VINTAGE RESERVE CLUB RED FOCUS NEWSLETTER SPRING 2010

Transcription

1 VINTAGE RESERVE CLUB RED FOCUS NEWSLETTER SPRING 2010 vintage reserve club

2 Focusing on Rare Reds Your first Red Focus shipment of 2010 may remind you of why you joined Chateau Ste. Michelle s Vintage Reserve Club in the first place: to gain access to extraordinary, world-class wines produced in very limited quantities. We made only 600 cases each of 2006 Cold Creek Vineyard Syrah and 2007 CSM C S M Red. (No, you re not seeing double!) If you fancy these two superb reds, crafted by our wizard of Woodinville, winemaker Bob Bertheau, you will be well-advised to snap up additional quantities pronto. Another action item is securing your place at one or more of our three themed chef dinners scheduled for the spring months: Celebrate Washington s AVAs with Executive Chef Janet Hedstrom on March 27th; Food Snapshots from Spain with Chef Kurt Olsen on April 17th; and To Paris, With Love on May 22th with Chef Kim Marshall. Like your spring shipment wines, these culinary extravaganzas at the winery are delicious treats for the self-chosen few. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ste-michelle.com/events/winerycalendar. Bon Appetit! Lynetta Showaker, Vintage Reserve Club Lead Concierge ste-michelle.com/wineclub

3 Club Selections C S M R e d W a h l u k e S l o p e CSM connotes Chateau Ste. Michelle, but in this case, also refers to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Malbec that comprise this unique, limitedrelease red blend. Its complex red fruit, berry jam and brown sugar aromas introduce rich, well-structured, red fruit flavors balanced by supple tannins and bright acidity. Enjoy it with juicy burgers, barbecued ribs and lamb. Bob Bertheau, Winemaker Analysis At Bottling Vintage The 2007 growing season was similar to 2005 s warm at the beginning and temperate throughout summer and harvest, with excellent ripening conditions. In May, two weeks before bloom, a week of 100-degree temperatures resulted in smaller vine canopies, which allowed more light penetration into the vine and Blend 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Syrah, 7% Malbec also produced smaller berries, contributing to excellent flavor development in the fruit. Vineyards 100% of the fruit was sourced from the Wahluke Slope, a warm Columbia Valley region known for its ripe, jammy reds. Our northernmost growing area, Wahluke Slope is bordered on both the west and Alcohol 14.8% south by the Columbia River. The region s warm days promote full ripening in the grapes, while its cool nights Total Acidity 0.58g/100ml result in wines with fine structure, balance and flavor intensity. ph 3.84 Cases 597 Winemaking The ripe grapes were de-stemmed, crushed and inoculated with a variety of yeasts for maximum complexity. Daily gentle pumpovers helped extract optimal flavor and color and minimize harsh tannins. The fermenting wines were tasted daily to assess the evolution of tannins, modify extraction techniques and find the right moment to drain the wines off of their skins. The blend aged 18 months in French and American oak. Retail Price $30.00 Member Re-order Price $21.00 tasting notes Club members receive 30% off retail on this club selection through May 16, ste-michelle.com/wineclub

4 C o l d C r e e k S y r a h Planted in the 1970s, Cold Creek is one of Washington s oldest and most iconic vineyards. Its fruit gave birth to this dense, inky Syrah, which boasts ripe, leather-scented, boysenberry jam aromas and bold, dark fruit flavors ideal with beef dishes, grilled salmon, flavorful cheeses and hearty dishes featuring basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme. Bob Bertheau, Winemaker Analysis At Bottling Vintage 2006 was a year of weather extremes, with a cool, wet spring followed by a near-ideal summer growing season of dry, warm days and cool nights. Harvest began early, with some white grapes picked in late August, but a mid-september cool spell allowed the reds more time on the vine to develop intense fruit flavors. Blend 100% Syrah Alcohol 14.4% Vineyards Planted in 1973, the south-facing Cold Creek Vineyard is a warm, dry site whose old vines, loamy sand and gravel soils, and low water-holding capacity yield modest crops of small-clustered, Total Acidity 0.62g/100ml small berried fruit, resulting in wines with deep color and intensely concentrated flavors. It typically is among the first vineyards in the region to ripen. ph 3.85 Cases 600 Winemaking The ripe grapes were de-stemmed, crushed and inoculated with various yeast strains to maximize complexity. Twice-daily pumpovers during fermentation helped extract optimal flavor and color. The wine aged in French oak for 18 months, with frequent aerative rackings to soften tannins and enhance mouthfeel. Retail Price $28.00 Member Re-order Price $19.60 tasting notes Club members receive 30% off retail on this club selection through May 16, vintage reserve club

5 Recipe Smoked Paprika-Glazed Baby Back Ribs Chef Kurt Olson, Chateau Ste. Michelle Serves 5 as an appetizer/3 as an entrée 1 Ingredients 1 slab pork baby back ribs, cut in half (makes them easier to handle) 8 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup CSM Cold Creek Syrah 1 cup chicken stock 3 Tbsp sherry vinegar 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 Tbsp kosher salt 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 Directions 2 Tbsp smoked paprika best paired with 2006 COLD CREEK SyRAh Place ribs in two 1 gallon ziploc bags. Combine the remaining ingredients, divide between the two bags. Seal the bags pressing out the excess air. Marinate in the refrigerator over night, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Transfer ribs and marinade to a roasting pan, cover with foil, roast for 1 ½ to 2 hours - until tender. Transfer ribs to a platter, strain remaining liquid into a sauce pot. Let sit for a few minutes then ladle off the fat. Place liquid on medium heat and reduce until thick. Brush sauce over ribs, return to roasting pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with more sauce. Let cool. Cut into individual ribs. Ribs can be done up to two days in advance. When it is time to serve, place the ribs in a roasting pan cover with foil and heat through in a 300 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Drizzle with remaining sauce and serve. ste-michelle.com/wineclub

6 Notes from Bob Bertheau, Winemaker Double Triple Play Need another acronym in your life? How about one with two meanings (aka a double vin-tendre)? As you may know, CSM stands for Chateau Ste. Michelle, but now it also connotes our new blend of three of Washington State s best red wine varieties. Allow me to proudly present CSM C S M Red Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet-Syrah-Malbec. Of course, Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blends have been around for awhile (Australia popularized them), combining the structure and breed of Cabernet with the deep, jammy fruitiness of Syrah. For the pièce de résistance, we have added a new ingredient: Malbec, one of the up-and-coming varieties in Washington and a well-established blending grape in Bordeaux as well as the old vine mainstay of Argentina. We ve bottled Malbec before as a varietal to demonstrate to you how amazing it can be on its own; now you can see how its wonderful cherry fruit and soft tannins enhance a blend with Cabernet (its Bordeaux-style partner) and Syrah. Winemakers love creating cépages displaying harmony and complexity; in this wine, you will also find sheer concentration, depth and intensity. One of my favorite blends of the vintage, CSM C S M Red is a double-triple dose of wonderful! Syrah-nonymous with Good If you were to ask me go ahead! to name the best block of Syrah we get each year, my answer would be instantaneous and emphatic: Cold Creek! The combination of older vines, a warm microclimate and struggling soils in our iconic Columbia Valley Vineyard fosters Syrah fruit of tremendous character and concentration. It s always a component in our Ethos Syrah blend, but in some years, when we have sufficient fruit, we produce a single vineyard bottling, and 2006 was one of those lucky years. The 2006 vintage produced elegant, refined red wines in the Columbia Valley, exactly the opposite of what Cold Creek typically delivers. So what you get here is the anomaly of a big, chewy Syrah in a slightly more refined style, a juxtaposition that works amazingly well. My favorite pairing for this beauty is lamb chops, but you will also enjoy it with burgers, barbecued ribs, hearty vegetarian stews and flavorful cheeses. vintage reserve club

7 Chefs Dinners Celebrate Washington s AVAs A kick off to Washington Wine Month, join Executive Chef Janet Hedstrom and the culinary team as they gather wine from Washington s American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) to create a menu that highlights all that is the Evergreen State. Reservations Required Saturday March 27, :00pm $115 per person (VRC member price $100) Food Snapshots from Spain From Seville to Madrid (and a quick side trip to Portugal), join Chef Kurt Olson as he takes you on a culinary exploration of Spain. Reservations Required Saturday April 17, :00pm $115 per person (VRC member price $100) To Paris, With Love With a menu inspired by boulangeries, neo-bistros, cafes and one four-hour gastronomic adventure, guest will sip the Chateau s most spirited wines paired with dishes influenced by the City of Lights. Reservations Required Saturday May 22, :00pm $115 per person (VRC member price $100) vintage reserve club

8 Upcoming Events Club Member Mondays All club members receive 20% off most* wine purchases 11:00 5:00 every Monday. R e c e n t A c c l a i m A year of great acclaim for Chateau Ste. Michelle wines was capped in December when Wine Spectator named our 2006 Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills #38 on the magazine s prestigious annual Top 100 list of the world s greatest wines of And 2010 got off to a great start with a 90 and Best Value from Wine Spectator for our 2008 Columbia Valley Chardonnay. Evenings of Wine & Cheese Join us in our wine shop as we pour our award winning wine paired with gourmet cheeses that enhance the wine tasting experience. No reservations are necessary. Wednesday, February 17, March 24, April 21, May 12 5:00-7:00pm $20 per person (VRC member price $15) Riesling Refresh Please join us as we explore the diversity of Riesling. Class includes wine education and tastings paired with assorted cheeses. All knowledge levels are invited and encouraged. All who attend will also receive 20% discount on their wine purchases (some exclusions apply)* in the Wine Shop. No reservations required. Sunday, March 7 2:00-4:00pm $30 per person/$25 VRC Members *(excludes Col Solare, Eroica Single Berry Select and retail sample packs) To Re-order your featured club selections or order other Chateau Ste. Michelle wines, go to ste-michelle.com, contact a Concierge at , or visit our winery in Woodinville, WA. Don t forget -- VRC members receive a 30% discount on re-orders of current club selections Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Sturdy, ripe and generous, with a surprisingly soft edge to the explosive black cherry, currant, black olive and smoke flavors, lingering effortlessly on the big, round finish. 92 points, #38 of The Top 100 Wines of 2009 Wine Spectator, December 31, Chardonnay Columbia Valley Bright and jazzy, with pretty pineapple, grapefruit, elderflower and spice flavors that linger on the finish without excess weight. This just floats on for a while. Drink now through points & Best Value Wine Spectator, January 31, Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Firm and juicy, this old vine Cabernet is loaded with black fruits. With just 1% Merlot in the blend, it s a generous mouthful of almost-pure Cabernet, layered with licorice, mineral and intense fruit flavors of currant and cherry. 92 points, Wine Enthusiast, December 31, Artist Series Meritage Columbia Valley The Artist Series blend is quite Cabernet-centric in % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Malbec and just a splash of Petit Verdot. Aromatic and loaded with sweet blackberry fruit, backed with black olive and clean earth, this polished effort shows excellent midpalate concentration and a nicely sculpted finish. 91 points, Wine Enthusiast, December 31, Ethos Syrah Columbia Valley Sharp and spicy, the Ethos Syrah adds layers and expands into fullness as it breathes over several hours. At first tannic and slightly green, it becomes more and more appealing, the peppery fruit filling out with wild berries and tart acids. 90 points, Wine Enthusiast, December 31, 2009 Item # Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyards & Winery, Woodinville, WA WSLCB# CT #LSL.692. ste-michelle.com/wineclub