 8% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Franc and 7% Malbec. Barrel aged for 12 months in French oak. In the local "Mapuche" language, "lien" means "silver metal" - a reference to colonial Spanish coins that were once melted to make fine jewelry, like the lizard on the Maquis label. Food pairing - grilled meats, steak, etc. Pasta dishes. Drinks well without food. Wine & Spirits, 90 points; Michael Franz, Wine Review Online, 90 points; "Four Glasses," NYC WIne Report, "Savvy pleasure seekers should discover this super value now;" Wine Spectator, "...silky and almost sumptuously flavorful....You'd have to look long and hard to find a richer, more dimensional, better-quality red wine for the money."

Calcu 2005 (Chile) $13.99 - Tasty little blend! Nice minerals, ripe tannins, red fruit and subtle oak in the flavors and aromas. Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere blend. In the local "Mapuche" language, "Calcu" means "healing doctor" or "magician." And, indeed, the winemakers have created another magical "Super Chilean!" Food pairing - pasta, grilled meats, mushroom dishes, etc. Drinks well without food. Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences, "Bargain of the Week....an excellent Chilean red blend."

That's the line-up.

Please call....

Freeport Cheese & Wine

(207) 865-3993

Thanks,

Eric

September Wines We Love!

September Wines We Love!!!

Freeport Cheese & Wine
27 Bow Street
Freeport, ME
(207) 865-3993

The wines:

Whites:

Domaine d'Esperance Cuvee D'or 2007 (France) $14.99 - blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Gros Manseng; from Gascony (home of d'Artagnan!) in Southwestern France. Aromas and flavors of apricots and white flowers. Dry finish with really nice length! Jean-Louis and Claire de Montesquiou bought this porperty in 1990. Previously, it had been left to run wild. It had been one of the Grand Crus of Bas-Armagnac. This area has sandy clay soil, which helps produce dry whites with lots of nice fruit in them! The Montesquiou family traces its heritage in Gascony to the 10th century (evidently King Henry IV was quite friendly with the Montesquious and loved their wine and spirits! They also make Armagnac at this winery (France's oldest distilled spirit). Silver Medal, Concours des Vins de Bordeaux 2008

Chateau Fondarzac Entre Deux Mers 2007 (Bordeaux, France) Reg. $14.99 Sale $12.99 - blend of Sauvignon Blanc (30%), Semillon (50%) and Muscadelle 20%). Unoaked (Muscadelle really doesn't like oak!). From between the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers (so the area is really "between 2 rivers" and not "between 2 seas"), an area that produces particularly good white wines. This is really nice and soft in the middle - that's the Semillon. It has subtle citrus notes and nice minerals in the aromas and flavors.

Reds:

El Corregidor Malbec Merlot 2004 (Argentina) $12.99 - Blend of Malbec and Merlot. This sees some time in oak, but I don't know how much. I got aromas and flavors of mint, red and dark fruits and a hint of vanilla and baking spices. Vinedos Los Maitenes is the work of 2 close friends with a background in winemaking. They founded this estate in 2001. One characteristic of this winery is that they hold wine at the winery until it is ready to drink - so you can pull the cork on this and be confident is has sufficient barrel/tank and bottle aging! Walter Bressia, one of Argentina's leading winemakers, makes this wine and the Maestre de Campo. Walter's personal wines, from his own Bodega Bressia, command prices ranging from $45-$120/bottle! Food pairing - pasta, grilled meats, grilled fish.

Maestre de Campo Malbec 2004 (Argentina) $14.99 - Well-balanced wine with real nice tannins (they've smoothed out) and dark fruit with notes of mocha and chocolate. 100% Malbec. Aged 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Vinedos Los Maitenes is the work of 2 close friends with a background in winemaking. They founded this estate in 2001. One characteristic of this winery is that they hold wine at the winery until it is ready to drink - so you can pull the cork on this and be confident is has sufficient barrel/tank and bottle aging! Food pairing - steak, beef, lamb, pasta dishes, lasagna, etc.

Chateau Le Calvaire Bordeaux Superieur 2003 (Bordeaux, France) $17.99 - Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Nice "old world" Bordeaux with pleasing tannins and aromas. This is a more "subdued" wine - not at all like an overpowering "New World" Cabernet or Merlot. Aromas of dried flowers and wet leaves on a forest trail. This estate dates to the 16th century. Food pairing - cheese such as Emmentaler, Appenzeller, Muenster, Livarot, etc. Chicken and duck. Lamb. Veal.

Domaine de la Citadelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Cotes du Luberon, France) $17.99 - Cabernet is an unusual grape from this area; so this is not an AOC wine....can't be! The Cotes du Luberon is in Provence. The growing area is cool at night and hot during the day. Yves Rousset-Rouard and his family have resurrected this estate over the last 25 years and turned it into one of the best in the Cotes du Luberon! The wine sees no oak - so, it's bright and fresh! Deux Etoiles dans le Guide Hachette 2007 (2 Stars)

Chateau Treytins Montagne Saint-Emilion 2003 (Bordeaux, France) $31.99 - This is an elegant Bordeaux! This is not a "garagiste" wine! "Garagiste" is a new term that emerged to describe some of the "New World" style fruitier, less tannic reds coming out of Bordeaux in the '90's and early 21st Century. Well-balanced tannins. Aromas and flavors of raspberries and plums, subtle, subtle oak. Smooth and soft. Blend of Merlot (about 60-70%), 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. About 80% of this wine is aged 18 months in oak barrels before bottling; the rest in stainless steel tanks. Easily ageable another 2-3 years, and this can be drunk young!

Whites:

Höpler Riesling 2006 (Austria) $17.99 - The Austrian wine journal "VINARIA" has named Höpler as the "shooting star" of 2008 in its atlas of Austrian wines! This is a "dry" Riesling (12.5% alcohol). As a rule (that isn't always correct), Austrian Rieslings tend to be dry. Dry doesn't mean this isn't fruity - it has loads of "stone" fruit aromas and flavors (peaches and nectarines). It also picks up the minerals in the granite-laden soils that comprise Höpler's vineyards. Food pairing - trout and salmon (smoked or otherwise!). Ham. Dry Rieslings are incredibly food friendly! Drinks well without food as well!

Paul Jaboulet Aîné “Parallele 45” Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2006 (France) $12.99 - Excellent white wine from a superb winery in the Rhône Valley! Aromas and flavors of flowers, lemons, pears, peaches, honeysuckle & grapefruit. Nice crisp acidity to balance the fruit. Clean, crisp lingering finish that is more finesse than power. 65% Grenache Blanc and 35% other white grapes. Stainless steel fermentation on lees. Brief time in neutral oak barrels. 1,000 cases imported. Food pairing – seafood, fish, shellfish, lobster, lighter poultry dishes, pork, eggs.

Zenato San Benedetto Lugana D.O.C. 2005 (Veneto, Italy) $13.99 - Wonderful, lesser known white from Northeastern Italy - from the winery, Zenato, that is certainly my favorite in the Veneto! From one of my 3 favorite Italian importers - Winebow! (the other 2 are Small Vineyards and Vias). Aromas and flavors of peaches, green bananas, Provencal herbs, minerals and hints of lemon/lime citrus. This has nice minerals balancing the fruit. Well-balanced acidity. The finish is dry and has a pleasant almost bitter hint to it (at least that's what I get!). 100% Trebbiano di Lugana from the San Benedetto parcel on the south shore of Lake Garda. Stainless steel fermentation in temperature-controlled vats. Aged in vats for 6 months before bottling. Food pairing - Delicious by itself....this drinks well with both fish and poultry.

Reds:

Cerejeiras Vinho Regional Estremadura 2007 (Portugal) $7.99 or 2 for $14! - Portugal still keeps putting out great value wines! This is one of them. It's right in the alcohol range I like wine (11.5%-13%). It's a little earthy, a little spicy, nice fruit and has moderate acidity. Medium bodied. Nice feel and texture. Blend of Castelao, Aragonez and Tinta Miuda. It's inexpensive.....it's good! It's not complex, but it's good (oh, I already said that!). Food pairing - grilled fish, lots of meat dishes, pasta and cheese.

Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva 2003 (Italy) $13.99 - A tasty wine and great value! I’ve enjoyed this wine for the past 26 years (I stumbled on this at age 21 when it first came to the US) and it just keeps delivering. Consistently a best buy year after year! This is a rich, full-bodied wine, with herbal notes on the finish…which is long and pleasant. Cosimo "Mimmo" Taurino is the "patron saint" of winemakers from Puglia - he helped make this area famous in the USA and elsewhere. Prior to 1982, most of the wine from Puglia was used to help add to the more famous wines from elsewhere in Italy and Europe. "Mimmo" put wines from Puglia on the map! From Puglia – the “heel” of Italy. Grapes - Negroamaro (85%), Malvasia Nera (15%). 20% French oak barrels. From one of my 3 favorite Italian importers - Winebow! (the other 2 are Small Vineyards and Vias). Food pairing - pizza, lamb, beef, pork, tomato-based sauces, hard cheeses. Slate Magazine, ”THE WORLD’S GREATEST PIZZA WINE!” I'm not saying Slate is the "be all and end all" when it comes to wine - they did peg this one, though! It is the world's greatest pizza wine!

Castillo Labastida Rioja Crianza 2004 (Spain) $16.99 - Soft, rich, yet delicate…in that way it’s Pinot Noir-like. Great value! Ripe red berries & cherries in the flavors & aromas with rich leather - the classic notes of Tempranillo! Smooth! 100% old vine Tempranillo. Castillo Labastida is a beautiful old village in the Sierra Cantabria foothills. Aged for 15 months in American oak barriques – this is a departure from the traditional way of aging in huge oak barrels…the barriques help soften the wine, but they don’t dominate the fruit with oak. From one of my 3 importers - Winebow! (who has branched from Italy into Spain, Argentina and Chile). Food pairing - Excellent sipping wine and with grilled meats, chorizo, roasted duck, chicken or pork. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points

Dessert

Coppo "Passione" Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG 2006 (Piedmont, Italy) $17.99 - Delicious sparkling dessert wine from one of the best wineries in the Piedmont! We've sold several of their wines over the years (their Moscato d'Asit is awesome!). The bubbles pop and tingle! Aromas of fresh raspberries and strawberries100% Brachetto grapes. Stainless steel fermentation after just a little skin contact - so this is darker than most roses, but not as dark as a red wine. And, it SPARKLES! It's BUBBLY! This is one of the few Italian sweet wines to earn DOCG status! From one of my 3 favorite Italian importers - Winebow! (the other 2 are Small Vineyards and Vias). Food pairing - great little wine to start off a party or dinner! Even better - make this a pairing with chocolate for the end of a romantic dinner for two! Serve slightly chilled.

September 2008 Wines of the Month

Freeport Cheese & Wine

Wines of the Month

September, 2008

If you want any wines, and are not yet a member of our "Wines of the Month" club, please e-mail or call and let me know what you want. With a credit card payment over the phone, I can hold the wines indefinitely! So, even if you are from "away," I can hold the wine!

You are going to notice a theme with this month - 4 of the wines are from Abruzzo and ALL of the wines are from Italy. Back in April or May, I tasted several wines with a young woman from Valle Reale (her family's winery) and with the importer, Mary Bridge of Winebow. Winebow is one of my favorite importers in the USA - spin a bottle around and if it says, "Imported by Winebow," you know it is a good version of what it is supposed to be.....worst case scenario is you may not like that style....best case or normal case - you just found a new wine you like!

I bought 4 of the Valle Reale (there own website is excellent!) wines......the good news is they taste great! The bad news is the supply is limited.....I thought these wines would be here in late June for July....they arrived in September......the other good news is these are not "warm weather" wines.....these will excel with cooler weather dishes and just ROCK with Thanksgiving Dinner!

Given that Winebow imports the Valle Reale wines and I liked many of those and that I like the Winebow wines as a whole, I decided to poke around and see what we could add for September to round out the selections!

Tier One

Azienda Agricola Valle Reale is a family-owned winery and farm. The Pizzolo family owns the winery and the farm and makes the wine.

This winery and farm is located in the center of Abruzzo - smack in the middle of one of Italy's most beautiful national parks! This area was carved by glaciers. It has crystal clear springs. The flora and fauna are wild and diverse! Valle Reale sits in the midst of this Eden!

The vineyards have a soil unique to this part of Italy and the climate is dominated by the Gran Sasso mountain range - so the temperatures widely fluctuate from day to night. The cool breezes ensure good ventilation and reduce the humidity in the vineyards. The red grapes ripen late in the fall - when the first snows whiten Mount Morrone.

The result of this unique climate - fully mature grapes with rich aromas and complex flavors.

The hallmark area for this family is in the cru San Calisto - which is setting the standard for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

White:

Azienda Agricola Valle Reale Vigne Nuove Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2007 (Italy) $13.99 - Trebbiano is produced all over Italy. Not all Trebbiano is alike. This certainly isn't!

This has rich, fragrant aromas. Aromas of citrus, white pepper and flowers. In the mouth this is zesty and crisp and pops! It's full-bodied and just fills your mouth! Well-balanced acidity.

100% Trebbiano. Stainless steel fermentation at cool temperatures to make sure the fruit is bright and fresh! I bought the only cases coming into Maine!

Food pairing - poultry, sushi, shellfish, lobster and olive oil pasta dishes.

Red:

Azienda Agricola Valle Reale Vigne Nuove Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 (Italy) $14.99 - Juicy, soft, loaded with fruit and easy to drink! This is calling for a summer night when you are grilling or chillin'!

This vineyard benefits from the cold currents of "Gorges of Popoli" - roaring down from Mount Morrone along the Pescara River - the winds help cool the vineyards in the summer and lower the humidity. This helps the grapes ripen slowly and helps the fruit fully develop its flavors and aromas.

The name of this wine, "Vigne Nuove," comes from the first fruits harvested in the Popoli.

This is pure 100% Montepulciano fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh fruit aromas and flavors. Hand-harvested grapes.

This wine sees no oak and just explodes with red berries, sour cherries, wild blackberries and ripe strawberries. The tannins are there and help balance the fruit....as does the acidity. Medium-bodied. Loads of flavor. Easy-going wine - a pleasure to drink! Versatile, authentic Italian red!

Food pairing - eggplant parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, meat-based pasta dishes, etc.

Tier Two

White:

Allegrini Soave 2006 (Veneto, Italy) $18.99 - If there is a more misunderstood and disparaged white wine from Italy than Soave, I don't know it!

Remember those Soave Bolla ads from the early '80's?

Well, that's what everyone remembers about Soave.

Well, real Soave, true Soave, isn't that nasty wine! It's one of Northeastern Italy's LANDMARK white wines! And, Allegrini is one of Italy's greatest wineries!

Blend of 80% Garganega - a grape local to the area - and 20% Chardonnay. Hand-harvested grapes. 25 year-old vines. Cold-temperature fermentation to preserve the fresh fruit. Stainless steel fermentation. Aged in bottle for a few months before release.

Aromas of herbs and flowers and citrus. Flavors of lemon/lime citrus with great acidity and minerals. Medium-to-full-bodied. Lush and rich wine! Delicious!

Food pairing - seafood, shellfish, poultry and risotto. Wine Spectator, 87 points (you know what's funny about this score - 87 points - WS and Robert Parker and the rest put this in the Very Good category, between 85-89 points.....lots of people think this is a mediocre score.

Red:

Azienda Agricola Valle Reale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 (Italy) $19.99 - Excellent, excellent, smooth and lush wine from this family-owned winery!

Aromas and flavors of dark berries, spices, smoke, licorice and more. Silky smooth tannins. Full-bodied, and still it is soft and smooth. Long, long finish.

100% Montelpulciano from this estate's oldest vineyards planted back in 1975. Hand-harvested in latter October. Aged 12 months in used French oak barriques. Aged in bottle for 8-12 months before the winery sells it.

Food pairing – rich and hearty pasta dishes, roasted or grilled meats, lamb, beef, mushrooms, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points

PS - 88-89 points is my favorite wine score from reviewers (and remember, these guys don't drink wines the way you do....they "power taste" through 200-500 wines a day)! Why? Same score as 90 for all real purposes and it doesn't cause a feeding frenzy!

Tier Three

White:

Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo D.O.C.G. 2007 (Italy) $27.99 - Campania's most renowned winery and the winery that put this part of Italy on the modern map in terms of wines such as Aglianico, Fiano, Falanghina, Greco di Tufo, Piedirosso and Coda di Volpe. Pietri di Mastro Berardino is the founder of this esteemed family of winemakers back in the 1750's - he earned the "Mastro" part of the family name!

One of Campania's signature wines and just a great white wine! Aromas and flavors of apricots, peaches, pears and this mean streak of minerality that sets the wines of Campania apart from most others! The flavors also have zippy, zesty, refreshing acidity! The finish is long and rich!

Greco di Tufo is the grape; the grapes are from the Montefusco vineyard. Stainless steel fermentation.

This wine has rich aromas of stone fruits, pears, tropical fruit and it follows through with strong minerals (remember, this is near Pompeii and Vesuvius - so, lots of minerals were blown into the air not long ago in geologic terms!). Excellent acidity that makes this wine refreshing and crisp while it is quite full and rich feeling with each sip!

Food pairing - grilled fish, seafood, chicken salad, lobster, lobster roll, shellfish, etc.

Red:

Librandi Gravello Val di Neto 2003 (Italy) $34.99 - from the toe of the boot (in Calabria) comes one of Italy's truly great wineries and wines! Calabria!

This winery is located right on the Ionian coastline. The location - pinned between the sea and the mountains - is perfect in terms of temperature for these grapes. Since the 1950's, after growing grapes for 4 generations, the Librandis started making wines. All the wines and olive oils are estate-grown and produced. The vineyards are planted with local grapes (Gaglioppo, Magliocco and Manonico) and international varietals. Librandi is also experimenting with ancient local grape varietals.

This is a "Super Calabrian." Remember, "Super Tuscans" are wines made from non-traditional grapes or non-traditional blends.....well.....that is what a "Super Calabrian" is as well! It's 60% Gaglioppo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 3 years; one of those years is in Allier oak barriques.

Aromas and flavors of coffee, cassis, cherries.....this is kinda jammy.....but, more "stewed fruit" jammy......velvety, rich wine with a smooth and long finish. The tannins are soft. Great wine!
Food pairing - Pastas with meat sauces, Piave Vecchio, Aged Provolone, veal, beef, lamb, meat stews, roasted or grilled meats! International Wine Review, 90 points

The "Other"

Azienda Agricola Valle Reale Vigne Nuove Cerasuolo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Rose 2006 (Italy) $14.99 - The 4th wine from Ville Real!

An AWESOME Italian Rosé! Unique and delicious rosé that is different from your typical Provencal French rosés! Spicy, peppery and light-to-medium bodied. Not a fruit bomb - this has bright, fresh strawberry aromas and flavors coupled with flowers, earth and minerals. Just a gorgeous wine that is a beautiful salmon pink color and a pleasure to drink!

100% Montepulciano. Aged in stainless steel. Bottled young and meant to be drunk young!

Food pairing - salmon, tuna, grilled chicken or pork, spicy Asian dishes, spicy Tex-Mex dishes. Drinks well sitting with friends! PERFECT, I mean PERFECT, with Thanksgiving Dinner! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

That's September!
Regards,

Eric Fullagar

Freeport Cheese & Wine

27 Bow StreetFreeport, ME 04032

(207) 865-3993

August 2008 Wines of the Month

Freeport Cheese & Wine

August 2008

Wines of the Month

Tier One

White:

The White Knight "Clarksburg" Viognier 2006 (California) $11.99 - Viognier is such a wonderful grape and makes such a delicious wine! This is dry....zippy acidity....it's lower in alcohol than many California Viogniers (13.5% versus many that are 14.5%-15%). One of the many things I like about this wine is that it is lower in alcohol than it's CA peers - when you hit 14.5% and up in a wine, especially a Viognier, you TASTE and FEEL the alcohol....it burns and feels rough and like a hot pepper. This has aromas and flavors of apricots, nectarines, mango, lemon curd and vanilla. This is just a delicious wine for drinking on a summer day! It's versatile - drinks well with or without food. Refreshing and fun to drink!

The Clarksburg appellation covers Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Counties. This is an inland growing area that is blessed with the late afternoon cool breezes from San Francisco Bay that roll into the Sacramento River Delta. These breezes keep the Clarksburg vineyards an average of 9 degrees cooler than Sacramento. This area is large - 64,640 acres of farmland. So why is it so little known? Grapes such as Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah thrive here. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are not widely planted here - those are California's best-known grapes. Historically, 90% of the grapes grown here are crushed elsewhere, but we are seeing some wineries producing wine under the Clarksburg AVA name - so that is changing as the area grows in prominence.

Over the next decade, you will come to know Clarksburg as a prime area for wonderful wines at great prices!

Food pairing - spicy chicken, most any spicy food....melon wrapped with Prosciutto. Make a Viognier Sorbet for dessert! Wine Enthusiast, 88 points

Red:

Tomero Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Argentina) $13.99 - The Tomero, also known as "water supplier," has been a key person in the Argentine vineyards since 1833. The Tomero is in charge of the water supply for each district of the province - he regulates the flow of the meltwater from the Andes through the canals and ditches - without these irrigation canals, growing wine (or anything) in Argentina's high deserts would be IMPOSSIBLE.

Why did I pick a Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina rather than a Malbec or a Bonarda? Well....it's a Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina and NOT a Malbec! So, oddly, going with a better-known grape in America means we are going with a lesser-known grape in Argentina! Also, this wine is from Finca Carlos Pulenta - we have many of their wines and love them!

This is a great value in a Cabernet - it shows the slightly warmer climate in which the grapes are grown. Aromas and flavors of jammy dark berry fruit, red berries, baking spices, black cherries and more.....easy to drink. It's medium-to-full bodied with softer tannins that kind of have an Italian dustiness to them if you know what I mean (I don't mean dirty earth). Juicy and ripe fruit on the finish with some "wet leaves in the forest" earthiness to the aromas in the glass.

80% of the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and 20% is aged in French oak barrels for 8 months. The wine is bottle aged at the winery for 6-12 months before the winery releases it to the market. The grapes are hand-harvested. Food pairing - grill up a steak. Roast a chicken. Saute a bunch of mushrooms. Call some friends. Have fun! Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 89 points

Tier Two

White:

Edmunds St. John "Heart of Gold" Grenache Blanc-Vermentino 2007 (California) $19.99 - The earth speaks when Steve Edmunds makes wine!

This winery is named for the husband-and-wife team of Cornelia St. John and Steve Edmunds.

Wanna know what Robert Parker said about Steve Edmunds wines this last spring (2007)......it was something along the lines of, "If you want to make French wine, make it in France." According to Parker's publication, that was a criticism......this, on a day when Parker (or whoever is the person that tastes for Parker in a given area today) was tasting 300 some wines (let's do some math: 300 wines X 2 minutes per wine = 600 minutes or 10 hours - I'm just guessing Parker or the reviewer has a sidekick writing down comments. Still, that's 1 wine every 2 minutes for 10 hours. NON-STOP).......so, in that environment, what stands out? BIG, BOLD, OVER-THE-TOP wines. Nothing with finesse, elegance, subtlety.....

Well......Steve Edmunds' wines are complex, layered, subtle and often elegant.....often like a Chateaneuf-du-Pape, rarely like a 15.5% alcohol CA Zin or Rhone-Ranger or an Aussie Shiraz......more French-like in the layers of flavors and aromas and subtle approach of the wine. Think Bjorn Borg on the tennis court rather than John McEnroe. Or, Tiger Woods rather than John Daly. Or, Beethoven rather than AC/DC.

What's changed? Parker or Edmunds? Well, Parker now has lots of people reviewing wines for him. Steve Edmunds still makes the wines at Edmunds St. John. I'm betting Parker has changed.....the Edmunds St. John wines have only changed in the sense that they are better than 15-20 years ago! This wine is 13.3% alcohol.....just not in that blockbuster "Parkerized" style that so many "Rhone-Clones" or "Rhone-Rangers" are.

If you want to guess, I'm a bit down on Parker, the Wine Spectator and many wine reviewers. They wield lots of clout. What they don't do is drink a bottle of wine the same way you do (from start to finish over a period of time). They taste.....sniff, smell, swirl, gargle, spit.....move on to the next wine.....so, what does that wine taste like in 30 minutes? 45 minutes? 90 minutes? Tomorrow? I understand that that is how many of you drink your wine....so, I try to replicate those scenarios. Sure, I taste a wine and go, "Thumbs up!" Or, "Thumbs Down." If it's a "Thumbs up," I then taste the same wine over time....even into tomorrow and the next day. Does Parker do this? The Wine Spectator? So, is that 91 points averaged over time? Or from the first impression? Or the last? Or when? Enough whining!

Back to this wine!

This is an odd blend for Steve......why? It's 54% Grenache Blanc and 46% Vermentino. Okay, Grenache Blanc is a Cotes-du-Rhone grape....a Southern French grape.....just what is Vermentino??? Well, it's Portuguese.....no, Spanish....no, from Madeira....no....oh, who knows! Today, it's famous as an awesome white wine from Sardinia (I carry a couple of these - yummy....nice, subtle saline quality to the wine!).

Steve fell in love with Vermentino back in the early 1990's on a trip to Liguria......and then Tablas Creek planted some in California. Then, he had a chance to plant some Vermentino and Grenache Blanc vines on the same property that produces Edmund St. John's fame Wylie-Fenaughty Syrah.

This is the first vintage.....a whole whopping 127 cases made.....The wine is fermented with native yeasts (Steve is big on that). Aged on lees in a stainless steel tank. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation began, but the wine had such a low pH that only about 15% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. Wine was filtered prior to bottling because it was cloudy, real cloudy. Bottled on Feb. 12th, 2008.

Aromas and flavors of citrus, citrus flowers, lemon oil, flinty chalk, spearmint.....wine rounds out in the mouth and gets softer and fleshier....long, juicy finish that is refreshing and clean.

Food pairing - anything from the sea! Nothing better than Maine lobster or Damariscotta oysters!

Red:

Vines on the Marycrest "Heart of Glass" 2005 (California) $23.99 - Heart of Glass - think Blondie! And, if you can't click on this link to YouTube! Disco ball, drugged out lead singer, repititious lyrics and music, monotone.....it's the late '70's, baby! The name of the song and the singer have NOTHING to do with this wine! Aside from name!

These wines are available in 4, that's FOUR, states! Without Doug and Cat at SOPO being on the forefront of the wine industry in the US, we'd never see these....

Vines on the Marycrest is a labor of love for a couple and their 2 young children. Victor and Jennifer Abascal are passionate about Paso Robles and its winemaking potential and actuality in terms of the great wines being made there today!

Victor Abascal has a successful career as a highly sought-after sound engineer or something in the music or movie business (hence the names of their wines - "My Generation," "Heart of Glass"). He also has a passion for wine - rumor has it that earlier in his life.....at an earlier home, he secretly planted grapes on the property of the Marycrest Convent.......the nuns freaked because they thought the plants were....well.....marijuana......The police told the nuns otherwise....and the insurance company told Victor he couldn't plant grapes on the nuns' land......so, off to Paso Robles for Victor! When he named his winery, he decided to have fun with this earlier mistake in his life!

The WINE - enough fluff!

Like most Grenache-based wines, this shows lots of strawberries and raspberries in the aromas and flavors.....although in the flavors the dark earth of the Syrah and the leather from the Mourvedre kick in......

Without a doubt, though, one think I like about these Marycrest wines are the vibrant aromas that key off of the dominant grape! So, since Grenache dominates the blend, we get red berry fruit in the nose!

Blend of 67% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 11% Mourvedre. The Grenache vines are at least 50+ years-old. Something like 400 cases made.

Food pairing – lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, etc....

Tier Three:

White:

Hirsch Gaisberg Zobing Kamptal Riesling 2006 (Austria) $39.99 - Hirsch roared from nowhere in the late 20th century to being one of Austria's GREAT wineries.

This single vineyard Riesling shows what this winery can do.....!!! Aromas and flavors of apricots, peaches, tropical fruit, flowers such as lilac and lavender, herbs, crushed minerals and more. This is ripe and juicy and the flavors linger. Gripping wine with lots of finesse and a long finish.

The 40 year-old vines grow on terraced slopes filled with eroded rock - these Riesling vines have to SUFFER before they produce great grapes! The rocky soil adds minerals to the wines. The grapes in the Gaisberg are harvested in mid-October, whole cluster pressed and then fermented only with native yeasts. ZERO temperature control (this is natural winemaking!). Aged in stainless steel tanks and large oak barrels - in both the wine rests on its lees through April and then is bottled in the July following the harvest. Food pairing - poultry, trout & salmon (smoked and otherwise), pork sausages, lots of vegetarian dishes, seafood, aged goat cheeses, etc. You can easily age this through 2011-15 (I'd lay down a few bottles and pull them out for a Thanksgiving BONANZA in 2012). Vinaria, 2 Stars; David Schildknecht, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90-91 points

Red:

Vines on the Marycrest "My Generation" 2005 (California) $27.99 - One guess.....yes....it's The Who's "My Generation!" An iconic rock song from long ago! I think this is from the days when Pete Townsend and Roger Daltry actually liked one another!

These wines are available in 4, that's FOUR, states! Without Doug and Cat at SOPO being on the forefront of the wine industry in the US, we'd never see these....

Vines on the Marycrest is a labor of love for a couple and their 2 young children. Victor and Jennifer Abascal are passionate about Paso Robles and its winemaking potential and actuality in terms of the great wines being made there today!

Victor Abascal has a successful career as a highly sought-after sound engineer or something in the music or movie business (hence the names of their wines - "My Generation," "Heart of Glass"). He also has a passion for wine - rumor has it that earlier in his life.....at an earlier home, he secretly planted grapes on the property of the Marycrest Convent.......the nuns freaked because they thought the plants were....well.....marijuana......The police told the nuns otherwise....and the insurance company told Victor he couldn't plant grapes on the nuns' land......so, off to Paso Robles for Victor! When he named his winery, he decided to have fun with this earlier mistake in his life!

Big, big powerhouse wine! Did I say BIG WINE?! Aromas and flavors come bubbling up out of this wine when you pour it into the glass!

It's dark - and it has dark berries, dark fruit, leather, black peppery spice, vanilla - do you get the idea that it is loaded with dark flavors and aromas! Pour it into a glass - it will look like it is staining the inside of your glass! The wine has some nice wet leave earthiness (probably the Mourvedre). The tannins are there - but, they don't dominate. I'd decant this to open it up quicker! Then, as yoy linger over this - you start to get notes of strawberries, raspberries and minerals - those more subtle flavors that the DARK stuff clobbered earlier! So, LINGER!

Blend of 45% Zinfandel, 28% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre and 9% Petite Sirah (yes, the gentlest of California grapes!). Something like 200 cases made.

Food pairing – steak, lamb, grilled chicken with a spicy rub or marinade, mushrooms. Good friends (don't grill them!).

That's August!

Let me know if you want some - I have a little!

Eric Fullagar

Freeport Cheese & Wine

27 Bow Street

Freeport, ME 04032

(207) 865-3993

efullagar@verizon.net