Giving Thanks
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WINES EVALUATED LAST MONTH: 298 NOVEMBER 2017 REJECTED: 243 • APPROVED: 55 THE SELECTED: 12 TASTING ROOM Giving Thanks November 2017!?! OMG...what happened? I am already buying wines for the second quarter of 2018 - and some great finds at that. It is the month of thanks. Time to reflect a bit and put things in perspective. So often we complicate our lives with petty and silly things that cloud our vision from seeing the good things that we have experienced. And I have always found that the troubles we have been presented return as blessings somehow. I am thankful for a wonderful family: my wife, Sandra, and my three daughters, Sara, Lisa and Lena. By the time this article reaches your home, I will be a grandfather for the first time (watch your language when you call me gramps). I am truly thankful that both Sandra and I have our parents alive and doing quite well. My father turned 89 last month and my mother is 90; Sandra’s mom is 88 and her father, 92. I am thankful for this business to help my members and customers navigate the complicated subject of wine and I am thankful for YOU, all of my loyal members and customers who trust me to find the best values in the world of wine. @WineoftheMonthClub @WineoftheMonth Membership in the Wine of the Month Club is open to Paul Kalemkiarian anyone with an interest in and appreciation for superb Owner/Cellarmaster wines... and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE. WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB P.O. BOX 660220, ARCADIA, CA 91066 WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM • 1.800.949.9463 You Heard Right: FOUR New Clubs! I can’t get through this November newsletter without conveying my giddiness for our new clubs. After many, many years, we launched three new clubs this October - and out of nowhere, a fourth! The initial three new clubs... The Napa Valley Series The Rosé Series The Bordeaux Series wines from the famed Rosé wines wines from the iconic California wine district from around the world French wine region And as if that wasn’t enough, we just began a Pinot Noir Club at the behest of a group of enthusiasts... Each of the wines from these new series The Pinot Noir Series is subject to the same care and scrutiny as the original clubs, and each is sent with our guarantee of quality and commitment. Enjoy your season… and thank you. Paul Kalemkiarian Owner/Cellarmaster WINEOFTHEMONTHCLUB.COM • 1.800.949.9463 WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION LEAPING HORSE Red Blend, 2014 Region: Lodi, California • Alcohol: 13.5% NOSE PAIRING Cherry, Earth, Red Meat, Game Rose Petals PALATE COLOR Full and Rich Medium Magenta CELLAR FINISH Now through 2020 Engaging Soft Tannins Leaping Horse is the passion and uniqueness to the whole. possession of the Kautz family, who have The Sierra Foothills are finally getting the been involved with equine training and recognition they deserve as a fine wine riding for generations. So, when their producing area. Most of the vineyards passion turned to wine, there was no here are on mountainous soil, which doubt about the name. means the plants grow deeper roots to The winery is in Murphys, California, anchor themselves in the earth, bringing about 25 miles east of Lodi in what is still up more minerals and nutrients to the considered the Sierra Foothills. On the vines. The conditions are ideal, as the map, it would appear to be a hot inland rich, outstanding wines from this area area, but - like Lodi - it is in the path of the demonstrate. cool ocean breezes that emanate from Leaping Horse picks and hand-sorts San Pablo Bay. This is what accounts for their grapes, and varietals are fermented the amazing flavor and structure of their separately before the final blend is wines. decided upon. Once decided, the blend Our selection is a very cool blend of 46% spends four months in new French oak Zinfandel, 40% Merlot and 14% Petite barrels to smooth out the rough edges Sirah. Each grape contributes its own and add a spicy touch. ITEM #: C1117R1DC The result is a spectacular combination Retail Price: $18.99/each of fresh berries, spice and vanilla, with Paul Member Price: $11.98/each the flavors leaping across the palate like & Ed ‘s Reorder Price: $7.99/each a horse in the foothills. Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 95 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION PASCUAL TOSO Malbec, 2014 Region: Mendoza, Argentina • Alcohol: 14.0% NOSE PAIRING Dark Chocolate and Red Meat, Game Cherry PALATE COLOR Imposing Black Cherry Almost Pitch Black CELLAR FINISH Now through 2025 Mesmerizing “ MALL • beck “ Pascual Toso was founded over 125 years alanche of interest - to the point where ago in Argentina’s Maipú Valley. Some of you couldn’t even count how many wine- the vineyards are 100 years old. It is cur- makers from all over the world decided rently run by the 4th generation Toso, to ply their trade in Argentina. Of course Enrique. Hobbs couldn’t just lend his name to the enterprise; he had to produce. And he If one event can make a significant im- certainly did. pact on an entire country’s wine indus- try, it happened in 2001 when Toso hired From his very first vintage, the press be- Paul Hobbs as consulting winemaker. It stowed accolade after accolade. And as wasn’t just that Hobbs was - and still is - a the praise piled up, the wines went inter- superstar winemaker. It was that this was national, and history was made. the first time a winemaker of his stature had said to the world that Mendoza, Ar- We’re obviously going to approach a gentina, was a wine region worthy of his wine of this stature with rather lofty ex- talents. pectations. But, like everybody else, we were not disappointed. Hobbs has deliv- All eyes focused on Argentina. Hobbs’ ered every year since year one, and this involvement in the area created an av- beauty is no exception. ITEM #: C1117R2IA From the brooding dark color through the dense nose of chocolate and wild Retail Price: $18.99/each blackberries, Toso just blasts out of the Paul Member Price: $11.98/each glass and on your palate like none other. & Ed ‘s Reorder Price: $7.99/each Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 96 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION CHÂ. FERRY LACOMBE - MIRA Rosé, 2016 Region: Mediterranean I.G.P., France • Alcohol: 13.0% NOSE PAIRING Peach, Pear and Apple Seafood, Vegetarian PALATE COLOR Hints of Pear and Apple Very Pale CELLAR FINISH Now through 2019 Lovely Apple and Citrus “ roh • ZAY “ Mira is the creation of Château Ferry the Rhône. Fortunately, Mother Nature Lacombe, which was founded by the provided a sharp, speedy wind - called Ferry family in 1442. Now, that’s what I the Mistral - that runs through the call history! The winery is in the Provence vineyards both day and night, protecting region of France, just south of the Côtes the vines from mold and mildew. Thanks, du Rhône, and shares many of the same Mom! grapes with its northern neighbor. As a result, the grapes come into the The property consists of 240 acres, with winery in perfect condition. They are 150 acres devoted to vines. There is harvested at night when it’s the coolest, little argument that this is one of the ensuring that spontaneous fermentation greatest areas for Rosé wines in the very rarely occurs. world. Provence and Rosé are nearly synonymous. And in almost every case, The grapes are sorted so that only the the grape of choice is Grenache. There’s best are fermented. Fermentation then no exception here. takes place at very cold temperatures to assure maximum flavor and presence. Being closer to the ocean, Provence can get noticeably cooler and wetter than The result is an amazing amalgam of fresh peach, apricot, rose petals and ITEM #: C1117W1IF candy apple that swirl in your mouth, leading you onward to the next delicious Retail Price: $19.99/each sip. Paul Member Price: $11.98/each & Ed ‘s Reorder Price: $6.99/each Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 95 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION COUNT KÁROLYI Grüner Veltliner, 2016 Region: Pannon, Hungary• Alcohol: 12.5% NOSE PAIRING Lemon Drop Seafood, Vegetarian PALATE COLOR Clean Citrus, Jasmine Pale Straw CELLAR FINISH Now through 2019 Lovely Lime “ GROO • ner velt • LEEN • er “ Count Károlyi comes from Tolna County can count, but the voyage to finally get in the Pannon wine region of southern them has been a perilous one. After Hungary. The original winery was war and strife, the region has taken founded by Dr. Harold Binderer in 1951. decades to stabilize, but it is through The good doctor worked tirelessly during the dedication of people like Peter and the difficult and oppressive times behind László that Hungary’s light is shining. behind the Iron Curtain. Hungary has several indigenous grapes When freedom came in the 90s, his son - some of which we’ve featured in the Peter took the mantle and joined forces past - but Grüner Veltliner isn’t one of with László Károlyi to create the current them. It originates in Austria, but since brand. Peter was very familiar with the the countries border each other, it’s not long history of great wines from Hungary, much of a surprise to see this grape here.