What Is It About the Grape? Last Month I

OCTOBER 2020

318 WINES EVALUATED | 259 WINES REJECTED | 59 APPROVED

What is it about the Grape? Last month I left off with the anticipation two projects, but I’m not going to right now, because from a market and of the 2020 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon manufacturing standpoint, that conversation would be exhaustive. Instead, harvested from my brother-in-law’s very I want to talk about the social and emotional value that each “brother-in- own vines. This process is complete and law” is experiencing, and that is the deep-rooted ethereal values wine we are waiting for a little bit of bottle age brings to the table. before we indulge in tasting. If you listen to my podcast, Wine Talks with Paul K, you will hear the Across the San Fernando Valley is another handful of times I have asked this question: “What is it about grapes that wine story fermenting (see what I did creates this beverage that is so deeply revered that we seek to make it, there). My other brother-in-law is working share it and discuss it?” We don’t do this with pineapples or apricots… on his vineyard of 60 vines or so and is only the grapes. And this reverence has transcended thousands of years preparing to pick his second vintage. We and hundreds of generations. So when my brother-in-law announced he could get into the particulars about these wanted to make wine from the 7 vines he owns, I was excited to see the

MEMBERSHIP IN THE WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB IS OPEN TO ANYONE WITH contd >> AN INTEREST IN & APPRECIATION FOR SUPERB WINES... @WineoftheMonthClub @WineoftheMonth & EXCELLENT WINE VALUES. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE. result. And when his brother-in-law was so taken by the process that the first thing he did upon receiving his first bottle of the 2019 was to rush it here for me to taste…it only corroborated my suspicions of this sublime beverage; that it is rooted in our DNA.

More next month.

Salud... be safe... stay well. Paul Kalemkiarian The first taste of homemade Cabernet Sauvignon...passion in a bottle! Owner/Cellarmaster

THE PURE WINE CLUB SERIES TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

FLASHBACK Imported Selection for January 1974 A LOOK BACK AT SOME STELLAR Parducci Petite Sirah 1969 SELECTIONS WITH ED MASCIANA This was one of the first Petite Sirah wines to be made in California and we were excited to feature it by our great friend, John Parducci. He was already making a name for himself as a Mendocino pioneer and this selection was one of his best.

Château la Mouline 1970 (Saint Julien) Featuring a great Bordeaux from a great vintage would be utterly impossible today. But back then it was. This was a spectacular offering and for those who took advantage of the pricing and ordered extras, they were amply rewarded, as the wine just kept increasing in value. WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Pure value. ” – PK

EVENING e SCO lu RE a * SHADE v 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 97 California 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ cab • er • nay • saw • vee • nyon ”

Since graduating from the Enology program at Fresno State in 2005, COLOR winemaker, Steven DeCosta, has worked at some of the top wineries in Medium Magenta California including Paul Hobbs and the parent company of Benziger and Concannon. He was hired as lead winemaker at O’Neill Vintners, makers of Evening Shade, and in less than three years became Director NOSE of Winemaking. That’s quite a statement considering O’Neill is one of the Blackberry, Earth 30 largest wineries in California. PALATE While the lure of making small lots of wine entices many winemakers, as Hint of Leather does the challenge of achieving consistency when crafting thousands of cases, Steven gets to do both. O’Neill’s vast resources give him a cornucopia FINISH of grapes from all over California to pick and chooses as he likes and blend Snappy Tannins in various styles and quantities. In other words, a winemaker’s dream.

He wasn’t dreaming when he crafted this beauty, combining grapes grown PAIRING in the warm areas of Madera and Paso Robles for power and substance, Red Meat, Game and those in the cool parts of Lodi for grace and elegance. The judicious oak treatment seals the deal–flavors that delight amd impress! CELLAR Now thru 2026 Here is classic Cabernet Sauvignon with the boldness we expect, yet the charm and finesse that makes us smile. Its journey with a pan-fried flat iron steak, finished with a red wine reduction and served with roasted fingerling rosemary and garlic potatoes, would be just the ID: C1020R1DC ticket to a symphony of flavors that beckons until the last drop is enjoyed. Reorder Price: $9.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

Why go elsewhere? Love WOMC Quality, selection, fair pricing, and service I won’t pretend that I’m a great wine expert - that is consistently above and beyond our I’m just a guy who loves wine and food with expectations makes buying from them a friends. The WOMC wines are consistently no-brainer. – Mark and Bonnie good and to my taste. And always carefully packed and properly stored - which I can’t say about some other wine retailers. I was very excited to try my Always excellent service. A great part of my life new wines! I was very excited to try my new Italian in these times. wines I ordered and the shipment was And now, for one of the ‘mystery case’ of helpful when you gave me the tracking # Italians... – Steve so I could be home at time of delivery. The best club for me is one where I can order this club always satisfies as needed, and find great new wines at a this club always satisfies. I used to reasonable price! – Rodney research all my wine choices, but I no longer worry about it. – William The ordering was seamless and the... The ordering was seemless and the pickup This site is very easy to use and... protocols are perfect. Looking forward to This site is very easy to use and wonder- trying my White ports. – Michael ful wine! – Brenda

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Classic in all ways. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * MESSENGER v 2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC 97 Lake County, California 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ saw • vee • nyon • blahnk ”

This is one of those instances where we love the story almost as much as COLOR the wine. Messenger is the work of Art+Farm, founded by Rob and Kat Very Pale McDonald. It started in Australia some 22 years ago when Kat took a job at a brewery after graduating from the UC system in California. She met Rob and that’s the end, or rather the beginning, of the story. NOSE Fresh Herbs Though she went there to work in a brewery, their shared passion of wine took over and soon she moved back to the US with Rob. They decided to PALATE import the wines they loved in Australia and in so doing created a dynamic Lovely, Guava importing company. Apparently, the wines they loved from there were also wines everybody else loved as well. FINISH Bi-coastal must be tough enough, but bi-hemisphere? Well, that’s what Nuanced Citrus they did. Buying property and planting vineyards in Australia and California while raising kids and heritage chickens sounds like the stuff superheroes PAIRING are made of, but superhero wine? Got that too! Shellfish

This beauty came from Lake County, one of the best kept secrets in California CELLAR wine. It is squeezed between Mendocino and Napa, and has the best of Now thru 2021 both, but doesn’t get the recognition. That’s fine with us as the prices reflect that and if this beauty carried a Napa appellation, it would cost a lot more.

Here is all the spice, fresh herbs, white stone fruit and more that comes with the territory and begs for cracked crab with garlic aioli or ID: C1020W1DC shrimp tacos with cilantro. Reorder Price: $8.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

MOVE RECENTLY? CREDIT CARD LOST OR STOLEN? To ensure uninterrupted delivery of your hand selected wine, please update your credit card information and/or shipping information online: www.womclub.com/update or call us at 1-800-949-9463 to update

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Simple but expressive. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * WILD HARE v 2016 PINOT NOIR 96 Sonoma, California 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ pee • noh • nwahr ”

Twenty years ago, we could have never offered a wine like this at this price COLOR even at the prices then. There was also a thought afoot that, although Bright Crimson completely baseless, a winery the size of Bronco could never make a wine this good. As with all myths, these to have to be dismissed as well. NOSE Spice, Spice, Toast First of all, there is now ten times more Pinot Noir planted in California than there was 20 years ago. Even a sexy business like wine can’t elude PALATE the laws of supply and demand. Back then a finicky grape like Pinot Noir Lengthy, Peppery had its way with vineyardists and winemakers, as it presented obstacles at every step in the grape growing and winemaking process. However, the FINISH last 20 years might as well be considered a century when it comes to wine. Lingering Cherry It’s due mainly to companies like Bronco whose resources dwarf most of the wineries in California. Also, they have learned to tame the beast called PAIRING Pinot Noir and turn it into the wine that everyone loves, yet at a price that Seafood, Fowl, Game destroys the competition. CELLAR Bronco has also been at the forefront of dealing with this grape when it Now thru 2022 comes to growing in areas that were considered unsuitable–areas that cost one-tenth the price of vineyards in Sonoma. That impacted the price, but not the quality produced. Here is an amazing selection loaded with redolent floral, spice, cherry and vanilla, to carry the mantle across ID: C1020R2DC anything from a classic cassoulet to chicken with 40 cloves Reorder Price: $9.99 (only 40?) of garlic.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Love the idea! ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * HAPPY HOUR v 2019 CHARDONNAY 95 Monterey, California 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ shar • doh • nay ”

Happy Hour presents the best of all worlds. It is owned by Kristin Jolley, a COLOR business and logistics professional with, obviously, a large wine interest. Pale Gold She spent years in grocery and food market enterprises before branching out to become CEO of a woman-owned small business. NOSE The beauty of what Kristin is doing is that she understands business. Most Apple, Vanilla small wineries don’t. They’re seduced by the jocularity and comradery of the wine business until the harsh realities set in and by then it’s too PALATE late. Kristin was smart enough to partner up with Arroyo Seco Vintners, a Textured Tropical powerhouse custom-wine facility in Monterey that grows grapes, houses several small wineries, and provides the needed expertise and equipment to make great wine. That’s why we find her operation refreshing. It makes FINISH our job easier and much more enjoyable. Lovely Citrus

There is talk all over the world of how wine needs the “woman’s touch.” PAIRING If this Happy Hour is the result, we’re all in. This offering balances a light Seafood, Shellfish touch with a sensual aire that works at all levels. The grapes come mostly from the cool climate of Monterey. They are fermented and then put in CELLAR oak barrels for only four months. This adds just enough complexity to the Now thru 2022 wine, but doesn’t hide the lovely undercurrent of flavors.

Green apple, lemon peel and honey are just part of the complex mix of flavors and expressions which make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Matching with a shrimp and scallop pasta or French ID: C1020W2DC onion soup would be a delight. Reorder Price: $8.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Exclusive in the US. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * FORTANT v 2017 MERLOT 98 Languedoc, France 11 to 14 % Alcohol by Volume

“mer • loh ”

Fortant comes from the Skalli empire founded in Algeria 100 years ago. Its COLOR maker, Robert Skalli, emigrated to Southern France because the climate was Very Deep Purple similar to Algeria and the country was friendlier. As the Languedoc became the family settling ground, every generation of Skalli expanded their reach into other countries, including California where they own one of Napa’s NOSE finest wineries, St. Supéry. Plum, Lilac

Fortant translates to “grand terroir” and the Skalli family is a crucial part of this making. In 1974, the Languedoc was thought of as anything but PALATE Gripping Berry “grand” but Robert Skalli, grandson of the founder, was bent on changing that. Along the way he enlisted other growers to upgrade their vineyards and winemaking. They showed a united front and succeeded incredibly well. FINISH Medium Tannins In 2011, the Skalli empire merged with another wine empire and the largest landholder in Burgundy, the Boisset family. Their combined reach PAIRING and resources have allowed them to quickly expand, while also setting Red Meat, Fowl, Game the standard for quality in the Languedoc that other producers needed to follow. Naturally, prices went up, but they were already so low that most didn’t mind, as the wines were so much better that they were still CELLAR considered a bargain. Now thru 2023

Our Merlot certainly fits that bill. Grown on rugged mountain slopes with as much rocks as soil, the vines struggled to find water, but in so doing, created a stronger branch system to send nutrients to the grapes. All this accounts for the plum and cranberry flavors to match ID: V1020R1IF nicely with turkey carnitas or pork loin in a mustard sauce. Reorder Price: $13.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Maule Chardonnay...goodin’ ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * ENDROIT v 2017 CHARDONNAY 97 Maule Valley, Chile 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ shar • doh • nay ”

Endroit is an established winery in the Valle del Loncomilla district of COLOR Chile’s Maule Valley. They formed an alliance with wine titan, Bronco Wine Very Pale Company, assuring their distribution worldwide, as well as having a well- established partner to consult on vineyard management and winemaking. NOSE Chile is 2,700 miles long, about the same distance from the east coast to Green Apple west coast of the United States, but only 50 miles wide. It is a land of many different climates and soils, from volcanoes, glaciers, and deserts to oceans. PALATE This gives the Chileans ample climates in which to grow grapes. Lovely Lime Zest

The Spanish took over Chile centuries ago and there are now around 13 million residents in this country, both of Spanish and native American FINISH Lip-smacking descent. Many of those Spanish immigrants brought grape vines with them. The rest is history. PAIRING Fortunately, Chile is very mountainous, and all the wine areas average Fish, Fowl, Vegetarian 3,000 feet above sea level because the country’s proximity to the equator makes ground zero too hot to grow grapes successfully. The higher elevation CELLAR not only provides a cool climate, but ample water from the runoff of the Now thru 2021 Andes, which is snow-packed all year round.

Our selection has just a kiss of oak to provide a vanilla nuance, but it is primarily a fruit and character driven offering. The guava and peach tones would be perfect with smoked ham, an oyster ID: V1020W1IC stew or goat cheese filled jalapeños. Reorder Price: $12.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Excellent value. ” – PK

GAME OF e SCO lu RE a * THRONES v 2017 RED BLEND 98 Central Coast, California 14.5 % Alcohol by Volume

So, what’s next after one of the largest cable channels in the world COLOR ends one of the most successful television series in history? Of course, Very Opaque name a wine after it! But, HBO didn’t get where it is today by doing things haphazardly. When they decide to make a wine, it’s with the same precision and detail that goes into their Emmy Award winning NOSE Black Plum television shows.

In this case it’s partnering with grape grower and winemaker Bob Cabral, PALATE a 30-year wine veteran who literally grew up in the vineyard. Cabral Cherry, Spice has had his wines ranked as high as any, culminating in being honored by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as Winemaker of the Year in 2011. FINISH Lush Tannins For his first offering, Cabral chose the cool climate of the Central Coast where he had a plethora of great vineyards to choose from, PAIRING as well as many varietals to consider. For our selection, he chose a Red Meat, Game blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Petite Sirah and 12% Tempranillo. The beauty of this blend is that you can actually taste CELLAR what each varietal adds to the whole. Obviously, Cabernet’s sweeping Now thru 2023 presence dominates the senses, but then comes the soothing qualities of the Merlot, the tingle of Petite Sirah and finally the lushness of Tempranillo. The brooding color signals the large black fruit in the nose, followed by cinnamon spice, licorice and leather. This united amalgam would generously adorn pork ribs ID: V1020R2DC rubbed with chiles, grilled wild turkey or any other feast Reorder Price: $13.99 fit for a king.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ The plain of God. ” – PK

OGIER e SCO lu RE a * PLAN DE DIEU v 2017 CÔTES DU RHÔNE 97 FRANCE 15 % Alcohol by Volume

“ coat • do • roan ”

Nothing like using a little deity reference to get people to take notice. COLOR In this case, Ogier chose an area in the Côtes du Rhône called Plan Very Opaque de Dieu. It means God’s plain and refers to a part of the region in the Middle Ages that was so bandit infested that all you could do is NOSE commit your soul to God. Black Fruit, Spice

If the quality that comes off this plain is all that is needed to qualify for its moniker, then it certainly has earned it. Although it PALATE Intense Berry is labeled Côtes du Rhône, it would fool almost any experienced taster into thinking it comes from the finest appellation in the land, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is literally the densest, richest, and most FINISH Imposing Tannins astounding Côtes du Rhône we’ve ever tasted. Part of that is the 2017 vintage which is being hailed as one of the greatest in history. We’re very skeptical about those statements because we’ve heard them PAIRING Red Meat, Game so many times before. But, in this case it’s really hard to argue. It’s that good. CELLAR The winery was founded by Etienne Ogier in 1859. He later expanded Now thru 2025 to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and became one of the Rhône’s largest wineries. Our selection is largely Grenache with splashes of Syrah and Mourvedre. It is packed with dense cassis and cranberry, a full spice cabinet and structure to power through grilled ID: L1020R1IF lamb loin with mint pesto or venison with dried cherries. Reorder Price: $17.49

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Real Beaujolais to taste. ” – PK

CHÂTEAU DE e SCO lu RE a * SAINT-AMOUR v 2017 BEAUJOLAIS 96 AOC Saint-Amour, France 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ boh • jhoe • lay ”

If you haven’t explored Beaujolais now is the time! Beaujolais is a complex and exciting world made up of ten crus: Saint-Amour, Juliénas, Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, COLOR Ruby-Garnet Red Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Côte de Brouilly and Brouilly. While the top wines can cost upwards of $70, it is common to find that the best of Beaujolais will blow your mind for less than half that price. Beaujolais is often associated with NOSE Beaujolais Nouveau that appears on shelves on the third Thursday of November Red Fruit, Cherry, and are best consumed early. There is certainly nothing wrong with Beaujolais Bubble Gum Nouveau, but for many wine lovers knowledge of Beaujolais ends there. PALATE If there’s one name in Beaujolais that everyone’s heard, it’s that of Georges Red Fruit, Cherry Duboeuf, le Roi du Beaujolais, the king of Beaujolais. Georges created Les Vins Georges Duboef in 1967. He revolutionized winemaking in his day by rediscovering traditional methods with great respect for the winemaker, rigorous selection and FINISH the pursuit of the purest expression of any given varietal. Sadly, Georges Duboeuf Full and Pleasing passed away at the beginning of this year. Join the many lovers of Beaujolais in Tannins opening this bottle in memory of a legendary figure in French wine. PAIRING This Beaujolais comes from Château Saint-Amour, the smallest, northern most Rich Foods, Fowl, cru in Beaujolais. The vineyards of the Sidaurin Estate, a longtime partner with Lamb, Brie, Raclette, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf, include 49.4 acres where most of the vineyards are more Roasted Squash than 20 years old. The grapes are harvested manually in whole bunches. Semi- carbonic maceration and malolactic fermentation takes place in temperature- controlled stainless-steel vats. CELLAR Now thru 2025 The color of this wine is a deep ruby-garnet red with complex aromas of ripe red fruit where especially cherry is dominant. It is rich and full-bodied with silky and generous tannins. The fruits follow through to the ID: L1020R2IF palate and play out to a very pleasing finish. This wine is a great Reorder Price: $17.49 match for lamb moussaka and many Indian dishes that feature lamb.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Domestic Gruner!!! ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * ZOCKER v 2016 GRÜNER VELTLINER 98 Edna Valley, Central Coast California 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ GREW • ner • VELT • lee • ner ”

Zocker is an American winery on the Central Coast of California run by the COLOR Niven family. Jack Niven arrived in San Luis Obispo in the early 1970s. At that Pale Straw Green Hues time, the Edna Valley was primarily the site of dairy and bean farms, but Jack Niven saw the valley’s potential as a wine-producing region. With this vision Paragon Vineyard was started in 1973. The Niven family has owned and NOSE farmed this vineyard for more than 40 years. Jack helped to establish Edna Bright, Green Apple Valley as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1982. PALATE In 1999, Paragon Vineyard was upgraded with a state-of-the-art fruit delivery Anjou Pear, system, a variety of presses and tanks, and four individually climate-controlled Herbs, Minerality, barrel rooms. Paragon Vineyard is at the cutting edge of both technology and Green Melon, Citrus sustainability, earning SIP certification in 2008. FINISH Zocker Wines focus exclusively on white wines like this Grüner Veltliner and Energetic Acids, also Riesling. Grüner Veltliner is an iconic varietal of Austria from where Well-Structured, Clean nearly 75% of all production comes. Zocker means “gambler” in German, both a tribute to the grapes’ Austrian heritage and a statement about the Niven PAIRING Family’s risk taking. The gamble of growing Grüner along the Central Coast of Scallops, Green Herbs, California, with such differing climate and soils from Austria, was a great risk. Southeast Asian Cuisine

The gamble certainly paid off, as this 2016 sets the standard for American CELLAR Grüner. It is bright, energetic, and displays a wonderful acid structure that is Enjoy Now characteristic of the varietal. The nose is bright and full of green apple. Anjou pear, marked minerality, green herbs, citrus, and melon are all in harmony in this medium-bodied wine. Pair this Grüner with some spicier ID: L1020W3DC food–think southeast Asian dishes such as milder Thai curries Reorder Price: $15.49 and Vietnamese noodle salads.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Wow…Corsican Rosé. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * THE CORSICAN v 2019 ROSÉ 98 Corsica, France 12 % Alcohol by Volume

“ roe • SAY ”

While Corsica may be best known for supplying “retirement” for Napoleon COLOR Bonaparte, there is much more to know about this enticingly beautiful Light Blush island. Though off the coast of Italy, it is actually part of France. Of course, like most of Europe, most places were part of another place originally. This NOSE is what happened with Corsica, as it swapped ownership between Italy and Peach, Melon France until it appears to be French for good. This is hard to tell as it’s closer to Italy, has a climate and topography more like Italy, and most of the grapes PALATE grown here are mainly Italian. In this case the grape is called Sciacarello, but Full, Rich is more commonly known as Mamolo, a principle grape in Chianti. FINISH The entire Corsica island averages almost 2,000 feet above sea level and Lovely Nectarine boasts more sunny days than any appellation in France. For this reason, its wines tend to be bigger, bolder and higher in alcohol content, and were PAIRING used mainly to “strengthen” wines in weak vintages. That all changed in the Fish, Fowl 1980s when the bolder wines were no longer needed and they then had to make better, different wines on their own. Rosé was the wine that got CELLAR everybody’s attention and has been their most exalted export to date. So, Now thru 2022 when it comes to Rosé, it wasn’t Corsica catching up to the world. It was the world catching up to Corsica.

Our beautiful selection was made by one of the coops that ID: R1020R1IF produce outstanding Rosé. Its succulent peach and mango Reorder Price: $15.00 flavors are perfect with an onion tart prosciutto and melon.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Clean and flavorful. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * PUECH-HAUT v 2019 ROSÉ 97 Languedoc, France 14.10 % Alcohol by Volume

“ roe • SAY ”

Puech-Haut rests on the shores of the Mediterranean in the Languedoc COLOR region of France. Its 625 acres is made up mostly of Rhône varietals, as is Pale Rose our selection of 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault.

In 2019, the very warm climate ripened the grapes very rapidly, making NOSE it necessary for the winery to pick the grapes beginning at 2:00 am. This Cherry Blossom assured that both the grapes and the pickers would get to the winery safely. PALATE Rosé has always been a staple in the Languedoc, but in the last 10 years or Lovely Spice so, it has exploded all over the world. As a result, Languedoc’s production of Rosé has more than doubled with demand going up by leaps and bounds. FINISH Citrus Edge One of the things that drew us to Puech-Haut, other than its quality, is the fact that it is imported by Michael Mondavi. The Mondavi name is one of the most respected and influential names in wine, not just in California, PAIRING but all over the world. When Michael’s father, Robert, founded his iconic Fish, Fowl winery in Napa in 1965, it quickly became the standard by which all other wineries would be held to. Through the decades, partnerships with premium CELLAR producers all over the world has always made the Mondavi name a symbol Now thru 2021 of quality.

Our selection certainly qualifies to be in that arena. The raspberry and cherry flavors blend seamlessly with the spice and mineral, offering an expansive set of flavors and textures to match ID: R1020R2IF Chinese chicken salad, seared ahi or crab enchiladas. Reorder Price: $15.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Wow…value. ” – PK CHÂTEAU DE e SCO lu RE a * PARENCHÈRE v 2016 BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR 98 Bordeaux, France 14.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ bore • DOH • soo • PARE • ee • ER ”

Château Parenchère was founded in 1570 by Pierre de Parenchières on COLOR the banks of the Dordogne River. For centuries it was a good producer of Soft Magenta affordable Bordeaux wines. In 1958, it was renovated by Raphaël Gazaniol and is now run by his son, Jean, and granddaughter, Julia. NOSE Parenchère consists of 373 acres of land, of which 156 acres are vineyards. Amalgam of All but 10 acres are devoted to the red varieties consisting of 50% Merlot, Black Fruits 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. PALATE Though the plots are contiguous, the château separates them into Layers of Berries 32 different lots and vinifies them each separately. Bordeaux famous line, “the soil changes with every step,” is the rule they all live by. The vines may be the same, but what comes off of them depends on where they are FINISH Plum & Plump planted. Even in the same vineyard, the result can be different. This allows winemakers to add or subtract different lots to attain the flavors they are looking for. Each wine is the expression of the individual winemaker. PAIRING If you gave the same lots of wine to 10 winemakers, you would get Red Meat, Game, Fowl 10 different wines. CELLAR This expression of winemaker, Richard Curty, certainly works for us. Now thru 2025 Richard’s vast experience in making wines shows in all of his offerings. They are plainly Bordeaux, yet each display its particular qualities. Here we get textured, black cherry mixed with blueberry and hints of leather and vanilla. It’s light enough to go with quail stuffed ID: B1020R1IF with wild rice; yet bold enough to match a venison loin with Reorder Price: $22.00 dried cranberries.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Soft but full. ” – PK CHÂTEAU e SCO lu RE a * TENEIN v 2015 BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR 96 Bordeaux, France 13 % Alcohol by Volume

“ bore • DOH • soo • PARE • ee • ER ”

Bernard Grelaud is the third generation of the Grelaud family who are COLOR the proprietors of Château Tenein. The château is on the Right Bank of Very Deep Magenta Bordeaux just East of St. Émilion and shares many of the same properties of its famous neighbor. It is a relatively small property by Bordeaux standards, at just 37 acres consisting of 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and NOSE Violets, Cassis, Spice 20% Cabernet Franc. Tenein earned its organic certification in 2013.

Winemaking here hasn’t changed much in the last 200 years. The grapes are PALATE Side to Side, picked by hand and fermented in a very cool cellar for 20-25 days. This is a Front and Back particularly long fermentation and extracts more color and flavors from the skins than shorter times. After fermentation the finished wine is placed in oak barrels for 12 to 15 months depending on the vintage and then allowed FINISH Forceful, but Supple to rest another year or two in the bottle before being released.

Our selection comes from the amazing 2015 vintage. While Bordeaux boasts PAIRING three or four “vintage of the century” every 10 years or so, this one has all Red Meat, Game the credentials attesting to this. It is the purest expression of Bordeaux we’ve tasted in some time. CELLAR Now thru 2025 Pervasive black fruits wallop the palate and deposit flecks of plum, anise, spice and earth along the way, finishing with a long-expression grace. Every nuance is expressed from beginning to end and begs an ID: B1020R2IF enticing array of flavors to match, from an Asian-inspired flank Reorder Price: $22.00 steak to a rack of lamb with serrano mint pesto.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Crisp and clean. ” – PK CHÂTEAU e SCO lu RE a * HAUT GRAVELIER v 2018 BORDEAUX BLANC 97 Bordeaux, France 12.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ bore • DOH BLONK ”

Château Haut Gravelier has been in the Tarride family for four generations. COLOR The château rests on the hillsides of Entres-Deux-Mers which straddles Very Pale between the left and right banks of Bordeaux. As it is with every property here, Gravelier makes both red and white wines. Of its 70 acres, there are only four planted with Sauvignon Blanc. NOSE Peach, Lime Zest

Though 75% of the wine made in Bordeaux is red, the whites have a special place in the hearts of wine lovers. Most of the whites are made from Ugni PALATE Blanc, also known as Trebbiano in Italy. It is easy to grow and makes an Full Frontal Grip acceptable quaffing wine. However, those who are serious about their white wine offering use Sauvignon Blanc, which makes up our selection. FINISH Lasting, Snappy When grown on the rocky hillsides there, it attains heights that few other appellations can match. While many producers blend in varying PAIRING amounts of Sémillon to soften Sauvignon Blanc’s edge, we love the ones Shellfish, Vegetarian that are 100%. Their bold flavors and piercing acidity make a wine that loves challenging food. CELLAR Now thru 2022 It also helps that the wine doesn’t have any oak, which would tone down its aggressive nature and add a vanilla flavor component that, quite frankly, we feel is unnecessary. Instead we are presented with the pure essence of Sauvignon Blanc, boasting white nectarine, grapefruit and ID: B1020W1IF hints of the gravel in which the grapes were grown. It begs for Reorder Price: $17.00 raw oysters, Hamachi sashimi or shrimp cocktail.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Napa all the way! ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * CONJECTURE v 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 98 Napa, California 14.2 % Alcohol by Volume

“ cab • er • nay • saw • vee • nyon ”

Conjecture is yet another incredible selection from Art+Farm’s husband and COLOR wife team, Kat and Rob McDonald. They met and married in Australia where Medium Magenta Kat was visiting and Rob was born. They shared a love of wine, agriculture, food and art. Sounds like a good start to us! NOSE Kat was working in the brewing industry, but it didn’t take long for her Black Cherry to switch over to wine, Rob’s passion. Together they founded an export company in Australia to find and export many of the small, craftsman wines PALATE there. When an opportunity came up to buy a vineyard in Napa, they had Rich Cassis a tough choice to make–give up their Australian company or pass up an exceptional opportunity. They decided to do neither–they continued to export Australian wines and also purchased the vineyard! FINISH Firm Tannins There are many things that are amazing about these two, from the two- hemisphere business to raising kids, chickens, heirloom tomatoes and other PAIRING organic produce. The wines they produce run the gamut in pricing from Red Meat, Game low to high, but the incredibly high quality of all their products is what separates them from everybody else. CELLAR Now thru 2025 Our selection is a perfect example. Here is mastery in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon which few can match. They ferment the grapes at very cold temperatures so that maximum extraction and flavor is attained. Those flavors are magnified in the finished wine, featuring ripe cherry, cassis and blackberry, followed by spice and vanilla. This rich experience ID: N1020R1DC could be further enhanced by pairing with lamb sausages or Reorder Price: $24.00 beef tenderloin with a Cognac and mushroom sauce.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ A favorite…just can’t stay away! ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * THE DUDE v 2018 RED BLEND 97 Napa Valley, California 14.8 % Alcohol by Volume

Good friends and extremely talented negotiants, Mark Canepa and COLOR Neil Koch, each have over 28 years of experience in the wine business. Very Deep Purple They’ve been friends for half of that time and shared a passion for great wines from the Napa Valley. NOSE They also shared an ideal that is most important and that is “affordable” Violets, Blackberry wines. That’s not as easy as it sounds, especially in Napa Valley, and even more difficult, especially when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon based PALATE wine. The grapes and excess wine in barrels are the most expensive in Concentrated Berry California. But, these guys know their way around Napa and when it comes to finding great grapes for less than the norm, they know where to look. It’s also important that they don’t make a lot of wine, so it’s easier FINISH to find small lots of exceptional wine to purchase to blend with what they Medium Tannins have and make a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. PAIRING This is the third vintage we’ve featured and may be the best one yet. Red Meat, Game The grapes came primarily from Calistoga in Northern Napa, known for big, expansive wines, and Rutherford, probably the most respected appellation in Napa. CELLAR Now thru 2025 Our selection is a masterful blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 2% Malbec. With 15 months in French oak, 60% new, it literally screams Napa Valley. The blackberry, cranberry and vanilla components are beautifully integrated to synchronize with beef bourguignon or a wild boar ID: N1020R2DC pappradelle with shitake mushrooms. Reorder Price: $25.00

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Napa pedigree. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * PEJU v 2019 SAUVIGNON BLANC 98 Napa Valley, California 13.8 % Alcohol by Volume

“ saw • vee • nyon • blahnk ”

When Tony and Herta Peju purchased 30 acres of land in Napa’s Rutherford COLOR district nearly 40 years ago, they knew they had something special. Tony Very Pale grew up in Eastern Europe and had travelled extensively with his family. Herta was born in Austria, but grew up in Venezuela. They met and married in Los Angeles and founded a commercial nursery. NOSE Peach, Nectarine Grapes weren’t part of the plan, but it became an interest and then a passion. Tony enrolled in the enology program at UC Davis and upon completion PALATE traversed California until he came to Napa. That was the end of that journey Layered Fruit and the beginning of another.

They slowly and laboriously planted grapes and began to sell them to local FINISH wineries. It wasn’t until nearly 10 years later that they decided to build their Snappy Citrus own winery and Peju Winery was born. PAIRING The winery is run by Tony and Herta along with their two daughters, Lisa Shellfish, Seafood and Ariana, completing a family project that took as much patience as it did skill. Peju was already well-known, as the grapes were sold to wineries CELLAR that kept getting awards and high praise. It was just a matter of time before Now thru 2023 those accolades would come to them.

This Sauvignon Blanc has received very high ratings from the press and is considered one of the top wines in Napa. The complex amalgam of white peach, guava and melon is juxtaposed against a tart ID: N1020W1DC citrus backdrop to launch into oysters on the half shell or Reorder Price: $23.50 shrimp cocktail.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Favorite region... ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * ROUTESTOCK v 2017 PINOT NOIR 97 Sonoma, California 13.7 % Alcohol by Volume

“ pee • noh • nwahr ”

RouteStock is the work of Wilson Daniels, one of the most successful and COLOR revered wine importers in the world. It was founded over 40 years ago by Deep Magenta two corporate wine executives, Win Wilson and Jack Daniels, to escape the rat race of pushing sales instead of quality. Both had superb experience and many contacts at their disposal. NOSE Violets, Mint One by one, they convinced many of the finest wineries in the world that they would represent them in the way they wanted to be represented. PALATE And they did. Today their portfolio looks like a who’s who of the top wine Layers of Flavor estates from France to Italy, Hungary, New Zealand and the United States.

It was only a matter of time before they decided to build their own brand FINISH as they had done for so many others and RouteStock is the result of that Long, Lingering decision. But, like their import philosophy, it was built on presenting the highest quality. PAIRING Firm Fish, Fowl, Game They know something about Pinot Noir as they represent Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, considered the greatest Burgundy in the world. They CELLAR chose the Sonoma Coast, a place where the cool ocean influence keeps the Now thru 2024 grapes on the vines longer, allowing them to slowly mature and complex.

As is the custom with most Pinot Noir producers, several different clones were used for our selection, each bringing its own special nuance to the blend. The result is a stunning expression of Pinot Noir that is ID: P1020R1DC sure to rock when served with roast quail or Scottish salmon. Reorder Price: $29.00

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ French guy in New Zealand! ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * RIMAPERE v 2016 PINOT NOIR 98 Marlborough, New Zealand 13 % Alcohol by Volume

“ pee • noh • nwahr ”

Pinot Noir is becoming more popular in New Zealand and is beginning to COLOR turn heads all over the world. When it turns the heads of the Rothschild Lovely Magenta family of Château Lafite, many others follow as well.

The Rothschild name alone is enough to garner interest here. Not just NOSE because of its fame, but primarily for their commitment to absolute quality Berry, Rose from every property they control around the world. Rimapere means “five arrows” and refers to the Rothschild’s coat of arms. PALATE Layered The 24-acre vineyard is in Marlborough, located at the northern tip of the South Island and known primarily for Sauvignon Blanc. Only four acres are devoted to Pinot Noir, but that could change. The vineyard is completely FINISH organic and sustainable as certified by the UN sustainability program. Medium Tannins

As is imperative with Pinot Noir, yields are kept to a minimum. Most of New PAIRING Zealand Pinot Noir is grown on the South Island, which is cooler than the Seafood, Game, Fowl North. Marlborough is the warmest part of the island, but that doesn’t mean it’s hot. It is closer to the climate found in Oregon, Burgundy, and California, CELLAR which suits the grape just fine. Now thru 2022 Our selection defies categorization. You start by saying what it’s not. It’s not California, Oregon or Burgundy. In essence is its own. While the supple sensuality of the wine says Pinot Noir, the attentive flavors are a welcome change. Wild berry hits the palate instead of cherry and the ID: P1020R2IZ floral tones suggest a possible kinship with duck confit or Reorder Price: $35.00 grilled salmon.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100)

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Sweet Malbec. ” – PK

YORKVILLE e SCO lu RE a * CELLARS v 2018 SWEET MALBEC 97 Mendocino, California 9.6 % Alcohol by Volume

“ maal • bek “

Even after 30 years, we still come across wines that leave us scratching our COLOR heads, but always pleasantly surprised. Just the idea that someone would Dark Rose take a dark, powerful grape like Malbec and turn it into a bouncy, flavorful wine like this Yorkville Cellars is nothing short of mind-boggling. But, there it is and it’s amazing. NOSE Berries Yorkville Cellars is owned by Edward and Deborah Wallo, who planted the organic vineyard in 1990 and built the winery in 1994 in the Mendocino PALATE town of Yorkville. Since the first harvest, their children loved to eat the Mouth-filling Malbec grapes off the vine. That started the wheels turning and it wasn’t long before they were winning awards up and down the state for their sweet Malbec. Even though they both had extensive wine experience, sweet FINISH Clean, Fresh Malbec wasn’t one of them, making their accomplishment even sweeter.

When we tasted this wine, we were stunned. We had no idea what to expect. PAIRING “Would it be a big robust wine like Port, or a light and lovely offering like Fruit, Coconut Brachetto?” It turned out to be both, and neither. At 9.6% alcohol and 6.3% sugar, it is probably close to Brachetto which is the light, slightly sweet wine CELLAR from Piedmont. But, then the presence of the grape kicks in and though Now thru 2022 nowhere near the power of Port, it does show its authority.

Sipping this wine is absolutely a treat on its own. Serving it with any light dessert featuring lemon or fruit will just accentuate the light berries in the wine. The best part is that it finishes with a ID: S1020R1DC freshness beyond compare. Reorder Price: $13.99

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE “ Had to show this grape. ” – PK

e SCO lu RE a * ARMAS v 2018 KANGUN 96 Aragatsotn, Armenia 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ kan • goon “

Armenak Aslanian founded ArmAs in 2007. It is a realization of his goals that were influenced by his family, heritage, culture and his personal values. With the COLOR Medium Straw-Yellow help of his daughters, he continues this 80-year-old family winemaking tradition. ArmAs is, in fact, named in honor of his grandfather, Armenak Aslanian Sr., the original winemaker in the family. NOSE Jasmin, Lemon Curd ArmAs Estate is committed to upholding and revitalizing Armenia’s winemaking legacy, the oldest known region for viticulture and enology. With unique PALATE landscape characteristics, including 30 different layers of soil, and over 300 days Ripe Apricot, Pineapple, of sunshine per year, Armenia’s landscape is ripe for exceptional vineyards. ArmAs Hazelnut, Apples is located in what is formerly known as Nor Amanos, in Aragatsotn Marz. The vineyard plots were carefully selected to ensure the long-term sustainability of FINISH the vineyards, with the objective of growing native grape varieties and becoming Long and Luxurious, Fruit a true illustration of Armenia’s agricultural potential. The vines in ArmAs vineyards and Floral Flavors Linger are also relatively young and are thus treated and cared for “as children”–with an abundance of love and a little caution. PAIRING Prosciutto, Goat Cheese, Kangun is a hybrid grape in Armenia, generally used to make brandy and fortified Roast Chicken, Dried Fruits wines, but it can be used to make a drier style of wine, as shown here. This semi- sweet wine begins with the best Kangun grapes, harvested slightly overripe. The grapes are lightly pressed, and only the purest mush is then slowly fermented. The CELLAR Now thru 2022 underlying volcanic soil of the vineyards, with limestone and calcium carbonate, also imparts minerality and is pronounced on the palate.The wine shows a warm yellow-amber color in the glass with lovely viscosity. Aromas of ripe apricot, pineapple, prunes, and hazelnut are matched with a fresh and balanced brew of ripe red apples and light tannins. This wine may ID: S1020W2IM be enjoyed as an aperitif, with olives, prosciutto, dried fruits or an Reorder Price: $13.99 herby goat cheese, as well as main dishes like roasted chicken.

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 TASTING NOTES

Wine: ______Color: ______Date:______Tasting Comments: ______Overall Rating: ______(1-100) Look what people are saying about the Original Wine of the Month Club...

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 RECIPES Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Mushrooms CELLAR NOTES

A report on how previous selections are faring Tagliatelle withIngredients Prosciutto 6 ounces 1/8-inch-thick slices prosciutto with age. Obtained from actual tastings of 1/2 pound button mushrooms, trimmed and Mushrooms1 large shallot, finely chopped wines under optimal storage conditions. Serves: 4 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 large or 5 small sage leaves INGREDIENTS 14 ounces dried tagliatelle or fettuccine CLASSIC SERIES 1 cup heavy cream 6 oz. 1/8-inch-thick slices1/4 cup prosciutto finely chopped flat-leaf parsley October 2018: 1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano cheese 1/2 lb button mushrooms, trimmed Merlot, 2013. Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013. 1 large shallot, finelyInstructions chopped Vrai Copain. Ready. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 2 tbsp unsalted butter Chardonnay, 2016. Vintech. Drink. Meanwhile, cut prosciutto crosswise into matchsticks 1/4 cup and slicefinely mushrooms. chopped 3 large or 5 small sage leaves Red Blend, 2013. PDQ. At its best. In a large nonstick skillet, combine shallot, butter and sage; flat-leaf heat over medium parsley heat, stirring 14 oz. dried tagliatelleoccasionally, or fettuccine until butter is melted. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Remove Chardonnay, 2016. Lapis Luna. Great now. sage, then stir in prosciutto and cook for 1 minute 1/4more. cup finely grated 1 cup heavy cream Parmigiano cheese Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente (about 3 minutes for fresh pasta). October 2019: PREPARATION Meanwhile, add cream to skillet; bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Stir in parsley and cheese; remove sauce from heat. Merlot, 2018. Le Gros Cul. Still great.

Bring a large pot of salted waterDrain pasta, to a return boil. to Meanwhile, pot, add sauce cutand tossprosciutto to combine. crosswise Moisten with into pasta matchsticks cooking liquid, if Sauvignon Blanc, 2017. Grove Mill. At its best. and slice mushrooms. desired. Serve immediately with Rutz Pinot Noir, Game of Thrones Red or Ogier Cotes du Rhone. BDX Bordeaux Blend, 2012. Pull. Perfect now. In a large nonstick skillet, combine shallot, butter and sage; heat over medium heat, stirring Chadonnay, 2018 Raimat. Drink or hold. occasionally, until butter is melted. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Remove sage, then stir in prosciutto and cook for 1 minute more. VINTNERS SERIES Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente (about 3 minutes for fresh pasta). October 2018: Meanwhile, add cream to skillet; bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Stir in parsley and Red Blend, 2013. Monrovia Station. Perfect. cheese; remove sauce from heat. Sauvignon Blanc, 2017. Angeline. Drink Drain pasta, return to pot, add sauce and toss to combine. Moisten with pasta cooking liquid, or hold. if desired. Cabernet Syrah, 2017. Monkey Puzzle. Drink or hold. Serve immediately with Wild Hare Pinot Noir, Game of Thrones Red or Ogier Côtes du Rhône. Crab and Shrimp Cakes Chardonnay, 2014. Reatta. At its best. Serves 8-10 1 lb Crabmeat October 2019: ½ pound peeled, deveined raw shrimp Crab and Shrimp Cakes Red Blend, 2018. Trewa. A year or two. Serves: 8-102 eggs, separated 1/4 cup mayonnaise Sauvignon Blanc, 2016. Momo. Ready. INGREDIENTS2 Tbsp fine breadcrumbs 1 tsp Worcestershire CDR Red Blend, 2013. Pull. Drink or hold. 1 lb1 tspcrabmeat Dry Mustard Sauvignon Blanc, 2015 Dancing Crow. 1/2lb 1/2 raw tsp shrimp, Old Bay peeled Seasoning and deveined 1/2 tsp Salt Great now. 21/4 eggs, tsp separated Pepper 1/4 cup1 mayonnaiseTbsp minced parsley 2 tbspCanola fine oilbreadcrumbs for frying LIMITED SERIES Lemon Wedges 1 tsp Worcestershire October 2018: 1 tspCarefully dry mustard pick over crabmeat, without breaking it Pinot Noir, 2013. Reata. Great now. up. Chop shrimp to a paste in food processor. Add 1/4 tsp pepper Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012. Big Red Wine 1/2 tspto Old crab. Bay In aseasoning separate bowl, combine yolks, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, mustard, Old Bay, salt, 1/2 tsppe saltpper, breadcrumbs and parsley. Gently blend with fish mixture.1 tbsp mincedBeat egg whitesparsley to stiff peaks. Reserve. Drink or hold. canola oil for frying Fold into fish mixture. Alvarhino, 2017. Maravista. Great now. PREPARATION lemon wedges Form into 8-10 patties. Fry the cakes in oil until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper Viognier, 2017. Richemer. Drink. Carefully picktowe lsover and crabmeat, serve with withoutlemon wedge breakings or top it with up. Chop dressing shrimp of you tor choicea paste like in Thousand food processor. Island, Add to crab.cocktail In a separatesauce or aiol bowl,i with combine Messenger yolks, Sauvignon mayonnaise, Blanc, or Worcestershire, Zocker Gruner Veliner. mustard, Old Bay, October 2019: salt, pepper, breadcrumbs and parsley. Gently blend with fish mixture. Beat egg whites to stiff Voskeni Areni, 2016. Still has years ahead. peaks. Fold into fish mixture. Carignan, 2018. Domaine de Montredon. Form into 8-10 patties. Fry the cakes in oil until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on Another year or two. paper towels. Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore, 2015. Fulvia Tombolini. Serve with lemon wedges or top with dressing of your choice like Thousand Island, Great now. cocktail sauce or aioli, with Messenger Sauvignon Blanc, Endroit Chardonnay or Zocker Chardonnay, 2017. Schild Estate. Drink or Grüner Veltliner. hold. WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 “After tasting over 100,000 wines, I have learned to choose only the best representations of the grapes and growing regions.” -Paul Kalemkiarian 2nd generation owner Try one of our specialty wine series

ROSE SERIES Hand-curated Rosés from all over the world. A Rosé lover’s dream.

BORDEAUX SERIES From the most prolific district in the world come wines from my favorite châteaux.

NAPA SERIES From the backroads of the Napa Valley come these hard to find versions.

SWEET SERIES Light, fresh and lively are these wines with a sweet edge.

pure Organic SERIES The newest in wine categories, these are curated from all over the organic/biodynamic vineyards of the world.

CALIFORNIA SERIES A red wine only club that features great California wine values across many styles.

original clubs Classic • Vintner’s • Limited Special Values.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 OCTOBER 2020

THE PURE WINE CLUB SERIES

The Purest Wines on the Planet

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

What is it about the Grape?

Last month I left off with the anticipation of the 2020 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon harvested from my brother-in-law’s very own vines. This process is complete and we are waiting for a little bit of bottle age before we indulge in tasting. grapes that creates this beverage that is so deeply revered that we seek to make it, share it and discuss Across the San Fernando Valley is another wine story fermenting it?” We don’t do this with pineapples or apricots… (see what I did there). My other brother-in-law is working on only the grapes. And this reverence has transcended his vineyard of 60 vines or so and is preparing to pick his second thousands of years and hundreds of generations. So vintage. We could get into the particulars about these two projects, when my brother-in-law announced he wanted to but I’m not going to right now, because from a market and make wine from the 7 vines he owns, I was excited manufacturing standpoint, that conversation would be exhaustive. to see the result. And when his brother-in-law was Instead, I want to talk about the social and emotional value that so taken by the process that the first thing he did each “brother-in-law” is experiencing, and that is the deep-rooted

ethereal values wine brings to the table. CONTINUED >>

If you listen to my podcast, Wine Talks with Paul K, you will hear the handful of times I have asked this question: “What is it about Paul kalemkiarian Owner/cellarmaster

WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB | 320 W CHESTNUT AVE, MONROVIA, CA 91016 @WineoftheMonthClub @WineoftheMonth

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 upon receiving his first bottle of the 2019 was to rush it here for me to taste…it only corroborated my suspicions of this sublime beverage; that it is rooted in our DNA.

More next month.

Salud... be safe... stay well. Paul Kalemkiarian Owner/Cellarmaster The first taste of homemade Cabernet Sauvignon...passion in a bottle!

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED DELIVERY OF YOUR HAND SELECTED WINE, PLEASE UPDATE YOUR CREDIT CARD AND/OR SHIPPING INFORMATION ONLINE AT: SEND US YOUR UPDATED www.womclub/update INFORMATION or call us at PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 1.800.949.9463 FOR SHIPPING & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 THE PURE WINE CLUB SERIES The Purest Wines on the Planet

FEUDO MONTONI 2017 NERO D’AVOLA 98 Sicily, Italy VALUE SCORE* 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume “ NEH • roh • DAH • voh • lah ” Organic Sustainable Feudo Montoni is the new model for the future of Sicilian wines. Color Its history is un-matched as the property has been producing VERY DARK wine for over 500 years. Fabio Sireci is the third generation of the family which purchased the estate over 100 years ago. Nose In the last several decades, Sicily has been at the forefront of PLUM, ANISE exciting Italian wines. New producers, new technology and new thinking lead the way. But, that was not everybody else’s way. The new producers planted “foreign” grapes like Syrah, Merlot, Palate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Sireci would have none of DENSE FRUIT that. For more than five centuries, Montoni has focused only on indigenous Sicilian varietals like Nerello, Catarratto and Sicily’s prized grape, Nero d’Avola. His position was, “Why plant what Finish the rest of the world is planting when you have your own grapes FULL TANNINS of quality to show off?” Besides, those grapes have served them well for a few centuries. Pairing Sireci was also one of the first to introduce organic farming to RED MEAT, GAME Sicily, along with using renewable energy sources. This wave has taken over Sicily and has transformed it into one of the leaders of conscionable farming in the world. Obviously, there are no herbicides or pesticides used in the vineyards. There are also no Cellar mechanical, gas-driven vehicles allowed, and all work is done by NOW THRU 2024 hand. The result is a powerful expression of this amazing grape, offering dense black fruits like plum and blackberry to match a spicy tomato sauce or sausage and peppers.

Why I Chose This Wine Item ID: U1020R1II Reorder Price: $19.00 “ HEALTH IN BOTTLE. ” – PK

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 DESIGNATIONS FOR THIS WINE

ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE DRY-FARMED

HAND-HARVESTED OLD-GROWTH VINES

TASTING NOTES

WINE COLOR DAT E TAST ING COMMENT S THE PURE WINE CLUB SERIES The Purest Wines on the Planet

DUCA CARLO GUARINI 2018 PRIMITIVO 97 Puglia, Italy VALUE SCORE* 13.5 % Alcohol by Volume “ pri • meh • TEE • voh ” Organic Minimal Intervention It is almost unimaginable that the Guarini Family has been farming Color their property for 1,000 years. Their history goes back to Ruggero VERY DARK Guarini who founded the estate in 1065 and ever since it has been run by a Guarini.

Nose The completely organic, 1,600-acre estate also farms organic BERRIES, SPICE vegetables and ancient grains, but it is the wine that defines the property. Being on the Adriatic Coast in Puglia also allows them access to one of the most bountiful fishing locales in the world. All in Palate all, an amazing amalgam of man and nature. FULL TANNINS Primitivo has always been the most revered grape in Puglia. It produces a bold offering that matches the food of the area. At one Finish time it was thought to have originated here, and then brought to the new world in the 1850s by Augustine Haraszthy, where it became LONG, EXTRACTED known as Zinfandel. However, DNA testing in the last 10 years shows it to be a grape called Tribidrag and actually originated in Croatia. Regardless of the circuitous route it took to get there, it remains the Pairing main grape of the region and for good reason. RED MEAT, GAME Primitivo is a relatively easy grape to grow, but has one failing. It likes to produce a lot clusters, thus robbing the total grape of needed Cellar nutrients. But when grown organically and maintained, it produces NOW THRU 2025 an incredible wine, offering wild strawberry flavors and hints of cinnamon, dark chocolate and fennel to match the grilled meats of the area, marinated goat or wild boar.

Why I Chose This Wine Item ID: U1020R2II Reorder Price: $19.00 “ FIRST I HAVE TASTED. ” – PK

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 DESIGNATIONS FOR THIS WINE

ORGANIC DRY-FARMED OLD-GROWTH VINES

MINIMAL NO CARBOHYDRATES NATIVE YEASTS INTERVENTION

PALEO DIET FRIENDLY KETO FRIENDLY NO MYCOTOXINS

TASTING NOTES

WINE COLOR DAT E TAST ING COMMENT S THE PURE WINE CLUB SERIES The Purest Wines on the Planet

TENUTA SAN JACOPO 2018 CHARDONNAY 97 Tuscany, Italy VALUE SCORE* 13 % Alcohol by Volume “ shar • doh • nay ” Organic Sustainable

In 2002, three Milanese brothers, Vanni, Carlo and Marco Cattaneo, Color purchased a picturesque 18th Century villa in Tuscany with the VERY PALE mission to resurrect its history and restore its place in great wine. Their zeal also took them to sustainable and organic farming in Nose order to respect the land which now held their future. GREEN APPLE, LEMON PEEL While sticking mostly to the Tuscan script and making exceptional Chianti, they also branched out to try “outside” varietals like our Palate Chardonnay selection. This was not new by any means, but their DELICATE approach to the grape was. Unlike almost every Chardonnay made in Tuscany, San Jacopo did not use any oak and did not allow the wine to go through malolactic fermentation, where the harsh malic acid, like that found on the peel of a green apple, is Finish converted to lactic acid, like that found in milk. This gives the wine SNAPPY FINISH a creamy texture. Thus, without, we get bracing acidity and intense minerality like we would expect in Chablis.

Pairing Additionally, they restrict the amount of grapes that can be taken SEAFOOD, SHELLFISH off of each vine at any one given time, allowing each bunch of grapes to receive as much nutrients from the ground as possible. They also pick earlier than most so that the alcohol levels are kept Cellar at a minimum and the structure of the fruit is allowed to shine. The NOW THRU 2023 result is a gratifying wine, offering flavors of piquant green apple and guava with a citrus edge to push scallops in a lobster sauce over the edge.

Why I Chose This Wine Item ID: U1020W1II Reorder Price: $16.00 “ THOUGHT…HMMM. NICE WINE. ” – PK

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal.

WWW.WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM | 1.800.949.9463 DESIGNATIONS FOR THIS WINE

ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE

HAND-HARVESTED NATIVE YEASTS

TASTING NOTES

WINE COLOR DAT E TAST ING COMMENT S