[Cornell Wine] Cornell Wine Club December Selections

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE CLUB
DECEMBER WINE SELECTIONS

Below are details of the December selections for our Wine Club.   
These wines are available for pick-up by members from Saturday,  
December 2nd.  The wines will be available for all to taste on  
Saturday, December 9th Noon – 5:00PM.  Remember, members get a 15%  
discount on monthly selections, so SIGN-UP AND SAVE!

EARL and COUNTESS LEVEL

BRAIDA VIGNIS 2005 PINOT GRIGIO TORRE de VISCONE, VENEZIA GIULIA, ITALY

It is a long time since we offered an Italian white to the Earl/ 
Countess level of our club.  Over the last fifteen years there has  
been a revolution in quality of Italian whites.  There were always  
good whites, but also there were oceans of wine that should never  
have been bottled.  With the rise in interest in Oregon Pinot Gris,  
interest in Italian Pinot Grigio waned – the better were getting  
expensive, and most inexpensive ones left much to be desired.   
Economics have now reversed with some Oregon Pinot Gris getting  
ridiculously expensive (over $20!!! – buy Alsace!), and a glut in  
Europe providing some bargains.  This producer’s white blend “Torre  
Bianco” has been a hit in the shop, and now we offer their Pinot  
Grigio.  The wine offers lots of upfront fruit but then finishes with  
that minerally dryness that is uniquely Italian.  Fabulous value.

Regular Price: $10.00
Member Price: $08.50

MOCALI 2001 BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO, TOSCANA, ITALY

Many people (including me) think Brunello is the greatest expression  
of the Sangiovese grape.  This may be a result of the terroir or the  
clone grown in Montalcino, SANGIOVESE GROSSO.  Despite the name this  
is a small berry clone of Sangiovese.  The Mocali Estate has been  
owned by the Ciacci family since the 1950s; today Tiziano Ciacci runs  
the winery and has made many improvements in the vineyards and  
cellars.  Noted enologist Vittorio Fiore is a consultant to Tiziano.   
The winery has made good value wines for several years but has hit  
top gear with the 2001 Brunellos, all of which scored 90 and above in  
The Wine Spectator.  The nose offers deep raspberry fruit with hints  
of earth and licorice.  The palate is full-bodied, and the wine’s  
youth shows with the noticeable, but fine, tannins.

Regular Price: $39.00
Member Price: $33.15

Total Member Monthly Cost: $40.00 (a special seasonal saving!)

BARON and BARONESS LEVEL

EMILIO LUSTAU FINO SHERRY PUERTO FINO, JEREZ, SPAIN

When I was growing up in England the only time I remember my parents  
drinking alcoholic drinks was Sherry around Christmas.  Hence my  
choice of a Sherry this month.  Sherries range in style from the  
exquisite, delicate Manzanillas, through Finos, Amontillados,  
Olorosos, Cream to the unctious East India and PX styles.  This  
month’s choice is a dry fino.  Enjoy it as an aperitif or do as the  
Spanish do and drink it with tapas.

Regular Price: $11.50
Member Price: $09.78

CLOS de l’ANHEL 2003 CORBIÈRES LES DIMANCHES, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

Sophie Guiraudon and Philippe Mathias have a “day job” managing  
Château Pech-Latt but tend to their own small vineyard at the  
weekends.  This is why they call their own wine “Les Dimanches” (the  
Sundays).  This is fascinating Corbières made from organically grown  
grapes 75% of which is old-vine Carignan, the rest being younger  
Syrah.  Surprisingly reticent for a wine from the hot 2003 vintage,  
this is a deep, brooding wine with exceptionally pure fruit.  At the  
moment it will show at its best with hearty food, but the inherent  
balance of the wine indicates its aging potential.  This is a  
stupendous value Corbières that will benefit from a little cellar aging.

Regular Price: $18.75
Member Price: $15.94

Total Member Monthly Cost: $25.00 (a special seasonal saving!)

Cheers,

Mick Beard
Cornell Wine Company
(503) 531-3981
mick at cornellwine.com
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