WOMC-News7/06 7/24/06 8:49 AM Page 1 NEWS FROM WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB Since 1972 August, 2006 Wines evaluated last month: 151 Rejected: 108 Approved: 43 Selected: 6 e welcome industry in Australia. This What’s New August as wine is another great the intensity example of Shiraz; rich in This Month of summer aromatics and mouth-feel, see page 2 W begins to wane. The wines the fruit is deep, ripe and it for this month are sure to is overall delicious. enhance all your summer parties and recipes. We LIMITED SERIES Send Us Your found some new and fun 2003 Tempranillo, e-mail Address! wines; White Merlot and Finca Sobreno, send to: Tempranillo, as well as Toro, Spain [email protected] the classics – Shiraz and There is a saying in Spain: Zinfandel. Enjoy! ‘tomando vino de Toro, mas que comer devoro’ – REGULAR SERIES drinking Toro wine is Congratulations to 2005 Cardiff, more devouring than Amy P. of Modesto, CA! White Merlot, eating. Well, we think that She is our Comment California you will devour this wine, Card winner of a Some say that White as it is as delicious as it is Merlot is on the way to reasonably priced. 3-Liter Bottle of wine. becoming the next big hit in the United States. We 2004 Zinfandel, are on the case with this Amazin X Winery, Gift Assortments appealing, unpretentious, Russian River Valley, see page 9 good summer quaffer. It is California a “must have” for all your The Zinfandel grape summer dining. makes world-class wines for daily enjoyment. If you New Member 2003 Shiraz, Rosenblum, enjoy wine, food, friends Application Mc Laren Vale, and family you will Australia certainly enjoy this for a Friend For much of the 20th Amazin wine from the see page 15 century, Shiraz has been Russian River Valley. the backbone of the wine INSIDE THIS MONTH WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB NEWS 1 ORDER FORMS 7–10 WHAT’S NEW?2UPCOMING EVENTS 11 REG. WHITE MERLOT, 2005. CARDIFF 3 WINE SHOPPE 12 REG. SHIRAZ, 2003. ROSENBLUM 4 ADVENTURES IN GOOD FOOD 13 LTD. TEMPRANILLO, 2003. FINCA SOBRENO 5 REGULAR & LTD TASTING NOTES 11, 14 LTD. ZINFANDEL, 2004. AMAZIN 6 WORD ON THE STREET 16 Join us on the Web: www.WineoftheMonthClub.com WOMC-News7/06 7/24/06 8:49 AM Page 2 A NOTE WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH? FROM YOUR CELLARMASTER I should be more nationalistic. I should be more patriotic. I should be more in love with my ancestral country, Armenia. But I am not. Don’t get me wrong. We had a great time in the country. We were with lots of friends and saw some pretty amazing churches and sites. But as Joni Mitchell said, “You don’t know what Paul Kalemkiarian you’ve got until it’s gone,” life in a developing communist country is trying. Yes, a small Is it too hot? This weather in water bottle is only 30 cents and cigarettes are California is unbelievable. only $1, but a bartender only makes $200.00US Well, there are a few ways a month! Let me tell you about the wine. For to beat the heat. Slow the most part, it was awful. They have an down, wear light clothes and indigenous grape called Areni (r-n-ee). They have an early evening glass of this month's Rose use the grape for dry and sweet wine and I style wines. The Cardiff suppose it would make a decent wine if White Merlot (Regular vented properly. There was one bottle that was Series) is awesome for that palatable. It would never make the grade at chilled fruit. And the Iron Wine of the Month Club, but at least you Horse Rosato (Vintner didn’t immediately cough it up. So, my Series) is so complex; it goes buddies and I bought two bottles of this fine as an aperitif and as a wine and took it back to the hotel. Low dinner wine. and behold, when we went to drink them, Salud! they both had gone through secondary fermentation and turned into yeast, red vinegar champagne! Yuck! Anyway, at least my accountant was on the trip with us, maybe Paul Kalemkiarian he’d let me write it off! Membership in THE WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB and THE LIMITED SERIES 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-News7/06 7/24/06 8:49 AM Page 3 DOMESTIC SELECTION e all pretty harvested for this wine much know from some of the oldest the basics Merlot plantings in W about Merlot; Monterey County. 2005 was it is a red grape varietal that a spectacular vintage year produces easy-to- drink, for this area, so excellent soft, and fleshy wines. But, fruit was abundant. The what exactly is White juice was crushed and Merlot? White Merlot is fermented all in stainless made the same way as its steel. The wine has not famous cousin, White encountered any oak at all. 2005 Zinfandel and the wine is What is the result of a Merlot made the same way except without oak? A wine that is Cardiff that Merlot grapes are used fresh, fruity and appealing. instead of Zinfandel grapes. Vineyards When making standard The Cardiff White Merlot Merlot, the pressed juice has a beautiful pink color. White Merlot steeps with the grapes skins The nose is exuberant with (hwi¯t mare-lo) for a deep red color. smells of cotton candy, Remember, that all red wines peppermint, watermelon, California get their color from the and fresh picked straw- grape skins, not the juice. In berries. On the palate, the Color: wine is semi-dry, with just a the case of White Merlot, the Bright pink juice was only with the skins hint of sweet fruit, cherries, raspberries and crisp acidity. for a few brief moments, Nose: yielding a lighter color and You will find this a perfect Cotton candy, body. This blush wine is the summer sipper without perfect antidote for these breaking the bank. This is watermelon, cherry warm summer evenings and also a very food-friendly for pairing with our lighter wine and would love to sit Palate: summertime recipes. on the table with spicy Asian Semi-dry, crisp dishes, Thai curry, grilled acidity, strawberries, Cardiff Vineyards is located salmon, BBQ Chicken, red in the southern corner snapper or baked ham. On sweet fruit of Monterey County in page 13, Adventures in California. Their wine- Food, we have it paired with Finish: making goes back over 30 Cajun Marinated Chicken. Soft crisp finish years. Only the ripest Absolutely delicious! bunches of fruit were CELLARING SUGGESTIONS 806A Retail Price: $10.99/each Special Member Price: $7.99/each Drink now, Reorder Price: $5.99/each not overly chilled 45% Discount $71.88/case 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com 3 WOMC-News7/06 7/24/06 8:49 AM Page 4 IMPORTED SELECTION he invincible and All of these factors are well- remarkable Dr. suited to grape growing. Rosenblum has Shiraz loves the heat and T done it again! Not dryness of the region. It only does he produce a bevy thrives in difficult terrain of high-quality, award- and soils. This wine was winning wines in California, crafted by blending the fruit he has recently branched from three premium vine- out to the ‘Down Under.’ yards, Minchella, Harvey Australia claims Shiraz as its “wits end” Vineyard, and own and the wines made Hillgrove Vineyard. from the Shiraz grape in Australia are the most The three lots were delicious in the world. So, it harvested and fermented stands to reason that when separately at the peak of 2003 Rosenblum wanted to try his ripeness. They were blended Rosenblum hand at making a Shiraz, he in Southern Australia and ventured to Australia. The then shipped to America. Jingalu region of McLaren Vale has Once in the United States, Shiraz had grapes planted there the wine was racked in new (shear- ahz) since 1838. It is bordered by barrels from the Rosenblum the city of Adelaide to the barrel collection. The label is McLaren Vale east, Sellicks Hill Range to made by a famed Aboriginal South Australia the south and the Gulf of St. artist named Jingalu. Vincent to the west. These Color: varying exposures cause The wine has a vibrant, dark Dark purple red many different climatic purple red color. The nose Nose: conditions. The cooling has intense sweet toasty oak Plum, black currant, influence of the water, the notes and perfumed smells blackberry of black currant, spice, and altitude of the hills, low Palate: rainfall and heat make it an blackberry. This is a deep, chewy, full-bodied wine Full-bodied, sweet ideal environment for many toasty oak, velvety with plenty of structure and grape varieties. There is also texture, deep, chewy a wide variety of soil types, flavors of deep, ripe red Finish: red sandy loam, grey loam, fruits. The finish is just end- Dry, lengthy finish sand, lime, and black loam. less. This wine is a keeper. CELLARING SUGGESTIONS 806B Retail Price: $19.99/each Special Member Price: $10.99/each Enjoy over the Reorder Price: $7.99/each next 7-8 years 60% Discount $95.88/case 4 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com WOMC-News7/06 7/24/06 8:49 AM Page 5 IMITED ERIES L S SELECTION n the early 1990’s, a in Spain.