The Sarah Jane English Newsletter:  43rd Edition
September 26, 2001  

THOMAS FOGARTY, internationally recognized heart surgeon, inventor, winery owner, Stanford professor and entrepreneur, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) for his 1969 patent of the embolectomy catheter.  Inserted into an artery, inflated,  and then withdrawn to remove blood clots, the Fogarty® Balloon Embolectomy Catheter represented the first "less-invasive" medical technology, making operations safer, less traumatic and often less expensive.  "Dr. Fogarty's long, productive career provides an inspirational example to all of us who value creativity," says David Fink, president and CEO of NIHF.  "He deserves great credit for creating breakthrough techniques used every day in operating suites around the world."  Some of NIHF's notable other members include Alexander Graham Bell, Luther Burbank, George Washington Carver, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Louis Pasteur, Steve Wozniak and the Wright Brothers.   With the $500,000. Lemelson-MIT prize (largest single cash award for invention and innovation) Dr. Fogarty received in 2000, he established The Fogarty Medical Foundation, an organization that presents grants to young doctors with the passion for creating similar less-invasive surgical equipment.  Dr. Fogarty founded the Thomas Fogarty Winery in 1981 after years of making wine as a hobby in a mountain cabin.  He and Winemaker Michael Martella have been instrumental in bringing the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation to national prominence.  Dr. Fogarty is an authoritative voice on the subject of moderate wine consumption and its association with good health.

TOP PICKS FOR THE MONTH
(prices vary store to store)

Varietal: Zinfandel

• Clos du Val 1998 Zinfandel, California
• Robert Mondavi 1998 Zinfandel, Napa
• Dry Creek Vineyard 1998 Heritage Clone Zinfandel, Sonoma
• Norman Vineyards 1998 Zinfandel Paso Robles "The Monster"
• Raymond 1998 Reserve Zinfandel, Napa
• Grgich Hills 1998 Zinfandel (50/50 Napa and Sonoma
• Lake Sonoma 1997 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
• Chateau Souverain 1997 Zinfandel, Dry Creek, Sonoma
• Lake Sonoma 1997 Old Vine Zinfandel, Saini Farms Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
• Rancho Zabaco 1999 Zinfandel Dry Creek County
• Lake Sonoma 1997 Old Vine Zinfandel Alexander Valley, Sonoma
• Rancho Zabaco 1997 Zinfandel, unfiltered Dry Creek County
• Lolonis 1997 Zinfandel Redwood Valley, Mendocino

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Winery Feature of the Month  

PENFOLDS, History: An English doctor founded Penfolds 150 years ago.  Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold studied in London, where he almost certainly met Dr Henry John Lindeman, who was training in the same hospital.  Penfold's sense of adventure encouraged him and his wife Mary to emigrate to South Australia. They arrived in the colony, founded only eight years before, on August 8, 1844.  The Penfolds had purchased 500 acres at Magill, and brought French vine cuttings with them.  They called their home The Grange, after Mary's home in England. Dr Penfold built up his medical practice and made fortified wines - port and sherry - for his patients. As the demand for his wine grew he expanded vineyards and production. At some stage in the 1850's, wine probably took over from medicine as the family's chief source of income.  The family wine business became a company in 1921 and the years leading up to and during the Second World War saw further acquisitions of vineyards and cellars in the Hunter, Barossa, and Griffith areas, together with the Auldana and Modbury vineyards near Magill.    In 1950, the focus was on table wine, a task given to the Chief Winemaker, Max Schubert, who had joined the company as a teenaged messenger boy in the early 1930s.  In 1951, Schubert produced the first experimental vintage of Grange Hermitage, a red wine - made from Shiraz.  In the 1960s Schubert developed the "family" of wines that have since established Penfolds in all sectors of the red wine market. www.penfolds.com
Penfolds has released its 46th vintage of Grange with the 1996 vintage. Grange has become the benchmark by which all other Australian wines are measured. The limited production may be found in stores for an estimated price is $195.00. PENFOLDS has released some super premium reds and a Koonunga Hill blend that are more immediately available. If there is an ideal Shiraz in your future, it's probably one of these PENFOLDS' wines. The Cabernet and Cab blend are delicious too.   PENFOLDS 1998 Magill Estate Shiraz $50: "complex tobac and cinnamon stick spice with licorice and black pepper in the background, aeration reveals mocha and charcoal aromas and well-handled cedary oak and typical Magill spectrum aromas of plum and dark berry compote."
PENFOLDS 1998 RWT Shiraz $70: "rich plum-pudding-saturated fruits and stylish French oak hints followed by more subtle glaced fruits encasing dark licorice and sweet plum."
PENFOLDS 1998 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon $80: "concentrated creme de cassis and black plum with floral aromas, Brazil-nut oak and complex barrel fermentation characters in the background."
PENFOLDS 1997 St. Henri Shiraz $45: "There are lively, rich and stylish, varietal notes, stewed raspberries and logan berries with a savory accompaniment reminiscent of cassoulet. Chocolate, mocha and black tea aromas are shyly in background."
PENFOLDS 1999 Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet $11: "forward aromas of rich plum, blackberry with hints of licorice and eucalyptus, some cherry and chocolate revelations with black olive and rhubarb."

NEWS

The MUSHROOM COUNCIL announced September as National Mushroom Month.   There's a brochure that notes health benefits and recipes as well.  For free copies: infor@mushroomcouncil.com   

VENTANA INN & SPA and SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA have announced a partnership with San Francisco's PRESCOTT HOTEL.  Now travelers can book at three well-trapped destinations: San Francisco,  the Big Sur Coast and Sonoma's Wine Country.  www.ventanainn.com

McDOWELL VALLEY VINEYARDS won the top honor, "Best in Show" at the California State Fair, for its 1999 Reserve Syrah.

MARCEL'S, a Washington, D.C. restaurant owned by Chef/Proprietor Robert Wiedmair, has announced that his sommelier, Aurelio Cabestrero, is offering diners to participate in a flight of new wines that have been added to the wine list.  The focus is on French wines.  For information, 202/296-1166, wiedmaier@aol.com

VINS d'ALSACE, Conseil Interprofessionnel de Vins d'Alsace (CIVA), announced that the United States is in the midst of a full-fledged Alsace Riesling revival.   More and more consumers are on catching on to this delicious, fresh, fruity white wine from France.  The Alsace Wine Council reported that sales of Alsace Riesling in the U.S. were up +36% in volume and value.  Trimbach and Hugel are two Alsatian producers.  www.alsacewine.com

SHAFER Line on Wine reports wine statistics.  In July, it reported that 3.3 percentage of wines in the 2001 San Diego Wine Competition were corked; 4% of wine produced in California comes from Napa Valley; the first person to graft French vines onto American rootstock to prevent phylloxera was Texas viticulturist T.V. Munson (please see my book: The Wines of Texas, by Sarah Jane English).

ALLIED DOMECQ wines has acquired Perrier Jouet and Champagne Mumm and Liz Dueland is the new public relations manager of the accounts.

SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL WINE AUCTION hosted its 9th Annual event and raised $350,000.  The Music Academy of the West Summer Festival and the California central coast vintners combined to offer the event.  www.musicacademy.org

RIEDEL CRYSTAL has introduced new stemware: the MILLENNIUM GLASS 2002 and MONTRACHET.  These glasses represent RIEDEL's designer-eye for line and form while enhancing function.  RIEDEL is known for finely tuned instruments for every level of wine sophistication as well as fine wine glasses in all price categories.  www.riedelcrystal.com

HUDSON's ON THE BEND Cooking Classes are for those who love to cook or who love a cook.  For information, call 512/266-7655, 800/996-7655, FAX 512/266-3518 or  www.hudsonsontehbend.com  Please see current issue of Country Lifestyle (available at HEB and elsewhere for non subscribers) for my article on Hudson's.

DeLILLE CELLARS is the only five-star Washington wine rated in Decanter's Top Red Wines of the year.  www.delillecellars.com

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY WINEGROWERS (RRVW) have a mission to "nourish the agricultural diversity of the appellation and preserve its environmental resources while maintaining the authentic farming heritage."  Farmers grow wine.   Grape growing is an important agricultural endeavor in the Russian River Valley and essential to the farming in the community.  In an era when wine is symbolic of a textured lifestyle, it is time to introduce America to the true farmers behind the wines.   Several wineries are certified "Green," a comprehensive program that addresses water quality, air quality, land use, energy, solid waste, fire codes, permits, and funding.  Certified wineries are Belvedere, David Bynum, Gallo of Sonoma, Hanna, Hartford, Hop Kiln, Iron Horse, J Wine Co., Jordan, Kendall-Jackson - Skylane, L. Foppiano, La Crema and Topolos.  www.rrvw.org

WINEGROWERS OF DRY GREEK VALLEY (WDCV), Sonoma, California, hosted Insider's Exploration of Dry Creek Valley.  It featured a panel discussion on head-trained and trellised zinfandel grapes, comparing the two methods.  First planted in the 1870s, Dry Creek Valley has become synonymous with Zinfandel wines.  Many pre-Prohibition, head-trained vines still exist.  Dave Bevill, president of   WDCV, said, "Dry Creek Valley is 16 miles long, two miles wide with approximately 5,000 acres under cultivation--about the same as the as at the turn of the century.  The oldest and best quality zinfandel grows on the eastern benchlands and western coastal hillsides."  Quality grapes come from both methods.  www.wdcv.com

KING ESTATE has appointed Brad Biehl as General Manager and Miles Johnson as Director of  Marketing.

SOUTHCORP WINES has appointed Megghen Driscol as Vice-President of Public Relations and Communication, and Eric Lake as Vice-President On-premise of National Accounts.

DELICATO was awarded "Best USA Wine Producer" by England's International Wine & Spirit Competition.  Delicato Family Vineyards creates wines primarily from fruit harvested in and around Lodi and retails for $6 to $8.

KORBEL has released its richest and most elegant California champagne--1995 Reserve Le Premier.  Extremely limited, the complex cuvee is crafted in European style with nutty, toasty aromas complemented by delicate green apple and berry fruit flavors.  The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for this wine come from the excellent 1995 harvest in Russian River Valley.

ROBERT MONDAVI, one of 19 nominees,  has won the "Wine Industry Integrity Award 2001," an award crated by the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission in 1998.  The intent of the award is to shine light on individuals whose careers exemplify integrity and provide inspiration for the industry to emulate.

WINE.COM, the only national online wine retailer, invites consumers to do holiday shopping for books, gifts, wine accessories and for wine in 27 states of the U.S. and in Japan.  For information, contact Jean Jacote at Paige Poulos Communications: jean@ppcwinecom.com, 510/528-0665.

BERINGER BLASS WINE ESTATES has entered an agreement to acquire ETUDE wines from Tony Soter, who will continue his roll at the winery along with its employees.   "I've always been a fan of Etude," says Mora Cronin, a vice-president of Beringer Blass.  "But perhaps the best part of the collaboration is the opportunity to work alongside Tony Soter, surely one of the most distinguished, dedicated winemakers of our time."

THOMAS FOGARTY, internationally recognized heart surgeon, inventor, winery owner, Stanford professor and entrepreneur, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) for his 1969 patent of the embolectomy catheter.   Inserted into an artery, inflated,  and then withdrawn to remove blood clots, the Fogarty® Balloon Embolectomy Catheter represented the first "less-invasive" medical technology, making operations safer, less traumatic and often less expensive.

MERIDIAN Vineyards has published a free brochure titled "7 Things Every Gal Should Know About Ordering Wine."  To order, please go to www.meridianvineyards.com or write to: Meridian Vineyards Brochure, P.O. Box 111, St. Helena, CA 94574

ST. FRANCIS Vineyards & Winery debuted has opened the doors to its new visitors center and invites visitors to explore Sonoma wine, food and lifestyle in the traditional tasting room.   The Mission-Style structure is located on Wild Oak Vineyard, one mile west of the original tasting room on Sonoma Highway.   For information, 800/543-7713, www.stfranciswine.com

SABATE USA, world's second largest cork producer,  announced findings from a wine closure industry-wide survey of wineries about wine closures.    A major significant finding is the threshold of acceptable levels of TCA a92,4,6-Trichloroanisole)--main source of "taint" in wine.   While 88 % identified corks as the main source of TCA contamination, 60% recognized other winery sources as the cause.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, GALLO of SONOMA Winery:   "Winery of the Year,"third time winner at the San Francisco International Wine Competition--award is given to winery earning the greatest number of medals, measured by total points of all awards.   Against 730 wineries from 22 states and 19 foreign countries, Gallo of Sonoma competed and earned 17 medals. "Best Chardonnay Worldwide," International Wine & Spirits Competition named Gallo of Sonoma’s 1997 Stefani Vineyard Chardonnay the "Best Chardonnay Worldwide" at VinExpo, Europe’s largest gathering of leaders of the wine world.  "Premio Gran VinItaly Award," Gallo, for the second time in three years, captured the "Premio Gran Vinitaly" award in 2001 for the most medals bestowed on a winery. "Best of Show," The 1996 Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon of Ernest and Julio Gallo won top spot in the competition at the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience.    "Best U.S. Wine Producer," at the prestigious U.K. based International Wine Challenge, according to the organizers of the competition, "The top U.S. producer was assessed on overall performance and Gallo achieved the best medal rating – taking three of only 148 medals awarded in the entire competition – and achieving the highest average mark of all U. S. entries."   Gallo of Sonoma won the only gold medal presented to a U.S. winery at the world’s largest international wine trade show, the 34^th VinItaly, in Verona, Italy.   "Prix d'Excellence Award,"  the 1996 Laguna Ranch Chardonnay was one of only 40 wines to receive the special prize of "Prix d’Excellence" at the Challenge International du Vin.   "Most Successful Producer," at the Shanghai Wine Challenge, the Gallo of Sonoma Winery was given the "Trophy For the Most Successful Producer."  "Best Chardonnay, Best White Wine, Best U.S. White Wine,"  Gallo of Sonoma 1996 Laguna Ranch Chardonnay won a gold medal and a trophy in three separate categories at the Japan International Wine Challenge: Best Chardonnay, Best White Wine, and Best U.S. White Wine. Thirteen Gallo of Sonoma wines were entered in the contest and 11 won awards. Gold medals were also given to the 1994 Ernest & Julio Gallo Northern Sonoma Estate Cabernet and the 1995 Stefani Vineyard Chardonnay.

TEXAS OLIVE OIL COUNCIL reports that the enthusiasm is running high because olive trees in South Texas are bearing fruit.  Executive Director Trigg Dealey led a tour on David and Beverly Anderson's ranch in Dilley, a small town 70 miles southwest of San Antonio, to show off the fruit.  "The 144 robust and healthy olive tree branches were drooping from the weight of so much fruit," he reported gleefully.

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NEW RELEASES
(quotes are winemakers' comments)

  ROBERT CRAIG WINE CELLARS owner Bob Craig says his love of winemaking always begins with the vineyards and his belief in the importance of vineyard   location.  In his case, Mt. Veeder was where he managed the development of 300 acres to found The Hess Collection in the 1980s.  He also spearheaded the campaign to have Mt. Veeder designated an appellation (granted in 1990).  Bob established his own winery in 1992, hand-crafting his dream wines which showcase distinctive cabernet grapes from finest Napa vineyards (Mt. Veeder, Howell Mt. and Valley floor).  The ROBERT CRAIG WINE CELLARS 1998 Affinity shows his art of blending to make a Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon.  His ROBERT CRAIG WINE CELLARS 1999 Russian River demonstrates the richness and complexity that is the hallmark of renowned Chardonnays.  www.robertcraigwine.com

ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS 2000 Chardonnay Estate $15: "bright flavorful wine was produced from three individual blocks of Chardonnay on the Wetzel Estate. Stainless Steel and barrel fermentation with multiple yeast strains, French oak barrel aging on the yeast lees, and partial secondary or malolactic fermentation all combine to present a flavorable and complex wine. Wonderful fruit is balanced with generous alcohol and acidity, enhanced with French oak and yeast aromas. The wine finishes with great flavor and length. 

• ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS 2000 Dry Chenin Blanc $9: "bright, crisp with appealing melon and pear flavors"
• ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS 2000 Gewürztraminer $9: " Floral and spicy; a delicious aperitif

• GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU 1999 Pinot Noir, $26,  is Winemaker Linda Trotta's favorite child."  She says, "If wines are a winemaker's children, then the 1999 Pinot Noir was my model child--a wine that slept through the whole night as a baby and never wrecked the car as a teenager."  She attributes the success to fine tuning of cellar and vineyard practices--long gentle pumpovers and an increased hands-on vineyard procedures such as leaf pulling and positioning, cluster thinning and so forth.

• KING ESTATE 1998 Pinot Noir $20, reflects the ongoing programs at the winery--a focus on a block by block, vineyard by vineyard, individual barrel aging analysis.  Each lost (55 lots total in the 1998) is kept separate until ready for blending.  "This brilliant, deep garnet wine has raspberry, cherry, and plum aromas, hints of  oak-cedar, cinnamon and vanilla; soft and viscous, rounded, beautifully balanced, well integrated oak and solid acid structure with long soft finish."  www.kingestate.com    
• KING ESTATE 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir $35, "ripe blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, Bing cherry, dried floral ntoes, hints of cedar, sweet oak spice, full fruit entry , rich and rounded, great acid balance, lengthy tannins, soft vicosity with a long velvety finish"

• DRY CREEK VINEYARDS 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, $35, "Deep ruby with aromas of cedar and spice, elegant bouquet of red-cherry, cloves, dried herbs, orange blossom and vanilla, luscious black cherry, spicy cassis, well-constructed, highly  extracted and complex, long rounded finish"
• DRY CREEK VINEYARDS 2000 DCV3 Fume Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, $18, "DCV3 is our oldest estate Sauvignon Blanc vineyard.  For more than two decades it has been the backbone of our regular Fume Blanc and Reserve Fume Blanc.  The 2000 vintage is our third production of this exceptional lot of vineyard designated wine.   This fragment DCV3 Fume Blanc displays floral, citrus, and lemon grass aromas.   Clean and fresh on the palate, a blend of lemon, gooseberry, herb and grassy flavors combine with pineapple, pear and melon accents.  It pairs well with fresh seafood salads or ceviche."  www.drycreekvineyard.com

• BELVEDERE 1998 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, Healdsburg Ranch $22, "Elegant, yet powerful," says Winemaker Bob Bertheau," it's classic Bordelaise with its tannin structure and complexity--tight cassis and blackberry with layers of spice, smoke and elegant structure, sources mainly from Dry Creek Valley hills.   We've added small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for tactile differences and complexity, softness and texture and fruit flavors. 
• BELVEDERE 1998 Sonoma County Merlot, $18, "Intriguing blend of rich, ripe, almost brambly fruit, a complex nose of herbs, chocolate and blackberry, with a powerful style that rewards with texture and softness and rich meaty backbone in the glass with a soft spot in the finish."
• BELVEDERE 1999 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel $20, "A great Dry Creek Zin--rich, jammy and a nose that carries character of boysenberry with vanilla spice, bold and assertive--as American as apple pie!"  www.belvederewinery.com

CHATEAU ST. JEAN Winemaker Steve Reeder believes every wine deserves to be blended.  "Whether I'm blending it with another varietal or with multiple lots from the same vineyard, I love the game of blending," he says.   "Blending offers me both the thrill and the challenge to make the best wine possible.  Some wines are wonderful as 100% varietal wines--but I believe those are few.  Most wines scream for a boost--even the subtlest  introduction of another varietal can help a wine reach its full potential.  Two perfect examples of my addiction to blending are my CHATEAU ST. JEAN 1999 Sonoma County Merlot, $25, and the CHATEAU ST. JEAN 2000 Fume, $13.   Feel free to let Steve know what you think: Steve.Reeder@Beringerblass.com    I thought they were delicious.

   TRINCHERO 2000 Family Selection Sauvignon Blanc, $12, "displays a complex aroma of toasty, spicy oak, malolactic creaminess and bright melon  with a fig fruit accented by grassy/herbal tones, rich and crispy with citrus flavors."

ST. CLEMENT Winemaker Aaron Pott says, "After almost a year making St. CLEMENT wines, I am more excited than ever to be making wine in paradise!--especially about the success of the 1999 red wines and many of the 2000 whites.  Our winemaking staff is working with a dedicated group of grape growers to continue to focus on crop quality and ripeness levels.  My boots are not only dusty, they're literally filled with rocks and dirt clods from walking these fields.  2001 is going to be superb!   Meanwhile, enjoy the ST. CLEMENT 1998 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $35--fruit filled and luscious, sweet oak and ripe raspberry with hints of chocolate and spice; the ST. CLEMENT 2000 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, $13--the undercurrent is citrus and tropical fruit;  and the 1999 OROPPAS $50--a slightly different blend with balanced percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, more blueberry, cherry and spicy toasted flavor and ripe wild berry flavors make it unusually complex."  www.stclement.com

LINDEMANS released its 2000 vintage of   popular Bin wines.   LINDEMANS is one of Australia's most awarded wineries and is now the number one imported brand in the United States.  Chief Winemaker Phillip John says, "The 2000 vintage truly utilized LINDEMANS multi-regional blending philosophy to the fullest.   Many regions experienced exceptional varietal character and abundant crops while others had lower crop levels but highly concentrated fruit flavors.  Overall, this vintage produced wines with exactly what we look for--flavor with softness."    www.lindemans.com

• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 64 Chardonnay, $9--"delicate melon, fig and grapefruit, sweet nutty oak, medium bodied,  creamy mid palate, finishes with toasty oak, crisp acidity--for twelve years a Wine Spectator "Best Buy."
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 77 Semillon-Chardonnay, $9--"citrus and melon, medium bodied, rounded, ripe fruit with crisp acidity, balanced"
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 95 Sauvignon Blanc, $9--"herbaceous and grassy, medium bodied, elegant structure with attractive fruit, enjoy with smoked salmon, oysters, mussels, chicken, asparagus, salads,  and Asian dishes"
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 40 Merlot, $9--"youthful and fragrant, mixed spices, aniseed, dried fruit, medium bodied, soft tannin cherry and plum dominate"
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, $9--"concentrated black currant, plum,  blueberry, hint oak, medium bodied, tea, rounded tannin"
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 50 Shiraz, $9--"savory, meaty, raspberry and blackberry fruits, spice notes, approachable, rounded tannins"
• LINDEMANS 2000 Bin 99 Pinot Noir, $9--"varietal aromas, cherry, strawberry, gamy elements, clove, balanced and ripe, clean with supportive acidity"

MUMM CUVEE NAPA began pressing grapes on August 8, 2001, for the "real" new millennium--approximately 75 tons of prime pinot noir and chardonnay grapes harvested by hand.  Harvest will continue for for an estimated six weeks.

• MUMM CUVEE NAPA Brut Prestige $18, "The naturally ripened fruit," says Winemaker Rob McNeill, "was selected from 50 separate vineyards.  The wine is crisp yet creamy, rich and lingering with touches of vanilla and melon.  It is medium bodied with an excellent mousse."
• MUMM CUVEE NAPA 1996 DXV $50, "DXV is unabashedly a celebration of sparkling wine from Napa Valley--fresh,  fruit-forward, complex and carefully crafted.  It captures the spirit of our winemaking where each labor-intensive step of the methode champenoise process is carried out  in meticulous fashion, using only seven out of a possible 91 lots from 65 premium Napa Valley vineyards.  It's a masterpiece."

HERZOG Winery has just introduced the latest vintages of its acclaimed reserve wines: HERZOG 1998 Special Edition Warnecke Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon,   HERZOG 1999 Special Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay, HERZOG 1998 Special Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and HERZOG 1998 Special Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Winemaker Peter Stern says, "1998 was a relatively cool growing season, which resulted in deeply colored Cabernets with lots of character.  1999 was also on the cooler side, so the grapes from the Russian River Valley Chardonnay were intensely-flavored and the wine shows great fruit development.  Both vintages were excellent for us an we're happy with the quality of these wines."

• HERZOG 1998 Special Edition Warnecke Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $58, "Crafted from specially selected grapes grown at the base of Chalk Hill in Alexander Valley, it aged in new American and French oak barrels for nearly 20 months, which accounts for its rich oak bouquet," Sterns says. " The wine is well structured with a pronounced character of blackberry and cranberry--only 556 cases produced."
• HERZOG 1999 Special Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay $28, "completed fermentation in new French oak barrels and the wine was held sur lie for 12 months.  It has intense aromas of apple, citrus and chamomile--only 785 cases produced"
• HERZOG 1998 Special Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $30, "aged in new American oak barrels 18 months, excellent low-yield vintage with high intensity fruit, the wine displays cherry, cranberry and blackberry aromas with complex notes of green pepper--only 1,258 cases produced."
• HERZOG 1998 Special Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $35, "with notes of plum, violet and berry, this wine was aged 18 months in new American oak barrels, bottled without fining or filtering, and resulting in a balanced wine with oak  bouquet--1,581 produced."

VALLEY OF THE MOON 2000 Sonoma County Chardonnay $14, "this first Chardonnay of the new millennium enjoy the same rigorous standards set by founder George Whitman over 130 years ago.  In the 1860s on this winery site, he ran a successful enterprise producing 50,000 gallons of wine annually.  Ownership changed may times until KENWOOD Vineyards purchased VALLEY OF THE MOON in 1997.   Winemaker Pat Henderson hand selected grapes grown in Carneros, Sonoma Valley and the Russian River to produce this richly textured Chardonnay.  Whole cluster pressed and fermented in small French oak barrels, it aged sur lie for five months and underwent malolactic.  It's luscious, well balanced and has toasty vanilla, fruity flavors of apples and gooseberries.

TRIMBACH Vin d'Alsace has enjoyed a series of good to excellent vintages over the past few years.  Included are current releases with national availability.  The selection of these Alsatian varietals, delicious now and with aging potential.

• TRIMBACH 1999 Gewurztraminer $15, "perfumed nose of lychee and spices, rich and intense, luscious with a dry finish."
• TRIMBACH 1999 Riesling $15, "mineral aromas, slight petrol, full on palate with mineral, grapefruit and lemon, balanced, fresh acidity, enjoy with onion tart, choucroute and pork."
• TRIMBACH 1999 Pinot Gris Reserve $15, "harmonious, peach aromas, full-bodied, ripe, smoky, tropical fruit with nutty finish."
• TRIMBACH 1999 Pinot Gris Reserve Personelle $28.50, "rich and fragrant, touch botryis, creamy texture, fullbodied, meaty, good acidity, balanced."
• TRIMBACH 1997 Riesling Cuvee Fredric Emile   $28.50, "powerful, full-bodied, intense, depth, rich and ripe acidity, enjoy with grilled fish, poultry, veal."
• TRIMBACH 1996 Gewurztraminer Ribeaupierre $28.50, "rich and spicy, lychee nut aromas, ripe but not sweet, stylish, concentrated, elegant with long finish."
• TRIMBACH 1997 Gewurztraminer Vendages Tardives $58, "This wine can be compared to the brilliant 1990 or the legendary 1971--still drinking well today.  Perfect as an aperitif or companion to smoked fish, it's excellent with spicy foods, pates, terrines and strong cheese like Roquefort.

PONZI Vineyards, an Oregon winery founded in 1970, is a Ponzi family enterprise.  Nancy and Dick Ponzi searched the West Coast and felt the Willamette Valley offered them the best chance for wine success.   Thirty one years later, having been proven right, the innovation continues with the second generation.  Daughter and winemaker Luisa, with an Oregon Pinot Noir background,   studied Burgundies in France and earned a coveted certificate: Professional d'Oenologie et Viticulture. 
PONZI VINEYARDS is located in the rolling farmland 15 miles southwest of Portland, the Oregon winery closest to the city center.  The small family-owned winery that has earned international recognition for consistently producing high quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Arneis and Vino Gelato. The Northern Willamette Valley winery is now under the guidance of the second generation Ponzis—Michel, Anna-Maria and Luisa. The first four barrels produced in 1974 have been expanded to the current annual production of 10,000 cases.  I tasted through the wines with Maria and she told me their focus is on the wine varietals that perfectly match the Oregon climate: pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and white riesling.  www.ponziwines.com     The current PONZI release is the 1998 Reserve Chardonnay $30, "with a lovely structure and depth, aromas of peaches, apples, pears and roasted nuts, intense flavors of rich fruit accented with mineral characteristics and a lingering, supple finish,"   Luisa says.

                                  

KENWOOD VINEYARDS has released its current KENWOOD VINEYARDS Artist's Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) featuring Route Terrasse au Soleil a Ceret by Rizo on the label--the 23rd in the KENWOOD's series.  Winemaker Mike Lee's history of crafting these exceptional wines is backed by an outstanding 1997 harvest.  Lee selected his finest barrels, predominantly from vineyards located on the eastern slope of the Mayacamas mountain range.  After harvesting, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel and the lots aged separately in small French oak for 30 months.   Following final blending, the 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc wine was aged six months in French oak and an additional eight months of aging thereafter in bottle.  It is an intensely concentrated wine with vibrant blackberry and black cherry fruit tinged with hints of mint, spice and cassis.   It has great aging potential.     KENWOOD has also released three new whites wines for our enjoyment now.

• KENWOOD 2000 Sonoma County Chardonnay $15, "part French oak fermentation and  sur lie, rich and creamy, well-balanced,  pear, apple and vanilla"
• KENWOOD 2000 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc $15, "peach, citrus, vanilla, complex structure, 100% barrel fermentation, partial malolactic" 
• KENWOOD 2000 Reserve Chardonnay $20, "eight months barrel age in mostly new French oak, extended lees contact, rounded and lush, floral and vanilla flavors with a rich velvety texture, complexity"

CHATEAU ST. JEAN Winemaker Steve Reeder is pleased with two spectacular vineyards that consistently produce grapes that do his bidding.  "It's a great pleasure to present our 24th bottling of Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay and the 25th of Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay," he says.  "With 25 years of experience we've become known as vineyard designated specialists and I'm honored to continue the tradition."

• CHATEAU ST. JEAN 1999 Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay, Alexander Valley $25, "ripe honeysuckle, pears, hints of tropical fruit, big, layered and creamy, with a persistent, long, lemon, smoky vanilla finish"
• CHATEAU ST. JEAN 1999 Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay, Alexander Valley $24, "aromatic notes of nectarine, ripe peaches and hint of mineral, tropical fruits, guava, kiwi with unctuous mouth followed by smoky oak"

MAISON MARQUES & DOMAINES has released several wines.  Looking ahead to holidays, CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER, creator of the famous Cristal prestige cuvee, has enjoyed a reputation of renown.  Brut Premier is the House's flagship multi-vintage champagne.  ROEDERER ESTATE  Anderson Valley is the the Champagne company's California property.    FLEUR DU CAP and LE BONHEUR are wine properties in South Africa.

• CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER Brut Premier $42, "smooth, full bodied,delicate balance of fruit and acidity, lean, firmly structured with discreet fruit and subtle toastiness, enjoy with  wide array of foods"
• ROEDERER ESTATE Anderson Valley Brut $20, "with 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir grapes, of the cuvee or first pressing is used, gently pressed with minimal skin contact, oak aged reserve wines add Roederer's special touch"
• FLEUR DU CAP 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon $12, "red fruit, blackcurrant, tobac, dark chocolate, touch bell peppers, balanced with plum flavors, medium to full body, rounded, soft tannins"
• LE BONHEUR 2000 Sauvignon Blanc $13, "green fig, fresh cut grass, rich tropical fruits, medium weight, enjoy with poached, baked or gilled fish, cheese soufflés, fried chicken"

The GALLO Family of wines owns a number of properties producing wines in different prices ranges to suit every pocket: GALLO OF SONOMA, ANAPAMU, INDIGO HILLS, and BELLA SERA.  

• GALLO OF SONOMA 1997 Stefani Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley $28, "hand harvested clusters, de-stemmed but not crushed, to increase whole berry fermentation, aged in combination of oaks, ripe and rich"
• GALLO OF SONOMA 1997 Stefani Vineyards Chardonnay $23, "partially barrel fermented, six months in barrel to age, malolactic fermentation, sur lie aging to create additional complexity in bouquet, flavor and texture, lightly filtered"
• GALLO OF SONOMA 1998 Frei Vineyard Zinfandel $19, "restrained, well-balanced, blend has raspberry character, slight pepper, classic Dry Creek Zin"
• GALLO OF SONOMA 1998 Barrelli Creek Vineyard Zinfandel, Alexander Valley $20, "black cherry and boysenberry jam character, hint of spice, rich tasty tannins which add structure to the fruit richness"
• ANAPAMU 1999 Chardonnay Central Coast $16, "ripe pineapple, papaya, citrus, lush, full bodied, nutty character, lingering finish"
• INDIGO HILLS 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast, "medium bodied, well-balanced, the essential food wine, classic varietal flavors of cherry, plum, cassis, subtle oak, touch vanilla, clean smooth finish"
• INDIGO HILLS 1999 Merlot, San Francisco Bay $16, "rich blackberry,   sweet vanilla, accented with black plum and tea, soft, full and rich with long finish"
• BELLA SERA 1998 Sangiovese $8, "bouquet of ripe red fruits and a deep, rounded finish, full plum and cranberry fruits and spice, serve with a range of meat and pasta dishes"

MERIDIAN VINEYARDS Winemaker Chuck Ortman has long had a passion for PInot Noir.  "I've come to realize that one can never learn enough about Pinot Noir," he says.  "The thin skin likens it to a white grape, but the wine's tannin structure is classically red.  Clonal choices, viticultural practices, and vineyard location all have dramatic effects on the wine.   Honestly, though, the varietal that still inspires me the most is chardonnay.  I've been making it from Central Coast fruit for over 20 vintages now, but it's far from a routine practice."

• MERIDIAN 2000 Santa Barbara Chardonnay $11, "ripe pineapple, tropical flavors, lusicous, vibrant citrus, jasmine, mango and nectarines, rich and rounded"
• MERIDIAN 1999 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir $11, "bold, concentrated flavors emphasizing fruit nd spice, velvety texture, ripe summer plums"

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