The Tasting Room
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MARCH 2017 WINES EVALUATED LAST MONTH: 344 • REJECTED: 295 • APPROVED: 49 THE SELECTED: 12 TASTING ROOM THE SATISFACTION OF WINE TASTING A Note From Your CELLARMASTER WHAT'S NEW? COMING SOON TO THE VINTNERS SERIES GET YOURS TODAY Retail Price: $24.95 (Visit our website for member pricing.) WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION BABCOCK Pinot Noir, 2013 Region: Santa Barbara County, California • Alcohol: 14.1% NOSE PAIRING Cotton Candy, Mint Red Meat, Game PALATE COLOR Full Cherry, Rose Petals Medium Garnet CELLAR FINISH Now through 2021 Forward Fruit, Soft Tannins Babcock Vineyards has been around restaurants. Everybody loved the wines since Mona and Walter Babcock estab- and it wasn’t long before he was making lished it in 1978. In the beginning, the a name for himself. couple chose to plant Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay which turned out As with most young winemakers, Bryan to be extremely successful. This lead to experimented with all kinds of grapes more acres, which lead to more grape and winemaking styles. Sangiovese, Tem- growing, which lead to more wine. pranillo, and even Albarino found their way onto the property. He has such a Today, it is still family-owned and oper- fabulous innate sense of wine that each ated by Bryan Babcock. The 65-acre vine- of these wines was produced extremely yard is home to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, well. This Pinot Noir is the one that puts Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris grapes. all of them on their knees. We are ecstatic over this selection! Bryan Babcock is now working on his 33rd vintage. It seems like it was only yes- Perfect Pinot Noir, made from an expert’s terday when he would drive down from hand and exemplifies the pedigree of the the winery with samples of his first vin- vineyard. From the rose petal and candy tage in his car to call on wine shops and nose to the mint julep and cherry flavors through the mesmerizing finish. It deliv- ITEM #: C0317R1DC ers at every level. Retail Price: $24.99/each Paul Member Price: $11.98/each & Ed ‘s Reorder Price: $7.99/each Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 97 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION BABCOCK Pinot Noir, 2014 Region: Santa Barbara County, California • Alcohol: 14.1% NOSE PAIRING Cotton Candy, Mint Red Meat, Game PALATE COLOR Full Cherry, Rose Petals Medium Garnet CELLAR FINISH Now through 2021 Forward Fruit, Soft Tannins Babcock Vineyards has been around restaurants. Everybody loved the wines since Mona and Walter Babcock estab- and it wasn’t long before he was making lished it in 1978. In the beginning, the a name for himself. couple chose to plant Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay which turned out As with most young winemakers, Bryan to be extremely successful. This lead to experimented with all kinds of grapes more acres, which lead to more grape and winemaking styles. Sangiovese, Tem- growing, which lead to more wine. pranillo, and even Albarino found their way onto the property. He has such a Today, it is still family-owned and oper- fabulous innate sense of wine that each ated by Bryan Babcock. The 65-acre vine- of these wines was produced extremely yard is home to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, well. This Pinot Noir is the one that puts Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris grapes. all of them on their knees. We are ecstatic over this selection! Bryan Babcock is now working on his 33rd vintage. It seems like it was only yes- Perfect Pinot Noir, made from an expert’s terday when he would drive down from hand and exemplifies the pedigree of the the winery with samples of his first vin- vineyard. From the rose petal and candy tage in his car to call on wine shops and nose to the mint julep and cherry flavors through the mesmerizing finish. It deliv- ITEM #: C0317R1DC2 ers at every level. Retail Price: $24.99/each Paul Member Price: $11.98/each & Ed ‘s Reorder Price: $7.99/each Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 97 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION PAF Chardonnay, 2015 Region: Lodi, California • Alcohol: 13.18% NOSE PAIRING Green Apple, Pear, Seafood, Shellfish, Poultry Lemon PALATE COLOR Bright, Juicy, Hints of Pale Straw Lychee CELLAR FINISH One Year Crisp, Lively The Lodi AVA, located in California’s fandel, over 100 different varieties—from Central Valley between Sacramento Albarino to Zweigelt--currently thrive in and Stockton, extends east until it abuts Lodi’s Mediterranean climate, including, the western boundary of Sierra Foothills of course, the ever-popular Chardonnay appellation. As German immigrants fig- grape. ured out back in the 1850’s, the mod- erating effects of the Sacramento-San 97% of this special blend, which affec- Joaquin River Delta, which result in tionately plays off the French word “paf,” significantly cooler temperatures than meaning “messed up in the head,” is surrounding areas, make it ideal for Lodi-grown Chardonnay. The other 3% growing wine grapes. comes from Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands, intentionally added by Today, it’s one of the most prolific wine- our resident blending experts to lend a growing regions in the world. Noted for welcome “layer of richness” to the wine’s combining consistent quality with high otherwise crisp, exuberant personality. yields, Lodi produces more wine than Napa and Sonoma combined! Although Born and raised in stainless steel tanks, best known for its ripe, full figured Zin- it’s unadulterated by the ravages of oak and exudes the very essence of pure, ITEM #: C0317W1DC clean Chardonnay. It’s medium-body, Retail Price: $17.99/each with high-toned fruit flavors, and bal- Member Price: $11.98/each anced acidity. Paul Reorder Price : $6.99/each & Ed ‘s Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 96 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION HARDYS Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Region: South Eastern Australia • Alcohol: 13.5% NOSE PAIRING Tons of Black Cherry Red Meat, Game PALATE COLOR Large, Lovely Medium Ruby CELLAR FINISH Now through 2020 Lots of Extract Hardys is one of the most established equipment that Thomas Hardy used to wineries in Australia. It was founded by make his first vintage. Thomas Hardy in 1853. Hardy was an En- glish sailor who fell in love with Austra- Australia is a huge country, roughly the lia and saw the potential it held for him. size of the United States, but most of it Wine was just starting to become an item is the outback where the population is there and he decided to give it a try. As sparse. The majority of the residents live luck would have it, he settled in the now among the coastal regions and the island world renowned McLaren Vale - consid- of Tasmania. ered to be one of the finest wine produc- ing areas in Australia. Many different soils and climates inhabit the country, but it is generally considered Hardys is now a rather large operation that Southern Australia is the finest wine with vineyards located all across the con- area in the country. tinent in South Australia, Western Austra- lia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Although they You can certainly tell that by this wine. utilize modern technology, the winery still Here is big, bold Aussie wine at its best. honors the past by displaying the original The deep color signals the huge nose with lots of black cherry and anise just ITEM #: C0317R2IU billowing from the glass. The flavors never Retail Price: $15.99/each let up offering wave upon wave of fruit Member Price $11.98/each and extract. Yum! Paul Reorder Price $7.99/each & Ed ‘s Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 96 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION CLAIRVILLE STATION Chardonnay, 2013 Region: Sonoma County, California • Alcohol: 13.5% NOSE PAIRING Vanilla, Spice Seafood, Fowl PALATE COLOR Caramel, Apple, Medium Gold Pear CELLAR FINISH Now through 2018 Spiced Apple Clairville Station is the handiwork of On- incredible Chardonnays and Sauvignon dine Chattan, winemaker at one of the Blancs to flourish. On the other hand, oldest and most respected wineries in the warmer climate in Alexander Valley Sonoma County, Geyser Peak Winery. produces their award winning Caber- Ondine took over winemaking duties net Sauvignons and red blends, most of from Daryl Groom, who took the winery which feature the Bordeaux varietals of from humble beginnings and turned it Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Caber- into a powerhouse over his 30-year ca- net Franc. reer. It was quite a mantle for Ondine to be presented with, but she has certainly Clairville Station is a powerhouse of a held her own over the last 15 years. Chardonnay featuring all the nuance and complexity you expect from Sonoma. Geyser Peak Winery was established al- most 140 years ago and currently boasts It starts off with a lovely nose of tropical vineyard holdings in the best wine grow- fruit, warm vanilla pudding and spice ing regions in Sonoma, Alexander Valley, with hints of clove and anise. The fla- and the Russian River. The cooler cli- vors are subtle, but not shy, as they wash mate of the Russian River enables their across the palate depositing exhilarating hints of pear, apple, and spice. ITEM #: C0317W2DC Retail Price: $13.99/each The finish is all it should be as it slowly meanders through the palate and leaves Member Price: $11.98/each Paul Reorder Price: $6.99/each you yearning for more. & Ed ‘s Rating: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB • 1-800-949-9463 95 www.wineofthemonthclub.com WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB SELECTION METAMORPHOSIS Transition Red, 2014 Region: Dunnigan Hills, California • Alcohol: 13.9% NOSE PAIRING Blackberry, Blue Plum Red Meat PALATE COLOR Ripe, Smooth Magenta, Purple CELLAR FINISH Now through 2020 Long with Moderate Tannins Growing up on a farm 30 miles north- 3,000 acres of vines, built a winery, and de- west of Sacramento, young John and veloped several extremely successful wine Karl Giguiere’s fascination with fire struck brands.