[Cornell Wine] Cornell Wine This Week

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE COMPANY
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September 28 – Syrah/Shiraz
October 05 – South America
October 12 – Walla Walla
October 19 – South Africa
October 26 – Australia
November 02 - Piemonte

FRIDAY, Septermber 21st
4:30 - 7:00pm

Wines of Tuscany

CHEESE PLATES
We will have a cheese plate available, but we have not finalized the  
choice of cheese.  My favorite website comes up blank with matches to  
Sangiovese, so we are researching elsewhere.
CHEESE SAMPLER PLATE $To be determined

When most people think of Tuscany and wine, Chianti comes to mind.   
While I’m a lover of Chianti, I thought this week we should explore  
other regions of Tuscany where Sangiovese is also the main grape.

1. OK, our first wine is not SANGIOVESE because it is white!  The  
village of SAN GIMIGNANO is the so-called “Manhattan of Tuscany”  
because of the tower buildings created centuries ago when nobles were  
trying to out-do each other.  Many of the towers still stand, and  
they offer great views over the surrounding countryside.  The village  
is also famous for the white wine from the local grape, VERNACCIA.   
These wines can range from the mediocre to the sublime, and  
unfortunately the prices of the latter sort have become expensive.   
However sometimes you strike gold, and the GIANNINA 2006 VERNACCIA di  
SAN GIMIGNANO is wonderful value. - $10.00

2. VAL di CORNIA is a region on the Tuscan coast almost due west of  
Montalcino. The MICHELE RUSSO 2004 CEPPITAIO contains 85% SANGIOVESE  
with the balance being CABERNET SAUVIGNON and MERLOT.  While I’m not  
a fan of Chiantis that throw in Bordeaux varietals, this wine hit the  
mark.  Made in a modern style with some barrique aging, on the front  
palate the wines tastes like a full-bodied Chianti, but on the long  
finish the Bordeaux grapes remove the touch of bitterness usually  
associated with Sangiovese. - $21.00

3. ROSSO di MONTACINOs are basically “Baby Brunellos”, usually made  
from young vines from Brunello vineyards, and often provide fantastic  
value relative to their most prestigious siblings.  Such is the case  
with the SAN FELICE 2004 CAMPOGIOVANNI ROSSO di MONTALCINO.   
CAMPOGIOVANNI is their main estate from which they produce two  
Brunellos that sell for $50-80.  Showing lots of ripe berry fruit  
coupled with the classic dusty, earthy elements of Brunello, this  
wine is a wonderful introduction to the wines of the Montalcino  
region - $20.00

4. CARMIGNANO is a Denominazion di Origine Controllata e Garantita  
region just to the west of Florence, and Count Bonaccossi’s VILLA di  
CAPEZZANA is one of the most famous producers from the region.  In  
this region the wine laws are much more flexible than most Tuscan  
areas and the wines only have to have at least 50% SANGIOVESE, but  
the Count always uses a higher percentage of SANGIOVESE.  His 2003 is  
80%, with the balance being 5% CANAIOLO and 15% CABERNET SAUVIGNON.   
I’ve always accepted “foreign” grapes in wines from this area, and  
the CABERNET SAUVIGNON gives richness to the SANGIOVESE.  In 1990,  
Pauline and I were lucky enough to have lunch with the Count at his  
beautiful estate, and we have been fond of his wines ever since, and  
this 2003 shows much richer fruit than normal because of the hot  
vintage - $30.00

At our normal pricing formula, this tasting would be over $11.00, so

IT IS A BARGAIN TO TRY THESE FOUR WINES FOR $10.00

For our PREMIUM POUR we move to the town of MONTALCINO:

BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO has long been considered the king of  
Sangiovese-based wines.  The wines are made from a specific clone  
called Brunello or “little brown one”, and unlike other Tuscan  
Denominazion di Origine Controllata e Garantita, the wines have to be  
100% from this grape.  The 2001 vintage was spectacular in the area,  
and the FATTORIA dei BARBI from that vintage is a classic.  While  
needing some cellar time or a hearty game meal, this wine shows all  
the attributes of much more expensive wines from the area.  A recent  
“Matt Kramer rave”, this wine is not smothered in new oak, but has  
substantial aromas and flavors of licorice and black cherry with the  
tell-tale earthiness of a classic Brunello - $50.00

TRY THIS WINE FOR $5.00/Taste or $10.00/4 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, SEPTEMBER 22nd
Noon - 5:00PM
Free

As usual we will have a couple of interesting wines open, and this  
week we look to the Southwest of FRANCE and the CÔTES de GASCOGNE:

RIGAL under the LES PALOMBIÈRES label offers some stunning bargains.   
The 2006 BLANC is a blend of COLOMBARD and UGNI BLANC.  Forget  
Californian Colombard, and taste this lively, crisp wine - $6.75

The 2005 ROUGE is a blend of 60% TANNAT and 40% MERLOT.  TANNAT is a  
local grape that can be a tannic monster, but the addition of MERLOT  
tames the beast - $6.75

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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