Wines   Villa Giada La Quercia Barbera 1997- Italy
CLUB: S / RO
Bring the 1997 Villa Giada "La Quercia" to your nose and enjoy the complex hints of roses, woodlands, violets, bark, and even dew covered brush. Offering a dark, rich robe, this single vineyard offering truly captures the power and charm of Barbera. Look for hints of textured fruit covering a masculine core of tannin, alcohol, and an inexplicable strength of character that pulses from the very core of this wine. We found it slightly rustic, yet gracious and polite. The Villa Giada "La Quercia" is absolutely a joy to drink. It requires little effort to enjoy. No need to cork this wine hours ahead. It's at the perfect age for a single vineyard Barbera (4 yrs). Just open the bottle, pour it in the glass, let it breathe for 10-15 minutes, and enjoy. We'd suggest serving this wonderful wine at cool, cellar temperature (55-60°F).
Wines   Chandon Fresco Brut Sparkling Wine - Argentina
CLUB: S / WO
Argentina's Chandon Brut Fresco combines the quality of Champagne with a fruit-driven, fun style. We found this golden-hued sparkling wine and it's fine, persistent bubble, offering fresh, crisp flavors of apricot, strawberry, and citrus. Look for wonderful bread-yeast tones and traces of toast and caramel as well as complex subtle flavors that linger happily. This delightful wine offers low acidity and a delicate, harmonious structure, providing a perfect balance of softness and freshness. It's no wonder the Quarterly Review of Wines commented it as "one of the best sparkling wines of the year" and the Washington Post dubbed it the "party wine of the year." Kudos to Chandon for this outstanding "methode traditionelle" which combines the best attributes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Semillon into one ultimate crowd pleaser. We recommend serving Chandon Brut Fresco moderately chilled.
Wines   Les Marcellins Chenas Gran Cru Beaujolias 2000 - France
CLUB: RO
The 2000 Les Marcellins Chenas begins by offering a bright strawberry-tinged robe which foreshadows its lovely complex, fruity flavors. Lush and ripe, without appearing sweet, this wonderful Chenas captures the essence of Grand Cru Beaujolais. It's a wine that is both fulfilling and fun, presenting copious quantities of black cherry with its ample structure. We found it one of those rare reds that can be consumed without the any fanfare or layed down to gain strength if you prefer, eventually emerging in several years to resemble a Burgundy. We'd suggest that you enjoy this wine about 60° F. Cork and serve immediately or let it breathe a while. Both scenarios are worth exploring.
Wines   Jackson Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2000 - New Zealand
CLUB: WO
The Jackson Estate 2000 Sauvignon Blanc demonstrates an intense flavor and bouquet of freshly cut grass, tropical pineapple, ripe melon, and gooseberry. Look for traces of spicy lychee to emerge after a few minutes of airing in the glass. Reminiscent of a Pouilly Fume or good French Sancerre, this wine is balanced nicely by a crisp acidity which never allows its full, fruity flavors to get out of hand. We found the 2000 Jackson Estate Sauvignon Blanc distinctive and consistently delicious. It's truly a wine that embodies the unique character of the region. It enjoys near cult status, known for its personality-filled, expressive wines, it’s not hard to see why this estate was awarded "classic wine" status in New Zealand for its effort with the wine you are about to enjoy. We'd suggest serving it moderately chilled.
S = Standard Red & White Shipment RO = Reds Only Shipment WO = Whites Only Shipment