Wine Notes. Three Choirs Rosé, These wine notes were created on 31-Dec-2017.

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1 page 1 memberservices@ Three Choirs Rosé, 2011 Produced from seyval blanc, triomphe and regent, this delightful English pink has ripe cherry and raspberry aromas with a crisp palate of red berry fruits Product Code EN741 Dominant Grape not applicable Product Type Rose Wine Drink Dates 2013 to 2014 Origin England Alcohol Level 11.5% Style 2 (of 9): Dry Closure type Screwcap Producer : Three Choirs Vineyards Ltd Situated in the English countryside where the three counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire converge, Three Choirs has become one of England s most significant producers. As well as being the second largest wine estate in the country with around 100 acres under vine, Three Choirs is also one of the oldest, having pioneered the English wine movement in the 1970s when the industry was still in its infancy. Award-winning winemaker Martin Fowke has closely studied the techniques of New World producers such as those in New Zealand, working in cooler climate areas and has successfully tailored the winemaking processes to the prevailing English climate. The gentle undulating south-facing slopes here lie within a special microclimate, sheltered by the Malverns and the Brecon Beacons. The conditions are ideal for ripening the grapes, which are kept cool and clean by the breezes coming up the valley from the River Severn. A variety of well-suited grape varieties including pinot noir is planted and each year, red, white and rosé styles are produced along with sparkling whites. Martin has recently started projects with boutique wineries around the world to bottle small amounts of their wines as well as brewing speciality beers and producing a range of ciders. He also makes wines for thirty other vineyards in England and Wales at the modern on-site winery. These ongoing enterprises, as well as the visitors facilities attracting tourists from around the world to this rural setting, look set to keep Three Choirs firmly at the top of its game.

2 page 2 memberservices@ Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio casablanca Riesling Lot B 2010 'Corte Ignacio' (meaning Ignacio s blend) is a range of special lots of wine from Concha y Toro made by Ignacio Recabarren exclusively for The Wine Society. Ignacio is one of Chile s greatest winemakers, with a vast experience of winemaking both abroad, in places as diverse as Château Margaux (Bordeaux) and Cloudy Bay (New Zealand), and at home in all the valleys of Chile. Ignacio makes fine and elegant wines that stimulate rather than sate the palate. He harvests grapes ripe but not overripe, resulting in wines that have an appetising freshness and vitality. In the winery he has a light hand on extraction and new wood, allowing the character of the grape varieties and vineyards to shine through. Ignacio had the following to say about this particular wine: 'Lot B stands for Botrytis Lot. This is produced from a steep vineyard facing south-south-west in the cool western part of Casablanca, which has a weathered slate soil with clay. I harvested these grapes with considerable levels of botrtytis, which produces an intense yellow peach aroma and concentrated flavour. The palate is very fresh. Riesling s high acidity is perfectly tempered with a little natural residual sugar, so the palate is perfectly balanced and tastes just off-dry.' Product Code CE6191 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2016 Origin Chile Alcohol Level 12.0% Style 3 (of 9): Dry, rich Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2010 Price No longer for sale Producer : Concha Y Toro - See next page.

3 page 3 memberservices@ Producer : Concha Y Toro Concha y Toro is the Penfolds of Chile, simultaneously producing some of Chile s greatest wines in limited quantities (Don Melchor, Carmín de Peumo, Amelia, Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay, etc.) as well as large volumes of high-quality brands such as Casillero del Diablo. Based at Pirque in the Santiago region, it is Chile s largest vineyard owner, with over 6000 hectares of vineyards spread throughout the country s many wine-producing regions. The company also buys in grapes of a similar quantity to that produced in its own vineyards. The diversity of soil types, climates, aspect and altitude has enabled the company to develop an impressive repertoire of grape varieties, each of which is sourced from vineyards best suited to its needs. Concha y Toro has expanded almost beyond recognition from its humble beginnings in 1883, when liberal politician Don Melchor de Concha y Toro and his wife Doña Emiliana cultivated their first vineyards from Bordeaux vine cuttings. After Don Melchor died, his son took over, and the 1930s saw the company s first exports to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. In the 1950s, the Guilisasti family came on board, eventually taking over the majority share of the company in Under its direction, Concha y Toro gradually established its name through value-for-money, well-made varietal wines. From the end of the 1980s onwards, Concha y Toro led the way in boosting Chile s export profile. A large part of their success was down to the development of a number of big wine brands, including the joint-venture Almaviva winery in collaboration with Mouton-Rothschild, launched in More recently, the company purchased vineyards in California in 2011, proving that it certainly hasn t lost its thirst for new and exciting projects. Concha y Toro has continued to develop and modernise over the past few decades and, with vineyard holdings from Limarí in the north to Bío Bío in the south, it is well placed to do so. Winemakers Marcelo Papa (responsible for Casillero del Diablo, Marqués de Casa Concha and Maycas del Limarí) and Ignacio Recabarren (responsible for Trio, Terrunyo, Amelia and Carmín de Peumo) have spearheaded an impressive rise in quality. Their winemaking skills and the great vineyard resources of Concha combine to make some of Chile s best wines.

4 page 4 memberservices@ Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Casablanca Riesling 2011 From a very cool vineyard in western Casablanca, Ignacio Recabarren picked this early which tilts the balance to a racy freshness. By retaining a little residual sugar, riesling's steely acidity is counterbalanced and alcohol is just 11.5%. Thrilling wine, just off-dry. Firm, fine and refreshing. Product Code CE6261 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2017 Origin Chile Alcohol Level 11.5% Style 3 (of 9): Dry, rich Closure type Screwcap Producer : Concha Y Toro - See next page.

5 page 5 memberservices@ Producer : Concha Y Toro Concha y Toro is the Penfolds of Chile, simultaneously producing some of Chile s greatest wines in limited quantities (Don Melchor, Carmín de Peumo, Amelia, Maycas del Limarí Quebrada Seca Chardonnay, etc.) as well as large volumes of high-quality brands such as Casillero del Diablo. Based at Pirque in the Santiago region, it is Chile s largest vineyard owner, with over 6000 hectares of vineyards spread throughout the country s many wine-producing regions. The company also buys in grapes of a similar quantity to that produced in its own vineyards. The diversity of soil types, climates, aspect and altitude has enabled the company to develop an impressive repertoire of grape varieties, each of which is sourced from vineyards best suited to its needs. Concha y Toro has expanded almost beyond recognition from its humble beginnings in 1883, when liberal politician Don Melchor de Concha y Toro and his wife Doña Emiliana cultivated their first vineyards from Bordeaux vine cuttings. After Don Melchor died, his son took over, and the 1930s saw the company s first exports to the Dutch port of Rotterdam. In the 1950s, the Guilisasti family came on board, eventually taking over the majority share of the company in Under its direction, Concha y Toro gradually established its name through value-for-money, well-made varietal wines. From the end of the 1980s onwards, Concha y Toro led the way in boosting Chile s export profile. A large part of their success was down to the development of a number of big wine brands, including the joint-venture Almaviva winery in collaboration with Mouton-Rothschild, launched in More recently, the company purchased vineyards in California in 2011, proving that it certainly hasn t lost its thirst for new and exciting projects. Concha y Toro has continued to develop and modernise over the past few decades and, with vineyard holdings from Limarí in the north to Bío Bío in the south, it is well placed to do so. Winemakers Marcelo Papa (responsible for Casillero del Diablo, Marqués de Casa Concha and Maycas del Limarí) and Ignacio Recabarren (responsible for Trio, Terrunyo, Amelia and Carmín de Peumo) have spearheaded an impressive rise in quality. Their winemaking skills and the great vineyard resources of Concha combine to make some of Chile s best wines.

6 page 6 memberservices@ Riesling Tradition, Kuentz-Bas, 2010 Flavourful, fragrant dry riesling with a touch of ripe peach and citrus. Lovely with oysters or a stir fry. Product Code AL9821 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2015 Origin Alsace Alcohol Level 12.5% Style 1 (of 9): Bone dry Closure type Cork, diam Vintage 2010 Price No longer for sale Producer : Kuentz-Bas This is a small but solid family house founded in 1795 and situated south of Colmar. Until 1919 it was owned solely by the Kuentz family but the union came when Marie Kuentz married André Bas. It was one of the founding members of the Grandes Maisons d Alsace and enjoyed good ties with the UK. Today direction of the business is in the hands of Jean-Baptiste Adam who has ensured its survival as a small and independent house making high-quality wines from all Alsace grape varieties. Kuentz-Bas has 10ha under vine, all farmed biodynamically and including holdings in grand cru vineyards, notably Eichberg and Pfersigberg. Grapes for the entry-level wines, which are well-made, dry in style and very good value, tend to come from a small number of contract growers. The regular varietal bottlings are labelled under the Tradition range which also delivers keen value for money at this level. The Collection wines are a notch up and tend to come from estate vines. Cuvée des Trois Châteaux is the top level, often grand cru and due to be declared biodynamic. At their best, Kuentz-Bas wines combine grace and opulence and there can be terrifically good results. Gewurztraminer from the Eichberg is often their best wine.

7 page 7 memberservices@ Spy Valley Riesling, 2011, Marlborough Young winemaker Paul Bourgeois has the touch when it comes to riesling. Whistle-clean fruit, just off-dry but supported by mouth-tingling acidity. Spy Valley is the colloquial name for the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough, due to the presence of a satellite communications monitoring base there. The vineyard is situated on the southern side of the Wairau Valley on the terraces of the Omaka River. The young winemaking team are making better and better wines each year. Product Code NZ5881 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2015 Origin New Zealand Alcohol Level 12.5% Style 3 (of 9): Dry, rich Closure type Screwcap Undurraga TH Lo Abarca Riesling 2010 Intense, fine-boned, floral riesling. Long, refreshing palate. Drink this year. Product Code CE5831 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2010 to 2014 Origin Chile Alcohol Level 12.5% Style 2 (of 9): Dry Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2010 Price No longer for sale Producer : Viña Undurraga SA - See next page.

8 page 8 memberservices@ Producer : Viña Undurraga SA Few will realise that Undurraga actually began as far back as 1879 when Francisca Undurraga Vicuña began bringing European grape cuttings back to his native Chile. He brought pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon from France and gewürztraminer and riesling from Germany, transporting the cuttings in lead capsules to stop them wilting in the extreme heat. Viña Undurraga was officially founded in 1885 and had its first harvest in It was the first Chilean winery to export to the US, in 1903, and Undurraga wine won its first international award as early as By the 1940s the company was already producing 30,000 bottles a year, rising to almost half a million bottles by the 1960s, a portion of which they exported to around 60 countries. During this time they enjoyed visits from royalty, as well as first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong! Throughout the final decades of the 20th century, the company continued to grow. However, when millionaire José Yuraszeck took ownership in 2006, Undurraga underwent significant modernisation. One of the results was the introduction of the TH or 'Terroir Hunter' range which seeks out wines which combine the best match of climate, soil and grape variety. Undurraga s vineyard area now stands at 1,800ha, which is managed by Agricultural Manager Francisco Valdivieso. The vineyards occupy various popular vine-growing sites across Chile, each of which is chosen for its suitability to particular grape varieties. Like many Chilean producers, Undurraga attempts to practise environmentally friendly viticulture, and interferes with nature as little as possible. With that in mind, the company uses drip irrigation in its vineyards, as it has proven the most effective both in terms of fruit quality and caring for their surroundings. Winemaking is managed by Rafael Urrejola, one of Chile's brightest young winemakers, who is also responsible for the TH range. Undurraga has two state-of-the-art winemaking cellars with a 20 million-litre capacity, so Rafael is also assisted by talented winemakers Carlos Concha and Patricio Lucero. In addition, Undurraga receives support from renowned oenologist Alvaro Espinoza, and Frenchman Philippe Coulon advises them on the production of their sparkling wine. The cool underground cellars, dating back to Undurraga s beginnings in the nineteenth century, provide the ideal environment for ageing their Reserva wines.unsurprisingly, Undurraga wines continue to win a host of prestigious awards each year, with its premium wines achieving consistently high scores amongst critics.

9 page 9 memberservices@ Spy Valley Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2011 Spy Valley is the colloquial name for the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough, due to the presence of a satellite communications monitoring base there. The vineyard is situated on the southern side of the Wairau Valley on the terraces of the Omaka River. The young winemaking team are making better and better wines each year. This is a flavourful gewurztraminer with lovely rose petal fruit and the opulent texture so typical of this grape. Bottled with a screwcap closure. Product Code NZ5991 Dominant Grape Gewurztraminer Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2014 Origin New Zealand Alcohol Level 14.0% Style 4 (of 9): Medium/off dry Closure type Screwcap Producer : Spy Valley Spy Valley takes its name from a satellite communications monitoring station located in Waihopai Valley in New Zealand s Marlborough region. This has become a fairly large winemaking operation, but was established only in Initially the fruit produced was sold to other wine companies but in 2000 the first wine was made under the Spy Valley label. The grapes come from estate-owned vineyards in the lower Waihopai Valley and select sites in Marlborough s Wairau and Southern Valley areas. Chief winemaker Paul Bourgeois is assisted by a young, upcoming winemaking team. A state-of-the-art winery, situated in the middle of the estate vineyards, completes the picture ensuring the best possible handling of nearby fruit. The range shows excellent purity and intensity of flavour and has been a mainstay of The Society s List. Spy Valley excel in particular with riesling and gewürztraminer which stand out for their exuberance and superb value. The sauvignon blanc is generously flavoured with attractive grassy characters. Pinot noir can be wonderfully perfumed and plummy.

10 page 10 The Society's Exhibition Riesling 2011 Alsace riesling is a pure expression of this noble grape variety in a dry style, with no wood influence and a great aptitude for food matching. This comes from Josmeyer's biodynamic vineyard. Product Code AL9961 Dominant Grape Riesling Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2018 Origin Alsace Alcohol Level 13.0% Style 2 (of 9): Dry Closure type Cork, natural Coteaux d'aix en Provence Rose Chateau Vignelaure 2011 This is the estate's top cuvée from grenache, syrah and cabernet sauvignon to go with food. Product Code FC22861 Dominant Grape Grenache/Garnacha Product Type Rose Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Provence / Massif / Corsica Alcohol Level 13.0% Style 2 (of 9): Dry Closure type Cork, natural Producer : Château Vignelaure - See next page.

11 page 11 Producer : Château Vignelaure Château Vignelaure owes its existence to Georges Brunet, one time owner of Bordeaux third growth Château La Lagune who established the estate just north of Aix-en-Provence in the 1960s. Choosing a site of clay, limestone and gravel covering some 60 hectares of beautiful Provençal countryside 350 metres above sea level, he set about planting cabernet sauvignon using cuttings taken from his Bordeaux estate. Despite the difficulties of ripening cabernet fully in this setting, and despite being embraced by protective hills, he made high-quality wines. In 1985 the region as a whole was approved for appellation contrôlée status as Coteaux d Aix-en-Provence. The estate is now owned by Swedish couple Bengt and Mette Sundstrom, who fell in love with the place while looking for a retirement home in the south of France. These days syrah, grenache, cinsault and carignan have been planted or acquired alongside the vines introduced by Brunet, and white varieties roussanne, rolle (aka vermentino) and semillon have now been planted in a higher part of the vineyard where it was realised that the red varieties were not so suited to the terror. No white is made yet and they have recently begun making excellent rosé, but the reputation of the estate rests on the red wines. These are fermented in stainless steel before 12 to 24 months maturation in oak (one third of which is new) in underground cellars, before a further 18 months minimum in bottle. The four years that the wines often spend in the cellars before release is an illustration of director Phillippe Bru and winemaker Sigvard Johnson s desire not to compromise and to make a wine that reflects the terroir and to age it for release when it is ready rather than make a softer, more approachable wine that would be more approachable when young. As a result they have earned an enviable reputation as one of the best estates in the south of France, let alone Provence.

12 page 12 Corse Calvi Clos Culombu Rose 2011 Rosé remains the mainstay of Corsican wine production and Etienne Suzzoni is hard to beat. Wonderfully expressive and round with just a hint of herb or spice and now at its best. Try with fish or poultry or a Thai curry. Product Code FC22831 Dominant Grape Sangiovese Product Type Rose Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Provence / Massif / Corsica Alcohol Level 12.5% Style 2 (of 9): Dry Closure type Cork, plastic Producer : Clos Culombu (Etienne Suzzoni) The Balagne, a fruitful stretch of the north-west coast, known as the Garden of Corsica, is home to one of the island s oldest, driest and most serious appellations, Vin de Corse-Calvi. Vines have been grown here since the 13th century, and though current acreage is now less than half of its original 700 hectares, its reputation is high. Rosé and red wines form the lion s share of production, with whites accounting for a meagre 12%. Etienne Suzzoni at Clos Culombu, in the communes of Montegrosso and Lumio, is one of the real characters among Corsica's winemakers. Larger than life in every way, he has championed the cause of fine wine from Corsica, where till now so much of the wine has been produced by under-performing co-operatives. From his 55 hectares he makes fine examples of that Corsican staple, rosé, excellent reds from nielluccio (aka sangiovese in Italy) and sciacarello (a native grape) supported by syrah, grenache and cinsault, and full-flavoured whites from vermentino, which dominates among the island s white varieties. However, before vermentino came to dominate in Corsica, there were other varieties planted and these are slowly being reintroduced, especially by some of the more forward-thinking growers like Etienne. Anyone for riminese, genovese, brustianu, cordivarta, biancu gentile, or cualtacciu? They all find their way into bottles from this estate with one eye on the traditional and one on the innovative.

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Wine Notes. Pecharmant Chateau Champarel Pecharmant Chateau Champarel Syrah, Domaine Courbis, Ardèche, 2011

Wine Notes. Pecharmant Chateau Champarel Pecharmant Chateau Champarel Syrah, Domaine Courbis, Ardèche, 2011 page 1 Pecharmant Chateau Champarel 2009 Pécharmant is a favoured district of Bergerac with its own appellation. From a ripe and famous vintage, this has finesse and charm. Product Code FC22451 Dominant