[Cornell Wine] Cornell Club March

[Michael Beard]

CORNELL WINE CLUB
MARCH WINE SELECTIONS

Below are details of the January selections for our Wine Club.  Wines  
are available for pick-up by members from Tuesday, March 4th.  All  
being well, the wines will be available for all to taste on Saturday,  
March 8th, Noon – 5:00PM.  Remember, members get a 15% discount on  
monthly selections, so SIGN-UP AND SAVE!

EARL and COUNTESS LEVEL

ELENA WALCH 2005 PINOT BIANCO “KASTELAZ”, ALTO ADIGE, ITALY

To me, the best PINOT BLANCs (Pinot Bianco) come from ALTO ADIGE in  
the north of ITALY.  ELENA WALCH is one of the great producers.  This  
wine has been significantly reduced in price as the 2006 has  
arrived.  The original price was $24.00, so at the Club Price of  
$14.88 it is a sensational bargain!  KASTELAZ is the designation of  
the ESTATE RESERVE wines.  I tasted this wine over a year ago, and  
this February it was just as fresh and lovely.  A spectacular example  
of how good PINOT BIANCO can be at a very modest price.

Regular Price: $17.50
Member Price: $14.88

PHILIPPE ALLIET 2006 CHINON, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

To CABERNET FRANC freaks like me, the LOIRE VALLEY is the grape’s  
real home.  CHINON is one of the Appellations that has to be 100%  
CABERNET FRANC.  The area is on the south side of the river in  
TOURAINE.  French Renaissance writer, FRANÇOIS RABELAIS, was born in  
CHINON and gave the town a motto “Beuvez toujours, vous ne mourrez  
jamais”, which, with my limited French, means “Drink constantly,  
never die”.  I’m sure when you sample this CABERNET FRANC, you will  
agree with this motto.  ALLIET is one of the great modern producers  
in CHINON, and although I have yet to taste his 2006 (limited supply,  
the distributor does not sample the wine), I am sure it will be as  
good as the spectacular 2005.

Regular Price: $26.50
Member Price: $22.52

Total Member Monthly Cost: $37.40

BARON and BARONESS LEVEL

BODEGAS OSTATU 2006 BLANCO, RIOJA, SPAIN

This wine, from Spain’s RIOJA ALAVESA, is 100% VIURA, which is the  
local name for MACABEO.  It is as far removed as possible from the  
traditional Rioja whites which were aged in wood for a long time, and  
most of which tasted slightly oxidized.  It is bright and lively,  
with slightly flowery aromas and ripe pear fruit.  Just the wine for  
warm spring days, when they arrive!

Regular Price: $12.00
Member Price: $10.20

CHÂTEAU LE PARADIS 2005, CÔTES de BOURG, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

I’ve yet to try a 2005 Bordeaux that I have not liked; the year is  
turning out to be the greatest vintage in the area since the  
legendary 1961.  No wonder the top wines are fetching astronomical  
prices – CHÂTEAU PETRUS is about $5,000/bottle!  It is in such years  
we get lovely wines from minor châteaux at very reasonable prices.   
One of our favorite local importers, GREG ZANCANELLA, seems to have a  
nose (and palate) to find low-priced gems.  This wine from the CÔTES  
de BOURG is another stunning bargain.  The region is across the  
Gironde from Margaux.  The Château’s vineyards are planted to 80%  
MERLOT and 20% CABERNET SAUVIGNON.  The 2005 is drinking well now,  
but will hold its own for several years.

Regular Price: $13.00
Member Price: $11.05

Total Member Monthly Cost: $21.25

Cheers,

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