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Gold Medal Club Newsletter: Vol. 15 No. 10 Charles Creek Winery Edition In This Issue YYOUNGOUNG CCHARLESHARLES CCREEKREEK WWINERYINERY EEMERGESMERGES FROM FROM THE THE CCROWDROWD CHARLES CREEK WINERY TO IND REDIBILITY AND UCCESS Page 1 TO FFIND CCREDIBILITY AND SSUCCESS

THIS MONTH’S What do you get when you take a pair when the Brintons purchased a second of transplanted Midwesterners who wind home in Sonoma to be able to spend some Page 2 up living in the middle of the beautiful quality time with their two sons, Charlie Sonoma valley? and Bobby. The house was neatly set in a SPOTLIGHT PROFILES hilly 10-acre parcel shouted “plant me” to Page 3 Potential winery owners, of course— its new owners. as is the case of, Gerry and Bill Brinton, proprietors of the recently reinvigorated “In Sonoma, it soon became apparent WINE WIZARD Page 4 Charles Creek Vineyard. that everything centered around grapes,” Gerry Brinton offered during a recent Charles Creek Vineyard was actually interview. “Wherever you went, socially or FOOD FOR THOUGHT begun sometime in the spring of 1984, Page 6 Continued on page 4

JUDGE-THE-WINES Page 7

REORDERS Page 8

“With Gold Medal Wine Club, The Road to Great Wine Begins at Your Door.” www.goldmedalwine.com In 1984 their new hilly 10-acre parcel shouted “plant me” to Gerry and Bill, the rest is history.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club • 5330 Debbie Road #200 • Santa Barbara • California • 93111 Page 1 Gold Medal Wine Club features two wines each month from only the best small wineries of California. Featured wines include those which have earned medals in the top wine-industry competitions or have been highly rated by a respected national wine publication. On occasion we feature a wine which is of high medal-quality, but due to its very limited availability or by preference of the wine producer, may not be submitted to these venues for review. Each and every selection is a superb wine made in small quantities and with limited distribution. There are over 1,200 wineries in California producing thousands of different wines. Only wines fitting the above criteria are considered in choosing the featured selections each month.

2002 2002

The 2002 Las Patolitas Chardonnay received a 90 Point Stated as the Best Buy in the Market by Connoisseur’s rating from the California Grapevine, “…attractive, forward, Guide to California Wine - “…stands out at the head of the floral, honeyed, ripe pear and tropical fruit aroma with hints of class as one of the best buys when considering the best grapefruit and butterscotch; full body; rich and supple in the buys in Merlot” with a rating of 91 Points they also had mouth…Very highly recommended.” The Wine Enthusiast this to say “…opened nicely during the tasting and Magazine awarded this wine an 88 Point rating writing. “…If impressed with its sweet, concentrated cherry notes, and its you like them rich and oaky, this Chard’s for you. Tropical caramel, cocoa and crème brulee richness in the nose...” fruit, pear and peach flavors… a flashy wine.” This Chardonnay The wine’s depth, richness and elegant finish enabled it to received Best of Class and a Gold Medal – from the judges win a Gold Medal at the San Francisco International during the 2004 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.At wine competition and a Gold Medal at the Los Angeles the 2004 Critic’s Challenge Wine Competition the 2002 Las International competition. It also won a Gold Medal at Patolitas Chardonnay was awarded a Gold Medal. Listeners the 2005 Grand Harvest Awards, where they identify the heard San Francisco’s KCBS Food News wine editor describe the finest examples of wine from each viticultural region. wine “Luscious, full ripe aromas of tropical fruit with a fine Grand Harvest Awards are judged according to the acidity on the palate. The flavors linger, very pleasing with a context of their own viticultural area. Enjoy this soft, lush feel. A really nicely balanced wine.” Taste great merlot with sumptuous rack of lamb and/or your with chicken, fish, vegetables, and salads that have a slightly favorite beef dishes. sweet-based dressing. WINE CREDENTIAL HIGHLIGHTS

2002 VINTAGE: 90-Points — “Highly recommended” 2002 VINTAGE: 91 Points — Connoisseur’s Guide to California Grapevine; Best of Class - Gold Medal — 2004 California Wine; Gold Medal — 2004 San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition; Gold Medal - International Wine Competition; Gold Medal — Los 2004 Critic's Challenge Wine Competition; 88 Points “Wine Angeles International Wine Competition; Gold Medal — Enthusiast Magazine.” 2005 Grand Harvest Awards. LEGACY: Charles Creek produces Chardonnays that are LEGACY: Charles Creek has garnered numerous awards food friendly, fruit driven, and easily paired with the for their meticulous hand-crafted Merlot. simplest of recipes to the most complex entrees. Just the facts: Just the facts:

pH...... 3.35 pH ...... 3.66 Total Acidity ...... 71 g/100mls. Total Acid ...... 62 g/100 mls Alcohol ...... 14.7% Alcohol ...... 14.5% Aged in French & American Oak . . 9 months Aged in French & American Oak . . 18 months Cases Produced ...... 3,461 Cases Produced ...... 4,490 Drink Now or Up to Year...... 2007 Drink Now or Up to Year ...... 2009

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 2 GGOLDOLD MMEDALEDAL SSPOTLIGHTPOTLIGHT

Gerry & Bill Brinton invention of the self-scouring steel plow. produced great wines,” he admitted. It was Bill Brinton’s father who Brinton’s family controlled the giant “So I made it my business to search first peaked his interest in wines even tractor and utilities maker until its out the very best growers and didn’t when Brinton was a relatively young recent transition into a public company. delude myself when I had to pay man. The elder Brinton was a fancier their prices for the best grapes. I have Immediately after he sold his of Bordeaux and Burgundian wines, always been fond of the California startup and highly successful and allowed his children to taste during style for our wines, big, fruit forward nutritional beverage company in the mealtimes. Sometimes, he would wines that can accurately reflect the early 1990s, Bill felt the call into the even quiz the youths about particular character of the areas in which they winery business. With the firm wines so see if they had retained the are grown. Our wines are not too support of his wife of 26 years, earlier information. dry, and can be drunk by themselves or in the company of fine “I really thought it foods. That way, it’s a was neat,” recalled win-win situation.” Brinton, an energetic 59-year-old. “It was great Brinton feels he that we got to taste these turned the corner in old, wonderful wines, and his smallish operation the fact that he wanted when he sold his entire our opinions was even production of the 1997 neater.” vintage, 225 cases, to one customer. Brinton graduated from California Western “When I saw that in San Diego with a one person liked our Political Science degree wines well enough to buy and a few years later the entire lot and not haggle over the price,” he earned a master’s degree Gerry and Bill Brinton, proprietors of the recently in accounting from Columbia. reinvigorated Charles Creek Vineyard. explained, “I realized then that He considered his move to we must be doing something Sonoma a logical progression for Gerry, the two sought to develop right. Even though I wasn’t able to someone who had somewhat of a their own type of winery using the devote much time to the winery at background and passion for the expertise gleaned from years of wine that point, I knew in the back of my wine industry. drinking and association with winery mind that one day we would be back owners and winemakers. into it in a big way.” His own family’s history also happens to be the stuff that press But through it all, Bill Brinton That event occurred some years releases are made from. has held fast to his own idea of style later after Brinton sold his beverage and purpose for the wines of Charles company. He heard about a vintner Bill is directly descended from Creek Vineyard. that was leaving the industry and pioneer inventor John Deere, the wanted someone to take over his person that revolutionized the “I realized early on that the existing contracts with the famous agricultural business with his wineries that used great grapes Continued on page 6

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 3 the greater part of his time. Gerry In the space of four short years, had also secured her Harvard MBA Charles Creek has grown to around and was employed in the accounting 13,000 annual cases; a level the business on a full time basis. While Brintons feel is about perfect for the acceptance level of Charles Creek their sort of operation. Vineyard and its small production was remarkable, the simple fact was “At this level, it is possible to that the Brintons did not have the control our destiny regarding quality time to produce any further wines of our wines,” Gerry Brinton added. WINE and the Charles Creek Vineyard was “Since I am responsible for all temporarily suspended. our distributor contact as well as WIZARD inventory control, I know how Jump ahead to the year 2001 important it is to keep the quality 1) What is botrytis, and Bill Brinton has sold the of the wine at a constant level.” besides a blessing and beverage company and feels a calling a curse for grape growers? to the wine business on a full time And first and foremost, both Gerry and Bill Brinton consider 2) What area was known to the basis. Having spent the better part of themselves as consumers before ninth-century Scandinavians two decades in Sonoma, he has winemakers. They pay particular as Vinland, literally translated close contact with many of the top attention to their wines price/value as “Wine Land?” growers and some of the leading winemakers. relationship, something both parties 3) In wine terms (of course), agree upon fully. They point to what is the difference between Along with Gerry’s help, they countless examples of wineries that a variety and a ? secured a number of long-term have expanded their operations at leases on fruit from both Sonoma the cost of their wines’ Continued from page 1 and Napa and set about making quality and are otherwise, the talk usually centered Charles Creek a force in the area. determined around wine or the wine business.” to insure They hired a well-known It took the Brintons a few years, winemaker Kerry Damskey. With 25 five to be exact, to actually plant a years of experience on small vineyard on their property. By four continents, Kerry Damskey 1995, their grapes produced enough brought both expertise and fruit that the first vintages of perspective to Charles Creek Charles Creek became a reality. The Vineyard. Damskey has spent his first vintages were tiny, 75 of the 1995, career gaining a better understanding 125 of the 1996 and a whopping of the entire ecology of wine, 225 of the bountiful 1997. including the impact of the climate, soil, sun exposure, and temperature All the while, Bill Brinton was on the grape growing and the also developing a natural products winemaking process — a concept the and nutritional beverage firm in San French call terroir. Francisco that wound up occupying Kerry Damskey - Winemaker

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 4 that a similar situation not occur at growers that supply the winery, but there should either change his mind. Charles Creek. with both Gerry and Bill at the controls, the bumps in the road Gerry and Bill Brinton seem to The name Charles Creek is appear slight at best. have it all figured out, but with their derived from their oldest son educational background and busi- Charles’ first name and Bill’s Consumer demand for Charles ness expertise, one could guess that grandfather Charles Deere Wiman. Creek wines has steadily risen and the pair would plan well. the accolades have continued almost It would seem that the future unabated since the winery’s rebirth After all, they consider is particularly bright for the still in 2001. Neither of the Brinton sons themselves consumer first, and fledgling Sonoma Valley operation. seems interested in following their winemakers thereafter. parents into the winery business, but There are still some details to A truly refreshing way to look at the opportunity to do so is always work out with the assorted (13) it, don’t you agree?

ANSWERS TO WINE WIZARD 1) Botrytis is the short, common term for the vine disease known fully as botrytis bunch rot. There are two types, both caused by the same fungus, Botrytis cinerea. Gray rot permeates grapes on the vine, breaking down the skin, and ruining the grape. Any attempt to make wine with these unsightly, bad-smelling grapes will produce extremely unpleasant results. On the flip side is noble rot. This is the result of the fungus attacking ripe, healthy white wine grapes under just the right weather conditions. The fungus leaves the skins intact, but leaves them shriveled and brown. While these grapes also appear unpleasant, they yield the finest, most long-lasting sweet wines in the world, because of chemical changes caused by the fungus. These botrytized wines are extremely valuable because of their quality and because of the unpredictable character of botrytis, which is likely to cause gray rot in all but perfect conditions; so many vintages have little or no botrytized wine in a given region.

2) No one is certain exactly where, but “Wine Land” was somewhere on the Eastern coast of North America. According to Norse sagas, Leif the Lucky, a Norse merchant and son of Erik the Red, who settled Greenland, was blown off course by a storm in the year 985 or 986, and arrived at a previously undiscovered land. He found wheat, timber, game, and wild grapes. The grapes lead him to name the new land Vinland. His brother later attempted to build a settlement, but was ultimately driven off by the natives. Besides the sagas, archaeology has found evidence of Norse settlements in eastern America, and later history texts suggest that wine may have in fact been made from the wild grapes found there. If this is true, then the Norse were making wine in America before Columbus was even born!

3) The answer to this is subtle, and frequently confused by even the most astute of wine connoisseurs. A variety refers to a type of grape vine or the grape that that type produces. Well-known varieties include , Chardonnay, Merlot, and Zinfandel. Of course, you might say, these are the names of familiar , so variety and varietal are one and the same. However, a varietal name only refers to a wine, not to a grape vine, or a grape. Varietal describes the primary variety of grape that composes the wine. Thus, a Chardonnay varietal wine is primarily made from Chardonnay variety grapes. This can be a confusing point to many, but the rule simply boils down to: A varietal is a type of wine; a variety is a grape or vine.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 5 FFOODOOD FFORORTTHOUGHTHOUGHT

Enjoy this Brinton family favorite Proprietors Bill & Gerry Brinton suggests that the 2002 Las Patolitas Chardonnay is best paired with chicken, fish, vegetables, and salads that have a slightly PERFECT BEEF TENDERLOIN sweet-based dressing. 2 – 3 pound of beef tenderloin LAS LITAS CRAB SOUP Worcestershire Sauce Cut tenderloin into sections about 4-5 inches for more even cooking (Don’t make Nothing could be simpler and yet taste so good. the sections to small.) Excellent with crusty French bread and some Marinate the tenderloin thoroughly on all sides with Worcestershire Sauce. Be wonderful Charles Creek Las Patolitas Chardonnay. Generous and turn often. Refrigerate up to 8 hours in the marinade. Remove from fridge 1-2 hours before cooking to bring meat to room temperature. 1 large can of chicken broth Line a baking pan with enough heavy duty tin foil to wrap the meat in after 1 #2 can of creamed corn removing it from the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees for 30 minutes. Put the 2 eggs, beaten tenderloin in the foil lined pan, place it in the oven and immediately turn the 1 green onion chopped temperature down to 350 degrees. Do not cover or wrap the meat in the foil. 6-10 oz. fresh crab meat Roast for 20-40 minutes, depending on doneness desired and size of the tenderloin pieces. When almost done, remove from the oven and seal the meat in the tin foil. Heat the broth to a boil, add the creamed corn and bring The meat will continue to cook slightly and will be easier to slice. back to boil. Add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly. The beauty of this recipe is you can serve the meat any time up to an hour after it They will blend together in the soup and give it a little has been removed from the oven. It is good to let it sit at least 15 minutes wrapped more body. As you stir they feather out in the liquid. in foil, for ease of slicing. The other characteristic of the finished product is that is When the eggs are cooked – just a minute or two, add the should be evenly cooked throughout. crab and heat through. Ladle into bowls and garnish with This is delicious with scalloped potatoes and green beans and, of course, Charles the chopped green onions. Simply delicious. Serves 6. Creek Miradero Merlot.

Continued from page 3 Sangiacomo Vineyard in the at the opportunity and the “Each grape varietal has its own Carneros Region. Brinton jumped resulting juice formed the basis unique personality,” he reflected. for Charles Creek “Various areas turn out different Vineyard’s first varietals and it’s up to us to blend multiple-award- these together to produce the very winning Las best flavors. That’s what it’s all Patolitas about, and the wineries who can do Chardonnay. it best are the ones everyone talks about. They are the wineries that As the ultimately become successful.” winery has grown and prospered, Brinton’s goal for the future Bill Brinton has is simple, that being to make the remained very very best Chardonnay, Cabernet specific regarding Sauvignon and Merlot that he the style and effect can possibly make. He is also of his wines. extremely aware of the cost factor Ms. Moo-lot, the Charles Creek Mascot

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 6 JJUDGEUDGE-T-THEHE-W-WINESINES RRESULTSESULTS In this section we publish the cumulative, on-going tallies of the Judge-the-Wines Scoresheets which are provided in each delivery of wine and mailed back in by Club members. We believe it is fun as well as educational to think about and record the different characteristics of the wines you sample. No matter how acute you think your palate is, the person next to you will probably have a different thought or opinion about a certain characteristic of the wine you are sampling. It can also prove beneficial to record your impressions of the wine for reference at a later date.

Below are the most recent tallies of the Scoresheets returned. Gold Medal Wine Club specializes in featuring small-sized wineries and small-production wines. Depending on availability from the winery, all members may not receive every wine that is listed below. The Scoresheet results which are printed in green indicate the wine selections that as of press time are still available for reorder.

Graziano 2002 Zinfandel Graziano 2002 Tocai Friulano

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 95% 3% 2% RESULTS: 90% 5% 5%

Trentadue 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Trentadue 2004 Chardonnay

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 91% 5% 4% RESULTS: 90% 7% 3%

Ledgewood 2002 Merlot Ledgewood 2002 Chardonnay

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 89% 6% 5% RESULTS: 91% 5% 4%

Van Ruiten 2001 Zinfandel Van Ruiten 2001 Cab-Shiraz

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 88% 6% 6% RESULTS: 92% 5% 3%

The above wines were recently featured. Due to space limitations, the entire list of available wines is not listed. To see our entire inventory and reorder online, go to: www.goldmedalwine.com/member Indicates wine is still available

in such a process, and revels in the fact that his wines are considered excellent values in the minds of the consumer.

“It’s the very best of both worlds,” Brinton concluded. “We are making great wines at good price points that people can really identify with. I’m not sure we could ask for much more.”

Brinton and his Charles Creek Vineyard will be around for many years to come, and that’s extremely good news for his growing legions of followers. cartoonbank.com ©

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 7 TTHEHE GGRAPEVINERAPEVINE Comments from us and Club members IT’S FINALLY HERE!!! Many of you have been asking and waiting for our International Series to begin. We are excited to announce that the first selections of International Series wine will commence shipping in October and will continue until the end of the year (or until the wine is sold out), then it is on to the next country. We chose the palate-pleasing, taste of Italy for our first adventure. This new series includes three wonderful bottles of impossible-to-find wines (2 red, 1 white) not available anywhere in the United States. Your deliveries also include a brand new publication and a few unexpected surprises. The International Series will fill your home with the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy and other superb wine growing regions of the world!

“That’s wonderful – we’re excited!” exclaimed Reed Smith of West Virginia, after being selected as this month’s winner of the Grapevine drawing. As an on-going club member for the last several years, we salute Reed for sending in the score cards. Reed, your BONUS case of Graziano Tocai is on its way. Salute!

[The Trentadue 2003 Cabernet “This [Graziano 2002] Zinfandel was “Opened this [Graziano 2002 Tocai Sauvignon is] “A Nice Cabernet a pleasant surprise! Fully bodied, but Friulano] to serve with a white fish Sauvignon; a glass on the deck at the the long lingering aftertaste was the dinner and was extremely pleased. end of the day stood well on its own.” smoothest I’ve tasted in a long while. This is one of your best whites.” —Paul Smithson, Score 49 Thanks for this month’s choice.” —Warren Vann, Score 52 —Rita Urbanski, Score 54

Maximum score is 55. Members who send in their wine ratings on the provided Scoresheets are eligible to receive a bonus half-case of any Gold Medal Series wine that is in stock if your name is drawn. Drawings are held each month. (Maximum of one Scoresheet per wine per membership)…GMWC

REORDER Charles Creek Vineyards has quickly developed a reputation for creating crowd-pleasing wines at prices well below what the market can bear. Both the 2002 Chardonnay and the 2002 Miradero Merlot are beyond terrific values, they are steals at the re-order prices listed below.

Retail Price Club Price Club Price CHARLES CREEK WINERY Winery-Direct 2-Bottle Members 4-Bottle Members

2002 Merlot * Half Case-6 $144 $95 (34% Off ) $85 (41% Off ) Napa/Sonoma Valley Full Case-12 $288 $175 (39% Off ) $159 (45% Off )

2002 Chardonnay* Half Case-6 $120 $82 (32% Off ) $75 (38% Off ) Carneros Full Case-12 $240 $149 (38% Off ) $135 (44% Off ) Reorder Hotline: 1-800-266-8888 Reorder Faxline: 1-800-266-8889 www.goldmedalwine.com/member *Availability is Very limited Note: Shipping and tax (if applicable) not included in the above prices. Call for details.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club • 5330 Debbie Road #200 • Santa Barbara • California • 93111 Page 8