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1 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 1 SEPTEMBER 2006 WINES Evaluated: 118 WINES Rejected: 83 WINES Approved: 35 WINES Selected: 4 D elicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking each successive autumn. GEORGE ELIOT TENUTA RAPITALA, 2003 NERO D AVOLA / CABERNET SAUVIGNON SICILY ITALY Nero d Avola is the grape hero of Sicily. It was often used for adding body and structure to the weaker wines of France and Northern Italy, but has finally come into its own. This wine is a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, so we have a great tasting wine at a very attractive price. CHATEAU DE LA PREUILLE, 2004 MELON DE BOURGOGNE LES TOUCHES MUSCADET FRANCE Muscadet is an extremely foodfriendly wine, especially with shellfish. Try it with grilled lobster for a special treat. Made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape, this wine is crisp, light and dry with a price that makes it right for all your meals. Enjoy! KILIKANOON, 2003 THE LACKEY SHIRAZ LANGHORNE CREEK AUSTRALIA If you are a fan of black, chewy Shiraz with an extremely long aftertaste, you will not find a better wine than this. The Lackey is intense Shiraz, showing off all the delicious characteristics that make this grape so popular. WILLM, 2004 GEWURZTRAMINER ALSACE FRANCE Gewürztraminer is best known as a favored grape of the Alsace region. It produces white wines with a wonderful floral aroma and a lychee nut-like flavor. The Domaine Willm Gewurztraminer is a perfect example of how delicious this varietal is when vinified ripe and dry. Enjoy with a grilled chicken rubbed with a your favorite pepper blend. INSIDE THIS MONTH THE VINTNERS SERIES NEWS 1 WHAT S NEW THIS MONTH 2 VINT. #1, RAPITALA, NERO D AVOLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 3 VINT #2, CHATEAU DE LA PREUILLE, MUSCADET SUR LIE 4 ADVENTURES IN GOOD FOOD 5 TASTING NOTES 6 EARLIER SELECTIONS 7 GIFT ORDERS 8 Join us on the Web:

2 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 2 A NOTE FROM YOUR CELLARMASTER Paul Kalemkiarian The comments have been beyond expectation on the Coppola Sauvignon Blanc. Thank you to everyone who praised the selection. We just finished tasting another 80 wines today and let me say, there are more great selections in the future. Salud! Paul Kalemkiarian WHAT S NEW THIS MONTH? What is that Staples commercial? The one with the father pushing the shopping cart down the isle, jumping with glee as the kids mope behind with the Christmas song It s the most wonderful time of the year! playing in the background. That makes me laugh every time and it is true. You can t wait for them to get out of school and you can t wait for them to go back! This summer we had the girls work for a living. In between camp, softball and whatever, we had the kids here in the office doing fun things: Stuffing envelopes, filling the staplers, shredding documents, you know the usual. It doesn t really matter what they do, as long as they realize there is a work ethic and that you have to earn the things you want (like ipods, laptops, music, etc.) So, another summer gone and another fall begins. I look forward to softball starting up and a different type of busy than the summer brings. Enjoy! Membership in THE VINTERS SERIES is open to anyone with an interest in and an appreciation for superb wines... and excellent wine values. Membership is FREE. For more info write: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB P.O. Box , Arcadia, CA Call: WINE (9463) or (626) FAX: (626) Online: Newsletter written by: Elizabeth Schweitzer, Master Sommelier WINE

3 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 3 THIS MONTH S SELECTION #1 O ff the coast of Southern Italy is the warm island of Sicily. There s no other place in the world quite like Sicily; it s almost a nation unto itself. It s where Archimedes taught and St. Paul preached. It s been a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom. It s this blend of people and cultures that makes Sicily such an eclectic and unique place. Sicily is blessed with consistent growing seasons from year to year due to the singular climate of lots of warm sunshine and very little rain. Nero d Avola is Sicily s most popular red grape. The name literally means avola black which describes the very dark berries the vine produces. The wines made from Nero d Avola range from rustic to soft and approachable. The grape is indigenous to the Sicilian soil and its wines are the epitome of Sicilian flavor. Tenuta Rapitala is in the Camporeale area of Sicily. The winery is named after the Rapitala River, which flows through the property. Sicilian reds can sometimes seem hot and clunky from all the searing sunshine. The vintage 2003 was especially brutalized in the heat. Nonetheless, the creative winemaking team at Tenuta Rapitala anchored the 2003 Nero d Avola harvest to Cabernet Sauvignon to make this well-structured, accessible red. The blend is 70% Nero d Avola and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines were vinified separately in stainless steel, then the Nero d Avola was aged in stainless steel and the Cabernet was aged for nine months in small French oak barrels. The final blend of the two wines is a delicious bottle that is ready to be enjoyed at an attractive price. The wine pours a bright ruby color. The aromas are inviting with blackberries, dried fruit, earth and spice. The palate is medium bodied, with firm tannins and flavors of vanilla, spice and dark ripe fruit. The long lasting finish has a touch of oak. Enjoy this wine with pizza, burgers and beef stew RAPITALA Nero d Avola /Cabernet Sauvignon (NEH-roe dah-voe-lah / ka-bur-nay saw-veehn-yawn) Sicily Italy Color: Bright ruby Nose: Blackberries, dried fruit, earth, spice Palate: Dry, Mediumbodied, firm tannins, vanilla, spice, dark fruit Finish Long slightly oaky finish CELLARING SUGGESTIONS Drink now or cellar until 2010 V906E Retail Price: $18.99/each Special Member Price: $15.99/each Reorder Price: $13.99/each 27% Discount $167.88/case WINE 3

4 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 4 THIS MONTH S SELECTION #2 T he Loire region of France, often called the garden of France, is located in the cool northeastern part of the country. The region is divided into nine districts. Each district produces its own unique grapes and wines. Muscadet (moose-kah-day) is in the western end of the Loire Valley about 10 miles south of Nantes. Muscadet produces white wines from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. The varietal originated in Burgundy and thrived there until the early 18th century when authorities in Burgundy ordered the vines destroyed. Fortunately, it found its new home in Muscadet. The grape thrives in Muscadet because it s able to withstand cold weather, it ripens early, and it produces large crops. Studies at UC Davis have shown the possibility that the grape could be Pinot Blanc. It s also known as Lyonnaise Blanch and Weisserburgunder. Chateau de la Preuille is one of the oldest castles in the Loire Valley, dating back to the 13th century. The Les Touches vineyards are all on east-facing slopes and benefit from a more temperate microclimate. The soil is granite. The farming is organic with no artificial fertilizers. All of the grapes are hand-harvested. Sur Lie is a classic method of winemaking in this region. The wines rest for the winter in a barrel or vinification vat. The wine feeds off the fine lees (the wine sediment) in the vats or barrels. By spring, the surplus carbon dioxide gives the wines a soft and creamy texture. These wines are bottled without filtering which guarantees their freshness and crispness. This Muscadet is a clean, clear pale yellow with hints of lime green. The subtle aromas of green apple, lemon, mineral and flowers lure you into the glass. It is light-bodied, clean and fresh on the palate with refreshing acidity, a touch of mineral with lively fruit flavors of apples and lime. The dry finish lingers on and on. This wine is wonderful with seafood, but is also versatile for a range of foods such as Cajun dishes, sushi, pasta and poultry CHATEAU DE LA PREUILLE MUSCADET SUR LIE Melon de Bourgogne (meh-lohn duh boor- GAWN-yuh) Loire Valley France Color: Clean, clear yellow with lime green hints Nose: Green apple, lemon, mineral flowers Palate: Light-bodied, clean, refreshing acidity, mineral, apples, lime Finish Dry, clean finish CELLARING SUGGESTIONS Drink now V906F Retail Price: $14.99/each Special Member Price: $13.99/each Reorder Price: $11.99/each 21% Discount $143.88/case WINE

5 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 5 ADVENTURES IN GOOD FOOD Figs are in season from August through October. Dried figs are available year-round. This delicious recipe will be a great accompaniment with the Sicilian Ripitala. FRESH FIG, RICOTTA & PROSCIUTTO PIE Serves 4-8. INGREDIENTS: 15 oz ricotta cheese 4 large eggs 1/4 cup milk 2 Tbs all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves 2 oz prosciutto, minced 4 oz goat cheese, well chilled and crumbled 4 6 large firm ripe figs, stems trimmed, cut into 1/2 thick rounds Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9 pie plate. Whisk the ricotta, eggs, milk, flour, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until blended. Finely chop the basil. Add the basil, prosciutto, and half of the goat cheese to the ricotta mixture; stir until blended. Pour the mixture into the pie plate. Arrange the figs in concentric circles on top of the filling. Sprinkle with the remaining goat cheese. Bake until the edges are lightly browned and the center is almost set, minutes. Let stand minutes before serving. (The center will set firm while standing.) Serve either warm or at room temperature. A bit spicy from the heat of the curry and rich with flavor from the figs and sweet potatoes, this is a perfect autumn dish with your Willm Gewurztraminer. CURRIED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH FIGS AND TOMATOES Serves 4. INGREDIENTS: 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried thyme Salt and pepper to taste 8 skinless and boneless chicken thighs 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil 2 large onions, chopped (about 2 cups) 2 garlic cloves, minced 2-1/2 tsp Madras curry powder 1-1/2 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash 1-1/2 cups peeled, cubed sweet potatoes, figs, stems trimmed One 28-oz can diced tomatoes with juices 1 whole clove Combine the cumin, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle the chicken with the spice mixture. Heat a large deep skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the chicken, a few pieces at a time, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a side dish. Add the onions to the skillet and cook until golden, 5-8 minutes. Add the garlic and curry powder, stir for 1 minute. Return the chicken to the skillet. Scatter the squash, sweet potatoes, and figs over the chicken. Add the tomatoes and clove. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, covered, until the chicken and vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the juices are slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Serves 4. Serve piping hot with a glass of cool Willm Gewurztraminer. Delicious! WINE 5

6 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 6 TASTING NOTES WINE: Tested Color Nose Tasted Tracking Notes WINE: Tested Color Nose Tasted Tracking Notes THE VINTNERS SERIES CELLAR NOTES A report on how previous VINTNERS SERIES Selections are faring with age. September 2005 Zinfandel, Cataula. Drink through Chardonnay, Ledgewood Creek. Drink up. Need Another Binder? When your binders bulge with newsletters, just call us and we ll send you additional binders WINE

7 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 7 EARLIER SELECTIONS MEMBER ITEM # & DESCRIPTION QTY REORDER TOTAL PRICE To order by phone call TOLL FREE WINE ( ) Monday Friday 8 am 5 pm (Pacific Time) To order by mail or fax please complete this order form. Fax (24 hours a day) Or mail to: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB P.O. Box , Arcadia, CA Or shop online at: *For shipping and handling charges, see other side. #V906E Nero d Avola/Cab Sauv, Rapitala Dried fruit, spice, blackberries. Retail Price $ % Discount #V906F Muscadet, Cht de la Preuille Green apple, lemon, mineral. Retail Price $ % Discount #V906G Shiraz, Kilikanoon Pepper, black cherry, currant. Retail Price $ % Discount #V906H Gewurztraminer, Willm Gardenia, yellow roses, spice. Retail Price $ % Discount #V806E Cab Sauv, Parrone Ripe cherries, cassis, black peppers. Retail Price $ % Discount #V806F Sauv Blanc, Baileyana Limeade, sweet peas, green herbs. Retail Price $ % Discount $13.99/Each $167.88/Case $11.99/Each $143.88/Case $14.99/Each $179.88/Case $11.99/Each $143.88/Case $12.99/Each $155.88/Case $11.99/Each $143.88/Case Sub-Total 8.25% CA Sales Tax S & H* EARLIER SELECTIONS TOTAL Check # in the amount of $ enclosed (made payable to Wine of the Month Club) Please charge total to my: Discover Visa Mastercard American Express Card # Exp.: / MONTH YEAR Name (Please Print) Signature Shipping Address (We do not ship to P. O. Boxes) City State Zip ( ) ( ) Phone (day) Phone (evening) Address IMPORTANT DELIVERY INFORMATION: We can ship to CA, CO, ID, IA, IL, MO, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OR, TX, WI, WV, WY. Shipments cannot be made to a Post Office box. If an adult is not regularly at this address during normal UPS/Federal Express delivery hours, please specify a neighbor s, or office address, for the shipments.

8 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 8 GIFT ORDERS It s the Perfect Gift for a... Thank You, Housewarming, Wedding, Anniversary, Congratulations, Holiday, Father s & Mother s Day, Valentine s Day, Christmas & New Year s. Business Thank You, Bon Voyage... or just to say I Love You! GIFT # THE VINTNERS SERIES GIFT MEMBERSHIPS QTY PRICE TOTAL 1OV 2 Bottles Current club selections $33.50* 2OV 6 Bottles Assortment of recent selections $94.00* 3OV 12 Bottles (1 Case) Assortment of recent selections $185.00* 4VQGP 4 Month Membership in THE VINTNERS SERIES $123.50* 5VGP VGP Subscription: 2 Bottles every quarter for one year (8 bottles total) 6 Month Membership in THE VINTNERS SERIES Subscription: 2 Bottles every other month for one year (12 bottles total) 1 Year Membership in THE VINTNERS SERIES Subscription: 2 Bottles each month for the next 12 months (24 bottles total) $183.50* $363.50* SHIPPING AND HANDLING FOR GIFT ORDERS FOR EARLIER SELECTION ORDERS Gift Number CA Shipping Out-of-State Shipping Number of Bottles CA Shipping Out-of-State Shipping Gift #1OV $ 6.97 $ $ 6.97 $ 9.02 Gift #2OV $10.95 $ $ 7.95 $11.30 Gift #3OV $15.65 $ $10.95 $16.90 Gift #4QGP $27.88 $ $12.85 $21.15 Gift #5VGP $41.82 $ $14.20 $24.25 Gift #VGP $83.64 $ $15.65 $27.60 Please call for shipping prices outside CA in states where permissible. Sub-Total 8.25% CA Sales Tax S & H GIFT ORDERS TOTAL *Gift wrapping included. Check # in the amount of $ enclosed (made payable to Wine of the Month Club) Please charge total to my: Discover Visa Mastercard American Express Card # Exp.: / MONTH YEAR Name (Please Print) Signature Shipping Address (We do not ship to P. O. Boxes) City State Zip ( ) ( ) Phone (day) Phone (evening) Address To order by phone call TOLL FREE WINE Monday Friday 8 am 5 pm (Pacific Time) ( ) To order by mail or fax please complete this order form. Fax (24 hours a day) Or mail to: WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB P.O. Box , Arcadia, CA Or shop online at: 1. All wine assortments, as well as the first month of WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB membership, will be handsomely gift boxed. A card will be attached with your greeting. 2. Shipments are made by United Parcel Service and are guaranteed to arrive in perfect condition. 3. All recipients must be 21 years or older. 4. If any of the items to be included is out of inventory, we guarantee that we will substitute a product of equal or superior quality. Call us for weekend delivery.

9 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 9 THIS MONTH S SELECTION #3 L anghorne Creek is an Australian wine region with growing importance and impressive wines. It s less than an hour s drive south of Adelaide, with Lake Alexandria bordering the south, and vineyards extending 25 miles north toward the Langhorne Creek Township. The region is a natural flood plain of the Bremer and Angus Rivers. As a result, the soil is fine, fertile and deep. The vineyards within the flood plain use the natural floodwaters with a controlled system of floodgates. These waters are an important source of nutrients for the vines and also impart regional characteristic flavors. The region s climate is moderate. Rainfall is low, and daytime temperatures are moderate because of the cooling affects of the lake during growing season. The winemaker at Kilikanoon is Kevin Mitchell. He s been making wine for over ten years at some very prestigious wineries. Kevin has a robust personality that spills over into every bottle of wine he makes. He believes in having fun. The winery s name, Kilikanoon, sounds a bit Irish or Scottish, but Kevin says, It means nothing, except that we made it up and it sounded good, don t you agree? (Yes, we do!) He also believes in letting nature make the better part of the wine. He bottles his wines unfiltered, and he aged The Lackey Shiraz in old American hogshead barrels. (A hogshead barrel measures 48 long and carries 63 gallons of wine. The barrel got its name because it s shaped like a hog.) This Shiraz was called The Lackey because it s a hard-working wine that gets very little money for its efforts. And here s another fun bit of information outside the United States, this wine is marketed as Slap Shot because it s a joint venture with Russian hockey legend Igor Larlonov. The wine pours an inky black red from the glass. The nose is assertive with pepper, black cherry, currant, damp ground, earth and spice. The palate is fullbodied, chunky, unfiltered and rich with dark, ripe fruit. The finish is extremely long and delicious. It s perfect with rich cheeses, lamb stew, roasted beef and pasta Bolognese! 2003 KILIKANOON THE LACKEY Shiraz (sheer-ahz) Langhorne Creek Australia Color: Inky, black red Nose: Pepper, black cherry, currant, damp ground, earth Palate: Full-bodied, chunky, rich, dark, ripe fruit Finish Extremely long and delicious finish CELLARING SUGGESTIONS Drink now or cellar 2-5 years V906G Retail Price: $18.99/each Special Member Price: $15.99/each Reorder Price: $14.99/each 21% Discount $179.88/case WINE

10 WOMC-VintnersSept 9/12/06 10:29 AM Page 10 THIS MONTH S SELECTION #4 W inegrowing in Alsace, France, spans many centuries. Even in the Middle Ages, the wines of Alsace were among the most highly prized in all of Europe. Sheltered from the ocean by the Vosges Mountains, the Alsace region has the lowest rainfall in France and is gifted with a semi-continental climate which is sunny, hot and dry. The vineyards are situated along the hillsides and take full advantage of the sun. The soil here is a complex blend of granite, limestone, gneiss, schist and sandstone. This soil is what brings out the distinct characteristics of each grape varietal. The Willm Domaine is located in Barr, Alsace, in the northeast France. Founded in 1896, by the Willm family, it has built a well-deserved reputation for making wines of balance, style and elegance. Their winemaker, Bertrand Praz is a strict task-master for his vineyard controls and production methods. About Willm wines he says, We want our wines to be typical in style, clean and clear, favoring mineral character to sweetness. Gewürztraminer grapes love cool climates. The Alsace region is perfect for this varietal since the region is the second most northerly appellation in France. Gewürztraminer is a temperamental grape, and often compared to Pinot Noir for its challenges to grow and harvest at ideal ripeness. The Domaine Willm Gewurztraminer is a perfect example of how delicious this varietal is when vinified ripe and dry. The color is a soft golden yellow. The nose is uplifting and distinct with gardenia, honeysuckle, yellow roses, peach and spice. The palate is soft, clean and dry with lychee, mango, honey, and mineral, like wet stones. The finish is dry and lingering. This wine is an excellent match for fresh fruit, fish and chicken dishes, and recipes with hot pepper spices and curry WILLM Gewurztraminer (gah-vurzt-trahmeaner) Barr Alsace Color: Soft golden yellow Nose: Gardenia, honeysuckle, yellow roses, peach, spice Palate: Soft, clean, dry, lychee, mango, honey, mineral Finish Dry and lingering CELLARING SUGGESTIONS Drink now or within one year V906H Retail Price: $16.99/each Special Member Price: $13.99/each Reorder Price: $11.99/each 30% Discount $143.88/case WINE