[Cornell Wine] Cornell Wine This Week

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE COMPANY
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February 29 – Cabernet Sauvignon
March 07 – Spain
March 14 – Washington Reds
March 21 – Greece
March 28 – Zinfandel
March 29 – CWC Anniversary Party!

THIS WEEK
FRIDAY, February 22nd
4:30 - 7:00pm

WINES OF TUSCANY

CHEESE PLATE
Unfortunately the only Tuscan cheese available at the places I shop  
is Pecorino Toscano.  I find this very dry – and expensive!  Hence we  
offer a selection of Italian cheeses from other areas:
Brigante                                                  	Sheep’s  
Milk               		 Sardinia
This sheep’s milk cheese is relatively mild in the style of a  
Pecorino Fresco.
Fontal Fiave                                     	Cow’s  
Milk                  		Val d’Aosta
This Alpine cheese, from the area in northwest Italy which borders on  
France and Switzerland, is related to France’s Raclette.
Cacio de Roma                                      	Sheep’s  
Milk                		Lazio
This cheese is bathed in sea salt for 24 hours and then aged on wood  
for 30 days.  It is somewhat similar to Pecorino Fresco.
CHEESE PLATE $4.00

TUSCANY is more than CHIANTI – or BRUNELLO.  We offer these gems and  
some wines from other regions.

1. We start in CHIANTI CLASSICO.  When Pauline and I visited Tuscany  
in 1990, the “Gallo Nero Classico” consortium went out their way to  
persuade us CLASSICO was the only place for CHIANTI.  The  
developments since then have persuaded otherwise, but most CLASSICO  
is still wonderful.  ISOLE e OLENA is one of the great CLASSICO  
producers, but when Pauline and I had lunch there in 1990, PAOLO DE  
MARCHI was experimenting with new oak and adding “foreign grapes” to  
Chianti.  Luckily, he has gone back to a “traditionalist” style and  
now his classic Tuscan wines are “pure”.  He still grows Syrah and  
other grapes, but bottles them under a different label.  This CHIANTI  
CLASSICO 2004 is SANGIOVESE and CANAIOLO - $18.50

2. GIULIANO TIBERI is based in the MONTALBANO area and produces a  
great value CHIANTI MONTALBANO, albeit with a dreadful label.  He  
also produces a ROSSO di TOSCANA and the 2003 LE VESPE is a lovely  
wine.  This wine is like an excellent CHIANTI RESERVA at a much lower  
cost, and does not show the “over-ripe” elements of many 2003 wines.   
It is a blend of 85% SANGIOVESE with small amounts of local grapes  
COLORINO, ABROSTINE and CANAIOLO - $19.75

3. MAREMMA is a region in the southwest of Tuscany near the coast,  
and MORELLINO di SCANSANO is one of the Denominazione di Origine  
Controllata in the area.  We offer the FATTORIA le PUPILLE 2004  
MORELLINO di SCANSANO which is made by one of the most famous  
winemaker in the area, ELISABETTA GEPPETTI.   This wine is 85%  
SANGIOVESE and 15% ALICANTE.  This wine has a very ripe berry  
character, typical of the DOC, but the ALICANTE gives it spice and  
acidity - $22.00

4. I GIUSTI & ZANZA is in the northwest of TUSCANY, between PISA,  
LIVERNO and the TIRRENO SEA. The current owners bought an old estate  
in 1995 and re-vitalized the existing vineyards and planted  
additional vines.  The existing vines were Sangiovese, Merlot,  
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  They added Syrah.  The  
NEMORINO 2006 is 60% SYRAH, 30% SANGIOVESE and 10% MERLOT.  I was  
surprised at the blend as to me the SANGIOVESE seemed to dominate,  
especially on the nose; however, the MERLOT adds cherry, and the  
SYRAH provides additional body to the palate - $15.00

  TRY THESE FOUR WINES FOR $10.00

This week we again offer two PREMIUM POURS:

 From BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO we offer CIACCI PICCOLOMINI d’ARAGONA  
2002.  Forget the so-called “poor” vintage, this is great Brunello  
for the money – Tanzer (International Wine Cellar) gave it 91  
points!  While several wineries declassified their 2002s to Rosso  
level, this producer, by using crop thinning and severe selection,  
has made a very good Brunello for drinking over the next 3-4 years.   
The nose is both floral and spicy with hints of fruit such as  
raspberries and cherries and Brunello’s signature tobacco and earth;  
the palate is full and is followed by a long finish with subtle  
tannins.  SPECTACULAR VALUE! - $39.00

TRY THIS WINE FOR $4.50/Taste or $8.00/2 ounces

 From ISOLE e OLENA we offer their “SUPER TUSCAN”, the 2004  
CEPPARELLO.  This is fabulous wine, and The Wine Advocate said “The  
estate’s 2004 Cepparello (100% Sangiovese aged in French oak, 1/3  
new) was made from minuscule yields of just 600 grams per plant and  
is even better than the 2003.  It exhibits a livelier color, fresher  
aromatics and a nuanced personality, all the products of a more  
balanced growing season.  It boasts layers of vibrant fruit  
intermingled with subtle mineral and licorice notes, showing  
outstanding length on the palate and fine, noble tannins. A wine of  
extraordinary elegance, it has been stunning on the two occasions I  
have tasted it so far.  It is highly recommended – 95 points” - $59.75

TRY THIS WINE FOR $6.50/Taste or $12.00/4 ounces

TASTE BOTH FOR $10.00

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, February 23rd
Noon – 5:00PM
Free

ANDREW RICH, who operates out of the Carlton Wine Makers’ Studio, has  
a great touch with many varietals.  The blend of his TABULA RASA  
WHITE changes from vintage to vintage, and the 2006 is mainly  
ROUSSANNE with a touch of GEWÜRZTRAMINER.  His ROUSSANNE is great,  
but this is very good and much cheaper! - $15.00

For a red we go to PORTUGAL and one of the bargain producers, CASA  
SANTOS LIMA.  The 2006 QUINTA de ESPIGA is from ESTREMADURA made from  
a blend of several local grapes.  WONDERFUL VALUE - $8.00

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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