WOMC-News10/06 9/25/06 9:34 AM Page 1 NEWS FROM WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB Since 1972 October, 2006 Wines evaluated last month: 123 Rejected: 98 Approved: 25 Selected: 6 id you know go all the way to the south Getting Ready for that nearly two of the world to bring you billion dollars another great wine from the Holidays worth of “del fin del mundo” the see page 2 Halloween end of the world. Fresh Dcandy is sold every year in and fruity with no signs of the United States? Not to oak, this is a wine to drink worry, you will never now with your favorite Send Us Your spend that much on friends and beef dishes. e-mail Address! wine and this month’s selections are just as LIMITED SERIES send to: delicious and more so, 2001, Finca Koch, [email protected] than any candy. Cabernet Sauvignon, REGULAR SERIES Mendoza, Argentina At Finca Koch, they have a Congratulations to 2005, Bliss, Chardonnay, passion for wine. They Amy P. of Modesto, CA! Mendocino, California love the excitement of each Music has been a part of She is our Comment vintage and the product it the Bliss family for three produces. They want to Card winner of a generations. They imparted share their joy with you 3-Liter Bottle of wine. a love of music in their and hope that their wine three daughters that has provides you with many been passed down. enjoyable moments. Whether it’s classical, Gift Assortments country or jazz, it sets the 2005, Grayson, Merlot, stage. “It evokes emotions. see page 9 Paso Robles, California The music you love with a glass of wine, a good meal The team at Grayson and friends.” invites you to experience first-rate quality wine at New Member 2005, SouthernMost, incredibly reasonable Application Cabernet pricing. This is Paso Robles for a Friend Sauvignon/Merlot at its red-wine best, soft Patagonia, Argentina and full of high-priced lus- see page 15 How low would you go for ciousness. It is irresistible a great glass of wine? We and a super value. INSIDE THIS MONTH WINEOFTHEMONTH CLUB NEWS 1 ORDER FORMS 7–10 WHAT’S NEW?2UPCOMING EVENTS 11 REG. CHARDONNAY, 2005. BLISS 3 WINE SHOPPE 12 REG. CABERNET SAUVIGNON/MERLOT, 2005. SOUTHERNMOST 4 ADVENTURES IN GOOD FOOD 13 LTD. CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2001. FINCA KOCH 5 REGULAR & LTD TASTING NOTES 11, 14 LTD. MERLOT, 2005. GRAYSON 6 WORD ON THE STREET 16 Join us on the Web: www.WineoftheMonthClub.com WOMC-News10/06 9/25/06 9:34 AM Page 2 A NOTE WE’RE READY FOR THE FROM YOUR HOLIDAYS! ARE YOU? ELLARMASTER C THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING When you give the Wine of the Month Club membership the recipient receives a wonderful reminder of your generosity every month, not just once a year! If you order soon, the December selection will arrive during the holidays. For the cost of the wine, your co-worker, friend, or business contact will receive two great selections each month, delivered to their door with all the information inside the newsletter to make their enjoyment of the wines that Paul Kalemkiarian much better. One call does it all! CLASSY GIFT BASKETS I cannot believe that we are We have a wide assortment of beautifully arranged thinking about the holidays gift baskets that will fit any taste and budget. You can already. Didn't the kids just select food only, wine only, or food and wine combos. Avoid unpleasant traffic, crowds, parking and get back to school? Well, waiting. Don’t worry about wrapping your gifts or don't panic, we've been the hassles of shipping and insurance. We do it all for you! planning this for a while. The GM here, Diana, has LOOKING GOOD created some amazing Your gift is carefully wrapped in a shiny burgundy baskets for your approval; box with a silver ribbon and delivered with a hand- written gift card. When you send a Wine of the Month of course, we have our Club gift, the recipient receives a beautifully presented traditional wine gifts as well. gift showing your thoughtfulness. "One call will fix it all!" SAVE MONEY You can be assured that your gift has a value beyond Salud! your actual cost. The purchasing power of the Wine of the Month Club is your guarantee that you will always be sending the best for less. We are shipping November and December wines early so you can have them in time for all your holiday gatherings. We encourage you to reorder as soon as Paul Kalemkiarian possible to avoid the last minute rush. 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-News10/06 9/25/06 9:34 AM Page 3 DOMESTIC SELECTION rv Bliss had no idea moderately warm and in 1943 that his Hopland and Ukiah are the dream of making warmest regions. Bliss wine would turn Vineyards is in south I into a world- Hopland where the class winery. Now, three summers are hot and dry generations later, the wines with clear, cool nights; this have won medals in combination produces very competitions all over the ripe fruit with good acidity. country and just keep This southern Mendocino getting better and better. growing area is called Sanel Grape vines, both producing Valley and surrounds the world-quality fruit, now join town of Hopland on the acres of fig trees. Russian River, just before it moves through a narrow Grapes were first planted in canyon south in Sonoma Mendocino in the 1850’s. County. Most Sanel Valley Prohibition nearly stopped vineyards are on the river 2005 Mendocino’s wine trade. plain. The BATF is currently The “wine boom”, beginning in discussion to establish this in the 1960’s, inspired many region as an Approved Bliss growers to Mendocino Viticultural Area. again. Old vineyards were Chardonnay revived and new vineyards The grapes for Bliss (shar-doe-nay) were planted. Local Chardonnay were all hand- wineries began to make picked and whole cluster Mendocino wine with grapes that before pressed. All fermentation were shipped to Sonoma for and ageing was done in California blending. Today, Mendocino stainless steel. Winemaker vineyards and wineries Fred Nickel who has over 20 Color: prosper as the special quality years in the industry says, Clear, honey hue if its wines are becoming “Crafting fine wine means more popular. using grapes of the highest Nose: quality.” The wine pours a Mendocino County is on the clear, honey hue. The nose is Soft, green apple, Pacific Coast and is greatly soft and shy with green pear, butter influenced by the water. apple, pear and butter. On Winds from the ocean in the palate it is medium- Palate: the summer are cool and bodied, very smooth, and Medium-bodied, in the winter, they bring warm with butterscotch, rain. Because of the baked apple, pear. It finishes butterscotch, baked mountain and valley terrain, soft and lengthy. Music apple, pear there are many different played an important part microclimates. Anderson in the life of Irv Bliss. He Finish: Valley is the coolest, Potters urges you to uncork the Classic, age worthy Valley, Yorkville Highlands bottle, turn on some music and Redwood Valley are and enjoy. CELLARING SUGGESTIONS 1006A Retail Price: $11.00/each Special Member Price: $7.99/each Drink now Reorder Price: $5.99/each 46% Discount $71.88/case 1-800-949-WINE • www.wineofthemonthclub.com 3 WOMC-News10/06 9/25/06 9:34 AM Page 4 IMPORTED SELECTION he word pest-free, but they can be ‘Patagonia’, like damaging to the vines so Mandalay or poplar trees were planted to Timbuktu, has break the strong winds that T lodged itself in the blow through the area. With Western imagination as a this kind of care, attention, word meaning the ultimate, and financial investment, the the very point beyond which dedicated staff make every no one can go. Patagonia is effort to produce wine that the most southern wine is worthy of all their growing region in the world. ambitions. It has paid off It is emerging as Argentina’s with more than 100 awards 2005 new star for premium vines at competitions throughout and wines. The government the world. Southern has also become involved by securing land for grape All the grapes are hand- Most growing only so oil and harvested and handled gently from the field to the Cabernet natural gas companies Sauvignon/ cannot work or build there. stainless steel fermentation Within Patagonia, the tanks. Winemaker Marcelos Merlot Neuquen region has its Miras is serious, intelligent (ka-bur-nay saw-veehn-yawn / leading producer, Bodega and resourceful. His goal mare-low) del Fin Del Mundo. is to make wine that is Neuquen is in northern delicious as well as affordable. He has certainly Neuquen- Patagonia and is basically a Patagonia desert. Hot days and cool succeeded with this blend of nights are ideal for grape Cabernet Sauvignon and Argentina growing. The lack of water Merlot. The color is a deep ruby red. The nose is Color: to the sandy soil was a Deep ruby problem until each acre was aggressive with red berries, outfitted with a mile’s worth cassis, mulberry and spice.