You may have heard of wines called “Super Tuscans” at some point. Alas, these are not Italian super-heroes…but they are fantastic wines. They hail, of course, from the region of Tuscany in central Italy and their history is one of rebellion greatness.

First, you must understand Italian wine laws. There are several quality-level designations within the Italian wine law that basically dictate which grapes can be grown where, based on historical practices. The name for the highest level of quality (and strictness) is DOC and DOCg—which is Denominacion de Controlatta and Denominacion de Controlatta garantita.

In many parts of Tuscany the grape that is accepted for DOC and DOCg use is the great Sangiovese (which you many know as it makes Chianti). In Tuscany the Sangiovese grape has been established for centuries.

Cabernet Sauvignon has not. Cabernet is a French grape. It does not have a history in Tuscany, or Italy for that matter.

Nonetheless, in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s a group of winemakers started blending the native Sangiovese with the Bordeaux grapes, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The first of these wines was Sassicaia, followed by Tignanello, Ornellaia rounds out the three most famous names in Super Tuscans.

Since these wines were not made according the DOC rules, they had to be labeled as Vin d’Tavolo—that is, table wine. But then something happened, the wines became famous and started commanding very high prices. The Italian government was not pleased that the most expensive wines coming out of Italy were lowly table wines that didn’t follow the rules. So, they went ahead and changed the rules. They called the wines IGT (Indicazione Geographica Tipica) which meant that at least 85% of the grapes for the wine came from the geographic area, in this case, Tuscany.

Winemakers all over the world have followed in the footsteps of the first Super Tuscan producers by planting French varietals and blending them with all kinds of grapes. The Italian government even granted Sassicaia it’s own DOC—the only one for a single vineyard in all of Italy.

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The right bank of the Gironde just doesn’t get the same respect that the other side of the river does. They classified the left bank in 1855, but then they took 99 years to get around to classifying the right bank. The wines of the right bank deserve a little more attention, and people have begun to notice. The right bank is home to several appellations that produce quality wines, mostly red, and a movement towards very small-scale production.

The right bank is known for using Merlot as the main grape in its blend; as opposed to the left bank which is very Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy. The area is home to two very important AOCs: Pomerol and St. Emilion, along with secondary AOCs: Bourge, Blaye and Fronsac amongst many others.

When the French did get to classifying the right bank, they focused their efforts on the commune of St. Emilion, and the AOC which surrounds it. After the survey was complete, they deemed 55 houses to be Grand Cru and 13 to be Premier Grand Cru—a higher classification. The two best producers were given their own category— Premiers Grands Crus Classés A. These top dogs are Ch. Ausone and Ch. Cheval Blanc. (Ch. is a shorthand for Chateau, which is a house in French and is basically a company which makes wine) St. Emilion is bordered by the Pomerol region and the Dordogne River. Here, the climate is a bit wetter and the soils less gravely, conditions which led the region to choose Merlot for its blends. The wines of St. Emilion are rich and are much less dry and austere than the wines of the left bank.

Pomerol is the AOC adjacent to St. Emilion and historically was a white wine producing area. Today though, red grapes Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominate. The area is thought of as being the newcomer to fine wine production in Bordeaux. The soils in the area are quite favorable to wine production, with a gravel base and sand or clay mixed in. While Pomerol has no classification system, the two best producers are very well known: Ch. Petrus and Le Pin. These wines, in some years, sell for more money than any other wine in the world. The wines of Pomerol are generally ready to drink early, a few years after bottling and are rich and gentle, less tannic than left bank wines are almost creamy in texture.

The right bank is home to a trend of microproducers in Bordeaux. These are individuals making wine in their homes or garages from a very small amount of land. The producers are generally called garagistes and the wines “vin de garage,” because most of them operate out of their garage. The movement was a response to perceived international desire for Bordeaux wines that are ready to drink quickly. In general, the wines are red and are much fruitier and softer in style than most other Bordeaux. They can go for extreme prices, are generally made from vines with very low yields. The best is usually considered to be Valandraud.

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Wine Club Insider back with you!

I think, finally, that yes, spring has arrived, as we hit temperatures in the 60s for the first time in what seems like a year, and that means the spring barrel tastings will be happening soon… ummm!

Also today I had a chance to stop in at a relatively new wine shop in Post Falls, Idaho named “Enoteca.” You can visit them at www.corkjoy.com, but just know that they have  terrific selection of wines and craft beers, as well as an awesome wine club. I spent quite a bit of time with Russell, the owner, and was impressed by his knowledge and his enthusiasm.

While there, I was perusing the sparkling wine selection, thinking of my favorite sparkling wine – Schramsberg’s “J Schram” – and when I got home tonight, voila, in my inbox was an email from Schramsberg telling me about their newest offering; a Cabernet Sauvignon named “JD.”

Now, this isn’t a complete departure from bubbly wines, as they make one of my all-time favorite wines, the J. Davies Cab.

Anyhoo, they’ve gone back and made J. a little brother:

“The genesis of jd came about as Hugh Davies and Sean Thompson were re-tasting the barrels of wines remaining after the final blend of 2006 J. Davies. These additional wines were really delicious but did not fit into the style of the first label. When growing grapes on a site as exceptional as our estate Diamond Mountain District historic vineyards, the overall quality is very high, and until the final blending, all wines are treated with the same care. The winemakers started began blending trials, not wanting to part with such great base wines. It is in the process of blending, where winemakers express their creativity and artistry. The results of the blending trials were so compelling that they decided to bottle a small quantity of a second wine. From now on, for each vintage, jd will be released in the spring and J. Davies in the fall. ”

The cool thing is that it’s going to sell for only $40/bottle, and with only 300 cases produced, you’re getting a pretty special wine here.

Check it out!

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

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Wine Club Insider back with you!

Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to go awry? Today was one of those for me; car trouble, work stuff not on sched, wife went out of town… the list goes on, but, as with most days, if you keep a positive attitude, something will happen to straighten it out and make it all worthwhile!

We were supposed to chat about Chardonnay today, but I’m going to take a small departure to share a great find!

While waiting five (5!) hours for my car to get fixed (started as “45 minutes… no probs”) I was invited by my dear friend Debbie of Idaho Wine Merchants to the grand re-opening of Pilgrims Market – www.pilgrimsmarket.com – which has expanded from their original 4000 sq ft to a beautiful 15,000 or so! They offer the best in organic, natural and healthy food, and are doing a wonderful job! They also have a top-notch wine department… and I mean top-notch!

Master Sommelier Sam Lange and his beautiful partner Sara have built up a terrific supply, and have regular tastings on Friday. With the big opening today, they invited one of the inland Northwest’s best “new” wineries to come and pour. New is only relative, since Mike and his partner Greg Lipsker – both attorneys (thus the name!) have been making wine since 2001.

Mike White of Barrister Winery – www.barristerwinery.com- brought a wonderful compliment of wines to share, and we were not disappointed! Now, to digress slightly, I was one of their first tasters after they opened, and even then, their wines – especially the Cab Franc – showed great promise. Well, promise delivered!

I tasted a Klipsum Vineyards Sauv Blanc that was crisp and refreshing, and the moved on to the reds, starting with the ’06 Dwelley vineyard Merlot (smooth, even for being so young) and then getting a chance to re-visit the Cab Franc – this time the ’06. What a wine! Elegant, powerful… everything you would hope for in a Cab Franc! The Syrah is blended with a hint of viognier, giving it a nice acidity. Their Cab is a Big Boy, let me tell you, coming from the famous Bacchus vineyard; rich, tannic, but not overbearing.

Finally, I got to sample the brand new “Rough Justice,” a Merlot, Cab Sauv, Syrah, Cab Franc blend that knocked my socks off! Smooth, jammy, but somehow rich… eminently drinkable, and promising to get better! (I bought 3… 2 survived the evening…:) )

I’ve mentioned Barrister once or twice before, but after this tasting, I must say that they have arrived as one of the best wineries in the northwest; lots of wines, most single vineyard, fairly priced, well-crafted, great fruit, caring vintners… turned my day right around, and I’m looking forward to doing a wine maker’s dinner with Mike and Greg so I can try some more Barrister wines!

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out!

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Wine Club Insider here, wishing you a happy Day after Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great and rewarding holiday… we certainly did, as we hosted all four generations of the family for dinner. The economy is, I think, causing everyone to cut back a bit this year, and so, on this “Christmas of Necessity,” as a family, we decided to give gifts with a more personal touch, whether homemade, or of personal value, and, I’ve got to tell you, it was a delightful day, and the leadup to Christmas, was much more relaxed.

For dinner, I created a “meat pie” with ground turkey, mashed potatoes and veggies wrapped and cooked in a pie shell, accompanied by Yukon Gold potatoes, sauteed butter lettuce and asparagus, all served over a nice red wine reduction.

And the wines… ah, some special treats, both from wineries whose wine clubs we have featured here at Wine Club Journal!

For the main course, we had two very nice wines, that accompanied the meal perfectly. The first was a 2003 David Caffaro Terre Melange, which displayed tons of fruit, but was nicely matured.

The main event of the evening was a 1997 St. Supery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and it was extraordinary! Dry, but not austere, tannins well defined… a marvelous wine!

For dessert, we had a Gold Digger Late Harvest Riesling to accompany a creme brulee-stuffed poached pear in a caramel and creme Anglais sauce… decadent! The wine was crisp, tasting of apples.

After dinner, a few of us shared a glass of Twenty year old Cockburn’s tawny port in my new Riedel “O” port glasses. Ah, what a wine! In all, a most excellent repast.

Today is one of more important days in the annual calender… my birthday. Yes, your Wine Club Insider is celebrating the 26th anniversary of his 21st birthday, and enjoying every second of it!

We’ve got about four feet of snow here, and I’m trying to keep on top of the shoveling, so after digging us out, I’ll get in a bit of a run or perhaps a “snow bike,” and enjoy the day with my beautiful wife.

Tomorrow, we’re going to chat a bit about port, and over the next couple of days, let you in on a few other wine clubs that I think you’ll enjoy.

Until then,

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider.

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Wine Club Insider back, dressed in my tux for themas Final Four wines in our Top Ten cabs for Christmas list! It’s the 23rd if December, and as the weather is getting cooler, the winners of the “contest” keep getting hotter!

Here we go with number four…

4) Pepper Bridge ’05 Cabernet Sauvignon. $50. www.pepperbridge.com.

With a score of 93 from Wine Enthusiast, this is an awesome wine! ‘Deep and brooding,’ is how Stephen Tanzer described it, and I concur. We served this for a winemaker’s dinner a while back to rave reviews!

Their “Bridge Club” wine club sends out their best stuff a couple of times a year, and their winery is great to visit, located in the heart of the Wall Walla area.

3) ’98 Renaissance Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. www.renaissancewinery.com  $65/bottle

This is a penetrating, dimensional and truly elegant wine with great structure and lovely balance. I had a bottle five weeks back, and while it was quite drinkable, I think it will last another 10 – 15 years in the bottle. Renaissance is a great story, and one of my favorite wineries, and I’m going to do a whole post or two on them coming up soon. This could easily been number one or two!

2) ’98 Jarvis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. www.jarviswines.com. $80/bottle. The Inner Circle Club.

In a winery known for amazing wine, this is as good as it gets. This is pretty close to the upper end of my self-imposed cost limit, and well worth it! I’ve already written a bit about Jarvis, but if for no other reason, see if you can snag one of these for the big dinner, and get on a tour. You’ll never forget either one!

Drum roll please…

Here we go with my personal favorite “under $100″ bottle of “Christmas Cab,” and it has a special place in my heart, as it was the first truly great wine I had ever tasted.

Ready? Okay, here goes… and in the number one position…

1) ’94 Silver Oak Alexander Valley. www.silveroak.com. Approx. $85/bottle.

Life truly is a Cabernet for the folks at Silver Oak, and of all their wines, this one remains my favorite. While the winery is sold out of this remarkable vintage, I know you can still get it on auction or on several wine sites like www.hookedonwine.com.

I love this wine. It’s just about perfect for drinking right now. As a matter of fact, I have two bottles left, and I think this will be my main wine for the big dinner… what better way to savor a great wine than with family and friends at Christmas?

Seriously, you just can’t go wrong with ANY of the wines on the list, so choose a few, and enjoy your holiday meal with friends and family! This is what great wine was made for!

Tomorrow, I’m going to share my “dream list” of cabs that you CAN’T get easily (if at all!), generally AREN’T under $100 (or $1000 in some cases), and that I only wish I had been able to taste. Get ready to drool with me!

Until then,

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out.

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Wine Club Insider back with a few more of our Top Ten Cabs for Christmas!

Remember that these are Cabs that won’t break the bank, and are generally available (preferably through a wine club). It’s been fun looking through all my old notes, and going over the 189 cabs on our wine list to choose these gems. I really should have done a “Top 50″ to be honest… there’s at least that many that I can easily come up with that should be on this list, but, well, here we are, so let’s enjoy the ride!

So far, we’ve had the 02 Sterling Diamond Mountain Ranch in at number ten, and the surprising Columbia Crest 05 Reserve in at number nine.

For number eight, we move south. Way south…

00′ Vino de Eyzaguirre de Mostaz from Chile. $16/bottle, International Wine Club.

The first thing you’ll notice about this gem is the sand-coated bottle, which is pretty unique, in my experiece, and makes a great candle holder when you’re finished the wine. The next thing you’ll notice is that the wine is great! Here’s another of the inexpensive wines that will knock your socks off. Parker loved this wine, saying it tastes like a much more expensive wine, and will be credit to any one’s cellar.

It really is something special, with that unique Chilean overtone of currant. You’ll love it.

Now we’ll switch hemispheres.

7) ’02 Mission Hill Reserve, Mission Hill Vineyards, Canada. $28.  www.missionhillwinery.com

Deep, dark, tasty. This joy from Mission Hills in British Columbia’s Okahagan Valley is another great deal. They currently have their 06 on sale, and even though I haven’t reied it yet, if it’s anything like the 02, it’s going to be great!

Their Proprietor’s Wine CLubsends out 4 bottles every quarter, but unfortunately, they don’t ship outside of Canada yet, so bring some back with you on your next trip north!

6) ’03 Isenhower “Tapteil Vineyard,” Walla Walla. $42/bottle, “FOI” Wine club. (www.isenhowercellars.com)

I’ve already talked about my friends Brett and Denise Isenhower, but I saved chatting about this beauty until now. This single vineyard wine is, in a word, huge! This is a BIG mouthful of wine. In my opinion, one of the best cabs Isenhower has ever made. I’m not even sure if they have any left at the winery, but ask around and see if you can scrounge a bottle or six… you won’t be disappointed!

… and my true love gave to me; five golden rings…”

5) If your true love truly loved you, they’d skip the jewelry, and get you a wine club gift from Geyser Peak Winery in Sonoma (www.geyserpeakwinery.com). There would be no better place to start than our number 5 wine; their 2004 Reserve Cabernet at about $30/bottle.

It’s a really deep red, with a good dose of blueberry and blackberry, and maybe a subtle hint of mint.

Their wine club is called the “Cellar Door Club,” and sends out three bottles quarterly. The coolest thing about Geyser Peak, besides being one of the top 10 rated tasting rooms in Sonoma and Napa, is that they really treat their members well at the winery when you visit!

Okay, back tomorrow with the Final Four!

Wine Club Insider out!

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Wine Club Insider back, with only 4 days left before Christmas.

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. It will for sure be a White Christmas here in the northwest… we’ve had a record snowfall over the past three days, with nearly four feet of light, fluffy powder creating a winter wonderland. It is a bit brisk however, with the temperatures hovering around zero as we plow out. I did sit in the hot tub with a warm mug of Gluwein last night though, and if you haven’t sat in a hot tub with the snow falling before, take a trip out and join us… it’s pretty magical!

Okay… back to our Top Ten Wine Club Cabs for Christmas” list.

Now, to clarify… as fun as it is, making any kind of “top” list with wine is hard. There are so many great Cabs out there that to make any kind of real, definitive “Top Ten” list is impossible, so this is, of course, opinion, and has to do with some of the favorites I have tasted lately. This is by no means a slight or a “Best of” attempt… I mean, how do you leave Caymus Special Select off the list? (Actually, I can say it fell outside the price range, but still…

And another point: Blends didn’t count, though I will make a “Top Ten Cab blends/Meritage” list for Christmas day. That’s where you’ll find you Opus and Della Vale Maya.

Back on task, then. So far, in tenth, Sterling Vineyards 2005 Diamond Mountain Ranch Cab.

Now, introducing our ninth place winner…

9) 2003 Columbia Crest Reserve. Columbia Crest Vineyards, $27. Summit Reserve Wine Club. www.columbia-crest.com

Yes, believe it or not, the wine juggernaut of the northwest has created a really approachable, tasty, deep offering, and at $27 a bottle, it is the hands down winner for value vs. taste. This is a wine that if you were tasting it blind, you’d say it was a big ole $100 Napa cab. Winemaker Ray Einberger has done an awesome job with all their wines, but this beauty in particular. Their winery, located in the Horse Heaven Hills (H3) appellation is also one of the most beautiful anywhere.

One thing about having a big winery is that you never get bored as a member of their very nice Summit Reserve wine club. Their quarterly shipments include some of their premium, limited production and library wines, all for $45 – 80 bucks a quarter… a great deal!

Back tomorrow with numbers seven and eight!

Wine Club Insider out.

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Wine Club Insider here.

With only five days to go before Christmas, you re rapidly running out of daylight to get those wine club gifts to your special oeniphiles! You may be down to the beautifully wrapped postcard announcing that “your wine club gift is on its way.”

Even if you don’t plan on doing the whole wine club gift, there are plenty of very nice single bottle gifts that will make any wine lover’s heart go pitter patter, and we’ll talk a bit about those over the next couple of days.

Today, we’re going to kind of set the stage…

Christmas, of all the holidays, is really Cabernet Sauvignon’s Big Day. It is the day, with the rich, savory meals that adorn the Christmas table, that the King of Wines shines, and so, for the next 5 days, Cab is King, and we’ll create a “Top 10″ list of great cabs that will be fitting adornments to any holiday table.

Okay… a couple of house rules…

1) It has to be a wine that someone can actually buy (even if it might take a little work)…

2) Without having to get a second mortgage, which eliminates some of the “cult” big names like Screaming Eagle, which cost more than some college tuitions.

3) Ideally, it should be availble through a wine club.

4) It has to be a pure Cab, or at least a majority Cab blend.

(FYI, on the 24th, I’ll post my list of “dream” cabs, which ignore the above rules… this will be a dreamer’s paradise! Stay tuned!)

With the house rules in mind, let’s get started on our list with the Number Ten selection on the Wine Club Insider’s Christmas Cab list!

…and the survey says…

Number 10:   Sterling Vineyards 05 Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet. $65/bottle. Available as a special request through the Sterling Vineyards Cellar Club.

Voted “Year’s Best,” by WIne and Spirits, this 92 point beauty has the cool feel of Diamond Mountain Reds, as well as a taste of Cherry. It’s been in oak for 3 years, which has mellowed the tannins slightly, and given it a nice, approachable feel, even though this remains a huge wine! Decant this baby for a couple of hours, and enjoy!

See you tomorrow with numbers 8 & 9! This is going to be fun!

Cheers!

Wine Club Insider

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