Winter 2012

We’re back with our first offering of International Wine Selections for the year 2012. Welcome back to old friends and Welcome aboard to those of you experiencing your first six or twelve pack.

2008 Santa Rita Medalla Real Carménère Chile
The Santa Rita winery was founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernandez in the same area of Alto Jahuel where its main facilities stand today. Santa Rita and its subsidiaries currently market their products in over 75 countries, always focusing on the premium and superfine segment. Santa Rita winery takes pride in its privileged position as producer and leading exporter of quality premium and superior quality wines.

The Carménère grape is a wine grape variety originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it was used to produce deep red wines and occasionally used for blending purposes in the same manner as Petit Verdot. It is almost impossible to find Carménère wines in France today, as a Phylloxera plague in 1867 nearly destroyed all the vineyards of Europe, afflicting the Carménère grapevines in particular such that for many years the grape was presumed extinct. Lucky for us, the grape found a home in Chile where it had been imported back in the 1850s under the impression it was Merlot. Thanks to Chile's minimal rainfall during the growing season, Carménère has thrived, particularly in the vineyards of Santa Rita. The wine is deep and intense ruby red in color with a complex bouquet that combines the variety’s typical fresh black fruits and spicy notes that blend elegantly with rich oak to heighten the wine’s chocolate and vanilla characteristics. The result is a big and flavorful wine that is concentrated and persistent without sacrificing elegance or depth.

2010 Porcupine Ridge Syrah South Africa
In 1652 Jan van Riebeeck, a Dutch surgeon, eager to find a way to relieve the symptoms of scurvy, suggested to the Dutch East India Company that the Cape Province of South Africa would be suitable for growing grapes. Nine years later, the first wine was pressed from grapes grown on cuttings brought from France. The prime grape growing areas of South Africa spread out from Cape Town, and include the Paarl ("pearl" in Afrikaans), which to the east encompasses Franschhoek ("French corner"), home of the first French Huguenot settlers. Boekenhoutskloof, its homestead dating from 1784, is located in the Franschhoek Valley. Porcupine Ridge is a handcrafted range of wines, celebrated for its uncompromising commitment to quality. The wines carry a distinctive label featuring an original pen and ink of the crested porcupine drawn by leading South Africa wildlife artist, Zakkie Eloff. These crested porcupines inhabit the vineyards of the Boekenhoutskloof homestead.

Grapes are sourced exclusively from Malmesbury in the Swartland. The fruit is picked at optimum ripeness and fermented in Stainless Steel with selected Rhone strain yeast. Maturation is in French oak on two thirds of the wine and the balance remains unoaked. You’re drawn to the wine’s intense ruby red color with its crushed black pepper and ripe dark fruit flavors. It’s full bodied with silky smooth tannins and a lingering palate. Subtle use of oak ensures a good balance between fruit and wood flavors.

2010 Altos las Hormigas Mendoza Clásico Malbec Argentina
Altos las Hormigas was founded by a group of Italian wine professionals motivated to produce wine that expressed fully the unique dynamics of the Malbec grape in the zone of Mendoza in Argentina. When the first vineyard was planted in 1996, workers faced a stiff altercation with the local ant colonies. The estate is surrounded mostly by open fields with countless nests, and the ants loved to feed on the tender sprouts of the newly-planted young vines. As the owners refused to poison the ants, and looked for natural ways to deflect their attention, the workers commented that the ants were the ‘real’ owners of the place, free to roam around effortlessly. Ownership liked this novel idea of the ants owning the place, and decided to name the venture after this early situation, hence “Altos las Hormiga” or, “Ants Heights”. By the way, as the vines grew taller, the ants moved to other foods.

Grapes for this wine are chosen from sites over 800 meters in elevation. The 2010 Malbec Clásico was native yeast-fermented and aged in new French and American oak inner-staves. The 2010 is ruby red in color, with hues of blue and violet. It offers up an enticing nose of spice box, floral notes, and black cherry leading to a savory, tasty wine with good depth and concentration. It shows a nicely balanced palate, supported by firm tannins on the long, fine finish.

Here’s an easy recipe to show off your Malbec:

MALBEC MARINATED PORK TENDERLOIN
2 – 2 ½ lbs pork tenderloin
½ cup orange juice
½ cup Malbec
½ cup soy sauce
1 tsp garlic, minced
2 tsp brown sugar

Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty sealable bag. Seal bag, pressing out
excess air, and place in a shallow baking dish. Marinate in refrigerator for about
24 hours. Grill pork for approximately 15 minutes on each side. Enjoy with glasses
of Malbec.

2010 Falernia Pedro Ximénez Chile
Viña Falernia was founded in 1998 after Aldo Olivier Gramola from a small village in northern Italy (Trentino Region) called Dimaro, realized the potential for producing superb wines in this semi-arid valley. Viña Falernia is located in the Elqui Valley between La Serena and Vicuña, 520 km (323 miles)to the north of Santiago and it is at present Chile’s northernmost wine estate. The soils in its vineyards are composed partly of rubble which has eroded from the Andes mountains and deposited by glaciers and wind, and partly of alluvial sand and silt deposited by the river. While stony, gravely soils are regarded as poor for most crops, their excellent drainage qualities make them perfect for wine growing. The climate is semi-arid (average annual rainfall is 80-100 mm) making drip irrigation indispensable during the spring and summer months. With the majestic Andes as a backdrop, their peaks gleaming white all through the summer, the vineyards benefit from currents of cold air which descend from the high mountains at night.

Legend has it that Pedro Ximénez (or as we like to say, PX) originated in the Canary Islands before being taken to the Rhine. The grape then came to Jerez in the baggage of a soldier called Pedro Ximénez (or Pedro Siemens or Pedro Ximen), serving in the navy of Charles V (1500–1558) in the Spanish Netherlands. It seems unlikely that a grape that so likes warm weather would have done well so far north, and no current Rhine grape resembles PX, so the story is probably apocryphal. An origin in the Canaries is possible, perhaps the most plausible explanation is that it is a Moorish grape that was 'rebranded' after the Reconquista. Whether or not we believe the legend, we know that a small amount of PX is planted in Chile where it has traditionally been used in production of Chile’s national spirit, Pisco. We also know that with proper handling PX produces a splendid dry white wine. The 2010 Falernia Pedro Ximénez is a pale straw yellow color, with a very attractive nose of floral and aromatic notes. It shows a nice medium body with balance of acidity, minerality and fruity character. Dry, fresh and easy drinking, it’s particularly suited as an aperitif for the casual drink on the lanai. We also recommended you enjoy PX with seafood.

2009 Graham Beck Waterside Unoaked Chardonnay South Africa
The sad passing of Graham Beck (age 80), on 27 July 2010 heralded the end of an extraordinary era for one of South Africa’s best loved wine producing families
The foundations for success of Graham Beck Wines were laid in 1983 when Graham Beck purchased Madeba, a farm located outside the Western Cape town of Robertson. It was his ardent ambition to establish a world-class winery in this area that saw the erection of a state-of-the-art cellar and groundbreaking tasting facility – ensuring the growing reputation of Graham Beck Wines as a leading international wine destination. The success of the Robertson estate prompted the acquisition of a second property in the breathtaking Franschhoek Valley, one of the country’s oldest and most celebrated wine growing regions. At both of these cellars, the cornerstones of the Beck family ethos were entrenched from the very start – contributing to the passion and dedication that continues to drive the entire team today.

At Graham Beck Wines, winemaking is a combination of creative mediation (between unpredictable Mother Nature and volatile modern technology) and the expression of passion for perfection in its wines. Grapes for the 2009 Waterside Chardonnay come from a selection of Chardonnay vineyards planted on rich limestone soil in the Robertson area. To the eye, the wine is pale straw with hints of green on the edge. You’ll experience an explosion of tropical fruit on the nose with underlying floral tones followed by a juicy fruity entry which finishes with a zesty lime twist. This unoaked Chardonnay provides good company for Alfresco lunches and is also great with grilled chicken, crustaceans and pan-fried fresh fish.

2010 Castellani Biagio Pinot Grigio Italy
Exporters of wine since 1903, the Castellani family have founded their high quality wines on the belief that the' quality of the wine starts in the vineyard. For the past 25 years, the family has worked hard to refine the soil types and microclimates that enhance their 'great Tuscan vines', investing in research and new technologies to ensure the Castellani name continues to be associated with 'memorable wines'.
Castellani has recently invested $10 million in purchases and improvements to their estate vineyards and wineries. In addition to Tuscan wines, it offers a range of traditional and modern bottlings from all over Italy.

Castellani’s talented young winemaker Sabino Russo has defined and is refining a distinctive style. Working with world-renowned Tuscan enologist Franco Bernabei and veteran viticulturist Federico Comassi, Russo, he produces a portfolio of delicious wines that are getting better each year, receiving positive reviews and honors around the globe. Grapes for the Biagio Pinot Grigio were sourced from the selected hilly vineyards of Venezie. The wine is light straw yellow in color with a crispy, fresh and fruity bouquet. In the mouth it is very elegant, soft and delicate with hints of hazelnuts to the finish. This wine would be ideal with grilled chicken, a fish course or salads.