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Gold Medal Wine Club Newsletter: Vol. 10 No. 10 Zaca Mesa Winery Edition In This Issue RRHONEHONE WWINESINESTTAKEAKE CCENTERENTER SSTAGETAGE ATAT ZZACAACA MMESAESA WWINERYINERY ZACA MESA WINERY Page 1 John Cushman thought it was just beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. The land was another real estate deal. After all, by virtue reasonably priced, and the way things THIS MONTH’S of owning a successful commercial real were going in California, any land was WINES estate business, he had been involved with good land. Lou was convinced this new Page 2 thousands of land investment opportunities. venture was sound, based on two main This one was supposed to be another premises. He saw a resurgence beginning

SPOTLIGHT PROFILES passive investment, with little or no active in the California wine industry that would Page 3 involvement. Little did he know then how create more demand for grapes than the differently it would turn out. available supply. He also knew that Santa Barbara’s fertile soil and agreeable climate LATE BREAKING In 1972, John’s friend Lou Ream, who had huge grape growing potential that was NEWS was Executive VP at Atlantic Richfield virtually untapped. What he didn’t know Page 5 Co., assembled a group of high profile till soon after acquiring the property, was investors to buy land in Santa Barbara the extent of his prognostication. County for the purpose of growing grapes. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Page 6 The property was 1,500 acres of primarily This group of investors was not a grazing fields, located in the heart of bunch of amateurs, mind you. Besides Continued on page 4 JUDGE-THE-WINES Page 7

REORDERS Page 8

“With Gold Medal Wine Club, The Road to Great Wine Begins at Your Door.” www.goldmedalwine.com Perhaps it was a day like this that inspired the Zaca Mesa label design.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club • 3463 State Street # 280 • Santa Barbara • California • 93105 Page 1 Gold Medal Wine Club features two wines each month from only the best small wineries of California. Featured wines include those which have earned medals in the top wine-industry competitions or have been highly rated by a respected national wine publication. On occasion we feature a wine which is of high medal-quality, but due to its very limited availability or by preference of the wine producer, may not be submitted to these venues for review. Each and every selection is a superb wine made in small quantities and with limited distribution. There are over 1,000 wineries in California producing thousands of different wines. Only wines fitting the above criteria are considered in choosing the featured selections each month.

1997 SYRAH 1999 ROUSSANNE

A Gold Medal Wine Club exclusive offering! Zaca A sip of Zaca Mesa’s 1999 Roussanne (pronounced Mesa is known throughout the world as a top quality roo sahn' ), is like a blast of liquid sunshine! This incredible producer of Syrah. This delicious wine is immediately wine is so full of bright fruit flavors bursting onto the approachable, the perfect medium-bodied, spicy, juicy palate that one could almost mistaken it as a sweet wine. Syrah. The aromas are suggestive of cassis, red currant and But it is dry, dry, dry—no Residual Sugar at all. Fascinating chocolate, with overtones of wild-west roasted meat and aroma of apricots, peaches and nectarines surrounded by sagebrush. Background aromas offer a slight truffle and honey and almond with a kiss of lime. The flavors are rich gamey character so desirable in great Syrah. The wine has and mouthfilling, yielding a lush array of honeydew melon, a juicy intensity and suave middle palate kept bright by pear and honeysuckle. A smooth, silky texture, full-bodied lively acidity. A harmonious and rich amalgam of smoked and very concentrated; full-flavor, clean and crisp finish meat and spicy black fruit flavors. This Syrah is perfect for that lingers well beyond expectation. Just released in tender meats such as roast duckling, beef tenderloin, or August 2000; 1997 and 1998 vintages have earned ratings rack of lamb cooked over a wood fire. Enjoy now or watch as One of the Top 50 Wines from Around the Globe by Bon it grow in complexity over the next 5-8years. Appetit magazine.

WINE CREDENTIAL HIGHLIGHTS 1997 VINTAGE: Gold Medal Special Selection. This estate 1999 VINTAGE: Gold Medal Special Selection. Just bottled Mariposa Vineyard Syrah is an exclusive offering released in August 2000 so reviews and awards are to members of the Gold Medal Wine Club and visitors to forthcoming. the Zaca Mesa tasting room. Not entered into competitions. LEGACY : A leader in the production of Rhone wines, LEGACY: Zaca Mesa is one of the world’s premier Syrah Zaca Mesa’s Roussannes have earned more medals and producers. The 1993 vintage placed sixth in the world in high ratings than any other U.S. winery. Wine Spectator’s Top Wines of 1995. Just the facts: Just the facts:

pH ...... 3.53 pH ...... 3.48 Total Acid ...... 60 g/100 mls Total Acid ...... 76 g/100 mls Alcohol ...... 13.5% Alcohol ...... 14.0% Cases Produced ...... 2,000 Cases Produced ...... 1,905 Aged in French Oak ...... 23 Months Aged in 3 and 4 year-old French Oak Drink Now or Up to Year...... 2008 Drink Now or Up to Year ...... 2003

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 2 GGOLDOLD MMEDALEDAL SSPOTLIGHTPOTLIGHT acclaimed Advanced Management be done to save their “passive John Cushman Program (AMP). investment.” John Cushman took control of things just in time. He was only It was after his completion at John recruited his twin brother a passive investor of Zaca Mesa Harvard that John decided to start Lou to help buy out the other Winery before he saw it beginning his own firm, Cushman Realty investors and assist in turning things to falter in the late 1980s. He knew Corporation. Aside from buying around at the winery. After a few he’d better act quickly or risk losing and selling commercial properties, years at the helm, John put together his entire investment. his new company began developing the current and final pieces of his and managing properties as well. management team to run the Twenty-five years earlier, John By the mid-1980s he had solidly operation on a day-to-day basis. graduated from Colgate University positioned Cushman Realty into with a degree in Economics without one of the most successful John Cushman, Jeff Maiken, the foggiest notion he would ever commercial real estate firms in Jim Fiolek and many others along in his life own a winery. After the country. the way have helped cement Zaca graduating, he decided to enter Mesa’s reputation for fine into the family commercial real So you might premium wines and for estate business. surmise that by this developing innovative date John still had winemaking John’s Grandfather and Great little idea he would techniques. Uncle started Cushman & Wakefield soon be It is apparent in New York, in 1918. Their business operating they are was a hugely successful enterprise by a winery. But committed to the time John joined the firm in by 1989, it the long-term success 1963. After just four years under his became apparent to of Zaca Mesa—and belt, he led the company’s expansion him and his other their efforts show up to the West Coast, moving to Los fellow investors in beautifully in their Angeles to head up the huge ARCO the Zaca Mesa wines. Plaza development project. It was a project that monumental undertaking—twin something 52-story towers in the middle of had to downtown L.A.

Cashing in on their holdings, Cushman & Wakefield sold the company to RCA in the early 1970s. They, in turn, sold to the Rockefellers several years later. Through both transitions, John stayed with the company. In 1977 and ’78, he was invited into and completed Harvard University’s internationally Winery owner John Cushman relaxes after a day at the ranch.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 3 Continued from page 1 During those early years it With tremendous opportunity became increasingly apparent that coming into focus, the logical Lou Reams and John Cushman, the location was special, and indeed evolution was to start a winery. They other original investors included, Joe prime for grape growing. This fact named it Zaca Mesa Winery and, as Harnett, President of Standard Oil; was confirmed by the wine label tells you, the name viticultural experts comes from the early Spanish who analyzed several settlers who affectionately called the successive harvests. As area “La Zaca Mesa,” or “the restful it turns out, the area’s place.” The scene on the label is a topography is a unique montage depicting the elements of factor in promoting sun, wind, earth and rain that extremely healthy and combine in just the right mix, to productive vineyards. produce the area’s unique climate. Along the coastal area of Santa Barbara The winery’s first wines were County lies the only produced at other facilities while east/west running their own winery was under A picture perfect Spring day at Zaca Mesa Winery mountain range on the construction. A blended red table in Santa Barbara County. entire length of the wine was released in 1976, followed United States West by a Zinfandel in 1977. By 1978, Coast. On either side of they had completed construction of Ruben Metler, former Chairman Santa Barbara, the mountains pick their own winery and added their of TRW; and Walter Pearson, up the usual north/south pattern first Chardonnay to the line-up. former Chairman of Amoco. All that continues on in their Through the 1970s and early were to be passive investors, except respective directions. The 1980s Zaca Mesa Winery for Lou who lived in the Santa unique east/west landform quickly grew in size, adding Barbara area, and who was tapped phenomenon in Santa Barbara wines at a dizzying pace. In to manage the project. County, called the 1986, a nearby 630 acre vineyard named Sierra They purchased the land that Transverse Range, allows Madre, was purchased, same year. Immediately, 214 acres the funneling of ocean further increasing was transformed and divided into air into an otherwise grape production four distinct vineyards they named potentially hot and allowing Chapel, Fox Run, Misty Ridge, and terrain. This even more Windmill. Early emphasis was geography creates varietals to be primarily on Zinfandel, Sauvignon warm sunny days added. By the Blanc, Riesling and Cabernet and cool breezy mid-1980s Sauvignon. (Each vineyard has since nights that Zaca Mesa was been fine-tuned and planted to produce producing other, more suitable varietals as more near-perfect nearly 95,000 was learned about the soil and temperature cases per year microclimate.) The grapes initially variations, ideal and distributed grown were in demand and easily for varietals in 35 states. sold on the bulk market. For several such as Pinot Noir, years as the vines matured, the entire Ironically, Chardonnay harvest was routinely sold to other this quick and Rhone vintners. growth style grapes. Steven Roberto was named Zaca Mesa Director of Winemaking earlier this year.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 4 brought on by the winery’s success Cushman and his twin brother Lou primarily, Syrah. Smaller amounts had also begun to muddy the focus bought out all of the other Zaca of other Rhone-style wines such as of the operation. There were too Mesa shareholders in 1989. John Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, many varietals trying to cover too then rolled up his sleeves and began Roussanne and Viognier were much ground. There were low making strategic changes to help gradually planted. All of these priced, medium priced and high ensure the winery’s longevity. varietals had already proved highly priced wines, all more or less compatible with the area’s unique competing with each other, and All of the varietals not suited to microclimate. confusing retailers and consumers. the microclimate were gradually The wines were terrific, but these eliminated. This meant a concentration “Changing direction for a confusing signals were a detriment on fewer varietals with which to winery is like turning around a to the winery’s sales. produce higher quality wines. A battleship!” quips John Cushman. decision was made to focus heavily “You can’t do it as quick as you’d Knowing a change was needed into three main areas-Chardonnay, like.” Indeed. It takes valuable time in order to get it back on track, John Pinot Noir and Rhone-style wines, Continued on page 6 LATE BREAKING NEWS... DNA Test Finds Zaca Mesa Roussanne to be Viognier! LOS OLIVOS, CA (Aug 23, 2000)—Vines in Zaca Mesa Winery’s Zaca Vineyards thought to be the variety Roussanne have been found to be the variety Viognier through DNA testing conducted at the University of California Davis.

In response to increased industry discussions that some Roussanne vines in California might actually be Viognier, Zaca Mesa sent selected Roussanne cuttings to Dr. Carole Meredith at UC Davis for DNA analysis. While the written report has not been issued, the winery received verbal confirmation from Dr. Meredith that all samples matched the DNA profile of Viognier.

Zaca Mesa’s Roussanne is highly acclaimed. Bon Appetit magazine listed successive vintages among its “Top 50 Wines from Around the Globe” in 1997 and 1998.

In wine competitions, Zaca Mesa’s Roussanne also has received notice. Successive vintages dominated the class in the San Francisco International Wine Competitions in 1997 and 1998, earning Double Gold Medal honors along with being named Best White Wine of Show in 1998. Also in 1998 Zaca Mesa’s Roussanne won a 94 rating and Gold Medal in the California State Fair Wine Competition.

Zaca Mesa first planted Roussanne in 1993 with cuttings purchased from another California vineyard. “There was never any indication that the Roussanne we had planted was anything but Roussanne,” Zaca Mesa President Jeffrey Maiken said. “The clusters and berries most certainly have a different appearance from Viognier we had planted in 1990. And the resulting wines were distinctively different.”

The winery’s experience with its Roussanne and Viognier, along with the DNA results, has caused Zaca Mesa to change its belief about the Roussanne in question. “While we now know these vines are not Roussanne, we also know they are quite different from our other Viognier plantings, which leads us to believe that they are actually a separate and unique clone of Viognier,” Maiken said. “The vineyard where the cuttings originated no longer exists, but this exceptional clone now resides at Zaca Mesa. Unfortunately, DNA testing cannot distinguish clonal variations.”

Regardless, the information hasn’t dampened Zaca Mesa’s enthusiasm for Roussanne, according to Maiken. “The same wine that has been critically acclaimed as ‘Roussanne’ will still be acclaimed, but now as Viognier,” he said.

Editor’s Note: The Wine Wizard will return next month. We thought members would be intrigued with this bit of late breaking news. Could this mean that the 1999 Roussanne (Viognier) is now a collector’s item?

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

GRILLED ANTELOPE LOIN Build a fire using good aromatic wood. (We, of course, like oak.) WITH CRACKED PEPPER ’N Prepare the crust: In a small mixing bowl combine coffee, pepper, COFFEE CRUST sugar, sage, garlic and shallot. Add Canola oil and mix to a paste- like consistency. 3 pounds antelope/venison/buffalo loin Generously season antelope loin with kosher salt. Using a palette (You know what? A beef ribeye or any strip knife or a small rubber spatula, spread the coffee paste all over the steak will work, too.) antelope loin. 2 ounces drip grind coffee Push most of the coals of your prepared wood fire over to one side of (We’ve found mocha java to be particularly tasty.) the grill. Place antelope loin on the other side of the grill so that 1 ounce freshly cracked pepper you are getting a nice indirect heat and are not burning the coffee 1 tablespoon Brown sugar pepper mixture. Grill for approximately 4 minutes on either side 6 sage leaves, roughly chopped for a nice medium rare. Let the meat “rest” for about five minutes 2 cloves garlic, minced after grilling then slice thinly and serve. 2 shallots, minced Grilled Portobello mushrooms would be very good with this. 4 ounces Canola oil The wine: 1997 Zaca Mesa Mariposa Vineyard Syrah. Kosher salt

Continued from page 5 number of successful, independent- Winery; Jim Clendenen, co-owner thinking winemakers who have gone of Au Bon Climat; Adam Tolmach, to graft new varietals. It took several on to carve their own niche in the owner of Ojai Winery; Lane Tanner, years of hands-on management by wine business. The alumni includes owner of Lane Tanner Wines; Bob the Cushman brothers to get the Ken Brown, who later started Byron Lindquist, owner of Qupe Winery; winery turned around in the right direction. By early 1993, a new yet seasoned management team was in place to continue steering in the winery’s new direction. Jeff Maiken, a long-time beverage industry professional, was brought in as President and General Manager. He joined Jeff Fiolek, VP of Sales and Marketing, who had an extensive wine industry background, and had come aboard several years earlier.

Zaca Mesa today stands strong as one of the original pioneers of Santa Barbara County winemaking. Over the years, the winery has A rare snowstorm in 1999 blankets the winery property in the Santa Ynez Valley. “graduated” an uncommonly high

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

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

Bargetto—1999 Dolcetto Bargetto—1999 Pinot Grigio

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 97% 3% 0% RESULTS: 95% 5% 0%

Alterra—1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Moss Creek—1996 Chardonnay

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 93% 6% 1% RESULTS: 89% 7% 4%

Monterey Peninsula—1997 Pinot Noir Monterey Peninsula—1997 Res. Chardonnay

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 90% 5% 5% RESULTS: 92% 6% 2%

Indian Springs—1997 Cabernet Franc Indian Springs—1998 Chardonnay

MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE MEDALS:GOLD SILVER BRONZE RESULTS: 92% 5% 3% RESULTS: 89% 6% 5%

The above wines were recently featured. Due to space limitations the entire list of available wines is not listed—please call to inquire about other previous favorites. Indicates wine is still available

and most recently Daniel Gehrs, who ventured-out in 1992 to start his own brand of wines. All of these former Zaca Mesa artisans are part of a new breed of exciting winemakers to closely watch.

Since reaching a production plateau in the mid-1980s, Zaca Mesa has scaled back down to 50,000 cases annually. The focus during the past decade has been on further developing their Chardonnay program, as well as their Rhone style wines such as Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. This month’s featured wines, exemplify the new Zaca Mesa—solid, lots of finesse and a bright future. Not to worry, dear, it’s for medicinal purposes!

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club Page 7 TTHEHE GGRAPEVINERAPEVINE Comments from us and Club members Wow! Were we taken by surprise! Our August feature of the Bargetto Winery 1999 Dolcetto and 1999 Pinot Grigio have been unbelievably popular. The flood of calls from members requesting more of both wines really threw us for a loop. As a result, the Dolcetto and the Pinot Grigio are gone. These two great wines were produced in very limited quantities so there is not a drop left anywhere. We got the message though, we’ll be on the lookout for more Italian varietals—especially Dolcettos and Pinot Grigios! (In fact, next month we will showcase another great Italian style wine.)

Also, next month we’ll announce the winner of the 3rd quarter drawing for a bonus half-case.

I loved the deep, dark color and overall [The Bargetto 1999 Dolcetto is]. One of [The Bargetto 1999 Dolcetto was] One taste and smoothness [of the Alterra the best wines we have received. We of the best wines I have had in a long 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon]! already reordered a full case! time! —Joel A. Krackow, Score 51 —Mr. & Mrs. John Jelinek., Score 51 —Paul V. Bullis, Score 55

[The Monterey Peninsula 1997 Reserve [The Bargetto 1999 Dolcetto] Aroma is [The Moss Creek 1996 Chardonnay Chardonnay had a ] Very smooth and unparalleled! had a] Very mild taste. This wine would pleasant aftertaste. We ordered one case. —Dennis Miller, Score 41 be an excellent accompaniment to just Can’t wait to receive it! about anything! —Mary E. Newton, Score 44 —Linda DeAngelo, Score 45

Maximum score is 55. Members who send in their wine ratings on the provided Scoresheets are eligible to receive a bonus half-case of any Gold Medal Series wine that is in stock if your name is drawn. Drawings are held 4 times a year at the end of each quarter. (Maximum of one Scoresheet per wine per membership)…GMWC

REORDER If you’re reading this section, chances are you’ve already tried one or both of these wonderful Rhone wines. Zaca Mesa is a Rhone varietal pioneer and recognized worldwide as one of best. Imagine these two wines with your turkey dinner, mmm mmm!

Retail Price Club Price Club Price ZACA MESA WINERY Winery-Direct 2-Bottle Members 4-Bottle Members

1997 Syrah* Half Case-6 $120 $84 (30% Off ) $77 (36% Off ) Mariposa Vineyard Full Case-12 $240 $154 (36% Off ) $140 (42% Off )

1999 Roussanne* Half Case-6 $99 $76 (23% Off ) $70 (29% Off ) Zaca Vineyards Full Case-12 $198 $141 (29% Off ) $130 (34% Off ) Reorder Hotline: 1-800-266-8888 Reorder Faxline: 1-800-266-8889 E-Mail: [email protected] *Availability is extremely limited. Note: Tax & shipping are not included in the above prices. Call for details.

1-800-266-8888 Gold Medal Wine Club • 3463 State Street # 280 • Santa Barbara • California • 93105 Page 8