[Cornell Wine] Cornell Wine This Week

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE COMPANY
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August 10 – Mediterranean Islands
August 17 – Cabernet Sauvignon/Blends
August 24 – Loire Valley
August 31 – Wines for You Labor Day Cook-out

FRIDAY, August 3rd, 4:30 - 7:00pm

Table Wines of Portugal

CHEESE PLATES
I have been trying to find Portuguese cheese without having to drive  
to the eastside.  If I’m not successful, we will use a selection of  
cheese from Portugal’s Iberian peninsular neighbor, Spain,
CHEESE SAMPLER PLATE $4.00

PORTUGAL for many years was known for PORT and some table wines, most  
of which were somewhat “rustic” reds.  In the 1970s the only table  
wines known by most people were Mateus Rosé, Lancers Rosé and Vinho  
Verde.  Today there are many very good to excellent red and white  
wines, most of which are excellent value.  Worldwide consumption of  
the Rosés has dropped from the peak levels of the late 1980s.   
However interest in Vinho Verde is growing.  With the good value of  
these wines we are able to offer five wines for $10.00

1. VINHO VERDE or “Green Wine” does not get its name because it has a  
green color (it doesn’t), but because the wine is bottled, sold and  
consumed when young.  The wine can be white or red, but most are  
white.  The wine is made in several styles, but the traditional style  
is dry with a slight pétillance.  However a few good ones on the  
market have no trace of sparkle, but to me this is not traditional.   
We will taste a version from QUINTA da AVELEDA.  Traditionally Vinho  
Verde wines do not carry a vintage date — you have to look for the  
bottling date on the back label.  However this could be confusing as  
some wines are bottled in the December of the vintage, the rest early  
in the following year.  QUINTA da AVELEDA is one producer now showing  
vintage dates, and this bottling carries a 2006 vintage on the front  
label and a 2007 bottling date on the back label.  The wine is made  
from three grapes, TRAJADURA, LOUREIRO and ALVARINHO.  It offers  
delicate aromas of fresh flowers, tropical fruit on the palate with  
just a touch of pétillance, and a long, dry finish.  A wonderful  
summer sipper, and an accompaniment to light fish dishes - $9.00

2. It was difficult to choose an order for the four red wines,  
especially as I’ve tasted them over a long period of time.  Let’s  
start with the oldest wine which is drinking very well at the moment  
(Pauline and I drank a bottle last week).  The CADO 2000 VIHNO TINTO  
is from the DOURO VALLEY, the home of PORT.  The wine is a blend of  
TOURIGA NACIONAL. TOURIGA FRANCA and TINTA RORIZ.  We tasted this  
wine about three years ago and it was a little rough around the  
edges.  Now it offers lots of smooth blackberry and plum fruit,  
coupled with a touch of spice and flavors from the new French oak  
barrels.  What is even better is that it has been reduced in price -  
$10.00

3. Now we move to the latest vintage of a wine that has been  
successful in the past.  The CORTES de CIMA 2005 CHAMINÉ is a blend  
of 55% ARAGONEZ (TEMPRANILLO), 40% SYRAH, 5% TRINCADEIRA and 4%  
TOURIGA NATIONAL.  The wine comes from ALENTEJANO in southern  
Portugal where cool Atlantic breezes moderate the Mediterranean  
climate. The wine’s nose offers spicy red berry and black plum fruit,  
the palate is soft and juicy, and there are enough tannins on the  
finish to give the wine structure and balance.  This is the best of  
several CHAMINÉ vintages I’ve tasted - $15.00

4. We now move to DÃO which is a region in north central Portugal.   
The QUINTA do CORREIRO 2003 TINTO is named after the old postal  
station in the foothills of the Sierra da Estrella mountains.  The  
wine is a blend of TOURIGA NACIONAL, JAEN (MENCIA in SPAIN),  
ALFROCHEIRO, TINTA RORIZ (TEMPRANILLO) and RUFETE.  The wine saw no  
oak and the nose reminds me of Dundee fruit cake spice coupled with  
brambly fruit.  The palate is full-bodied offering blackcurrant fruit  
edged by cinnamon spice, with the back-bone to go with BBQ meat.   
Stupendous value - $12.50

5. We stay in the DÃO and will taste the QUINTA dos ROQUES 2004  
TINTO.  This Quinta produces the previous wine, the difference with  
this wine is that it sees new oak (13 months French).  This wine is a  
blend of TOURIGA NACIONAL, ALFROCHEIRO, JAEN (MENCIA in SPAIN), and  
TINTA RORIZ (TEMPRANILLO).  The wine is big and elegant at the same  
time.  It has black plum fruit up front and bitter chocolate on the  
finish, together with oak influences.  The wine is lovely now, but  
give it about 2 years more and it will be sensational (91 pts in The  
Wine Enthusiast) - $17.25

TRY THESE FIVE WINES FOR $10.00

For our PREMIUM POUR we offer a typical Portuguese red blend:
 From the DÃO we offer another wine from QUINTA dos ROQUES , the 2000  
RESERVA.   This is a field blend from Roques’ PEACHTREE VINEYARD,  
with the biggest component being TOURIGA NACIONAL (approximately  
40%).  This is a complex red showing cedar overtones with touches of  
tobacco and leather on the nose.  The palate is full bodied and shows  
an almost northern Rhône-like smoky bacon on the finish.  Wonderful  
value - $30.00

TRY THIS WINE FOR $3.50/Taste or $6.00/4 ounces

NB: All prices are subject to change without notice.  The above  
information is based on verbal information from distributors, and  
actual wine prices will depend on the price invoiced at delivery to  
Cornell Wine Company.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4th
Noon – 5:00 PM

As usual, we will have a couple of interesting wines open for free  
tasting, and these are the provisional choices (although I may  
substitute a rosé as all rosés are on sale during August):

For a white we offer a SAUVIGNON BLANC from TUSCANY.  What did you  
say?  I did not know they grew that grape in Tuscany.  The DOC  
CORTONA is in the south east near the border with Umbria, and  
AVIGNONESI, a great VINO NOBILE producer, has bought vineyards in  
CORTONA. This is exquisite SAUVIGNON  BLANC - $12.50

 From the LANGUEDOC comes a value MERLOT.  The DOMAINE LA BASTIDE  
2005 MERLOT carries a VDP d’HAUTERIE appellation.  This is no simple  
fruit bomb, but offers good fruit and structure.  A Merlot for  
Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers! - $9.00

Cheers,

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