Handley Continued from page 5

Celebrating 20 years of wine adventures!
Volume 21 • Issue 9
®
Judy Reynolds photo
Featuring California’s
Best Artisan Wineries
TWO COOL CLIMATE BEAUTIES
FROM ANDERSON VALLEY’S
HANDLEY CELLARS
2007 Dry Creek Valley
Chardonnay
2008 Mendocino County
Pinot Noir
H 9
Highly
Recommended
• Gold Medal, Critics Challenge Award
• This wine was just released and
and 9 Silver Medals: California State
no awards were available for this
Fair, Orange County Fair, Sonoma
wine at publication. However, we
County Harvest Fair, Beverage Testing
expect many, because its pedigree
Institute, Houston Int’l. Wine Comp.,
is spectacular: the ’07 was “Highly
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp., U.S.
Recommended” at the Ultimate
Professional Wine Buyers Comp.,
Beverage Challenge and received
Sonoma Marin Fair, Los Angeles Int’l.
six Gold Medals, two “Best of
Wine Comp.; “Highly Recommended”,
Class” and ten Silver Medals.
2009 World Wine Championships, Beverage Testing Institute.
• “This wine represents our best expression of Pinot Noir from
•
Complex
fragrances of apple, pear, banana, orange and even cocoa
2008,” says winemaker Milla Handley. “The aromas are
merge with flavors of pear, marmalade, baking spices and sweet oak.
reminiscent of rose petals, hibiscus, cherry blossom, and exotic
This is a crisp Chardonnay zesty with bright fruit.
spices, while the palate comes through with good texture,
intense dark cherry, cola, and a milk chocolate finish.”
• Fruit for this wine came from Handley Vineyard in the cooler,
southeast end of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Fog from the
• In 2008, severe frost led to loss of 70% of the estate fruit, so
Russian River to the west and warm afternoon temperatures yield
Handley Cellars made only one Pinot Noir. Five vineyards with
grapes of outstanding flavor and balance. “We have been making
multiple clonal selections supplied the fruit in Potter Valley
Chard from this site since the 1980s. Vines were replanted in 1992,”
(47%), Anderson Valley (35%) and the Handley estate (18%).
says winemaker/founder Milla Handley.
Due to a long, cold frost season, crop levels were low
everywhere.
• Mild weather prevailed in 2007 with heat showing up at harvest. “It
was a wonderful year with good acidity.” Fruit was hand picked on
• After hand harvest, fruit was crushed and then fermented with
Aug. 29th and September 3rd - 5th.
40% whole berries. After fermentation, the wine settled for three
days before aging in 20% new French oak barrels for 14
• 87% of the fruit was fermented and aged in French
months.
oak (16% new); 13% fermented in stainless steel
tanks. Approximately half the wine underwent
• “With its mild acidity, this 2008 Pinot
malolactic (secondary) fermentation. “If you do
Noir would be a great
100% malolactic and 100% barrel fermentation, you
accompaniment to many cheeses,
will have a richer wine, but we want a brighter
but would also complement entrees,
wine.” This Chardonnay aged for six months in oak
such as salmon, lamb, or duck,”
barrels.
notes Milla.
• A great choice with simple grilled halibut or
• Enjoy now or hold three to four years.
dishes with a bit of spice, such as chicken mole,
“Both our reds and whites really age
paella, or barbecue.
well.”
• Enjoy now.
• Alcohol: 13.8%; pH: 3.65;
e
v
a
T.A.: 0.58g/100mL; Cases Produced:
h
s
• Alcohol: 14.5%; pH: 3.51; T.A.: 0.60g/100mL;
o wine
w
1,828; Bottling Date: December 10,
t
Cases Produced: 2,317; Bottling Date: May 20,
e
s
e
h
2009; Release Date: August 2010.
2008; Release Date: April 2009.
Wow! T d a combined
e
v
i
t
Suggested Retail $22
s
e
c
a
l
Suggested Retail $20
re
over the
Restaurant Wine List Price
s
l
Restaurant Wine List Price
a
d
e
!
45 m
(If you can find it) - $33 - $39
s
e
(If you can find it) - $25 - $31
g
a
vint
t wo
Member Reorder Price - Just $10.99/Bottle
Save 45% off Tasting Room Retail
Member Reorder Price - Just $10.99/Bottle
Save 50% off Tasting Room Retail
It’s Easy to Reorder These Wonderful Wines!
800.777.4443
Save up to 50% while these wines are available.
Call today or visit our online wine store at cawineclub.com
For other available wine selections, please see page 10.
Page 2
The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Handley Cellars
Location:
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
Owner:
The Story Behind The Wines...
Wine, Women and “WOW!”
Wine Country at Handley
Milla Handley
Winemaker:
Milla Handley
Established:
1982
Annual Cases Produced:
14,000
Website:
www.handleycellars.com
CWC Selections:
• 2008 Mendocino County
Pinot Noir
• 2007 Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay
“I sit here sipping my glass of wine & I
wonder, Do I have a problem? Sure as
$#!T I do - There’s only about 1 glass left
in the bottle.”
—www.squidoo.com/Quotes About Wine
Milla Handley with Bruce and Pam, CWC founders, beside the solar panels
recently installed at Handley Cellars.
Mothering Nature
Reorder Your Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Nurturing the vines came naturally to Milla Handley, founder of Handley
Cellars in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. As a young mother and
one of U.C. Davis’ first women enology graduates
in the mid-1970s, she began to see similarities
between motherhood and winemaking. “People
who don’t have children sometimes think they
have control over things in the world. But as a
parent, you quickly learn that your goal is
guidance, not control,” Milla says. “With
children, I want them to retain the essence
of what they are. That is what I look for
in winemaking, too. We don’t want to
overwhelm the wine with winemaking. We
try not to have a preconceived flavor profile
for each wine. Each vintage and region has a
personality, and we adjust our winemaking to
that to bring out its best.”
Magic in the Bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Continued on page 5
IN THIS ISSUE:
Tips for Summer Sippin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
In Our Email Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Recipe: Hummus with Paprika
and Whole Chickpeas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A Handley Cellars Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
“Aged Cabernet” and
“Old Vine Zin” Redux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Wine & Weight Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Buzz On The Vine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
On the Cover: The renovated vintage
pump house at Handley Cellars recalls
an earlier era of agriculture in the
Anderson Valley.
’S
E CLUB
IA WIN
LIFORN
THE CA
GOI NG
ON
NOW!
Save $36 shipping per case!
PLUS save up to 64% off retail! See page 12 for details.
Tips for
Summer Sippin’
A
Recipe from Handley Cellars
Whether you are on the go wine tasting in Napa or
sharing wines with friends by the barbecue, this
summer your sippin’ will go even better if you keep
these few tips in mind:
Hummus with Paprika
and Whole Chickpeas
1. Remember water.
The alcohol in wine depletes electrolytes, so for
every glass of wine, drink a glass of water. This
will keep your body hydrated and maintain your
energy level.
2. Forget the calories.
Six ounces of red wine is less than 150 calories –
less than a few potato chips! So enjoy your wine.
(And ladies, some studies show wine encourages
weight loss in women – See page 8 in this issue.)
3. Don’t like the wine?
Don’t drink it! Life is too short to drink wine you
don’t enjoy.
4. Know and respect your drinking limits.
If you’re 5’2”, 115 lbs., don’t let your 215 lb.
brother-in-law browbeat you into having “just
another glass.” Rule of thumb: don’t drink
more than 4 ounces of wine per hour.
This recipe was developed by retired Handley staff chef Sindy
Sellers. Feeling that most hummus recipes are too heavy on the
garlic, lemon, and cumin, she developed this one. Its flavor is
delicate, yet rich—a perfect match for Handley Cellars
Chardonnay.
(Serves 4-6)
1⁄2 pound dried chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)
1 Tbsp baking soda
6 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1⁄4 tsp ground cumin
1⁄4 cup sesame tahini, at room temperature, stirred thoroughly
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
Salt
For Garnish:
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1⁄4 cup sesame tahini, at room temperature, stirred thoroughly
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
Paprika and cumin for sprinkling
Reserved cooked chickpeas
Pita bread, for serving
In Our
Email Bag
Cover dried chickpeas with 2 inches of water in a bowl, add
baking soda, refrigerate overnight. Drain and rinse. Place
chickpeas and garlic into a medium saucepan, cover with 2
inches of water, bring to a boil, lower heat, and barely simmer for
about 40 minutes, or until soft. Reserve 2 tablespoons of
chickpeas, and a cup of the cooking water. Peel garlic cloves.
High quality, great varietals,
new experiences…
In a food processor, puree the chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, cumin,
tahini, and lemon juice until very creamy. Add some of the
cooking water if needed for a smooth consistency. Taste for salt.
Garnish mixture: In a clean processor bowl, combine the
“My wife and I were discussing just this past
lemon juice, tahini, and olive oil, plus salt if needed.
weekend how happy we have been with our
Place the hummus into a serving bowl, make a small
membership in TCWC. Actually, we were sipping
well in the middle and pour in the garnish mixture.
one of your very good red wines at the time. We
Sprinkle with parsley and the reserved cooked
commented on how the wines have become better and
chickpeas. Sprinkle with ground cumin and
better over the years. High quality, great varietals, new
paprika.
experiences. Congrats and best wishes for continued success.”
—William V. Day, PA
Page 4
Serve with pita bread and your Handley
Cellars Chardonnay. Salud!
The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Handley Continued from page 3
Every wine is an individual in Milla’s eyes, and each must be
approached in its own way. For her Mendocino County
Pinot Noir (our CWC selection), she focuses on the
diversity of fruit sources.“Each vineyard has different
exposures. The vineyard in Boonville for this wine is on the
western side of the valley facing east, and is protected from
the hot afternoon sun, whereas vineyards on the eastern side
ripen earlier. Exposures here are really important.” For
Handley’s Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay (our second CWC
selection), “We want wine with good structure and acidity
so we adjust things in the vineyard and in the winery to
make sure we make a balanced wine.”
Not A Coven!
The catalyst for starting Handley Cellars in
1982 was Milla’s first daughter. “I saw the wine
industry wasn’t set up for motherhood. I
wanted to be able to balance both motherhood
and winemaking. I needed the ability to choose
my hours, and be able to choose what games to
go to.” Milla’s husband was in real estate and
enjoyed that kind of flexibility.
Top: the Anderson Valley
is unique wine country
for its great diversity of
agriculture, including
vineyards, orchards,
and row crops.
Handley staff Colleen
Bassett shows off the
crew’s latest puppy to
dog-lover Pam.
Various clones of Pinot
Noir are planted at the
Handley estate.
Along with flexible hours, Milla soon found her winery
brought an unplanned for, high proportion of women
to her team. “The guys here sometimes call us a coven,
so we do have a tradition of women working here,”
Milla laughs. “But actually, we only recently hired our
very first female assistant winemaker.” Though many
females have worked in the Handley Cellars tasting
room and office, “so have men, but often, many of the
best candidates have been women.”
Continued on page 6
A riddling rack for sparkling wine.
The bottles are placed in the holes and
then turned every day during aging.
An ancient oak is part of the blend at Handley Cellars.
The California Wine Club · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
®
Page 5
Handley Continued from page 5
Secret Wine Country
Whether male or female, Milla’s employees were delighted to find a
good job in Mendocino’s remote Anderson Valley. It was an unusual
choice for Milla’s wine career. While her peers were opening the
cellar doors in up-and-coming regions like Napa and Sonoma, Milla
gravitated toward this peaceful, magical valley first working at
Edmeades, one of a handful of wineries in a region still sometimes
called California’s best kept secret. Located just 20 miles from the
quaint seaside town of Mendocino and three hours from San
Francisco, the Anderson Valley is scenic to a fault with forested
mountains, bucolic valleys, diverse agriculture and a chilly growing
season that is the cat’s meow for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, sparkling
wine and other cool climate favorites.
Sparkling wine appealed to
Milla, and at first, she wanted to focus on it
at Handley Cellars. “I have this folder that
shows my planning for the winery with a
spread sheet going out five years as a
sparkling wine only winery. It shows I
couldn’t break even!” Though Milla
changed her plans (she produces 10 wines,
including Brut sparklers), her instincts that
the region was bubbly friendly were spot
on. Two years after the start of Handley
Cellars, the prestigious French Champagne
house Roederer (famous for its coveted
Cristal Champagne) purchased hundreds of
acres in the Anderson Valley and built a
winery where it has produced outstanding
sparklers for more than 25 years.
Bruce
displays
Bettie Miner’s
Wine Art
Portfolio that
he will share
with Milla
Handley.
Above left: Exotic art from around the world, a
passion of Milla’s parents, is a feature in the
Handley tasting room.
Above: Mendocino County’s bucolic Anderson
Valley near the coast is home to Handley Cellars.
Intuition Among the Vines
Today, Milla produces both red and white wines from her Anderson Valley estate
(28 planted acres), a Dry Creek Valley Vineyard in Sonoma
County owned by her father and select Mendocino County
growers. In 2006, her winery estate was certified organic.
“Organic farming involves a lot of thinking before you act. You learn from each year.” Milla
has tried to blend intuition with analysis along her winemaking path. “You need that kind of
feel for winemaking. You have to listen to that voice and remember, winemaking is not a
situation where you have control.” Enjoy a mother’s approach to Mother Nature in your glass
of Handley red and white. The cellar door is open for your visit in the gorgeous Anderson
Valley at 3151 Hwy. 128, Philo, CA 95466, (800) 733-3151, fax (707) 895-2603. Salud!
Page 6
The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Milla’s Milestones
with Handley Cellars
Milla converts
her basement
in the
Anderson
Valley into a
winemaking
facility.
First sparkling wine
produced with
labor-intensive
traditional
champagne
production
techniques.
Handley Cellars 1982
Chardonnay wins a Gold Medal
at the Orange County Fair!
“It was the only wine I entered!
This got recognition for the
Anderson Valley. Wine critic
Jerry Mead brought his whole
group up here.”
Bought the
32-acre
property
where
Handley
Cellars now
stands.
Planted first
estate vines
(1/2 Chardonnay,
1/2 Pinot Noir)
and acquired
20-acre property
next door.
1982
1984
1984
1985
1986-87
“I was never going to
make Pinot Noir.
It changed our focus.”
Replaced used bladder
press with a 1978 small
tank press from a Santa
Cruz winery. “We still
have it. It is run
manually. We hit it with
a rubber mallet to get
the door to open
sometimes, but it works
very well. There is
something about running
the program by yourself
that you pay more
attention to taste.”
First estate
Pinot Noir.
“I was never
going to make
Pinot Noir. It
changed our
focus.”
1987
1989
—Milla Handley
First estate
Chardonnay.
“We planted a vineyard
at our own home. This
gave me understanding
of what I could expect
and what I could
demand of my growers
and workers.”
Anderson
Valley Estate
is certified
organic.
Handley
named
“Value Brand
of the Year”
by Wine &
Spirits
magazine.
1997
1999-2001
2006
2008
The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Page 7
Cabernet” a
d
e
nd
g
“A
“O
ld
To Your Health
Wine &
Weight Loss
x
u
d
Vine Zin” Re
Connoisseurs’ Guide publisher and Uncorked Guest Editor
Charlie Olken has words of wisdom on the topic of aged
Cabernet and Old Vine Zinfandel.
“An aged Cabernet has no specific ‘years old’ definition. The
purpose of aging is to integrate the parts, to soften the tannins
and to allow a character known as bottle age, a kind of elusive
richness, to develop.
“...twelve is...
fairly young
for truly
age-worthy
Cabs...”
If one is referring to Cabernets that are
intended to age, the magic number for me is
twelve years, because it is at that point that
the primary fruit has begun to become
complex and the wine has begun to reveal
its inner self. But, twelve is also fairly young
for truly age-worthy Cabs, most which get
even better after twelve and can last up to
thirty or forty years in good vintages.
I know that the comments above do not
give a hard and fast rule, and that is because there is not one—
save for the notion that age involves the resolution of tannins and
the acquisition of pleasing secondary characteristics that are not
present in young wines.
As to Old Vine Zinfandel, there is no legal definition. Twenty
years seems to be the operative minimum because vines begin to
slow their growth at that point, and it is thought by some that
such vines then can concentrate more completely on the grapes
than they could when the vine itself was growing.
Twenty years, however, is really not “old” but sort of middle-aged
because vines stay fairly vigorous in their productive capacity up
to about forty years. So, I like forty as a more useful minimum
since the vines have lost their youthful characteristics by that
point. Healthy vines last well over one hundred years, but usually
at reduced production levels.”
UNCORKED® is published monthly by Bruce and Pam Boring, Proprietors.
The California Wine Club® · 600 Via Alondra, Camarillo, CA 93012
Reorder your favorites, update your account and send gifts online at www.cawineclub.com.
Pam Boring: President
Bruce Boring: Vice President Sales and Marketing
Page 8
The Archives of
Internal Medicine
recently reported
on a study that
followed the eating
and drinking habits of
19,220 women aged 39 years and older
for nearly 13 years. It found that women
who drank a glass or two of wine per
day put on less weight than those who
did not. The differential was an eight
pound gain for non-wine drinkers
compared to a 3.5 pound gain for wine
drinkers. The study was conducted by
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in
Boston. (Researchers were quick to
caution that their study was not a
recommendation for alcohol use or for
wine as a diet aid.)
FUN FACT
Growing up in the Napa Valley
during the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s,
the most likely crop a family
harvested was not grapes but
prunes and peaches. But with
the influx of vineyards, grapes
soon replaced those orchards.
By 1997, Napa’s Sunsweet
packing plant cut its workforce
from 100 to 25 people.
Judy Reynolds: Editor, writer, photographer
Tapia Studios: Graphic designers
To send or receive information on the CWC and a complimentary issue of Uncorked®,
please call us at (800) 777-4443 or fax toll-free at (800) 700-1599.
or email [email protected]
The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Two More Exciting CWC Clubs to Try!
You Be The
Signature Series
for serious wine
collectors and
connoisseurs
JUDGE
Summer is for Chardonnay
Ah, Chardonnay! Our CWC Judges are sharing their reasons
why they love this perfect summer sipper. In return, Judges
whose comments we print receive an extra bottle in their next
shipment. All Judging Cards are entered into our year-end
drawing for a case of CWC wines hand-selected by the winner.
It’s free, it’s fun. Share your CWC wine impressions by sending
in your Judging Card enclosed in this shipment. Salud!
(Wines are rated on a 20 point system...with 20 points being the highest.)
20 pts Tulip Hill Winery 2008 Mt. Oso Vineyard Chardonnay “WOW!
Complex, clean, citrus zest. Green apple in Chardonnay!! Great
with shrimp/red pepper pasta. One of the very best Chardonnays
ever from CWC.”
- Russell Balda, AZ
18 pts Tulip Hill Winery 2008 Mt. Oso Vineyard Chardonnay “This was our
very first CWC experience, and so I felt compelled to share my
feedback. I am traditionally not a Chardonnay fan, but this wine
was wonderful! The aromas were pleasing and the excellent
flavor lasted from taste-to-finish. If this first-bottle experience is
a sign of things to come, we are excited for future shipments.
Thank you CWC!”
- John Kessler, OH
17 pts Dan Gehrs Winery 2008 Oakfree Chardonnay “This wine had a
wonderful taste and went well with food or alone!!”
- Sheila Reynolds, PA
16 pts Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards Chardonnay “Refreshing change to
a traditional California Chardonnay. The stainless steel, rather
than oak fermentation, brings out wonderful fruit flavors,
especially peach. Nice light color, great Spring/Summer sipper.
Excellent with grilled chicken, marinated in lemon, olive oil,
chives, and fresh thyme.”
- Kathleen Mooneyhan, MD
International Selections:
19 pts Baracchi Winery: Ardito Toscana 2006 “Really good aroma of
baked cinnamon bread…tasty on the end.”
- Cindy Fiddler, TX
Aged Cabernet Series:
20 pts Fisher Vineyards, 2000 Coach Insignia Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
“We opened our 2000 Fisher Coach Insignia Napa Valley
Cabernet that we had received with our Aged Cabernet Series
membership. And WOW, we were not disappointed. Very
smooth tannins, wonderful dark color, and deep fruit and berry
flavors.”
- Tracy Burton, GA
®
www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
®
Our upper-level club featuring limited production,
highly-rated wines is a superb peek behind the cellar
doors of some of California’s top wineries. This
month, Signature Series members receive:
Stone Pine Estate “Sage Brush Annie’s” 2006 Santa
Barbara County Cabernet Sauvignon
• 4 Gold Medals, 2 “Best Cabernet” awards, Tri-Medal
(Gold) and “Best of Class”
• Just 450 cases produced.
Paradise Ridge Vineyards & Winery 2007
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
• Sweepstakes, “Best of Show,” 3 Gold Medals
• Only 800 cases produced.
Try the Signature Series and receive half off this
month’s selection. Just $58.50 for new members.
International
Selections features
“mom & pop”
wineries from
around the world.
The Boschetti family of the famous winegrowing
region Barolo in Piedmonte, Italy, has dedicated
generations to handcrafted wines. They tend their 30
acres of estate wines with traditional methods, and
each wine is a bit of art from a country famous for
art and wine.
Gomba Boschetti Nebbiolo d’Alba 2007
Aromas of cherry and dark fruit harmonize beautifully with the
rich, earthy flavors accented by spice. A nice tannic backbone
makes this traditional Italian red a match for pungent
Not found
cheeses and savory pastas.
anywhere
else in the
Gomba Boschetti Barbera d’Alba 2007
U.S.!
Another rich Italian red with dark red and black fruit
showing off in the nose and palate. Raspberry, blueberry and
cherry notes merge with a fine texture and tasty finish. Chicken
sausage and roast pork would make it excellent companions.
Try the International Selections and receive half off
this month’s selection. Just $44.50 for new members.
America’s only wine service featuring
real, working, smaller family-owned wineries.
Page 9
YOUR WINE STORE – Reorder Your Favorites!
CURTIS WINERY - Santa Barbara
2006 Ambassador’s Vineyard,
Santa Ynez Valley Syrah
H
2006 Santa Barbara County
Heritage Cuvée
H
4
• Gold Medal, Critic’s Challenge Wine Competition;
4 out of 5 stars, “Exceptional”, BevX.com
• Plum, violets and white pepper on the nose lead to
flavors of black cherry, blackberry and vanilla. What a
lovely, supple texture this wine has. Enjoy the long
finish.
• A fine choice with richly textured foods like tenderloin,
rib eye, cassoulet and spicy foods.
Normal Retail: $22
STARS
H
4
STARS
• 4 out of 5 stars, “Exceptional”, BevX.com
• Aromas of plum, mocha, vanilla and oak toast merge
with jammy flavors of black cherry, raspberry and
pomegranate.
• Terrific with leg of lamb, pork, blue cheese hamburgers,
steak fajitas, red sauce pastas and flat bread with
sausage and herbs.
Normal Retail: $20
SYLVESTER WINERY - Paso Robles
H
2007 Kiara Private Reserve
Paso Robles Syrah
2008 Kiara Private Reserve
Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc
H
87
points!
• Silver Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine
Competition.
• “Tantalizing aromas of fresh, wild berries. Subtle
vanilla and oak flavors with a delicious spicy finish.
Sure to complement all manner of wild game,” notes
winemaker Jac Jacobs.
• Very drinkable now and will age five to ten years.
• Double Gold, Taster’s Guild Int’l. Wine Competition;
87 points, Wine Enthusiast (Oct. 2009); Silver Medals,
Central Coast Wine Competition; California State Fair;
California Mid-State Fair; Bronze Medal, San Francisco
Int’l. Wine Competition.
3
H
• Aromas of grapefruit and honeysuckle with an
underlying grassiness.
Normal Retail: $19
FinelyAged
Mountain
Merlot
Normal Retail: $15
RENAISSANCE WINERY - Sierra Foothills
1999 Estate Bottled,
Sierra Foothills Merlot
H
• This purple-red Merlot offers aromas of plum, cherries
and spice. Medium to full-bodied, it is rich with
concentrated fruit, earthy complexity and a lusty, long
finish.
• Enjoy with roast meats and stews, especially lamb.
• Enjoy now or hold up to 10 years. “Our Merlots age
beautifully well. They gradually melt down, open up,
relax and exhibit richness,” says winemaker Gideon
Beinstock.
Normal Retail: $25
“Da Vinci” 2002 Sierra Foothills
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bronze Medal, Tasters Guild 2007
• Medium brick red in color, this Cabernet begins
with soft berry fruits on the nose. Expressive fruit
on the palate melds with a soft texture, yet the
wine is complex with a deep, long finish.
• This is definitely a wine for red meat. Enjoy it
with a grilled steak, roast beef, pork chops or
game meats.
Normal Retail: $30
A Message from Bruce & Pam
We are often asked “which wines have you featured in the past and
how can I reorder them?” The wines listed here are all recent club
features, each one has been hand-selected by us and comes with our
100% guarantee. Whether you would like to try one or all of them,
please call or visit our website to place an order…in fact, feel free to
mix a case with 12 different wines!
Please remember that the wines we feature come from small
“mom & pop” wineries and supply may be limited.
(800) 777-4443
Page 10
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The California Wine Club® · www.cawineclub.com
These Recent Selections are Available, Just $10.99 per Bottle.
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PEDRONCELLI WINERY - Sonoma County
90
87 BEST BEST
points! points! BUY WINE
2006 Dry Creek Valley
“Mother Clone” Zinfandel
2008 Dry Creek Valley
Bench Vineyards Merlot
• Gold Medal & Best Buy, 90 points,
Beverage Testing Institute; 87 points, Wine
Enthusiast; Listed in Wine Spectator as
“2008 California Values: Best Wines to Drink
Now.”
• Great with BBQ ribs, rack of lamb, spicy
foods, red sauce pastas and of course, pizza!
• Flavors lean toward plum, freshly ground
black pepper, and tart cherry. The subtle
toasty oak complements the rich fruitiness in
the mouth.
• You can cellar this bottle for 3 – 5
years or enjoy it for dinner
tonight.
Normal Retail: $14
w!
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TAMAYO FAMILY VINEYARDS - ContraOCosta
g
oin
CANA 2007 Proprietary Estate
Tamayo Family 2008 Contra
G
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l
a
Contra Costa County Red Blend
Costa
County Red Wine
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g
• Gold Medal and 92 points, i
World
Wine
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• Bronze Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine
Championships; Silver
Medal, San Francisco
ipp
92 92
96
points!
h
Our latest
Competition; 91 points, Beverage Testing Institute.
Chronicle
Wine
Competition;
96 points,
S
H H points!
points!points!
1
Special
and 92 points,
$Justwinepoints.com
• Meat off the grill, well-marbled beef, hearty braised
Normal Retail: $17
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Edition!
Beverage Testing Institute.
• This is a uniquely versatile wine that goes
wonderfully well with a variety of entrées
ranging from salmon to duck, braised short ribs
to herb crusted lamb.
Normal Retail: $30
dishes and full-flavored cheeses are among the
terrific pairings that make this red such a good
companion at the table.
Normal Retail: $15
EHRET FAMILY - Sonoma County
DANIEL GEHRS - Santa Ynez Valley
2008 Knights Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Monterey Chardonnay
• 89 points, “Cellar Selection,” Wine Enthusiast;
88 points and “Top Values for 2009,” Wine
Spectator; Bronze Medal, 2009 Sonoma County
Harvest Fair Wine Competition.
88
points! • This wine is tropical and spicy, with an underlying
grassy note. In the mouth it is balanced and soft, with
a crisp, elegant finish.
• Just 500 cases were produced.
Normal Retail: $17
89
points!
• A fruit-forward rendition of America’s
favorite white wine with appealing
green apple, white peach and baked
pear nuances.
• Enjoy over the next 2-3 years.
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Normal Retail: $20
MISSION TRAIL VINEYARDS - Monterey County
2
2
2
2006 Monterey County Syrah
2007 Monterey County
Sauvignon Blanc
• Gold Medals: Beverage Testing Institute World
Wine Championships, Finger Lakes Int’l. Wine
Competition; Silver Medals: San Francisco Chronicle
Wine Competition, Florida State Fair Int’l. Wine
Competition.
• A great pairing with ripe cheese and anything grilled.
• Enjoy now or hold from 3 to 5 years.
• Silver Medal, Beverage Testing Institute 2009
World Wine Championships; Silver Medal, 2009
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
• Herbal and floral on the nose, this wine offers delicate
tropical notes on the palate with a crisp citrus finish.
A lovely quaffer!
• This is a great wine with vegetables, Coconut Shrimp,
Curried Chicken or roasted turkey.
Normal Retail: $17
Normal Retail: $19
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Magic in The Bottle
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With all the technical articles written about wine, terroir, viticulture and wine regions, it’s easy to lose sight of a very important fact:
wine is magic in a bottle. First of all, it captures a moment in time when beautiful fruit reached its peak of flavor. In a way, wine is
summer in your glass. Then, wine is a living thing. It ages and changes as the years go by. A fine wine will even change in your
glass during a meal as it responds to oxygen. Like a flower, it can blossom, revealing more and different layers of aromas and
flavors. Finally, wine (in moderation!) can have magical effects on us. It can make us feel warm, unleash our sense of humor or a
torrent of ideas. A group of friends with a bottle of wine can yield an evening to be remembered years afterward. Enjoy the magic!
www.cawineclub.com · (800) 777-4443
Page 11
IA
LIFORN
THE CA
LUB’S
WINE C
Buzz On The
Back by
Popular
Demand!
Time for you to STOCK your cellar for the holidays and
SAVE on award-winning wines. There are so many to
choose from that you may just need a bigger cellar!
Reorder all your favorites and give a few new wines a try.
Pay Only $1 For Shipping!
SYLVESTER
Kiara Reserve 2008 Paso Robles
Sauvignon Blanc
Retail $15 Sale $9.00
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89
points!
EHRET FAMILY WINERY
2008 Knights Valley
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Sauvignon Blanc
Retail $17 Sale $9.00
87
points!
3
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PECT
93
OIN T
PECT
87
OIN T
S
P
ES
THE CHÂTEAU de la SELVE
Saint Régis 2008 White
Retail $27 Sale $18
OR
AT
WIN
S
P
ES
OR
AT
WIN
HARTWELL VINEYARDS
2005 Misté Hill, Stags Leap District,
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Retail $60 Sale $44
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Check out our website for
hundreds more awardwinning wines to choose
from or call us at
Save Up
to 70% Off
Retail...
p
lus save $
per case o36
n
shipping
(800) 777-4443
www.cawineclub.com
Don’t wait to order, inventory is limited! Sale ends on
September 30th, 2010. Half, full and mixed cases okay.
e
n
Vi
• Saucy Sommeliers: For the first
time, women were among the top 12
contenders for World’s Best Sommelier,
an annual competition held in Santiago,
Chile this year. Also, eastern Europe was
represented among the top 12 for the first
time. • No Napa Weddings: Want a
summer wine country wedding in Napa?
Maybe not. Most wineries cannot host
weddings, according to a Napa County
regulation that limits nuptials only to
wineries built after 1989. The ordinance
is currently under review • Congrats,
Century Oak: This CWC alumnus
(our holiday winery this year) just
won “Best Cabernet in its Class” at
the prestigious Pacific Rim Wine
Competition. • Hong Kong Wine
Auction Capital: More wine will soon
be sold in Hong Kong at wine auctions
than in the U.S. Auction proceeds totaled
$51 million in Hong Kong in the first six
months of 2010. • Boxed Beauties?
Wine-in-a-box (3-liter table
wine) sales have increased
19.9% from April 2009-April
2010 according to Nielsen
market researchers. Suppliers are
working to make boxes more attractive,
disguising them as mini-barrels, giving
them octagonal shapes and replacing the
cardboard with wood. Advocates say
boxes are more eco-friendly than glass
and, once open, can store wine for
up to six weeks.