WOMC-News407 3/22/07 1:13 PM Page 1 NEWS FROM WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB Since 1972 April, 2007 Wines evaluated last month: 135 Rejected: 105 Approved: 30 Selected: 8 ature’s chaotic 2004, Gum Bear, Cab/Shiraz/ What’s New burst of spring Merlot. Coonawarra, growth and Australia This Month color makes The loveable Australian Koala see page 2 for a lot of lives in the gum trees Nweeding and thinning. We throughout Australia; hence, select seeds and plants their nickname "gum bears.” for our gardens. Political This award-winning wine has Send Us Your candidates arrive on the fascinating mulberry and e-mail Address! scene; some to be kept cherry flavors that will drink and some to be set aside. now or cellar very well. send to: Basketball teams and [email protected] singers play their best only LIMITED SERIES to drop from the field. This month’s wine testing was in 2003, York Mountain, Pinot the spirit of the Spring Noir. Paso Robles, California season. We tasted over 130 The York Mountain appellation Home Wine wines, and we narrowed is one of the smallest Tasting Parties! our list to a final eight recognized appellations in selections for you. Here’s to California. This Pinot Noir see page 11 captures the unique terroir, and April’s winners! the charm of the York Mountain Winery, which is the oldest REGULAR SERIES winery in continuous operation 2004, Peralta, Chardonnay. in Central Coast California. Gift Assortments Central Coast, California 2003, Kunde, Cabernet see page 9 The Peralta Family Winery Sauvignon. Sonoma, has a well-defined strategy California of producing wines of Imagine flavors of black cherry quality and balance at and velvety chocolate. No, it’s New Member prices that are affordable not fine candy, but something Application for everyday consumption. better—the 2003 Kunde for a Friend Their Chardonnay certainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Pour a meets their criteria. From glass while you are grilling see page 15 their family to yours, and prepare for another “Salude!” memorable dinner. INSIDE THIS MONTH WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB NEWS 1 ORDER FORMS 7–10 WHAT’S NEW?2UPCOMING EVENTS 11 REG. CHARDONNAY, 2004. PERALTA 3 MEMBER COMMENTS 12 REG. CAB/SHIRAZ/MERLOT, 2004. GUM BEAR 4 ADVENTURES IN GOOD FOOD 13 LTD. PINOT NOIR, 2003. YORK MOUNTAIN 5 REGULAR & LTD TASTING NOTES 11, 14 LTD. CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2003. KUNDE 6 WORD ON THE STREET 16 Join us on the Web: www.WineoftheMonthClub.com WOMC-News407 3/22/07 1:13 PM Page 2 A NOTE WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH? FROM YOUR CELLARMASTER Here we go. The wines just keep "pouring in here" (pun intended.) In the wine world there is "overproduction" and a "glut." When Charles Shaw started their miracle run at the $1.99 wine business, there was a clear-cut glut of wine. This means that not only is wine sitting in tanks waiting to be bottled (sometimes two vintages Paul Kalemkiarian ago), there are grapes hanging on the vine that may never be picked. Literally, many vineyards We had such a great time at that don't have contracts won't even pick their the Las Vegas Wine Dinner! grapes when there is a clear-cut "glut." I encourage all of you to Overproduction is different. The wine industry in California has had overproduction for four take a break and visit us years now and 2006 is about the same. However, at our next dinner. We overproduction is not as serious as a glut and the celebrated three birthdays bottom line is that you might see a slight fall in prices or a few more sale stacks at your favorite and a retirement! wine shop. This is not a "severe" situation. It is like the housing market. People are panicking See you at the next one! because their house isn't selling in a week like a year ago, but it will sell in a few weeks (which under normal circumstances, is perfectly fine). The bottom line is that we are seeing more wines than usual and some wines that otherwise would Paul Kalemkiarian have been unaffordable are being offered to us for this vintage only to clear out inventory. In other words, "We Win!" Membership in THE WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB is open to anyone with an interest in and an appreciation for superb wines... and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE. For more info write: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB P.O. Box 660220, Arcadia, CA 91066 Or call: 1-800-949-WINE (9463) or (626) 303-1690 FAX: (626) 303-2597 Visit us at: www.WineoftheMonthClub.com Newsletter written by: Elizabeth Schweitzer, Master Sommelier 2 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com WOMC-News407 3/22/07 1:13 PM Page 3 DOMESTIC SELECTION he Peralta Adobe buyers will buy not just one, in San Jose, but two bottles. They keep California, is their prices low by having T city’s oldest some of the lowest per-case home. Now a historical profits in the industry. Their landmark, the 1797 structure business strategy is that is what stands from El competitive pricing of good Pueblo de San José de wine will drive sales. Guadalupe. Luis Peralta lived in the adobe when he The 2004 Peralta ran the government of San Chardonnay is a wine that Jose from 1807 to 1822. you can appreciate for its 2004 Peralta became a prominent delicious taste and good member of the community, value. About 90% of the Peralta a public official and grape grapes are from the Scheid grower. The Peralta Wine vineyards in Monterey, one Chardonnay Company is named after of the coolest areas in (shar-doe-nay) great grandmother, Rosalie California. The other 10% are Peralta, who is a descendant from Santa Barbara County. Central Coast of Luis Peralta. “Our goal at These are grapes usually California Peralta Winery is to preserve found in far more expensive the heritage of our ancestors wines. Forget the cork— Color: and keep their name and Peralta wines are bottled Medium straw their dedication in tact,” using modern screw caps Nose: says winemaker and blender to insure quality and Clean grapefruit, Ed Masciana. drinkability. The color of tropical fruit, this Chardonnay is medium ripe apple Ed Masciana knows that straw. The nose is clean and history and wine need to be fresh with grapefruit and Palate: appreciated. He says, “What tropical fruit. The palate is Soft, creamy, good is a great wine if no soft and creamy with ripe ripe apple, one can afford it?” Peralta apple fruit, citrus and hints butterscotch, vanilla Family Wine Company’s of butterscotch and vanilla. Finish: focus is to make wines of The finish is balanced and Balanced and such great quality and lingering. This is great with lingering competitive prices that most crab salad or lobster ravioli. CELLARING SUGGESTIONS 407A Retail Price: $13.99/each Special Member Price: $8.99/each Drink now Reorder Price: $5.99/each slightly chilled 57% Discount $71.88/case 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com 3 WOMC-News407 3/22/07 1:13 PM Page 4 IMPORTED SELECTION oonawarra is region. By farming his an aboriginal own vineyards he has the word for opportunity to influence the C “honeysuckle.” quality and characteristics of Coonawara is a relatively his harvest. His winemaker, isolated area half-way Roger Harbord, holds a between Melbourne and degree in Oenology from Adelaide. Isolated but not Roseworthy Agricultural unknown, Coonawarra is College, and has over 22 arguably Australia’s best years of winemaking red wine growing region. experience. He has a It has been producing reputation for making wines award-winning wines year that are approachable, well after year both locally and structured, and affordable. internationally. Roger has been awarded over 540 awards and Coonawarra is famous for trophies for his wines. 2004 the band of Terra Rossa soil that runs through the Roger relies on his Gum Bear region. The cigar shaped experience to bring out the strip is covered with red best of three varieties in this Cabernet/ earth, which is covered by 2004 Gum Bear wine. The Shiraz/Merlot calcrete, which is covered Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, (ka-bur-nay/shear-ahz by limestone. The other and Merlot grapes were all /mare-low) important feature of the harvested and fermented region is the climate. The separately, then blended Coonawarra Coonawarra region is artfully under Roger’s Australia inland from the Southern careful watch. The result is (Antarctic) Ocean and the a wine of medium crimson Color: climate is cool to moderate— color. The nose is aggressive Brilliant plum red much like the Bordeaux with intense plum, spice, Nose: region in France. What sets and floral. The palate is fresh Fresh plum, it apart is the cloud cover with blackberry, plums and spice, floral during ripening. The clouds spice. The oak is integrated Palate: create a long, cool, extended and the finish is long and Medium-bodied, ripening season that allows fruity. This is an appealing well-balanced, the fruit to gain flavor, wine to drink now with mulberry, cherry, acidity, and complexity. venison, or duck with persistent tannins juniper berries, but it will Rex Watson is the largest also cellar through at Finish: independent grape grower least 2010. Long and fruity in this world-famous CELLARING SUGGESTIONS 407B Retail Price: $12.99/each Special Member Price: $9.99/each Enjoy now or Reorder Price: $6.99/each cellar through 2010 47% Discount $83.88/case 4 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com WOMC-News407 3/22/07 1:13 PM Page 5 IMITED ERIES L S SELECTION n a tiny corner of the York Mountain appellation world, tucked in the is one of the smallest mountains between AVAs (American Viticultural I Cambria and Paso Areas) in California.