Enoteca Della Santina

Buon’Anno – Happy New Year from all of us at Enoteca Della Santina. We would like to thank you for your support in 2003 and look forward to bringing you more great value wines in 2004. The holidays are truly about family and friends with the added bonus of food and wine of course. Thaddeus and myself along with our wives and children were lucky enough to share a New Year’s Day dinner together at my house in Sonoma. French onion soup, stuffed vegetables and braised lamb shanks were a perfect match for some Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape followed by some vintage Champagne for dessert. Does it get any better? Anyway, we are sorry for the delay in getting this shipment out. Unfortunately, one of the wines was delayed in its arrival. However, good things come to those who wait and this shipment is definitely exciting. A blockbuster South African and southern Italian wine highlight this shipment, while two value French and Italian wines round out the box. We also threw in a little Viognier teaser from California to spice things up. Enjoy and please let us know what you think of the wines and the club. We’d love to hear from you. Have a healthy, happy and prosperous new year. Nicole & Robert Della Santina & J. Thaddeus Brennan Before we sign off, here are some important club notes, especially for our new members: *We would love to hear your feedback on the wines and the club either through e-mail at ndellasantina@mindspring.com, fax:707-933-0737, or phone: 707-935-7613 , and Rob’s cell phone, 707-529-0158. *The schedule for shipping this year will be as follows: the months of January, March, May, September and November (double shipment due to the heat of the summer and for the holidays). The only variations in shipping will be due to weather conditions (too cold or too hot…we don’t want you to have frozen or boiling wine). Please feel free to inquire about any of the wines. *Please let us know if your shipping address changes. There will be an additional cost incurred for any address changes that are made after shipping. *And don’t forget about our special offer of10% off for every new member referral! Les Terrasses, Chateau Pesquie, France 2001 - $11 Bonjour! Once in a while, luck is on your side. This gem was purchased without first tasting the wine simply because of the allocation and limited supply caused by its 91 point rating in the Wine Advocate. Luckily for us, the wine is a steal at this price. The 2001 Les Terrasses is an incredible offering from importer Eric Solomon, who personally put together this 9,000 case blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, all from vines over thirty years of age. Only one third of the wine sees barrel time allowing the fruit and terroir to dominate. The wine exhibits a dense ruby and purple color with aromas of black fruits, spice, earth and floral notes. The Wine Advocate describes the wine as "full – bodied and opulent, with good underlying structure, dazzling purity, and tremendous texture, this high – class, serious Cotes du Ventoux is supple enough to drink now yet possesses all the stuffing needed to age (possibly improve) for 4 – 6 years." This wine is a perfect match for braised meats and wild game. Enjoy! Nero D’Avola, Morgante, "Don Antonio," Sicily 2001 - $33 The mafia has definitely gone legitimate to make this incredible wine. All kidding aside the Morgante winery is located in the pristine countryside of southern Sicily. In 1994, Antonio Morgante, with the enthusiasm of his sons, decided to vinify his own grapes. Furthermore, in 1997 a stroke of luck brought Riccardo Cotarella to the winery. With the help of Cotarella, one of the most influential winemakers in Europe, the Morgante family has transformed Nero D’Avola into a world – class varietal and a three-glass award winner from the Italian Gambero Rosso. The 2001 Don Antonio is a selection made from the estate’s oldest Nero D’Avola vineyards and has been aged for twelve months in French oak prior to bottling. Definitely international in style, this dense purple – colored offering, exhibits a complex bouquet of cassis, blueberries, smoke and graphite. With his 91 point rating of this wine, Robert Parker notes that it is "full – bodied with sensational richness, fine purity, a long palate presence and a layered finish." Enjoy this monster with grilled meats. Salute!   Ashanti, South Africa 2000 - $28 Welcome back to South Africa. Located beneath the peaks of the Klein and Drakenstein mountain range in Paarl lays the Ashanti estate, which is owned by an international consortium, headed by businessman and art dealer Manfred Schoeni. We had a taste of Ashanti wines earlier in the club with its "Joseph’s Hat" red blend. According to the winery, its wines "are born of sun, air, rain and the cape soil." Furthermore, the "Chiwara" logo is an ancient African symbol, which represents the annual regeneration of life when these elements are in perfect harmony. Chiwara is Ashanti’s flagship wine blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinotage or as the winery note’s "a complex and perfectly balanced blend of Bordeaux, Rhone and South African cultivars." The nose of this wine is loaded with plum, cassis and chocolate with hints of butterscotch and spice, while smooth tannins create an easy drinking experience. Complex enough to age, Chiwara is definitely a food wine so enjoy it with grilled meats. Salute! Rosso Piceno, "Il Brecciarolo," Velenosi Ercole, Italy 1999 - $12 How about this little blockbuster of a wine for only twelve bucks? Located in the Ascoli Piceno province of the Marche, Ercole Velenosi is a dynamic young estate producing some of the best wines in the area. The vineyards are hillside clay soil with excellent exposure. Furthermore, grapes are hand harvested and then pressed using a special device, which prevents damage to the taste and color of the must. Their respect for tradition is apparent in the vineyard management and winemaking techniques of consulting winemaker Attilio Pagli.   "Il Brecciarolo" Rosso Piceno Superiore D.O.C. is from the tiny area within the Provence of Ascoli. It is only in this zone where Rosso Piceno can take on the "Superiore" designation. Aged in neutral French oak barrels, It is a typical blend of 55% Montepulciano and 45% Sangiovese. The heartiness of Montepulciano dominates while the Sangiovese lifts the aromatics and brightens the wine. Currant flavors, ripe fruit and spices dominate in the nose and mouth of this wine. Enjoy it with assorted cheeses or braised meats. Viognier, Sunstone, Santa Barbara 2001 - $15 Welcome to the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley in beautiful Santa Barbara County. Winery founders Fred and Linda Rice and their three children have created a 103-acre oasis in concert with a commitment to organic viticulture. All of Sunstone’s vines have not experienced herbicides, pesticides or fungicides since their planting in 1990. Furthermore, the vineyards, which are situated near the Santa Ynez River, enjoy huge day to night temperature fluctuations much like those of the Rhone Valley in France. All these factors are clearly reflected in the finished product. After whole – cluster pressing, the juice was fermented and first aged in stainless steel. Subsequently, 20% of the blend went into neutral French oak allowing the fruit, not the oak, to dominate this wine. Aromas of lush ripe pineapple, mandarin orange and coconut wrestle with faint floral perfumes and pear tones. Furthermore, the sweetness of the fruit seems to be perfectly balanced with enough acidity. This wine is a wonderful companion to Pacific Rim cuisine and citrus-based sauces. Salute!!   Re – Order Form Wine 4 bottles 6 bottles case Les Terrasses, Chateau Pesquie, France 2001 - $11 Nero D’Avola, Morgante, "Don Antonio," Sicily 2001 - $33 Ashanti, South Africa 2000 - $28 Rosso Piceno, "Il Brecciarolo," Velenosi Ercole, Italy 1999 - $12 Viognier, Sunstone, Santa Barbara 2001 - $15

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