Vol. 4 No. 6
Standard Selection - (1) Red, (1) White
2000 St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve
1997 Ca dei Frati "I Frati" Lugana
Red Wines Only Featured Selections
1997 Bodegas Breton Lorinon Tinto Crianza Rioja
White Wines Only Featured Selections
1999 Cantina Salorno Tolloy Pinot Grigio
2000 St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve
St. Hallett is one of the most respected wineries in Australia. As grape growers and winemakers in the Barossa for over fifty years, St. Hallett is committed to making wines of flavor, richness and drinkability. They produce wines that speak of their origin and the belief that wine is an integral part of the celebration of life.
From grapes grown only in the soils of Barossa, St. Hallett makes wine in a variety of styles, using both the traditional methods of vinification, in "open top fermenters", to state of the art vinimatics and air-bag presses. The use of high quality American and French oak is an integral part of this winery's winemaking, especially for Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
As makers of some of Australia's best Shiraz based wines, St. Hallett draws fruit from a number of the finest aged vineyards in the Barossa, many planted around the turn of the century. Low yielding they produce grapes of the highest quality that go into making single vineyard Shiraz and Reserve blends. Uniformly, St. Hallett wines are a reflection of the Barossa's ability to consistently produce wines of great flavor and personality.
The Barossa: South Australia's Premier Wine District
The Barossa Valley, or "The Barossa" as it is known in the Land Down Under, is Australia's most important single area of wine production. Located in South Australia, a mere thirty-five miles from Adelaide, the Barossa is South Australia's oldest and most renowned wine region. Settled by Germans in the 1840's, the Barossa quickly became a source of both dry table wines and sweet dessert wines. Today, the Barossa is dedicated to all the best varietals Australia can muster: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Chardonnay, Riesling and Semillon, but none is more profound nor renowned than the region's outstanding Shiraz. Henschke Penfolds, Peter Lehmann and St. Hallett are all located here, spreading the "good news" of Hermitage farms. From some thirty thousand acres of hill and dale come this nation's greatest claim to wine fame. The closest thing to a guarantee of wine quality in Australia is the name Barossa on the label.
Tasting Notes: An intriguing concoction of Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre and Touriga (the deeply colored intensely flavored port varietal), the 2000 St. Hallett Barossa Gamekeeper's Reserve is a superb Rhone-style red. Deeply colored and amplifying in bouquet, the St. Hallett Reserve is thankfully one more successful vintage of the "Gamekeeper" from this great Barossa estate. Scents of cassis, kirsch and eucalyptus permeate the nose, while the mouth reveals a ripe, round flavor profile of black fruits which coat the mouth. Married to the soft, up front, in your face fruit is a good underpinning of tannin and alcohol, which add freshness and subtle complexity to the wine's finish. Like most vintages of St. Hallett's Gamekeeper's Reserve, this wine is wonderful to drink now, but will certainly continue to improve for another couple of years. Enjoy this lovely wine at cool room temperature or even lightly chilled (about 20 minutes in the bottom of the refrigerator. Although raring to go upon opening, 20-30 minutes breathing time certainly adds to the pleasure).
Accompaniments: Call your friends, have a party…break out the grill, the 1999 St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve is the perfect party time offering. Whether it be steaks, pasta or hamburgers on the grill, this personality filled offering from St. Hallett is the ultimate summer time red. Barbecued chicken or ribs provide fine complements, too. However, our ultimate favorite fare with the "Gamekeeper" is freshly made sweet Italian sausage, prepared with parsley, cheese and fennel-Grilled slowly over a glowing fire. Yum! The beauty of this wine is that it loves to please and requires neither muss nor fuss, so have a party, sit back and enjoy!
Recipe for Red Wine:
Grilled Italian Sausage and Peppers
2 lbs. sweet Italian sausage (cheese & parsley)
2 Tbl. olive oil
2 green bell peppers (or frying peppers) - cleaned and sliced
2 red bell peppers - cleaned and sliced
2 yellow bell peppers - cleaned and sliced
2 large sweet onions - sliced
1 lemon - sliced
In a large fry pan or wok, heat olive oil and add onions And peppers. Cook slowly on a low flame until cooked through and not too crunchy. Put aside. On a grill, over low-medium heat, cook sausages until just cooked ( about 20-30 minutes). Drain on paper towel and slice into ½" thick slices. Add to the peppers and onions and cook quickly together for about 5-10 minutes to heat all through. Serve with Italian bread and a few slices of lemon ( to cut the oil).
Quote for Red Wine:
"…Wine is there, like food, to be enjoyed; an occasion for relaxation. If we're going to worry about it then we'd be better off putting the corkscrew back in the drawer."
----Derek Cooper
1997 Ca dei Frati "I Frati" Lugana 1997
Ca dei Frati is located on the south bank of beautiful Lake Gorda, near the picturesque Sirmione peninsula. Just twenty hectares (approximately 44 acres) of vineyards provide all the grapes used in the production of Ca dei Frati wines.
Since 1940, four generations of the Dal Cero family have owned this impeccably run estate, an azienda agricola which specializes in the production of the most enticing and seductive wines from the enchanting Lugana DOC. Currently run by Igino, Franco, and Ana Maria Dal Cero, Ca dei Frati has recently developed a new trellising system, modernized its cellars and equipment and begun for the first time to market its wines outside the region.
Although some red wine is produced at the estate, along with small quantities of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, it is Ca dei Frati's legendary Lugana wines, which have bestowed nearly cult status on this outstanding producer, causing the winery to sell out of its entire stock of Lugana each year immediately upon release. Rarely is there even a case available at the winery. To add interest for visitors who find the cellar empty, the Dal Ceros have frescoed the walls. If you can't revel in the beauty of a fine Lugana, you may as well enjoy the other artwork!
Ca dei Frati produces two very distinctive, but stylistically different Lugana wines. Although both wines are made from the Lugana grape, the local name for the Trebbiano varietal, cultivated in the area for centuries, each expresses a different aspect of Italy's most successful Trebbiano based wine. Lugana "I Frati" is Ca dei Frati's best known and most traditional Lugana. It is made from low yields and is grown in a chalky soil, giving a rich, almost Burgundian quality to the wine, particularly as it matures. Lugana "Bolletino" is even fuller and richer than the I Frati. It enjoys an extended harvest and is aged in 225 liter oak casks. It is fully mature upon release, but will retain its rich intense flavor for many years.
Tasting Notes: The 1997 Ca Dei Frati Lugana "I Frati" floored us. Nothing had quite prepared us for this delightfully full, yet very fresh and stylish wine. Wearing a rich, lightly golden robe with a Chablis-like hint of green, the "I Frati" more clearly resembles a fine white Burgundy than a northern Italian white wine. A beguiling scent of flowers, fruit and cheese dominate the heady bouquet, while textured fruit in a satin wrap caress the palette. Concentrated, complex and expressive, this Ca dei Frati Lugana is both elegant in structure and a bit wild, which only contributes to its great interest at the table - sort of like setting next to an elegantly dressed dinner guest who surprises you by whispering something hilarious and delightfully wicked! Serve this lively, fresh "wicked" wine moderately chilled, and enjoy! We're quite confident you'll invite this charmer for another visit.
Accompaniments: Sipping the 1997 Ca dei Frati "I Frati" outdoors on an early summer evening is about as good as it gets. This wonderful Lugana recalls the beautiful balconies of nearby Verona, resplendent with the scent and feel of summer, married to a summer breeze and the lore of love, Romeo and Juliet….okay, okay, you get the picture. This is a very romantic wine. It doesn't require much in the way of food, but it certainly pairs well with fresh water fish, especially, bass, pike and trout. We have also enjoyed it with a full range of hors d'oeuvres and traditional cheese and meat pies which resemble heavy duty quiche. Stuffed, grilled or raw vegetables, even salads are other fine choices with the "I Frati". Although our preference is for light foods with Lugana, this is not a dainty, wisp of a wine: it's distinctive aroma and fresh flowery bouquet together with a hint of zest make the 1997 "I Frati" both unmistakable and vivacious. Drink it moderately chilled anytime and often.
Recipe for White Wine:
Striped Bass with Oysters
1 3-4 lb. sea bass
½ stick unsalted butter
¼ tsp. marjoram
2 Tbl. parsley
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup oysters - cleaned
4 slices bacon
½ lemon sliced thin
salt & pepper to taste
Fish should be cleaned and split. Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a fry pan, brown bread crumbs in butter and add the spices. Stuff the fish with the mixture and secure. Line a baking dish with foil and grease foil with butter. Place fish on the foil and lay bacon slices on top. Bake uncovered 45 minutes or until fish flakes, nicely. Simmer oysters in their own juice and a few slices of lemon for about 5 minutes. Garnish fish with the oysters and decorate with lemon and parsley.
Quote for White Wine:
"What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile"
----Bill Sokolin
1997 Bodegas Breton Lorinon Tinto Crianza Rioja
Bodegas Breton is a small well-respected estate in the Rioja Alto, one of the world's most beautiful wine regions. Founded in 1983, the Breton partnership includes a 100 acre estate called Vina Lorinon just outside of Logrono along the south bank of the Ebro River, and the legendary Dominio de Conte vineyard whose average vineyard age is the oldest in Rioja. Both cites specialize in the cultivation of the traditional Rioja varietals: primarily Tempranillo, followed by Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha for the reds and Viura and Malvasia for the whites.
Although of relatively recent origin, Breton takes a very traditional approach to its wines. The philosophical objective is preservation of the elegant, balanced "Rioja Alta" style and the longevity for which traditional Riojas are famous. Since its first release, Bodegas Breton has gradually sought higher extract in its wines to complement the impressive acid structure obtained in their mature, low yielding vineyards.
Bodegas Breton produces a number of red and white Rioja in any given vintage. Yet, it is the Lorinon Tinto Crianza that many hail as 'the most serious wine of its type produced in Rioja today". This special wine spends 15-18 months in seasoned American oak barrels. Breton also produces small quantities of its single vineyard offering, Dominio de Conte.
Tasting Notes: A gorgeous ruby red robe sets the tone for the 1997 Lorinon Crianza from Bodegas Breton. A warm, amplifying, almost huggable bouquet follows, conveying scents of red current, cassis, tobacco, spice, and of course, plush, sweet oak. On the palate, this Crianza is silky, smooth and flavorful. Like all Breton offerings, it finishes quite dry, aptly expressing the natural apple-like acidity for which this estate is revered. Allow the wine at least an hour to breathe before serving at cool room temperature (60-65° F is optimum).
Accompaniments: Steaks and chops are natural accompaniments to the 1997 Lorinon Crianza, but penne pasta, served with a heady white bean sauce is one of our favorite meals with this warm, lovable Breton offering. Made with copious quantities of celery, garlic, onion, red pepper and white beans, this dish brings out the depth as well as the freshness in the Lorinon Crianza. Garlic roasted chicken, ribs and ham are other good choices. Just about any dish with black beans and tomato (providing cumin is used sparingly) will also provide a good foil. Spicy Mexican dishes are also another possibility. Enjoy!
1999 Cantina Salorno Tolloy Pinot Grigio
The International Wine of the Month Club rarely features two wines from the same country in the same month but faced with two outstanding but very different white wines; one young, the other fully mature, we couldn't resist.
The "land amidst mountains", as Alto Adige was referred to in past times, situated in the most northern part of Italy at the foothills of the Alps, is one of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe. An extraordinary abundance of contrasts characterizes the landscapes, vegetation, and people of the Alto Adige. The presence of the Alps, which protects the region from the cold winds originating from the north, and the influence of the Mediterranean climate, grant the ideal conditions for the extraordinary viiticultural variety that exists in the area. Where north and south meet, where the mountains enclose the Adige Valley, at the bottom of the valley and surrounding hills around the old village of Salorno, the wine of Tolloy is born.
From nearly 280 acres of gentle slopes around Salorno, this Cantina produces first- class Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero and Merlot.
Tasting Notes: The 1999 Tolloy Pinot Grigio is a bracing, fairly full-bodied Pinot Grigio. The wine's lightly straw colored robe hardly prepares the taster for the true telltale flavors of Alto Adige Pinot Grigio: slate, mineral, almond and lemon zest. This is a more serious, traditional style of Pinot Grigio - not a modern fruit bomb. The Tolloy fills the mouth with a dry, pungency that follows all the way through to the finish. Serve this Pinot Grigio moderately well chilled (45-50° F).
Accompaniments: Lake fish, appetizers and the cool, enchanted summer evenings of the Alto Adige are the traditional, accompaniments to the 1999 Tolloy Pinot Grigio. Indeed, perch, trout and all local freshwater fare provide perfect soul mates to Cantina Salorno's Pinot Grigio. But why stop there? Mussels, clams, oysters and shrimp all fit the bill equally well. In addition, vegetable pastas, cold chicken or tuna salads on a bed of complex greens, and simply prepared poultry fare are other fine choices. Enjoy!
Ask The Panel
So, How Do We Choose our Featured Selections Anyway?
While most wine clubs exist for the sole purpose of promoting wines from one country, and "creating brands", The International Wine of the Month Club is committed to offering its members a wide variety of premium, bona fide estate bottled wine from around the world. We neither create brands for commercial purposes nor buy closeouts. Instead, we are dedicated to sending you truly unique wines, which reflect their origins, terroir and composition, in addition to mirroring the dedication and personality of their respective proprietors.
In order to insure quality selections that are appealing to the widest possible audience, we employ a two-tiered panel of tasters, comprised of professional tasters and a wide gamut of wine enthusiasts from neophytes to serious amateur collectors. Each wine chosen as a featured selection must undergo the scrutiny of an initial core panel of tasters. The vast majority of wines tasted by this panel are rejected; only the top 10% of initial selections ever make it to the second panel, which can often include as many as thirty or more serious tasters. Wines are evaluated on the basis of quality and value and must either be an honest representation of their place of origin or be unquestionably unique.
All tasting panels are directed by Don Lahey, a distinguished wine writer, educator and consultant. Rarely does The International Wine of the Month Club feature two selections from the same producer in the same month, but occasionally we will do so when an individual producer is equally adept at producing top-notch white wines as well as reds - a phenomenon more rare than you may think.
Furthermore, we're devoted to educating its clients about the various growers and estates whose wines we feature. In addition, we seek to disseminate in our monthly newsletter the history and lore of the many beautiful wine-producing regions we choose to represent. And, last but not least, we run special features in our monthly newsletter such as "Ask the Panel" to assist you with important questions, concerns and issues involving wine. Whether it is in the wines we offer, the recipes we choose or the newsletter we send you, we're devoted to your enjoyment of the highest quality wines at affordable prices. A votre sante!
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