[Cornell Wine] Cornell Wine This Week

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE COMPANY
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  June 16 – Father’s Day Specials

(more expensive wines by the taste or 4oz)

June 23 - Loire Valley

June 30 – Wines for Your Cookout

July 7 – Cabernet Sauvignon

July 14 - French Wines for Bastille Day


FRIDAY, June 9th, 4:30 - 7:00 pm

Bordeaux

  As most of you know I’m a typical Brit and think the only good red  
wines come out of Bordeaux…no, seriously, I know there are great red  
wines from all over the world, but Bordeaux has a special place in my  
heart.  My introduction to great wine was over dinner - and I have to  
thank the Royal Air Force for this.  In the 1960s I was mainly a beer  
drinker as at the time the tax structure in England made wine  
expensive.  When we drank wine it was cheap Spanish plonk and off-dry  
Riesling from the old Yugoslavia.  However I flew with the RAF  
Volunteer Reserve while I was at University and at my first formal  
dinner with the squadron the officers' mess served Château Pontet- 
Canet from Paulliac in France's Bordeaux region. I had discovered  
wine!  This week we will sample Bordeaux wines from the 2003  
vintage.  Because this was a hot year, the wines are more fruit  
forward than is typical in Bordeaux.  Maybe Walla Walla fans will  
grow to like Bordeaux.
1. We start with CHÂTEAU TOUR d’AURON 2003 that is a BORDEAUX  
SUPÉRIEUR.   The château is in the “no man’s land” between FRONSAC  
and POMEROL on the north side of the River Dordogne.  It is a blend  
of approximately 60% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 30% MERLOT and 10% CABERNET  
FRANC.  This is a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon for the area  
and it shows in the vibrant cassis fruit.  The nose is very  
“Bordeaux” but the fruit has an intensity unusual for such a minor  
château.  The finish is long and elegant.  Fabulous value - $11.50

2. We now move just to the east to LALANDE-de-POMEROL and CHÂTEAU  
SERGANT 2003.  This area, just to the north of Pomerol itself, has  
seen heavy investment in wine making facilities and many Châteaux are  
producing lovely wine at a fraction of the cost of Pomerol.  Typical  
of the area, this is a blend of 70% MERLOT, 20% CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
and 10% CABERNET FRANC.  The wine offers lush, ripe fruit with a long  
finish with spice overtones.  (Today’s pricing is for current stock  
and future deliveries will be $24.00)  - $20.00

3. Having tried a POMEROL “satellite”, we go to a SAINT-EMILION  
“satellite” called LUSSAC-SAINT-EMILION.  This is the most northerly  
satellite of Saint-Emilion, and CHÂTEAU du COULAT is just to the  
north of the village of Lussac.  Their vineyards are planted to 70%  
MERLOT, 20% CABERNET FRANC and 10% CABERNET SAUVIGNON and the 2003  
shows a lot of lush Merlot fruit, some complexity, and great  
balance.  Another fabulous value - $19.50

4. For the final wine in the main flight we offer a GRAND CRU from  
SAINT-EMILION itself. CHÂTEAU BOUTISSE was very popular for its 2000  
vintage that sold for $35.00/bottle.  We are now able to offer the  
2003 at a slightly more attractive price.  The wine is 70% MERLOT  
with the balance being CABERNET FRANC and CABERNET SAUVIGNON.  This  
is a fabulous Saint-Emilion for the money, offering a warm bouquet of  
cassis fruit, mocha and spice.  The palate is rich but elegant at the  
same time, and the finish is complex and long. (Today’s pricing is  
for current stock and future deliveries will be $32.00) - $27.00

TRY THESE FOUR WINES FOR $10.00

Once again we offer two PREMIUM POURS:

We stay in SAINT-EMILION to taste the 2003 CHÂTEAU ST. GEORGES – CÔTE  
PAVIE.  This Château is located between the great Saint-Emilion  
estates of AUSONE and PAVIE.  Today I think the Boutisse is more  
approachable and drinking better, but this wine shows class and will  
become a much better wine with a 2-4 years in the cellar.  While a  
little closed, this is a very complex wine, and I’ve bought some for  
my cellar.  We are offering current stock at $43.50, but additional  
orders will be $49.50

TRY THIS WINE FOR $5.00/Taste or $9.00/4 ounces

After drinking all these lush 2003 vintage wines I thought we should  
taste something from the classic 2000 vintage.  CHÂTEAU POUJEAUX is  
in MOULIS en MÉDOC that is in the MÉDOC just to the north and to the  
west of MARGAUX.  Some wines from this vintage are still somewhat  
tannic, but this wine is just beginning to show its worth.  It has  
rich and ripe cassis fruit, well-integrated oak, and a long finish  
that marries fruit, spice and wood - $42.50

TRY THIS WINE FOR $5.00/Taste or $9.00/4 ounces

TASTE BOTH FOR $9.00

Note: We also have a small amount of 2002 CHÂTEAU TALBOT, a Fourth  
Growth ST. JULIEN for  $42.50.  This wine got some criticism in the  
wine press as it is soft and forward.  I tasted it this week and  
think it is excellent Bordeaux with class and elegance to drink NOW.   
You do not usually get this complexity and elegance from minor  
Châteaux, and while this vintage of Talbot may not show its usual  
fourth growth standard, it still represents very good value for  
current drinking.


SATURDAY, June 10th

 From NOON – 5:00 PM we will be pouring our four Cornell Wine Club  
June Selections.  Full details were in earlier emails, but the wines  
are:

ALAIN BRUMONT 2005 GROS MANSENG, GASCONY. FRANCE - $09.50
CLIFF LEDE 2005 SAUVIGNON BLANC, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - $20.00
NOBILO 2004 “ICON” PINOT NOIR, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND - $17.00
VIÑA PEDROSA 2003 RIBERA del DUERO, SPAIN - $20.00

Looking forward to seeing you all,
Cheers,

Mick
Cornell Wine Company
14740 NW Cornell Road, #90
Portland, 97229-5400
(503) 531-3981
mick at cornellwine.com
www.cornellwine.com
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