NEWSLETTER
06 / 10 / 10
2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER (FOOTBALL)
CELEBRATE WITH THE
SOUTH AFRICAN SPARKLING WINES OF GRAHAM BECK
Open the bubbles, let the Bubuzelas
sound (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz), bring on the 2010 World Cup.
May the best team win!!!!!!!!
GRAHAM BECK
Graham Beck wines is now entering its third generation as a family winery. It was established in 1983 when entrepreneur
Graham Beck purchased Madeba farm outside the Western Cape town of Robertson with a fervent ambition to establish a world-class
winery in this region. The success of the Robertson winery has been extended to the second Graham Beck cellar in Franschoek,
one of the oldest winemaking regions in South Africa.
The vineyards are located on four diverse farms in the Western
Cape province, enabling the Robertson and Franschoek Cellars to have access to grape varietals grown in the climactic conditions
and soils to which they are best suited. Marco Ventrella, Graham Beck's viticulturist, oversees the 4 farms. However, each
farm is individually tended by its respective vineyard manager.
An extensive renewal program has resulted in premier
red and white varietals on all of the farms. Great care has been taken to match the obliging micro-climates and rich variety
of soils with the most suitable varietal. This ensures that the winemakers have access to optimum quality fruit from which
to make their specific wines.
Did you know that Barack and Michelle Obama celebrated
with Graham Beck's Sparkling wine after winning the election? In fact, Graham Beck's Sparkling wines were also used to celebrate
the inauguration of South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela,
back in 1994.
- SPARKLING WINES -
NV GRAHAM BECK, BRUT ROSÉ,
WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA $17.99
(Winemaker's
notes)
“Pale silver-pink. Aromas of raspberries, cherries and a few secondary whiffs of minerality. A lively
mousse but fine in the mouth, with subtle red berry flavours enlivened by bright acids. Brisk on the palate, showing hints
of oyster shell and fresh lavender. Flirtatious and fun, yet elegant and structured, it’s perfect for all seasons and
settings."
55% Chardonnay & 45% Pinot Noir grapes.
NV GRAHAM BECK, BRUT, CAPE CLASSIQUE, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
$17.99
You will be pleasantly surprised at just how good this sparkling wine is for the price.
Although it's not real Champagne from France, it most certainly has many of the same qualities and leans in that direction
with its smaller persistent bubbles and yeasty qualities. Wonderful delicate aromas of raspberries with flavors of red cherry
and melon. Highly recommended.
54% Pinot Noir & 46% Chardonnay grapes.
- PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER -
05 / 28 / 10
François
Chidaine
Loire Valley, France
Only a couple
of years ago, François Chidaine was only considered to be one of the wine-makers to watch in the Loire. This assessment
was based on his excellent vineyard holdings in Montlouis, an appellation on the rise, and his commitment to biodynamic farming
and non-intervention wine-making style. Now that the transition is complete, already, he is considered to be one of the great
wine-makers in the Loire. His wines show a combination of finesse, minerality and power which we only encounter in the great
wines of France. This is due to a number of factors, not least of which is his commitment to working the soil of his vineyards,
and lowering yields below fifty hectoliters per hectare (3.5 tons per acre). The wines are only minimally chaptalized, and
sugar is never added to a wine which is destined to have residual sugar (i.e. Les Tuffeaux, Clos Habert). The wines often
ferment very slowly, sometimes all winter, in Chidaines cold limestone cellars, and this makes for complexity in the wines
which is unattainable through faster fermentations. Slow fermentations also allow the wine-maker to postpone adding sulfur
to the wine because of the continual, anti-oxidant blanket of CO2 produced, thus lowering the total amount needed in the wine.
Chidaine now sells out every bottle he makes within just a few months of bottling, and the USA is lucky to receive these
wines which remain some of the best values in the wine market today.
In 2002, Chidaine aquired the vineyards of the prestigious
Clos Baudoin estate in Vouvray. He has rented the vineyards with the option to purchase when and if the owner decides to sell.
________________________
François Chidaine makes outstanding wines, a personal favorite, get them
while you can.
ROSÉ, WHITE, RED WINE
$12.99 each
-
ROSÉ WINE -
2009 François Chidaine,
Rosé, Touraine, Val de Loire, France $12.99
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Grolleau grapes.
A perfectly balanced
blend of these two varietals. A nose of gooseberries and some floral notes is followed by a medium-full wine. Excellent acidity
and beautiful tension bring up the solid mineral core. Very refreshing, but surprisingly complex, this is from 100% estate
biodynamically farmed vines. 150 cases total imported to US.
- WHITE
WINE -
2009 François Chidaine, Sauvignon,
Touraine, Val de Loire, France $12.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Classique styled Loire
valley sauvignon from the master of Montlouis and Vouvray. Produced entirely from Chidaine's biodynamically farmed vineyards.
Minerals and citrus are packed into this beauty that shows surprising length and complexity for the appellation. This is
a great lower-priced alternative to the popular sauvignons produced in the eastern Loire valley.
- RED WINE -
2008 François
Chidaine, Rouge, Touraine, Val de Loire, France $12.99
1/3 Cabernet Franc, 1/3 Cot (Malbec), 1/3
Pinot d'Aunis grapes.
From 100% estate biodynamically farmed vines, this is a very promising wine. Known primarily for
making some of the greatest white wines in the Loire region, Chidaine has been farming these vineyards for several years.
Good dark concentration of fruit where neither varietal dominates, but rather compliments the others. The faintly mineral
nose shows notes of pepper melded with the red fruit and leads into a wine with medium tannins, good concentration and length.
Not a heavy wine, it has plenty of character, and bright acidity, which makes it a classic food wine to go with difficult
pairings.
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MIX AND MATCH ANY 12 WINES FOR A 10% CASE DISCOUNT!
