Your Wine Advocate

INGERSOLL WINE & SPIRITS’ HOT SUMMER SALE!!!

I-O-W-A — That’s Where the Ripe Grape Grows!! If Dr. Bill Brown gets his long time. Well friends — and discovered a winery mak- Volume 2, Issue 4 way, you’ll see a lot more that time has arrived! Ap- ing wines of such caliber you grapes planted in Iowa with proximately a dozen Iowa wouldn’t think you’re drinking July/August 2003 an increase in the number of wineries currently produce or Iowa wines! That’s precisely wineries. Dr. Brown operates bottle wine as we speak. An- the image that Paul Tabor of a winery in Decatur County in other couple dozen wineries Tabor Home Vineyards wants · Welcome to our 2003 special southern Iowa. In addition to are in the planning stages with to shed — that Iowa can’t pro- summer edition of Your Wine chairing the Iowa Grape and two or three slated to go duce quality wines. Paul’s Advocate!! Wine Development Commis- online within the next year or wines have been awarded · Check out our 25 picks for sum- sion, Bill runs his own prac- two. In many times over in various mer — if you’re tired of Chardon- tice as an orthodontist here in our June wine competitions both close nay we’ve got something for you!! Des Moines. Indeed, there is 2001 is- to home and abroad. Just · And if you still love Chardonnay a quiet storm brewing in our sue of south of Des Moines in India- then check out our website at www.ingersollwine.com. state. Not very long ago, if Your nola, Ron Mark of Summerset you call the year of 1890 not Wine Ad- Winery has transcended the · If you’re not getting our e-mails vocate please go online and send us your too long ago, Iowa led the landscape in Warren County e-mail! nation in grape production. our fear- from “living nearby the South- Of course prohibition insured less wine ridge Mall” to enjoying the that any recovery in either the merchant Ben (that’s me!) rolling hills and tranquil envi- grape or wine production in hopped on Highway 61 head- rons of Indianola, Iowa. Inside this issue: ing north toward Dubuque our state would take quite a (continued on p. 3>>>>>>>> I-O-W-A — That’s Where the 1 Ripe Grape Grows!!

‘03 Summer Wine Picks Summer Wine Picks 1

Here’s a fresh batch of 25 wines (2) ‘02 Bonny Doon Big House Rhone in origin this reproduc- we’ve hand-selected for your White $9.99. Think of Ries- tion from California’s Sierra Summer Wine Picks 2 enjoyment: ling, Muscat, Chenin Blanc, Foothills is a summer best. (Continued from p. 1) French Colombard, Pinot (1) ‘02 Picpoul De Pinet Co- (4) ‘02 Willm Pinot Blanc $9.99. I-O-W-A — (Continued from 3 Blanc, Viognier, Sauvignon teaux Du Languedoc $5.99 Alsace is known for its terrior p. 1) Blanc, Pinot Grigio and This wine continues to in- and here you will taste the soil Marsanne. Whew! trigue us—how do you get and rocky slates that give many Summer 2003 Premier Tasting 3 Events that perfect balance of fresh (3) ‘01 Renwood Viognier Alsatian wines its distinct min- and crisp along with hints of Select Series California erally character. Taste it here in Sake: Chilled Not Warmed! 4 citrus and ripe melon? The $10.99. Just say ‘vee-ohn- this clean French-style white ideal summer white with or yea’ and you’ll taste the wine. w/out food. primary variety in Condrieu. Contact Us 4 (continued on p.2>>>>>>>>>

Prices good thru 08/31/03 or while quantities last. Page 2 Your Wine Advocate

July/August Wine Picks (Continued)

(5) ‘02 Zenato Lugana San Benedetto (12) ‘01 Smith-Madrone Riesling Napa Val- tage? If you don’t want to wait 25 years $10.99. A favorite in the Veneto soon to ley $14.99. A Gold Medal winner in the before the wine is ready but still want to be enjoyed at your choice of venue; California State Fair. Stuart Smith’s try a good-drinking wine right now than 100% Trebbiano di Lugana. A floral wines shows his passion for great reds this is your wine — supple texture with bouquet with hints of orange blossom. and whites. Check out this rendition of round tannins and an elegant finish. Try it with trout or broiled salmon! California’s answer to great German (19) ‘01 Norante Sangiovese Di Majo San Riesling! (6) ‘02 Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc Giorgio $8.99. “One of the world’s South Africa $10.99. “Very clean light- (13) ‘01 Kris Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie greatest wine values,” states Robert weight and tasty. The nose has a lovely Reg. $11.99; Sale $10.99. ‘Anything But Parker, Jr. “Medium-bodied, fresh, exu- note of lychee along with citrus peel, Chardonnay’ seems the trend these days berant, and purely made with a surpris- fresh cut grass and a hint of basil that but don’t sacrifice uninteresting Pinot ingly loaded finish.” 89 pts. WA. extends to the palate.” Wine Enthusiast Grigio as an excuse to get away from (20) ‘01 Rabbit Ridge Westside Primitivo 87 pts. Chardonnay; here’s one that’s true to the Paso Robles $12.99. A first for the pio- grape! (7) ‘01 Renwood Barbera Sierra Series neering California winery. Made without Reg. $11.99; Sale $10.99. Six wines (14) ‘01 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvi- fining or filtering this wine is deeply- we’ve mentioned but how about this Cal- gnon California Reg. $15.99; Sale colored, rich and concentrated with notes Italian from California; earthy jammy $14.99. Here’s our first 2001 vintage of blackberry and raspberry. Limited! with the spice of a classic Italian red. Cabernet from the Caymus vineyard’s (21) ‘01 Joan d’Anguera La Planella Mont- Finishes with sweet and spicy notes. favorite second-label. Just what you’d sant $13.99. This wine is blended ex- expect from a spectacular vintage Cali- (8) ‘00/01 Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San clusively for the U.S. market, and one sip fornia — integrated flavors with dense Gimignano $11.99. Okay we mentioned of this medium-bodied red from Mont- berry and red fruits; an amazing wine for one red — back to crisp whites for the sant and you’ll know why!! summer! You’ll find this on local restau- $$$. (22) ‘01 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc rant wine list that specialize in pairing (15) ‘99 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon $12.99. Certainly by now you know of Mediterranean-style summer whites with California $12.99. Already known as a the Cotes du Rhone Villages. Now just their summer fares and seafood dishes. great under $20 red wine, this California in time for summer is this wonderful and that’s that much better at just over ten (9) ‘01 Kaesler Old Vine Semillon Barossa flavorful Rhone Valley white from per- bucks a bottle! Like the previous men- Valley $12.99. If this wine was German haps the Rhone’s most recognized pro- tion there’s plenty to enjoy from this fa- you could assume that ‘Kaesl’ would be ducer. Try this blend of Marsanne, Rou- vorite label from the North Coast. the name of the town and Kaesler would sanne and Viognier. be the name of the wine — indeed not a (16) ‘99 Chateau Le Queyrouse Cotes de (23) ‘01 Veramonte Chardonnay Casa- sweet wine but a varietal often used to Blaye Bordeaux $15.99. This wine pick blanca Valley Reg. $10.99; Sale $8.99. blend with drier Chardonnays or Sauvi- may be a carry-over from June but one A Wine Spectator ‘Best Buy’ — “Nice gnon Blanc. Trust me, you’re in for a taste and you’ll realize that this full- richness to this Chilean Chardonnay, with treat! bodied blend of Cabernet and Merlot pear, nut and vanilla notes, and a creamy typifies what you get from the outlaying (10) ‘02 Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc finish … will make friends easily.” Marlborough $11.99. You’ve guessed parts of the Cotes the Bordeaux—value! (24) ‘NV R.L. Buller ‘Premium Fine’ Mus- it! Tropical fruit some citrus and grape- (17) ‘00 Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah Co- cat Rutherglen $13.99. Friends, hold fruit but not overdone. Stainless steel lumbia Valley Reg. $13.99; Sale on to your hats! Wine Advocate rates fermentation means the focus is on the $10.99. This Washington-State producer this dessert from Australia 97 pts. “One clean and crisp nature of this varietal offers across the board price/quality of the top discoveries of this year’s tast- wine. From Marlborough, New Zealand. wines. The ‘00 Syrah is no exception. If ings,” says Parker; “This wine is nearly this is a sample of what Ste. Michelle is (11) ‘02 Dr. Von Bassermann-Jordan Dei- flawless.” #143 WA. (375 ml) desheimer Pradiesgarten Riesling doing in the future it’s certainly a good Kabinett $16.99. An impressive Kabi- thing! (25) ‘01 Veramonte Merlot Maule Valley Reg. $10.99; Sale $8.99. Another value nett Riesling from one of the Mosel’s (18) ‘00 Chateau Le Bernet Graves Bor- play from Chile — here’s a summer red better estates in 2002. Not all German deaux $13.99. Looking for good wines offering ripe berry flavors with great wines are sweet — try this flavorful and from Bordeaux’s outstanding 2000 vin- palate-teasing Kabinett from the Pfalz. mouth-feel. Hints of mocha and oak!

Prices good thru 08/31/03 or while quantities last. Volume 2, Issue 4 Page 3

I-O-W-A — (Continued from p. 1)

All three Iowa winegrowers enjoy success in growing Marechal Foch, Cynthiana, Vidal and Norton grapes. Most of these varieties repre- An Iowa Importer: ‘Wine Adventures’ sent hybrids not viniferas — that is varietal wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Steve Gaucher has been importing wine for is such a wonderful wine and terrific with Regardless of the types of wines produced about five years now. His home base is in summer foods?” I asked again. Years later, Iowa winemakers are striving to achieve a West Des Moines. You may have run across Steve’s wines have not only survived the ‘regional identity’ where someday Iowa wine- his wines in our stores or perhaps at a Hy-Vee chain-store dilemma but have also gained re- growing regions can be recognized as produc- Food Store. When Steve’s wines first ap- spect on our store shelves. A plethora of ing some of the best Frontenac or Edelweiss in peared in stores other than wine stores I won- wines from the Rhone to Provence has showed the world. These are lofty goals but winemak- dered whether this was one-shot attempt to get that Steve’s wines are for real. Of course fa- ers seem bent on working to achieve that level broad distribution through a large grocery vorable write-ups in Food & Wine Magazine of success. Through various workshops and chain? “Surely, these wines won’t be around among other wine-oriented publications such seminars sponsored by the Iowa Grape Grow- much longer,” I told myself. “After all, how as the Wine Advocate doesn’t hurt either. Re- ers Association more established wineries like could you ship a bunch of wine to numerous cent discoveries from Wine Adventures in- Paul Tabor’s Tabor Home Vineyards and Ron outlets across Iowa and Nebraska and expect clude: ‘98 Domaine De La Citadelle Cuvee Mark’s Summerset have been instrumental in part-time high school kids to be explaining the du Gouverneur; ‘99 Ch. Le Queyroux Cotes making these programs a great success. As virtues of a wonderful blend of syrah, gren- De Blaye Bordeaux; ‘00 Domaine De La they say though the proof is in the pudding or ache and mourvedre from the Languedoc, or Citadelle Cuvee Le Chatainier; and the ’01 in this case the wine glass! tell anyone why this viognier vin de pays d’oc Domaine De La Tour Boisee Merlot.

Summer 2003 — Premier Tasting Events

A Night of ‘Adventure’ with Steve and Thurs., July 24th from 6 to 8 p. Thurs., August 7th and let’s open that Gaucher of Wine Adventures at m. at 1300 50th Street in W.D.M. bottle-up! We encourage that you 1438 Tulip Tree Lane in Glen Oaks Yes, the 2002 Riesling from Germany bring a bottle of wine; it doesn’t have Join your fearless wine merchant and have arrived. Join us a taste the first to be fancy just something different. local wine importer Steve Gaucher on arrival of the ’02 vintage from Ger- Glass charge is $15.00 unless of Saturday, July 19th from 6 to 8:30 many’s premier wine region — the course you bring with you a bottle of p.m. for a night of fun and “heavy Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. This is a free wine! hors d’oeuvres.” Eight wines will be event and additional show only sav- *** poured including four French and Ital- ings will be available on full and half- Ridge Vineyards Special Summer ian wines evenly split between reds case purchases of German wine only! Sale On—’00 Coast Range Zinfan- and whites. Steve has recently added Two opportunities to taste what’s hot del, ‘00 Sonoma Station Zinfandel, a line of Italian wines to his portfolio right now in German Riesling! ‘01 Paso Robles Zinfandel and ‘01 and you will be the first to try them! *** Lytton Springs Zinfandel Space is limited so don’t delay. Open That Bottle Night Continues Please go to our website for updated Please reserve your place by calling at 1300 50th Street Store in W.D.M. pricing on these wines from Ridge. 327-9191. Cost is $10 per person Join us for OTBN III Thursday, Au- Here’s a quick overview: ‘00 Coast which may be redeemed toward pur- gust 7th at 7:00 p.m. A good time Range ($19.99); ‘00 Sonoma Station chase that night. was had by all at the July OTBN II! (21.99); ‘01 Paso Robles ($29.99); *** You say you missed us on Thurs., and ‘01 Lytton Springs ($32.99). Taste the ’02 Riesling from the July 3rd for OTBNII? Well, there’s Please contact Ben at 327-9191 if you Mosel and Beyond — Tues., July always more good wine to be en- are interested in mixing a full/half- 22nd at our 3500 Ingersoll Store; joyed! So don’t fret and join us on case quantities for and additional sav- ings!! INGERSOLL WINE & SPIRITS’ HOT SUMMER SALE!!!

3500 Ingersoll Avenue 1300 50th Street Des Moines, IA 50312 West Des Moines, IA 50266 (515) 255-3191 (515) 327-9191

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Purveyors of Fine Wine & Spirits Since 1987

Visit Us Online at www.ingersollwine.com

Sake Revisited: Shaken Not Stirred, Chilled Not Warmed

Sake used to mean serving a rice wine in a us it’s easy to think of a crisp sauvignon blanc sion of this wine that goes well not only with Japanese or Asian-style carafe with two small or an Alsatian-style Riesling or Gewurztra- Sushi or Sashimi but any lemon-grass or spicy ceramic shot-size serving glasses. Often sake Thai or curry dishes. For traditionalists yearn- was served warm by either heating the sake “Of course as with wine Sake ing for true Sake from Japan, I would recom- over the stove or slightly nuking it in the mi- mend the Hakutsuru that can be served either crowave. Suddenly in today’s world the tradi- should be consumed in warm or chilled. Finally, Japan’s Gekkeikan tional drink of Japan is being served up in a offers a ‘Cap-Ace’ in a 180 ml that comes martini glass mixed with such modern concoc- moderation and certainly food with its own serving cup attached right onto tions as the Bloody Mary Sake or the Sake plays a large part.” the bottle. Talk about convenience! Sake can Martini. Don’t leave out the Sake Cosmopoli- be enjoyed right out of the bottle and would tan! During college on a summer visit to you believe straight into your Riedel tasting Seoul, South Korea my colleagues introduced glass? And if you’re wondering, Riedel (the me to the Korean version of a Sake Bomb miner to serve with your favorite Asian dish. Wine Glass Company) offers a Sake version which is essentially dropping a shot of Soju Sake because of its natural character as of their best-selling Riedel Vinum Series. So into a pint of OB or Hite Beer. After one or brewed versus distilled adds to enhance the if you’re planning on broadening your palate two of these concoctions one could not tell flavors of fresh foods. Think of trying Sake this summer enjoy the flavor of Sake. It may whether he was in Seoul, Tokyo or Winterset, chilled not warmed. Interestingly, most of the be known as a ‘rice wine’ but more properly Iowa. Of course as with wine Sake should be available Sake in our market is not from Asia should be identified as a beverage made from consumed in moderation and certainly food or Japan but Oregon or California. Hakusan premium short-grain rice that is fermented and plays a large part. With summer coming upon located in Napa Valley, produces a racy ver- then brewed more like a beer — not a wine!