VOLUME 23 N O 2 {2010} PAGE SAUVIGNON BLANC 01 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008, Gamble Family Vineyards . 6 02 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, Merry Edwards Winery . 7 03 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, Heitz Cellar . 8 CHARDONNAY 04 CHARDONNAY 2007, Château Montelena . 9 05 CHARDONNAY RUSSIAN RIVER SELECTION 2007, Gary Farrell Winery . 10 06 CHARDONNAY 2006, Chalk Hill . 11 PINOT NOIR 07 PINOT NOIR DIERBERG 2006, Dierberg Estate Vineyard . 12 08 PINOT NOIR RUSSIAN RIVER SELECTION 2007, Gary Farrell Winery . 13 09 PINOT NOIR JCB No. 7 2006, Boisset Family Estates. 14 10 PINOT NOIR MIGRATION 2007, Duckhorn Wine Company. 15 SYRAH AND PETITE SIRAH 11 PETITE SIRAH CUPA GRANDIS 2005, Eos Estate Winery . 16 12 PETITE SIRAH 2006, Outpost Winery . 17 13 SYRAH HUDSON VINEYARD 2007, Arnot-Roberts Winery . 18 ZINFANDEL 14 ZINFANDEL OLD VINE 2007, Seghesio Family Vineyards . 19 15 ZINFANDEL BRAZIN OLD VINE 2007, Brazin Cellars . 20 16 ZINFANDEL DE LOACH 2008, Boisset Family Estates . 21 17 ZINFANDEL 2006, Heitz Cellar . 22 { Table of contents } PAGE MERLOT AND CABERNET SAUVIGNON 18 MERLOT CANDOR, Hope Family . 23 19 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Grgich Hills Estate . 24 20 CABERNET SAUVIGNON FAY 2006, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars . 25 21 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006, Sequoia Grove Vineyards. 26 22 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Silverado Vineyards . 27 23 CABERNET SAUVIGNON BARRELLI CREEK 2006, Gallo Family . 28 24 CABERNET SAUVIGNON TANBARK HILL 2007, Philip Togni Vineyard . 29 25 CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE TABLE 2007, Once Wines. 30 26 PROPRIETARY 2006, Roy Estate . 31 27 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Peter Franus. 32 28 CABERNET SAUVIGNON CAMIANA 2005, Blue Hall Vineyard . 33 29 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Paradigm Winery . 34 BLENDS 30 ÉLU 2005, St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery. 35 31 CÔTE DE LUNE ROUGE 2006, Arrowood Winery. 36 32 SIGNATURE 2006, Vina Robles. 37 33 DEEP SEA 2008, Conway Family Wines . 38 34 PARADUXX 2006, Duckhorn Wine Company . 39 35 ORACLE 2005, Miner Family . 40 36 AIA 2007, Miner Family. 41 { Legend } Le Courrier vinicole has put together this guide as a suggestion only. All wines can be consumed immediately, but as this guide indicates, some can be kept for years to come. It simply depends on your personal preference and taste. Note that the suggestions presented assume favourable storage conditions. Quantity of 0000 bottles available JH Jessica Harnois Red wine Drink now WA Wine Advocate Drink now or store Excellent value—a White wine WS Wine Spectator product worth Store discovering Dear enthusiasts, This year, the SAQ Signature team is innovating by offering a new addition to the Courrier vinicole family: the Courrier vinicole Express, an exclusive online edition dedicated to New World products. For the fi rst issue, we are offering California wines as a tribute to last April’s vineyard tour, one of the many activities organized by Les Services SAQ Signature, when we toured the beautiful vineyards of Napa and Sonoma discovering remarkable wines. The Courrier vinicole Express is our way of sharing these discoveries with you, with a selection of wines from acclaimed estates including Arrowood, Duckhorn and Heitz. Only 36 products, exclusive to our online edition, are available for purchase by ordering at saq.com/courriervinicole/en. You have until mid-July to place an order. The Express edition is available in addition to the three regular Courrier vinicole catalogues you receive by mail over the course of the year, allocated as usual by random draw. With the Courrier vinicole Express, products will be distributed on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis. Finally, to cap it all off, we would like to invite you to meet some of the California vintners when they come to Montréal on October 14. Les Services SAQ Signature has organized an exclusive event in association with the Napa Valley Vintners Association—an event not to be missed! Make the most of your summer by sampling the magnifi cent selection of wines from sunny California. We hope you enjoy your new discoveries! Jessica Harnois, Sommelier {01} SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008, Gamble Family Vineyards YOUNTVILLE, NAPA VALLEY History: The vines grow on a 12-acre site located in the geographical centre of the Napa Valley, in the northern zone of the Yountville appellation. The site is nestled between mountains to the east and west, and bordered by two rivers. Sauvignon Blanc thrives in this hot climate that helps reveal its full fl avour, with the cooler breezes providing good balance and sharpness. Nose and palate: A surprising wine, fresh and inviting, that treats the nose to hints of apricot, honeysuckle, Granny Smith apple and melon. Wine enthusiasts will fall in love with its balanced notes of honey, passion fruit, mango and orange. The fi nish is clean and intense, with a delicious, lemony taste. WS 88 JH 89 $2299 900 {02} SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, Merry Edwards Winery RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, SONOMA History: Merry Edwards, the high priestess of Pinot Noir, is a legend in California. Armed with several university degrees, she has worked as a consultant and advisor to many wineries. When she’s on a quest, nothing can stop her. In 1997, she experienced a turning point. She acquired 24 hectares of hillside land in the Russian River Valley. The area is cool and bathed in briny ocean air. Vintage after vintage, her wines exhibit steadfast personality traits and never compromise on quality. She is passionate about Pinot Noir but has a defi nite predilection for Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is removed from its barrels and mixed in the spring, after the grape harvest, then barrelled once again and bottled just prior to the following harvest. This is a serious approach to winemaking that results in frank and rich wines. Nose and palate: This delectable Sauvignon Blanc initially exhibits a complex mix of Golden Delicious apple, sweet crême brûlée and Meyer lemon zest before fresh mineral notes rise to the surface along with aromas of lychee, ripe pineapple and white peach. On the palate, an appetizing combination of richness, balance and freshness. JH 90 $4455 600 {03} SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009, Heitz Cellar NAPA VALLEY History: The Heitz family founded its estate in 1921 at a time when there were fewer than 20 wineries in the Napa Valley. Heitz Cellar, a recognized pioneer in the revitalization of American wine, consists of a thousand acres of vineyards that produce some of the most prestigious wines in the Napa Valley. The vines from which this wine is made were planted in 2000 and are now yielding their full potential. The wine is produced with organically grown grapes at the estate’s Valley Oak Vineyard, located in St. Helena, in the heart of the Napa Valley. Nose and palate: Rich golden colour with an entrancing green shimmer. An aromatic medley of citrus, melon and apricot. On the palate, crisp and pure fruit fl avour, sustained from initial sip to pleasing fi nish. Intense and surprising. JH 91 $2299 900 {04} CHARDONNAY 2007, Château Montelena NAPA VALLEY History: Established in the late 19th century, Château Montelena owes its renown to its 1973 Chardonnay, which beat out the best Burgundies in a comparison tasting. The estate has since achieved worldwide recognition. Château Montelena’s rich history began with Alfred L. Tubbs in 1882, and came to an end with prohibition. A new chapter began with Yort and Jeanie Frank. The couple was inspired by the site, and they excavated a lake with grounds landscaped in the style of Chinese gardens. Today, Jade Lake is considered one of the Napa Valley’s most beautiful sanctuaries, home to a variety of fi sh and wildlife. Another chapter began with James Barrett. Under his leadership, the vineyard was cleared and replanted, and the Château outfi tted with modern winemaking equipment. It is known for regularly producing some of the world’s fi nest wines. Nose and palate: The wine displays an outstanding and lovely golden straw colour. The bouquet is a complex blend of orange blossom, citrus rind and stone fruits of white peach and apricot. The attack ushers in layers of tropical pineapple that give way to toasted hazelnuts and a touch of smoke, while the depths of the nose reveal a pleasant minerality. Then follows a marriage of white melon, green apple and citrus, while subtle notes of oak and vanilla linger at the end of the exceptionally long fi nish. Balance is this wine’s distinguishing feature. It seems to tell a timeless and entrancing story, to be enjoyed eyes shut in reverie. WA 90 JH 91 $5599 240 {05} CHARDONNAY RUSSIAN RIVER SELECTION 2007, Gary Farrell Winery RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, SONOMA History: Founded in 1982, Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery stretches across the summit of a mountain overlooking the Russian River Valley in Sonoma. Nestled in a beautiful setting, it is also a place of great expertise where winemaker Susan Reed creates her wines with an almost overzealous attention to detail and precision. Each stage of the winemaking process refl ects the owners’ strict requirements and is designed to highlight the characteristics of each varietal. Nose and palate: Fresh citrus and caramel aroma, soon followed by nutmeg, baked apple, hazelnut, creamy vanilla and tropical fruit. This spirited and already pleasing wine will nonetheless benefi t from a little cellaring. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the wine has good body and agreeably balanced acidity. WS 88 JH 90 $3399 900 {06} CHARDONNAY 2006, Chalk Hill RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, SONOMA History: Perched on the summit of the Russian River, Chalk Hill is a family business managed by its owner, Fred Furth. Located among the wild hills forming the estate, less than several hundred acres form a mosaic of vineyards spread out across rocky and sandy soils.