[Cornell Wine] Cornell Club May Selections

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE CLUB
MAY WINE SELECTIONS

Below are details of the Mayl selections for our Wine Club.  Wines  
are available for pick-up by members from Friday afternoon, May 4th.   
The wines will be available for all to taste on Saturday, May 12th  
Noon – 5:00PM.  Remember, members get a 15% discount on monthly  
selections, so SIGN-UP AND SAVE!

EARL and COUNTESS LEVEL

THIERRY et PASCALE MATROT 2005 BOURGOGNE BLANC, BURGUNDY, FRANCE

Last month we offered you an OREGON CHARDONNAY, and as a contrast,  
this month we offer you a CHARDONNAY from its ancestral home,  
BURGUNDY.  With the weak dollar, most great Burgundies are out of the  
reach of mere mortals.  However, in excellent vintages such as 2005,  
many excellent “minor” wines were made.  This BOURGOGNE BLANC (100%  
CHARDONNAY) is made from fruit from more than one Appellation, hence  
it can only be labeled Bourgogne Blanc.  The wine spent a short time  
in oak, but the aromas and palate reflect fresh fruit (green apple,  
pear) balanced by crisp acidity.  For people who prefer Chardonnays  
different from California’s butter and oak bombs, this wine is  
sensational value.

Regular Price: $18.00
Member Price: $15.30

BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE 2001 EBENEZER SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA

Many Shiraz from the BAROSSA VALLEY can be a little “over the top”  
showing too much eucalyptus (menthol?) and too much alcohol.  This  
wine, from what is a grower’s cooperative, while obviously  
Australian, is more subtle than many such wines.  It does show  
eucalyptus and ripe black plum fruit on the nose, but the palate has  
some elegance, and the long finish has the acidity making the wine a  
great partner to food.

Regular Price: $30.00
Member Price: $25.50

Total Member Monthly Cost: $40.00 (an extra $0.80 saving!)

BARON and BARONESS LEVEL

ANDREW RICH 2005 ROUSSANNE, COLUMBIA VALLEY

ROUSSANNE is one of the grapes of the great whites from the Northern  
Rhône Valley, but also is an allowed grape in white Châteauneuf-du- 
Pape.  Several vineyards are growing it in WASHINGTON, and OREGON’S  
ANDREW RICH makes, by my palate, the best USA example.  It has a  
haunting nose of ripe fruit coupled with what to me seems like herbal  
tea; the palate is rich, and the finish long with great balance from  
acidity.  Andrew uses no new oak.

Regular Price: $21.00
Member Price: $17.85

COLONIA LAS LIEBRES 2006 BONARDA, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

This wine is made by ALTOS LAS HOMIGAS, one of my favorite MALBEC  
producers.  BONARDA used to be the everyday red in ITALY’S PIEMONTE  
until it was almost wiped-out by phylloxera in the late 19th  
century.  BARBERA then became that region’s everyday red as it was  
easier to grow than BONARDA.  Before this devastation, Italian  
immigrants had taken some vines to ARGENTINA.  For a long time the  
varietal was mainly used for blending, but now several wines are  
being made that are 100% BONARDA.  For flavors, I look on this grape  
as a cross between Merlot and Syrah, offering great plum fruit with a  
touch of smokiness.

Regular Price: $07.75
Member Price: $06.59

Total Member Monthly Cost: $24.44

Cheers,

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