1992-11 November 1992 Newsletter
November 1992 Newsletter
CELLARMASTER COMMENTS
Wines evaluated last month: 238 Rejected: 201 Approved: 37 Selected: 2
What a month! So much goes on to prepare for the holidays and select wines for the closing months of the year. Keeping in mind the wonderful foods being prepared for our delight, it is a very exciting time of year. Please review the en¬closed flier for the December Wine of the Month Club Winemaker din¬ner. JW's in the Anaheim Marriot is an incredible restaurant, and John McLaughlin has prepared an exquisite menu. This is a Wine of the Month exclusive and this event will fill up fast, so please call early.
The domestic selection this month is another look at a winery that we featured in 1990. This Pinot Noir from Paraiso Springs was so delightful, so Pinot-ish, that it
romanced me into selecting it for this months red wine.
In the world of Bordeaux wine, not to many shippers can stack up to Barton & Guestier. This white Bordeaux was vinted to celebrate the firms beginnings. I am confident you will find the cel¬ebration as tasteful as we did!
Salud! P.K. Jr.
INSIDE
Pinot Noir, 1988. Paraiso Springs Pg. 2
Fondation 1725, 1991. B & G Pg. 3
Christmas Gifts Pg. 4
Tasting Notes & Cellar Notes Pg. 5
Adventures In Eating Pg. 6
Wine & Gift Order Forms Pgs. 7/8
Membership in the Wine of the Month Club is open to anyone with an interest in and an appreciation for superb wines... and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE. For info write: Wine of the Month Club, P.O. Box D, Arcadia, CA 91066 or call (800) 949-WINE / (818) 445-8281 / FAX (818) 445-8361 WOMC is a California Corporation.
PINOT NOIR, 1988. PARAISO SPRINGS
Pea-no N-whahr
Paraiso Hot Springs are situat¬ed in the Santa Lucia foothills, 40 minutes south of Salinas in North¬ern California's Monterey County. While establishing the Soledad Mission, Franciscan padres used the springs' curative waters for healing purposes. The monks also planted early vineyards there. Two hundred years later (1973), current owner Richard Smith planted mod¬ern vineyards, eleven of them, to¬taling 300 acres.
Paraiso Springs Vineyards lie approximately two miles west of the junction of the Arroyo Secco and Salinas Rivers. Smith makes his home high up in the western hills overlooking the fertile Salinas Valley. His home estate vineyard there yields exceptional Pinot Noir fruit, providing the basis for this month's domestic selection.
Smith had been supplying grapes to fine wineries (Jekel, Wente, Mountain View, Glen El¬len and Kendall Jackson, among others) for many years. Yet he har¬bored the desire to showcase the unique qualities that Paraiso Springs fruit has to offer. The ex-cellent 1988 vintage provided him the opportunity to release excep¬tional wines from these grapes, for the first time under their own proud label. He placed Philip Zorn (winemaker for Mountain View) in charge of production. Testimony to their outstanding quality is the
fact that not only his 1988 Pinot Noir, but also his 1988 Pinot Blanc (#1090A) were to become WOMC selections.
Pinot Noir, the classic red grape of France's illustrious Bourgogne ("Burgundy") region, fares best in colder climates. Major success for this grape is reached in the Willa-mette Valley and neighboring areas of Oregon, the Carneros district spanning southern Napa and Son¬oma Counties, and several areas within Montery County. At their best Pinot Noirs exhibit a richness of texture with a degree of delicacy unexcelled in any other red wines.
This example exhibits a brilliant garnet hue, which is deceptively light in intensity, considering what is to follow. The nose is quite typi¬cal of Pinot: wild strawberries, raspberries, and a slight hint of wet clay. The surprise is the body: big, full, round and mouth-filling. Rich and smooth. A dry, clean fin¬ish retains a pleasing hint of fruit. Serve at room temperature with steak, roast beef, roast leg of lamb or eggplant baked with sweet soy sauce and garlic. Or with recipe on page 6!
Cellaring Notes: At its peak now, should pour nicely for two more years at least.
Reviewed by Larry Tepper
#1192A Regular Price: $7.49/ea.
Member Reorder Price: $5.99/ea.
20.03% disc. $71.88/cs.
FONDATION 1725, 1991. BARTON & GUESTIER
Fone-dah-see-yone Bore-doh Bar-tone Ay Geh-tee-yay
The venerable French wine-shipping firm of Barton & Guesti¬er (B&G) was founded by Thomas Barton in 1725, hence the proud name of this selection. Barton, of English/Irish heritage, having tak¬en on a French partner, Daniel Guestier, was notably instrumental in developing the British Isles' seemingly unquenchable thirst for Bordeaux wines. The massive market he helped establish there for these wines, over 250 years ago, is still a phenomenon today.
Not to be outdone, the Guesti¬er family also made their singular contributions. During the Ameri¬can Revolution, Francis Guestier's schooner, La Grande Nancy, ran British blockades to provide fine wine and various other supplies to George Washington's army. Just¬ly enough, Barton & Guestier is the largest exporter of French wines to the United States today.
In the 1950s, a beverage alco¬hol marketing giant, The Seagram Company, Ltd., purchased B&G from the heirs. Seagrams has strived to maintain the high stan¬dards of excellence established by the firm's founders. Michel Fou¬chum has been director of enology for B&G since 1976. In this ca¬pacity he has been responsible for purchasing wines from small growers, blending them and fin¬ishing them up to the standards worthy of this respected label.
The classic white wine vine¬yard in Bordeaux is a mixture of two principal varieties; Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. One will pre¬dominate the other, regionally. In the sweet wine districts (like Sau¬ternes or Barsac), the majority is awarded to Sémillon. In the dry white wine producing areas (like Graves or Bordeaux Blanc), grow¬ers favor Sauvignon Blanc. One or two subsidiary varieties (such as Colombard or Muscadelle) are of¬ten planted, as well.
The 1725 employs a blend of about 50-60% Sauvignon Blanc (for its distinct, often "grassy", flavor, plus acidity), 30-35% Sé¬millon (for its graceful texture and fruitiness) with an admixture of 10-20% Muscadelle (to contribute depth of flavor and aromatic ac¬cents). It has the pale greenish-yellow color of youth with com¬plex, somewhat intense aromas of citrus, apricot, fresh hay, cassis and green plum. Firm and fresh in the mouth, it is medium-bodied with some richness and an ideal balance of fruit and acidity. It fin¬ishes clean, with a dry, citrusy af-tertaste. Serve chilled with herb-roasted chicken or poached fish.
Cellaring Notes: At its best now through 1993.
Reviewed by Larry Tepper
#1192B Regular Price: $7.49/ea.
Member Reorder Price: $5.89/ea.
21.36% disc. $70.68/case
FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIVING
WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB
GIFTS
SEND A WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB GIFT MEMBERSHIP and you're really sending something different. Not only will December selections arrive in time for the Holidays, but exciting selections keep right on coming month after month. And...you have maximum value for the gift dollar, because the recipient is reminded each month of your generous gift by the gift card enclosed with each month's selections and newsletter.
IT'S SO EASY. You order just once, and the Wine of the Month Club will deliver a whole parade of beautiful wines.
YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT THEY'LL ENJOY THE GIFT. These are wines you know and appreciate because you receive them yourself with your own membership.
THE PROVEN-PERFECT PERSONAL AND BUSINESS GIFT. For friends, family, employees, customers and business associates. Wine of the Month Club membership is an investment in good-will—the unique Holiday gift that keeps you in close, friendly contact all-year-'round with people important to you, or your business. It's a family gift—one that goes into the home, where every adult can share and enjoy it.
CONVENIENCE YOU APPRECIATE. You can avoid the unpleasant aspects of shopping—traffic, parking, crowds, waiting in line. Spare yourself those inevitable little annoyances that go with packing gifts for the mail; finding cartons the right size, packing the gifts so they don't break, etc. By sending Wine of the Month Club gifts, you'll make your shopping easier, especially shopping for out of town family and friends.
THE VALUE YOU EXPECT... because you know the contents of each month's gift. And...our gift wrapping is handsome. The shiny burgundy gift box with the silver ribbon makes an impressive package. Each Wine of the Month Club gift is a representation of your thoughtfulness and your creativeness.
SEE THE GIFY BROCHURE IN THIS MONTH'S
PACKAGE. HURRY... TIME TS RUNNING SHORT!
WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB CELLAR NOTES
A report on how previous Wine of the Month Club Selections are faring with age.
Obtained from actual tastings of wines under cellar conditions and/or vintner, importer or wholesaler surveys.
Nov. 1988 R. Fajita Red, '85. McDowell. Fruit gone. Use
W. Beaujolais Blanc, '87. G. Duboeuf. Oxidized. Use.
Nov. 1989 R. Cabernet Sauvignon, '86. River Run. Peaked. Use or keep.
W. Chardonnay, '87. LaRoche. Oxidizing. Use.
Nov. 1990 R. Cabernet Sauvignon, '87. Hawk Crest. Complexing. Keep.
W. Coltibuono, '89. La Badia. Separation of flavors. Use.
Nov. 1991 R. Montepulciano, '89. Zonin. Took on some fizz. Use.
W. Colombard, '90. Carmenet. Developed nicely. Use.
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Adventures in Eating
By Leslie Smith
I am what you would call a "foodie". Don't bother looking it up in Webster's, because it won't be there. I can give you a brief def¬inition of this word coined by food critics, writers, photographers and chefs: "A foodie is a person who considers food not only vital to his body, but to his soul as well. He not only likes to eat food, but talk about it, write about it and read about it. A foodie is serious, pas¬sionate and constantly looking for perfection when it comes to food."
To others, being a foodie may seem odd, but why shouldn't we take this most pleasurable part of life seriously? Too many Ameri¬cans are satisfied eating packaged, processed or frozen food — standing over their kitchen sink! God must have given us food for a better reason than that!
The dilemma is that so many of us are so pressed for time in our busy lives that we just can't take time for food. We suppose if we have to prepare it, it will take too long. Wrong! Sauteing a veal chop is as simple as sprinkling it with salt and pepper, setting it in a saute pan with a little bit of butter and white wine, and letting it brown for a few minutes. Veal chops may be expensive, but they are worth it! Add a steamed, sliced potato, doused with butter and parsley, and a fresh spinach salad tossed with feta cheese, sliced mushrooms, bacon and red onion and, voilà! An exquisite dinner pre¬pared in less than thirty minutes.
This very elegant and delicious recipe makes four servings. Take the time to enjoy life more. Start tonight! Open a bottle of wine, slice two potatoes, put them in a steamer, mix a fresh spinach salad and saute a few veal chops!
Veal Chops with Garlic
Thyme Sauce
4 veal loin chops
2 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic, slivered
4 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup whipping cream
Sprinkle veal chops with salt and pepper. Saute in butter until brown on both sides, slightly un¬derdone and juicy. Remove from pan and keep warm. Deglaze the pan by adding wine and scraping up brown bits. Add thyme and garlic. Return veal chops to pan, cover and let simmer for 3 min¬utes. Add cream to pan and stir un¬til hot. Serve immediately.
For free membership information write or call
Wine of the Month Club®
Discovering superb wines since 1972
P.O. Box D, Arcadia, CA 91066 / (800) 949-WINE / (818) 445-8281 / FAX (818) 445-8361
Order Form
1192A Pinot Noir, '88. Paraiso Spgs.
Rrg. Price $7.49 20.03% disc. $71.88/case
$5.99/each
1192B Fondation 1725, '91. B&G
Reg. Price $7.49 21.36% disc. $70.68/case
$5.89/each
1092A Chardonnay, '90. Maddalena Vnyrds.
Reg. Price $7.79 23.10% disc. $71.88/case
$5.99/each
1092B Côtes du Ventoux, '90. P. Jaboulet
Reg. Price $7.19 20.02% disc. $69.00/case
$5.75/each
992A Cabernet Sauvignon, '86. Sebastiani
Reg Price $12.00 39.3% disc. $87.48/case
$7.29/each
992B Blanc de Blanes, '90. Dm. de Felines
Reg. Price $4.99 28.06% disc. $43.08/case
$3.59/each
MMT Maximum/Minimum Thermometer
Taylor-Tells variance in temp. zones. $19.95/ea.
$2.50 shpng.
SHIPPING CHARGES: 2 bottles $3.00; 6 bottles $6.25; 12 bottles $8.50
Shipping charges slightly higher out or California.
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gifts ● Father's Day gifts ● Forget-me-not gifts
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Selections) a month for 6 months $92*
or every other month for 1 year-specify gift #5B) (12 bottles total).
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