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Lamb Dinner
6
Nov 2004
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McWilliams - Hanwood
Estate
2002 Merlot
South Eastern Australia
Bouquet: Lifted ripe forest berry, blood plum fruit flavors
combined with a hint of cinnamon, clove oak.
Palate: Fresh strawberry and stewed rhubarb fruit flavors are
present with a hint of savory oak. The palate is fresh and
lively with soft silky tannins and a long clean finish.
Brought STL
$13 - Classy Gourmet
http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/
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McWilliams - Hanwood
Estate
2002 Shiraz
South Eastern Australia
Bouquet: Fragrant plum and
raspberry fruit aromas are combined with background mocha and
vanilla oak characters.
Palate: Strong fruit palate
with ripe berry, juicy plum and spicy fruit flavors supported
by a hint of mocha and cedar oak nuances. A warm and generous
palate that has a solid backbone which supports the fruit that
is present in the wine.
A selection of quality Shiraz
fruit was sourced mainly from the Riverina (55 per cent) and
Coonawarra (27 per cent). Low rainfall in 2003 resulted in
fruit with high color intensity and ripe flavor development.
Fruit was picked in late February to mid-March in the Riverina,
while fruit from cooler regions was picked in late-March to
early-May.
Alcohol by Volume: 13.5 %
Brought STL $13 - Classy Gourmet
http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/
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Blackstone Winery
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
California
Cabernet
Sauvignon grapes
from Monterey County constitute the backbone of this deep and
generous wine. The style is decidedly bright and lively, with
lovely complexity complemented by twelve months of aging in
new and one year old American oak.
2002 was an ideal vintage in
California, with vineyards throughout the state ripening to
their full potential. The result is a very approachable wine
with excellent fruit intensity and persistence. Winemaker
Dennis Hill believes that the ’02 vintage offered him the
freedom to make Blackstone’s best California Cabernet
Sauvignon ever.
After harvest, the grapes were
gently crushed and cold-soaked for three days, enhancing color
and forward fruit character. The grapes were then fermented on
their skins for an additional 6 to 7 days, maximizing flavor
and elegant structural development. A generous portion of
Syrah was blended into the final wine, softening tannins and
giving the final blend a supple and round mouthfeel.
It is wonderfully complex, with
tantalizing nuances of dark berry aromas and rich smoky oak.
The wine is very rich, with firm tannins, vibrant plum fruit
and nice oak integration on the finish. Serve this wine
confidently with a roast, steak, hamburgers, lamb, pork ribs,
pheasant, venison or hard and firm cheeses.
Brought KWG
$11.00 at Baker’s
http://www.blackstone-winery.com/
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Dessert Wine
LaFamiglia -- Di Robert Mondavi
2001 Moscato Blanco
California
Winemaker's Notes
Seductive floral and fruit aromas – reminiscent of white
nectarines, orange blossoms and citrus – weave through our
2001 Moscato Bianco. The delicately sweet flavors are
beautifully balanced with acidity. Although similar in style
to Italy’s Moscato d’Asti, this wine is distinctly
Californian. We have allowed the wine to retain a light
effervescence, called “frizzante” in Italy. Sip this wine
with fruit, or with mild creamy cheeses, such as Brie or blue.
The contrast between the sweetness of the wine and slight
saltiness of Roquefort is especially intriguing. Moscato
Bianco makes a stunning accompaniment to desserts as well,
such as apple tart with almond custard, pear hazelnut tart or
zabaglione with strawberries.
Vintage
The 2001 growing season in the North Coast American
Viticultural Area (AVA) was extremely long, resulting in
intense fruit and floral character in the Muscat and Malvasia
grapes. The timing of budbreak, when the first new growth
appears on the vines, was slightly early but near the
historical average. Then the weather turned cold, with
below-average spring temperatures. April brought heavy frosts,
requiring many nights of frost protection. Warm temperatures
early in summer gave way to cool weather that prolonged
ripening. This long hang-time on the vine resulted in
exceptional flavor development and balance in the grapes.
Vineyard
The Muscat grape (called Moscato in Italy) has been cultivated
in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years and was
probably the first grape variety to be distinguished and
identified. There are many types of Muscat grapes, white, pink
and black, and all share an intensely fruity and floral
character. We chose two Muscat grape varieties – Muscat
Canelli (72%) and Orange Muscat (3%) – for their
complementary fruit and floral characteristics. To emphasize
the perfumed aromas in the wine, we added 25% Malvasia Bianca.
We selected 97% of the grapes from the North Coast
appellation, including the Muscat Canelli grapes from Lake
County and the Malvasia from Mendocino County. The Orange
Muscat (3%) was grown in Monterey County.
Fermentation & Aging
We harvested the grapes at night to retain the maximum amount
of fruitiness and delicacy in the wine. We then cold fermented
the juice with Epernay yeast from Champagne, France, to ensure
a long, slow fermentation. To give the wine a delicate
sweetness, we stopped fermentation when the wine reached
approximately 10% residual sugar. After fermentation, we kept
the wine at a near freezing temperature to capture the carbon
dioxide released by the yeast. This produced a slightly bubbly
(frizzante) wine. Unlike a sparkling wine or Champagne, which
is effervescent from a second fermentation, a frizzante wine
has just enough bubbles to tickle the palate. We then blended
the two different clones of Muscat with the highly perfumed
Malvasia Bianca for complexity of flavor.
Brought TRM
$15.99 - Spirit World
http://www.lafamigliawines.com/ |
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Pine Ridge Clarksburg
2003 Chenin Blanc-Viognier California
Brought
BNS $10.50 Hy-Vee Fremont
ORIGIN: The fruity floral
signature of Chenin Blanc and the fragrant bouquet of Viognier
make up this unique bottling. Pine Ridge was the first
California winery to develop this original blend.
VINEYARD: Viognier fruit was harvested in early September from
our estate vineyards in Carneros and Rutherford appellations.
Chenin Blanc was sourced from the moderate delta region of
Clarksburg, grown by Wilson Vineyards.
WINEMAKING: A portion of the juice was transferred to French
oak puncheons for barrel and malolactic fermentation, while
the balance of the wine was cold fermented in stainless steel
tanks at 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit to enhancethe production of
fruity, floral aromas. A major factor in creating this wine is
selecting the moment of harvest. Since the sugar is low, the
danger is picking too early and getting green, unripe flavors
or waiting too long and having too much alcohol. The grapes,
therefore, are carefully monitored to determine the precise
moment that will yield a wine with the proper balance of a
fruity, refreshing character and low alcohol content. Blend of
86% Chenin Blanc and 14% Viognier
TASTING NOTES: Exhibits melon,
slight pink grapefruit, peach/pear and floral notes
complemented by honeydew melon and very light tropical aromas.
It boasts an inviting nose, a lean, bright structure and a
crisp finish. Enjoy now or cellar for two years.
http://www.pineridgewinery.com/ |
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Lindeman's
Bin 65
2003 Chardonnay
South Eastern Australia
Internationally
recognized as one of the best value-for-money wines available
throughout the world. Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay is renowned
for consistency and quality. Often referred to as “sunshine
in a bottle” it highlights all that is best about the
Australian lifestyle.
Pineapple, melon and peach flavors
Brought BNS
$10.00 Hy-Vee Fremont
http://www.lindemans.com/ |
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Chateau Du Moulin Rouge
1994 Bordeaux
France
Enticing smoky aromas wiht hins
of herbaceous, almost pine aromas. Mases of liquorice and
great ripe rich fruit with huge tannins. Good velvety
structure and succulent perume on the finish. 4 Stars
Decanter.
Château du Moulin Rouge
commands an estate of some 25 hectares with 16 planted to
vines. It has been the property of the same family for more
than two centuries as several deeds executed by notary show,
including one dated 1749. Its vineyard is situated on the last
gravel slope to be crossed by the “route des châteaux du Médoc”
before it enters the famous commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
coming from Margaux. It is planted to those premium grapes
required to produce the best quality Haut-Médoc controlled
appellation wines. Made and aged in the same traditional way
as those which are the pride of the neighbouring grand crus,
its wines are outstanding for their extreme finesse and
special bouquet. The quality goes on getting better with
bottle-ageing and generally reaches its peak between the
eighth and twelfth year depending upon the vintage. Annual
production is 90 Bordeaux tonneaux of wine which is aged and
bottled at the château taking every necessary precaution. Château
du Moulin Rouge has obtained numerous medals as a recompense
for the qualities which rank it among the most appreciated of
the Haut-Médoc Crus Bourgeois.
Cabernet Sauvignon 45%, Cabernet franc 5%, Merlot noir 50%
Brought ABNK $19.99
- Spirit World |
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