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Is
this fun or what? The last year has most certainly fulfilled
our expectations for Enoteca Della Santina. Nicole, Thad and
I thank you for your support and trust in our ability to find
good quality, value wines. We hope that wine has become as much
of a passion for you as it has for us. We believe the format
is still viable and flexible enough for us to span the globe
in search of the nectar of the gods. It's an incredibly tough
job but somebody's got to do it!!
2003 should bring us more competitive pricing locally in the
U.S. but perhaps less quantities of quality wines from abroad
as importers in this economy have become wary of stockpiling
large amounts of immovable medium to high end wines. This may
eliminate many of the deals we've seen this past year. On the
other hand, blossoming wine regions such as southern Italy will
open up new wines for us to discover and we know the price will
be right.
This month's shipment will consist of five wines, four reds and
one white. We've finally jumped into Bordeaux with a silky,
seductive red while Argentina will showcase its true potential.
We'll highlight a "baby Brunello" from Tuscany as
well as a take - off on classic Soave. Finally, the land down
under will present a classic mouth watering red.
Before
we sign off, here are some important club updates:
*Once again, 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
first week of the months of February, April, June, October (double
shipment due to the heat of the summer) and December. 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!
Salute,
Robert and Nicole Della Santina and J. Thaddeus Brennan
Red
Bordeaux, Chateau Cantenac Brown, Margaux, France 1999 - $25
Viva la France!! Welcome to the new age of French Bordeaux
wines. Gone are the days of tightly focused elegant wines that
in bad vintages tended to be quite thin. On the contrary, this
wine is loaded with forward fruit and is a superb representation
of the new style of winemaking in Bordeaux.
Chateau Cantenac Brown is situated on 79 acres in the commune
of Cantenac in the region of Margaux. The wine consists of 75%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. The average
age of the vines is 25 years while the average time spent in
French oak barrels is 16 to 20 months.
For those who like an affable style of wine that is easy to
drink, Chateau Cantenac Brown offers generous amounts of soft,
black currant fruit including cherries and plums with a medium
body and a soft finish highlighted by balanced acidity. Even
Robert Parker who tasted this wine in the barrel noted, "the
dense ruby and purple colored 1999 exhibits a sweet bouquet of
black fruits intertwined with licorice, spice box, fennel and
graphite…. full bodied and rich, with sweet tannins, low
acidity, excellent delineation as well as length, and an impressive,
expansive pure mid- palate." This wine is perfect with
red meat or wild game. Drink it now or cellar it for several
years, it's a beauty.
Cabernet
Sauvignon/Shiraz, Mak, Coonawarra, Australia 2000 - $17
The Aussies are coming! The Aussies are coming! Yes it's true.
Australian wines have quickly become a force in the global
wine market both in quantity and quality. We luckily stumbled
upon this wine while tasting some expensive Burgundies from France.
In typical Aussie style, the name "Mak" was derived
from shortening the proprietor's surname from "McDonald"
to "Mak." Moreover, the label depicts the Australian
high country legend of "The Man From Snowy River."
This stockman's ability to ride and his fiery courage were immortalized
by poet Benjo Paterson.
Enough about the name, the label and "The Man from Snowy
River," let's talk about the wine. The wine has the same
combination of grapes as the Ata Ranghi Celebre from New Zealand.
It combines 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Shiraz and 14% Merlot.
Moreover, it is aged 12 months in 30% new and one year old French
and American barriques. The nose of this wine is packed with
perfumed black currant, cherry and spices with definite cedary
overtones. In the mouth, it explodes with ripe wild berry flavors
while fine - grained tannins provide additional structure to
the long creamy finish that is kept in check by tight acidity.
This is an immediate drinker with a nice steak or a heavy stew.
Salute!!
Rosso
Di Montalcino, La Palazzettta, Flavio Fanti, Tuscany 2000 - $24
We're back to the heart of Italy with one of our favorite varietals,
Rosso di Montalcino or as we like to call it "baby Brunello."
Flavio Fanti, the proprietor of the small family estate La Palazzetta,
has simply raised the bar for Rosso. Not surprisingly, Italy's
Gambero Rosso agrees by continually ranking it one of Montalcino's
finest.
Just as Brunello, the wine derives from the same vineyards and
grape, Sangiovese Grosso. However, unlike the Brunello, which
undergoes fermentation on the skins for thirty days, the Rosso
remains on the skins for only twenty days, allowing it to develop
aromas of a fresher and more intense berry - like nature. Moreover,
the Rosso is aged for about 15 months in small French oak barrels,
50% of which are new. This definitely gives the wine a deeper
more lively color than its
counterpart Brunello. The nose, while not as complex as Brunello,
offers an intense bouquet of rich, black cherry fruit and exotic
spices masked with the correct measure of oak tones. On the
palate, the Rosso is full and intensely fruity, with sweet, ripe
tannins, making it approachable now or cellar material for several
years. This is just an incredible wine for pairing with lamb,
steak or Cingale, Tuscan stew of wild boar. Enjoy!!
Tikal,
Corazon, Argentina 2001 - $24
Wow!! This Argentinean blockbuster is a perfect example of
what Enoteca Della Santina is trying to bring to its members.
The wines of Tikal, named after Ernesto Catena's son, clearly
reflect the sensibilities of its passionate owner. Noted as
one of the premier wine - makers, horseman, graphic designer,
fashion designer, software developer and book editors in all
of Argentina, Ernesto Catena strives to produce wines that are
at once obvious in their power, yet at the same time revealing
to the attentive palate. This particular wine is named "Corazon"
or heart in reference to the Bonarda and Malbec grapes, which
have long been at the heart of Argentina's great winemaking tradition.
Moreover, the original artwork on the label was created by Ernesto's
close friend and artist Ariel Mlynarzewicz (hey Pat, I'd like
to buy a vowel please).
Beyond the flamboyance of Mr. Catena and the sheer beauty of
the package, this artisan wine is world - class and difficult
to come by, only a thousand cases were produced. As we mentioned
earlier, Corazon is a combination of 60% Bonarda and 40% Malbec
from vineyards with an average age of 40 years and an elevation
of two thousand five hundred feet. Moreover, this unfined and
unfiltered wine sees 12 months in new and used French and American
oak. Aromas of bright berry fruit including ripe cherries,
raspberries and cranberries dominate the nose while heavy oak
note create flavors of dill and vanilla on the palate. The wine
is very zin - like with its ripe tannins and big body. Pair
it with grilled meats or even a spicy pasta dish. Most importantly,
it's incredibly fun to drink. Salute!!
San
Vincenzo, Roberto Anselmi, Veneto - 2001 $9
Italian white wine has certainly come a long way. This Italian
white from the classic producer of Soave, Roberto Anselmi was
too much of a bargain to pass up. As Robert Parker states in
the December issue of the Wine Advocate, "reader's looking
for something other than Chardonnay should check out this lovely,
pure white." (88points)
Roberto has created some controversy by dropping the appellation
name of Soave from his label, thus enabling him to have more
flexibility with blending. The wine consists of 15% Chardonnay,
80% Garganega and 5% Trebbiano. Stainless steel tank fermentation
allows the wine to remain crisp with balanced acidity. Furthermore,
the wine reveals notions of white flowers and almonds with a
very appealing smooth texture. This wine is perfect with seafood,
shellfish or even white meat. Salute and enjoy!!
Re
- Order Form
Wine
4 bottles 6 bottles case
Red
Bordeaux, Chateau Cantenac Brown, Margaux, France 1999 - $25
Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Mak, Coonawarra, Australia 2000 -
$17
Rosso Di Montalcino, La Palazzetta, Flavio Fanti, Tuscany 2000
- $24
Tikal, Corazon, Argentina 2001 - $24
San Vincenzo, Roberto Anselmi, Veneto - 2001 $9
Rivola, Abadia Reduerta, Sardon de Duero, Spain 2001 - $14
Celebre, Ata Rangi, Martinborough, New Zealand 1999 - $29
Cabernet Sauvignon, Atalon, Napa 1999 - $25
Marquis, Chateauneuf Du Pape, France 2000 - $16
Joseph's Hat, Ashanti, South Africa, 2000 - $15
Brentino, Maculan, Veneto 2000 - $14
Nebbiolo, Bera, Piedmont 1997 - $16
Pinot Bianco, Torre Rosazza, Veneto - $18
Ribera Del Duero, Valderiz, Spain 1998 - $22
Pinot Grigio, Montresor, Verona 2001 - $11
Merlot, Villa Pillo, Tuscany 1997 - $14
Chateau Camou, Baja, Mexico 1998 - $32
Dolcetto, G.D. Vajra, Barolo 2000 - $16
Cote Du Rhone, Renjarde, France 2000 - $11
Chianti Riserva, Carpineto, Tuscany 1997 - $19
Salitage, Australia, 1999 - $17
Tormaresca, Antinori, Puglia 2000 $10
Rasteau, Mistral, France 1998 $14
Chianti, Agripeccioli, 2000 $7
Malbec, Santa Julia, Argentina 2000 $10
Barolo, Stefano Farina, Piedmont 1997 $26
Mapemma, Argentina 2000 $31
Cabernet Sauvignon, Greystone, Australia 1999 $17
Sauvignon Blanc, Brampton, South Africa 2001 $9
Vacqueyras, Cailloux, France 1999 $18
Palazzo Della Torre, Allegrini, 1999 $17
Rioja, Sierra Cantabria, Spain 1999 $9
Vina Alarba Grenache 2002 $8
Omaka Springs Sauvignon Blanc 2000 $15
Ben Marco Malbec 1999 $20
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