Featured Wines
May 2007
Premier Series |
|
Featured Wineries & Wines |
Membership Type |
| The Show Cabernet Sauvignon | 1 Red 1 White; 2 Reds |
| Tuatara Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | 1 Red 1 White; 2 Whites |
| Casa Lapostolle Rapel Merlot | 2 Reds |
| Alta Vista Premium Torrontes | 2 Whites |
Master Series |
|
Featured Wineries & Wines |
Membership Type |
| Podere Il Palazzino La Pieve Chianti Classico | 1 Red 1 White; 2 Reds |
| Tuatara Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | 1 Red 1 White |
| The Show Cabernet Sauvignon | 2 Reds |
Collector Series |
|
Featured Wineries & Wines |
Membership Type |
| Podere Il Palazzino La Pieve Chianti Classico | 1 Red 1 White; 2 Reds |
| Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay | 1 Red 1 White |
| Les Pagodes de Cos St. Estephe Bordeaux | 2 Reds |
The Show California Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – U.S.A.
The Show is a Charles Bieler, Joel Gott, Roger Scommes (Scommegna) Production. Collectively, these three characters are known as The Three Thieves. However, the name Three Thieves does not connote any wrongdoing or lack of integrity on the part of this dynamic and wildly successful triumvirate. Instead, the name is meant tongue and cheek because these three guys have procured, though some would say "stolen," some of the finest Cabernet grapes in Northern and Central California and turned them into one high class, expensive tasting Cabernet called The Show that puts many very big names and expensive price tags to shame.
Begun in 2003, The Three Thieves have rapidly become legendary for fashioning eco friendly wines that out class the competition. Joel Gott brings his reputation to the table or barrel if you will as one of the finest, yet unpretentious winemakers in California. A fourth generation winemaker, Gott enjoys nearly cult status in California where he has been putting out some of California's most interesting and affordable wines for years. He has been called "one of the most talented winemakers alive today" and his wines have received accolades in every major wine publication. The Show is his most recent venture and an attempt to take his great show on the road. To help Gott in his endeavor to go national with The Show are partners Charles Bieler of the outstanding Château Routas in Provence and Roger Scommes (né Scommegna), advertising, entrepreneur and viticulturist extraordinaire. Together, they make a formidable team, and The Show is all the proof one needs of that
The Show is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remaining 20% of the cépage consisting of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and a tiny quantity of Petite Sirah The Show's labels were designed by Nashville's Hatch Show Print, who have made many a country music star a legend. The Show's labels come in three distinct colors and formats, even though the wine inside all of the bottles is exactly the same. Each of the three partners preferred a slightly different motif, so they went with all three, which should tell us a little something about these three thieves. We bet they got, or should we say stole or cajoled, all three designs for the same fee – more power to them. Enjoy The Show . . . it's a good one!
Tasting Notes: The 2005 The Show is a crowd pleaser of a Cabernet. In fact, if more California wineries made affordable Cabernet like Bieler, Gott, and Scommes, there wouldn't much of a market for high end California Cabernet Sauvignon, let alone Merlot or Syrah. The Show opens up with an eye catching, royal purple robe and plenty of aromatic fireworks. Soft scents of black cherry, cedar, and chocolate quickly set the tone for the wine's next act – a palate pleasing performance. Each sip of The Show glides across the tongue and quickly disappears delightfully down the gullet. Soft tannins and a lovely patina of oak add both structure and finish to this charming fruit driven, medium-bodied Cabernet, which makes us wonder why it has taken California wineries so long to fashion exemplary Cabernet Sauvignon like the 2005 The Show: this is a Cabernet that is both tasty and affordable. With the debut of The Show, we are bound to see many more attempts at authentic, medium-priced Cabernet, but we doubt many, if any, can match the performance of The Show. Enjoy this talented Cabernet, with or without aeration. We enjoyed it straight away, but allowing it 15-20 minutes of breathing time will double the pleasure and no doubt bring forth a standing ovation. Cheers!
Accompaniments: The 2005 The Show Cabernet Sauvignon is no prima donna. It is the perfect accompaniment to everyday "All American fare." Steaks, chops, pork barbecue, grilled chicken, guacamole, vegetables dips, and of course pizza and burgers provide all the props The Show ever needs. This gregarious Cabernet also shines with a hearty salad because, unlike so many other California Cabernets, there is so much more to The Show than just power and tannin. With this in mind, we can heartily recommend the 2005 The Show with fine continental cooking as well. So put on your Sunday best and whip up some fancy fare; there is no need to dress down to enjoy this succulent red. Chateaubriand, served with a truffle sauce reduction, tiny game birds in puffed pastry, and other haute cuisine favorites will be as comfortable with The Show as a regular mid week meal. Take The Show on the road, too: it's a great picnic and party wine. And for the record, the 2005 The Show Cabernet Sauvignon does a terrific solo, too. Just be sure you have a clean glass, or two. Enjoy!
Tuatara Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – New Zealand
Tuatara Bay makes only one wine, a tiny production of excellent, full-flavored Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, this producer's entire harvest from the laudable 2006 vintage barely hit 500 cases, making the Tuatara Bay Sauvignon Blanc almost as rare as its namesake – the endangered tuatara.
The tuatara is a rare lizard like creature that inhabits islands in New Zealand's Marlborough Sound and nearby Cook Straight, which separate New Zealand's two largest islands: North Island and South Island. Tuataras are reptiles that belong to the family of Sphenodontidae. Sphenodontidians are the closest living organisms to prehistoric creatures known as diapsids. Consequently, tuataras have been called living fossils and are of great interest to scientists.
At first glance, the tuatara appears menacing in its heavy armor-like shell, which can range from olive green to brown to orange red. However, this mostly nocturnal creature shares many characteristics with lizards as well as birds and snakes. It sheds its skin yearly and can change color. Tuataras mature slowly and only reproduce every 2-5 years. However, their average life expectancy is over 60 years and there are presently many tuataras over the age of 100. Scientists believe that the tuatara has not undergone any significant evolutionary change in nearly 200 million years, making it as rare and interesting as the wine that bears its name.
Marlborough: A Noble Land
Marlborough is situated on the northern tip of New Zealand's mystical South Island, where it enjoys a unique dry maritime climate. High mountains isolate this enchanted land from the cold alpine interior of the rest of the South Island, while the spectacular Marlborough Sound to the north provides a conduit to the sea as well as the planet's most majestic view of New Zealand's North Island as it soars skyward across the swells of Wellington Straits – a sight that ranks as one of the world's most stunning vistas. Moreover, Marlborough is about as close to viticultural paradise as one can find, especially for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Marlborough's long, sunny, but not excessively hot growing season provides nearly ideal conditions for grape growing. The average summer daytime temperature hovers between 24° C and 28° C (72° - 80° F) depending upon one's altitude and proximity to the sea. The air is crystal clear and the light luminous; with nary an overcast day let alone much rain during the long growing season. Cool nights keep acid levels high in the grapes, even as sugar levels rise abruptly. Such conditions lend themselves to an extended growing season, which provides slow even ripening and extended hang time for the grapes. The result is ripe healthy fruit, with fresh vibrant flavors and a crisp herbaceous zing.
In addition to its superb summer climate, Marlborough also boasts excellent soil for grapes. Most of Marlborough consists of silty, free draining alluvial loams over gravelly sub-soils. In addition, river stones lie scattered throughout Marlborough, remnants of the many rivers that once coursed through the pretty valleys of Marlborough. These river stones store heat from the warm sunny days and radiate that heat back into the vineyards at night, thereby providing a unique microclimate and terroir, much like that of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Moreover, most Marlborough growers are committed to sustainable agricultural practices in order to preserve the region's noble terroir. And the French thought they had a monopoly on terroir; we think not.
Tasting Notes: As a delicious, full throttle, gooseberry and herb laden Sauvignon Blanc, the 2006 Tuatara Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc provides everything a top notch Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc should . . . and then some. Bold but not brazen, the 2006 Tuatara Sauvignon Blanc offers up a wonderfully pure nose of fresh citrus, gooseberry, and herb. It then follows up the delightful olfactory with plenty of round, voluptuous varietal flavors, which are gently laced with savory mineral tones – a veritable taste of Marlborough terroir. Enlivening and lingering on the palate, this comely wine finishes as beautiful and satisfying as it starts. Neither delicate nor complex, the 2006 Tuatara Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc offers the best of all worlds: an easy drinking wine with both looks and personality. We suggest chilling this irresistible Sauvignon Blanc to 38°- 40° F and then inviting a friend over to help you enjoy it. Otherwise, you may find you have emptied the bottle long before you had planned. Enjoy!
Accompaniments: As the weather warms and our thoughts turn to the beach, the sound of the sea, and the solace of sunny days, we are more than ever convinced that summer was made for Sauvignon Blanc. Then again, what would one be without the other? What other wine can capture the season we call summer, those long languid days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, quite like Sauvignon Blanc? The 2006 Tuatara Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect accompaniment to halcyon days. It also provides great companionship to seafood and a whole array of summertime fare. So, why not shuck the clams, fire up the grill, and heat up the lobster pot? Lobster is indeed one of our perennial favorites with Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2006 Tuatara provides one more compelling reason to pair up this award winning combination. Oysters, served nearly any way you can imagine, grilled fish, and traditional sushi and sashimi offer other excellent pairings. Asian stir fries and Vietnamese spring rolls adeptly highlight this wine's many charms as well, so no need to play it safe with the 2006 Tuatara Sauvignon Blanc. Mild goat cheeses and most soft or semi-soft cheeses will do well by this wily Tuatara, too!
Casa Lapostolle Rapel Merlot 2005 – Chile
Casa Lapostolle is a collaborative effort of two great families: the Marnier family of Grand Marnier fame and the Rabat family of Chile. Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, heir to the Grand Marnier legacy, reigns over this celebrated, European style winery. Together with her husband Cyril de Bournet and consulting enologist Michel Rolland, Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle has in little more than a decade garnered international acclaim for the wines of Casa Lapostolle and established this estate as one of the very finest in South America.
In creating Casa Lapostolle, the Marnier-Lapostolle family has pursued the same uncompromising approach to quality that made Grand Marnier a household name. The objective at Casa Lapostolle is simple: to consistently create world-class wines by marrying French expertise to the incomparable terroir of Chile. Indeed, the Chilean climate is perfect for the cultivation of the vine, and the soil harbors no phylloxera, a dreaded vine louse. In addition, Chile contains a great number of old vines, primarily from French varietals that were brought from France in the 19th century, before phylloxera devastated the parent stock in Europe. Consequently, many of the old, ungrafted vines continue to thrive in the vineyards of Chile, and most Chilean vines, old and new, grow naturally on their own rootstocks. At Casa Lapostolle, the result is pure, natural tasting wines that express expert care and ideal growing conditions.
Today, Casa Lapostolle comprises more than 750 acres of prime vineyards, located in three distinct growing areas. This estate produces several excellent white wines, including one of the New World's finest Chardonnays under the Cuvée Alexandre label, as well as a coterie of outstanding reds. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate Casa Lapostolle's red wine portfolio with Carmenère (Chile's own unique red varietal) playing only a supporting role in the estate's blends. Casa Lapostolle's enviable red wine portfolio includes the estate's outstanding Rapel Merlot; Cuvée Alexandre Merlot, a limited release luxury bottling; and Clos Apalta,
Tasting Notes: A hauntingly aromatic, classically wrought Merlot, the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Rapel Merlot puts to shame the fast majority of its California brethren and many of its French cousins, too, even quite a few of those with Grand Cru St. Emilion status. Medium-bodied but positively packed with charm and flavor, the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Rapel Merlot epitomizes everything that makes excellent Merlot so appealing and easy to drink. Within the Casa Lapostolle Merlot, blackberry, cassis, cedar, and subtle earth tones emerge to caress the nose and palate, making this first rate Merlot hard to resist. Rare is the Merlot that possesses finesse as well as flavor, but this Casa Lapostolle offering hits the mark on all accounts. Deeply colored, long on the palate, and smooth right through to a long, seductive finish, we can't think of many other Merlots that offer the consumer so much pure, easy drinking pleasure. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest that this classic Merlot be opened 10-15 minutes prior to consumption and that it be served at cool room temperature (64°-68° F).
Accompaniments: Casa Lapostolle, like most of South America's best wine estates, fashion wines that are both immediately appealing and extremely versatile and food friendly. Consequently, we suggest that you uncork the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Merlot and fire up the grill. Bring on the marinated chicken and a bunch of thick, juicy steaks. Pour a glass or two of this wine while you cook, and then invite a couple of friends over. Then you had better open a second bottle and hope that there is enough left to serve with the beautiful barbecue fare you have just removed from the grill. Other easy, no fuss suggestions with the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Rapel Merlot include grilled lamb, pork, and hamburgers. Pasta, grilled vegetables, and most cheeses made from cow's milk pair well with this Merlot as well. In addition, we can attest to this wine's ability to transform a low carbohydrate salad into a veritable feast. And don't worry about a little marinade or spicy condiment doing damage to this finesse driven Merlot; we have found that Casa Lapostolle's red wines don't faint in the sight of a little heat or spice. Enjoy!
Alta Vista "Premium" Salta Torrontes 2006 – Argentina
Alta Vista is a family owned winery in the sprawling province of Mendoza, Argentina's largest and most important region of viticulture. In fact, winemaking is the Mendoza's only important industry. Here in the mighty Mendoza, in the foothills of the towering Andes at an elevation in excess of 3500 feet, and in Salta, the D'Aulan family cultivates the finest and most traditional of Argentina's grape varieties: Torrontes and Malbec.
From the D'Aulan's pristine vineyards, many of which date from the 1940's, flow some of Argentina's most interesting and individual wines. And like all of the best hillside vineyards in Argentina, Alta Vista uses the pure melting snows of the Andes to water its vineyards. In the Mendoza as in most other prime vineyard areas of Argentina, rainfall is all but non-existent, but then again so are rot, mildew, and the multitude of insects and vine diseases that afflict most other wine regions worldwide. At Alta Vista, which means high view, the grapes ripen slowly but completely due to the high elevation and the sunniest weather of any viticultural area on earth. Given the quality of the wines that Alta Vista has been fashioning in the last half dozen years, we have much to enjoy now from this winery and a great deal more to look forward to in the years to come.
Tasting Notes: The 2006 Alta Vista "Premium" Torrontes offers a unique and tasty alternative to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and the world's other, more commonplace white wines. It also provides a needed break from the homogenization and parochial approach adopted by many New World producers, who deem it their duty to transform nearly every white variety into a Chardonnay look alike or at the very least a fat, full, highly oaked affair. In the case of the 2006 Alta Vista Torrontes, there is no such pretense. This is a wine that is not afraid to stand and deliver, and to express the fullness of the Torrontes variety. The 2006 Alta Vista Torrontes offers a lovely bouquet of rose petal, lichee and delicate spice, which are followed by a mouth full of ripe fruit and an exuberant, long dry finish. This is a dry white wine that reminds us that dry does not mean desiccated or artificially acidified to offset overripe fruit. We suggest serving the 2006 Alta Vista Torrontes well chilled (35°- 40° F) in hot weather or slightly less frigid (about 45° F) where more spring like weather prevails. Enjoy!
Accompaniments: The 2006 Alta Vista "Premium" Torrontes is a fun warm weather wine that craves food. We can recommend it with everything from plates of fresh apples and double cream cheeses to Chinese classics. A vegetable stir-fry, spring rolls, and other moderately spiced Asian dishes provide excellent companions to Torrontes. The Alta Vista Torrontes is a natural foil to Vietnamese and Thai offerings, especially those dishes that have been prepared with lemongrass. Traditional American and Mediterranean white and red bean dishes will more than do this wine justice, too. However, we must also put a plug in for the endless variety of Spanish style appetizers known as tapas. We also like to serve the Alta Vista Torrontes with a ripe avocado that has been stuffed with baby shrimp. Yum!
Podere Il PalazzinoLa Pieve Chianti Classico 2004 – Italy
In the hills south of Gaiole, the young but erudite husband and wife team of Andrea and Allessandro Sderci produce some of the most seductive wines in all of Chianti Classico. Working hillside vineyard plots in excess of 1300 feet, this remarkable couple has created a model estate where the flawless excellence of its wines is unsurpassed, even by many of the older, more famous estates in Tuscany. Moreover, the Sdercis are passionately committed to their work and they are always searching for ways to "push the envelope" and improve their already superb offerings.
In 1984, when the archaic and highly idiosyncratic laws proscribing both white and red grapes for Chianti Classico were changed, Il Palazzino eliminated entirely the Trebbiano and Malvasia (white grapes that were theretofore required) from its blend. By totally eliminating the old canonical blend of white varietals from its Chianti Classico, Il Palazzino has avoided the all too common danger of precocious oxidation. Since this legal change set free the producers of Chianti Classico, Il Palazzino has fashioned pure, rich, Chianti Classico wines that possess a remarkably appealing ruby robe and supreme elegance – attributes that not all Chiantis can claim. The removal of white grapes has, also, added to the longevity of Il Palazzino's wines. Today in fine vintages, five and ten year old versions of this remarkable estate's two single vineyard offerings are just reaching the height of their perfection and the ultimate expression of Il Palazzino's great terroir. And as one would imagine, only the finest clones of Sangiovese and Canaiolo, Tuscany's two best red varieties, find their way into the estate's Chianti Classico, and the evidence is in the supreme purity of the wines from Il Palazzino's two outstanding single vineyards: "Argenina" and "La Pieve".
As just one more example of how meticulous the Sdercis are about their Chianti Classico, they severely limit the amount of wine they produce. At harvest time the grape selection at Il Palazzino is brutal, with only the finest, unblemished clusters being retained. The same persnickety selection prevails at assemblage, when only the top barrels are used for the estate-bottled wines. These practices heighten to an almost exasperated degree the archetypal qualities that have distinguished the Chianti Classico wines of Gaiole from the rest: complexity, finesse, warmth, richness, and a bouquet of exceptional wealth are the results.
Chianti Classico: A Region, a Wine, and a Consortium
Chianti is a sea of vines amid the pastoral slopes of Tuscany. Between Florence and Siena over one hundred and fifty thousand acres of vines share the hills and hollows of this ancient land with olive groves and grain fields, bleating sheep, and woods full of oak and chestnut. Chianti is the largest DOCG in Italy, producing more than two hundred million liters of wine each year from seven distinct districts. Consequently, Chianti is, in fact, many different wines from over seven thousand registered growers in seven distinct districts and their outlying areas.
Chianti Classico is just one of those seven official areas of Tuscany entitled to the name Chianti to its labels. Chianti Classico is, also, the wine from the legal heart of Chianti and its producers must belong to the Chianti Classico Consorzio or Consortium. The Chianti Classico Consorzio is the most recognizable consortium in Tuscany and its members have the highest voluntary standard of excellence among Chianti producers. The Chianti Classico Consorzio seeks to define, improve, and promote the wines of Chianti Classico. Most of the producers within the confines of Chianti Classico belong to the consortium, but not all. Standards are strict: the monitoring of prescribed grape varieties, vineyards, yields, alcohol levels, and even a tasting of every member's wines are part of the consortium's annual ritual of enforcement.
Today, Chianti is only a red wine, but this has not always been the case. Until the early 16th century, the opposite was true. Only the white wine of central Tuscany was called Chianti, but during the Renaissance the dry red wine of the area, which was commonly referred to as Vermiglio by Michelangelo and his Florentine contemporaries, also adopted the name Chianti. By law, all Chianti must meet certain legal and qualitative standards. Chianti must contain only certain prescribed grape varieties, with Sangiovese always playing the starring role. Cannaiolo, Colorino, and small amounts of Cabernet and Merlot are other permitted red varietals for Chianti. And although no longer required, two white grape varieties are still permitted in Chianti. Some traditional Chianti producers still use small amounts of white grapes in the form of Trebbiano and Malvasia in producing their Chianti. Hence, there is a great variety of sizes and styles of Chianti from which to choose.
Tasting Notes: A gorgeous deep ruby robe sets the table for the majesty of the 2004 Podere Il Palazzino La Pieve Chianti Classico. Better yet, within a few minutes of pulling the cork, entrancing, profound aromas emerge from this heaven scented, medium-bodied Chianti. A bouquet of deep down fruit, sizzling bacon, and lush woodlands resplendent with wild strawberry, iris, and violet, springs from the glass. However, the best is yet to come. On the palate, the Il Palazzino La Pieve is pure pleasure, exhibiting a rich, textured feel that is best described as "of the finest silk and satin." It is indeed this fine tactile quality that sets this great Chianti Classico apart from the pack of good, but often angular, wines that flow from Chianti and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Furthermore, with a little breathing time, the Il Palazzino La Pieve becomes a seamless garment. From its heavenly aroma to its structured, long finish, the 2004 La Pieve explodes with flavor, vitality, and most of all pleasure. Drink the 2004 Il Palazzino La Pieve at cool room temperature (about 65° F). Anticipated maturity: 2008-2014.
Accompaniments: Fire up the grill and bring on the meat for the 2004 Il Palazzino La Pieve Chianti Classico, but no pedestrian cuts need apply. Even with its great depth of flavor, the Il Palazzino La Pieve remains an elegant medium-bodied wine. Filet Mignon, pork tenderloin, tender cuts of veal, and roasted game birds top our list of companions. In fact a stuffed, slowly grilled veal chop wins our highest recommendation. A splendid Porcini mushroom or truffle infused risotto or pasta dish would fill the bill, too. However, we suggest you save heavy tomato sauces and such for fuller, simpler wines than the Il Palazzino La Pieve. This wine is too pure and complex to be buried beneath strong spicy flavors or heavily garlic-laden sauces. Enjoy!
Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay 2005 – Chile
Casa Lapostolle is a collaborative effort of two great wine families: the Marnier family of France (of Grand Marnier fame) and the Rabat family of Chile. At the helm of this premier property is Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, who together with her husband Cyril de Bournet and Don José Rabat Gorchs reign over what many now consider to be South America's finest wine estate. In little more than a decade, Casa Lapostolle has taken the international wine world by storm.
In 1994, Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle founded the Casa Lapostolle Winery, and with the world's most prominent winemaker Michel Rolland selected prime vineyard sites that now yield world-class wine. Until quite recently, the Marnier-Lapostolle family was best known as the creator and founder of the world renowned liqueur Grand Marnier, even though this family has been involved in winemaking in France for generations, most notably as the owners of Château de Sancerre.
In creating Casa Lapostolle, the Marnier-Lapostolle family has pursued the same uncompromising approach to quality that made Grand Marnier a household name. The family's objective at Casa Lapostolle is to consistently create world-class wines by marrying French expertise to the incomparable terroir of Chile. The Chilean climate is perfect for the cultivation of the vine, and the soil harbors no phylloxera. In addition, Chile contains a great number of old vines, mostly from French varietals that were brought from France in the 19th century before the dreaded vine louse devastated the parent stock in Europe. Consequently, many of these old vines continue to thrive in the vineyards of Chile. Even today, nearly all Chilean vines, old and new, still grow naturally on their own rootstocks – a phenomenon rarely seen in Europe or elsewhere in more than a century. The result is pure, natural tasting wines that express expert care and nearly perfect growing conditions.
Today, Casa Lapostolle comprises more than 750 acres of prime vineyards, located in three different growing areas. This estate produces several excellent white wines, a Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blanc, which traditionally contains a small percentage of luscious Semillon, and two excellent Chardonnays. Nevertheless, red wines predominate as they do in most of South America. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and to a lesser extent Carmenère (Chile's own unique red varietal) dominate Casa Lapostolle's excellent red wine portfolio and place this property among Chile's finest wine producers. Casa Lapostolle's most consistently delicious and most critically acclaimed wines remain the estate's Cuvée Alexandre special reserve offerings, which are highly allocated and offered only in the finest vintages.
Tasting Notes: Casa Lapostolle's series of wines known as Cuvée Alexandre are the estate's luxury or reserve offerings, and they are named after Alexandre Marnier's great-father, Alexandre. They represent the finest varietal Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Merlot that this estate can fashion, and that alone says a lot. Unequivocally, the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay constitutes a real tour de force in winemaking. It is, also, one of the very finest Chardonnays we have ever encountered from South America. In fact, it puts to shame many a white Burgundy of so called renown and plenty of top notch California Chardonnays, too. This is a suave, sophisticated Chardonnay that recalls the glory of Premier Cru Chassagne-Montrachet. On the nose and the palate, the 2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay exhibits plenty of smooth, ripe, buttery fruit as well as a healthy dose of tender charm. And like fine white Burgundy, this wine will improve with a little aeration. Consequently, before serving the outstanding 2005 Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay at cool room temperature (which is no more than 68° F), we suggest you allow it to breathe in the glass for at least five or ten minutes. You will be more than glad you did. Anticipated Maturity: 2007-2010.
Accompaniments: The 2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay is wine fit for the discerning palate. It is a classically wrought and expertly crafted Chardonnay that is born to accompany the finest foods and the tenderest morsels. Consequently, we suggest that you serve it with the very best hors d'oeuvres, fish, fowl, or fruits de mer that can be found. Salmon, sole, crab, scallops, and lobster all provide excellent seafood suggestions upon which one could easily build a wonderful dinner party, with the presence of the Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay of course. However, seafood is not the only venue that one could choose to showcase this marvelous wine. Indeed, veal and other white meats provide equally impressive backdrops from which one can highlight Casa Lapostolle's finest white wine. Sautéed Veal Scallops with mushrooms and cream is a true French favorite, and this dish truly shines in the presence of Casa Lapostolle's most noble white wine. A plate of perfectly ripe, soft cheeses such as Port Salut and L'Edel de Cleron provide another wonderful opportunity to enjoy this fine Chardonnay. In fact, this supple, exquisite Chardonnay needs little to convince adherents of its greatness, except a clean glass, so enjoy!
Les Pagodes de Cos St. Estèphe 2001 – France
Cos d'Estournel is the leading wine of St. Estèphe and one of Bordeaux's true super stars. Under the direction of Bruno Prats Cos d'Estournel has achieved first growth status. Since the legendary 1982 vintage Cos d'Estournel has not missed an opportunity to fashion compelling wine, even in difficult vintages. And under the relatively new ownership of Michel Reybier, winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats continues to push the quality at Cos d'Estournel to even higher levels, if one can imagine. Les Pagodes de Cos is the second label of Cos d'Estournel, but there is nothing second about this wine as it is a super St. Estèphe in its own right.
Both Les Pagodes de Cos and the Grand Vin Cos d'Estournel consistently possess a combination of elegance, breed, and concentration. These are remarkably approachable wines in their youth, especially Les Pagodes de Cos, and this is attributed to the relatively high percentage of Merlot that is used in the cépage. Yet, the wines of Cos d'Estournel typically possess great longevity and a propensity for evolving into a seamless, singular style of claret, without peer. Cos d'Estournel fashions truly unique wines: Bordeaux that can be as exotic and hauntingly beautiful as the pagoda like château that commands the property.
St. Estèphe
St. Estèphe is one of the four precious jewels in the Haut-Médoc diadem. Although one could argue the merits of a few of the Médoc's lesser know jewels such as Listrac and Moulis, St. Estèphe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux are universally acknowledged to be the Médoc's crown jewels.
The 2,821 acre appellation of St. Estèphe sits astride the Gironde River, at the point where the river widens on its rush to the sea. It is also the Médoc appellation farthest from the city of Bordeaux. Here the soil is heavier and the wines are generally more dense and powerful than in the other three great Haut-Médoc appellations, lending themselves to extensive aging and earning the wines of St. Estèphe a reputation for longevity. Château Montrose and Cos d'Estournel are the most compelling wines of St. Estèphe and two of the most consistently outstanding red wines produced in all Bordeaux.
Tasting Notes: The 2001 Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe is one of the finest wines of the excellent 2001 vintage, eclipsing even its first growth neighbors in Pauillac and Margaux. And the 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is not far behind the Grand Vin in quality or style. At present, Les Pagodes de Cos is in fact the more accessible and enjoyable wine, while Cos d'Estournel remains the firmer more structured sibling. The 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is elegant and immediately engaging, almost sumptuous as it regales the senses with a haunting bouquet of blackberry, cassis, licorice, and spice – all nicely wrapped in a light layer of toasted oak. On the palate, the medium-bodied 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is, perhaps, even more impressive than its aromatic profile as this excellent St. Estèphe reveals tremendous charm, concentration, purity, and texture. The multilayered 2001 Les Pagodes Cos is a joy to drink now and will likely remain so for years to come. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2012.
Accompaniments: What does one eat with a wine the likes of the 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos? How about anything one wants? The 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos can match almost any classic dish you can imagine. However, we suggest doubling the pleasure of this wine by serving it with tender veal or pork cutlets, prepared with mushrooms, lentils, and fresh herbs; or roasted game birds, served with caramelized onions and puréed mashed potatoes. Either dish provides hearty companionship and plenty of gustatory pleasure, but these are just a few culinary favorites. Simply, this wine will do well with a wide range of foods, but one of the best ways to highlight great Bordeaux is to pair it with a meal of equal stature, so as you like it. Enjoy!