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March 2004 Collector´s Club
2001 Nautilus Marlborough Pinot Noir
New Zealand seems to be really getting the hang of the notoriously fickle Pinot Noir
grape, especially in the Marlborough region of the South Island. It has its own
character, while still being blatantly Pinot - a rare trick, as many New World Pinot
producers have discovered. It´s also at a good price, $19.75.
Unfortunately, there´s very little of this wine left, and we´ve got it
all. It´ll hold in your cellar for a couple years, easily. Try it
with herbed chicken.
2001 Landmark Steel Plow Syrah
The Landmark line of wines has been carried in this shop since it was started, and
their Chardonnays have been perennial best-sellers, and for good reason; they make
outstanding wines. Now we´ve got their Syrah, made from Sonoma Valley,
all organic, fruit. Add another to Landmark´s streak of outstanding
wines. There´s a delicacy to this wine not often found in Syrah.
It´ll hold well in your cellar for five years. It´s $19.75, and
there´s a reasonable quantity.
2001 Alta Vista Grande Reserve Malbec
There´s definitely something about Argentine Malbec that appeals to me.
The best examples are well-balanced and complex, with a distinguishing fruitiness
about them that makes them fun to drink. We´re starting to see the
reserve lines that were missing from store shelves, such as this $19.75 gem.
It´ll hold well for several years, although it´s tasty right now.
There´s plenty around. Alta Vista also has two other lines, ranging from
$7.00 up, and all are good values.
1998 Bodegas Huertas Aranzo Jumilla
This wine from Spain is made more in an older style than what is commonly found on
our shelves; much earthier, with darker fruit tones. It´s made in the
Jumilla region from Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre) grapes, which make a
remarkable ageworthy wine. This wine already has some time on it, but will
certainly hold a couple more. Give it some air when you open it.
There´s miniscule quantities of this around at $15.00; the importer only
brought in 12 cases.
2002 Chateau Calabre Montravel
This wine, predominantly Sauvignon Blanc, is from a region close to France´s
Bordeaux, and uses the same grape varietals. It´s crisp, and will go well
with fish dishes. There´s a good supply at $11.00.
2003 Monte Don Lucio Macabeo
A Spanish white from La Mancha, this wine has a nice rich palate feel.
It´s made from the Macabeo grape, one of Spain´s many contributions to
the wine world. It´s an interesting, older-style wine that was imported
in miniscule quantities. It´s $8.50, and ready to drink.
A quick update on the new shop - designs have been finalized, the tenants
behind us are out, and demolition work on the house behind us will be proceeding as
soon as permits are in hand! We´ll be open during demolition and
construction (the old building will not be altered until we´re in the new one),
and - so far - everything´s on target for an October opening!
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