CLUB WRITEUPS

August 2005 Collector´s Club

2003 Yellow Hawk Cellar Chandler Reach Vineyard Sangiovese
I´ve always been a fan of winemaker Tim Sampson´s output.   He makes classic, well-defined Sangiovese - something of a rarity in our state.  This is his first reserve-designated wine, all from the justly renowned Chandler Reach Vineyard at the foot of Yakima Valley.  At $21.50 it´s a bit of a steal, and there´s a fair amount available.  It´s ready to drink, medium-bodied, and richly flavored.

2000 Mannucci Droandi Chianti Classico Reserva
Yum!  This used to be a $30 wine.  Drat!  The distributor couldn´t move it.  We bought all that´s left for a retail of $18.00.   This one´s built to age, although it´s great now.  Try to hold on to it for ten years (if you like older wines) and then try it with a pork dish.  Otherwise, decant it and enjoy.  We have about five cases left.  There´s also a non-reserve version that´s quite nice for $15.00; it might find it´s way into a club soon!

2004 Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Rose
Every year, this has been my favorite rose - from anywhere.  The 2004 vintage is a beautiful, elegant wine and, as always, is fairly tough to get.  We reserved enough for this club when it was released, and here it is.  It´s made by one of Chateauneuf-du-Pape´s best producers; their red is a truly amazing experience.   There´s a bit of this left available at $18.00.

2003 Ceuso Scurati Sicilia Nero d´Avola
This is a big wine from one of Europe´s up-and-coming wine regions.   Sicilian wine is rapidly finding an international market, especially for its native Nero d´Avola grape.  This one´s $16.00, and we´ve a reasonable amount left.  It´s ready to drink now with that rack of ribs you really were drooling after...

2001 Langlois Chateau Les Montifault Chinon
Chinon is a beautiful village on the Loire river; the land of chateaus and Cabernet Franc.  When Cab Franc ripens fully, it produces a wonderful wine here - not fat and full, but lean, elegant, and extremely food-friendly.  Here´s a great example.   This will take another few years in your cellar, but can also be consumed now.  It´s all of $11.00, and there is a good stock on hand.

2000 Chateau Saint-Seurin Bordeaux Blanc
It´s nice to round out the collection with a nice, inexpensive wine.  It´s nice when it´s $7.00, and good.  Have this on the deck some summer evening.  There´s about four cases left.

Please, please be careful of your wines with all this heat!  If you don´t have a temperature-controlled cellar, check your cellar temperature frequently - its much better than getting an unpleasant surprise!

Construction has started on the new West Seattle Cellars!  We´ll be open through all the hammering and sawing, although parking may be a bit problematic at times.  We anticipate being in the new building sometime this fall, with a great Grand Opening Celebration!

 

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