Welcome to The Society s The American Dream North and South tasting.

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Ella Smith
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1 Welcome to The Society s The American Dream North and South tasting. Canada and the U.S.A are producing some of the world s finest and most individual wines. From elegant chardonnay from Ontario, full, sweet and sour zinfandels from Lodi and ripe, savoury pinot noir from Sonoma there is an almost limitless range of styles available in North America alone. South America boasts two of the world s largest wine producing countries Chile and Argentina. Chile s range of climates and soils is reflected in the wealth of differing styles on offer, with the focus for many producers shifting from the everyday to the more premium offerings. What Argentina may lack in diversity in relation to Chile it more than makes up for in sheer quality their malbecs are unrivalled, with torrontes providing an aromatic white counterpart. Although small in comparison, winemaking in Uruguay has skyrocketed over the past decade and is challenging its giant neighbours to the top spot in South America. The Society s sweetness code: White wines from bone dry [1] to lusciously sweet [9]. = white wine = red wine S = screwcap closure Canada Canada s wine industry has only come of age as recently as the late 1980s. Now, with a focus on using high-quality grape varieties, coupled with the use of modern techniques, Canadian wines can hold their own on the world stage. The best wines are labelled VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) and are produced in the province of Ontario, where 80% of the country s grapes are grown, on the Niagara Peninsula. 1. [1] Norman Hardie Unfiltered Niagara Peninsula Chardonnay 2014 Now with an international following, Norman Hardie's wines continue to improve vintage on vintage. This 2014 chardonnay has a touch of flinty matchstick on the nose, backed by green-apple and lemon notes that have great concentration on the textured, chalky palate too, followed by a long fresh finish. Don't be afraid to decant this white to enjoy its aromas and flavours to the full. Drink now to % S ref CA bottle 276 dozen Contrary to appearance, Canada actually has a relatively warm, continental climate and if it wasn t for the abundance of lakes (especially in and around the Niagara Peninsula) it would be far too warm during the summer and harvest seasons to produce fine wine. Thankfully, the cooling influence of the lakes helps to extend the ripening period allowing the grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness whilst maintaining exceptional freshness.

2 U.S.A. Only France, Spain and Italy produce more wine than the USA, with all 50 states (including Alaska!) now making wine. However, California produces over 90% of all the wine made in the USA. Here the potential of the vineyard site is determined by what lies between it and the Pacific: the more mountains between the vineyard site and the sea, the less chance there is of the cooling sea air or fog reaching the vineyard to moderate the climate. Within the Pacific Northwest, northern Oregon is making a name for itself with the production of distinctive cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling, and Washington (considerably warmer than Oregon despite being further north) is now home to some of the country s most stylish pinot noir alongside a flair for experimentation with varieties such as riesling. 2. [2] Bergström Old Stones Oregon Chardonnay 2013 A stand-out chardonnay from Oregon's Bergström. Mineral and lemon notes on the nose develop on the textured palate. The oak is well balanced and offers great support to the bright acidity and citrus flavours. A very fine example which shows that Oregon can produce world-class chardonnays, and one which will age gracefully. Drink now to % S ref US bottle 264 dozen Although south of Washington, Oregon has a far more marginal growing season and is greatly affected by the Pacific Ocean meaning achieving complete ripeness can be difficult. Early ripening varieties such as pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay are favoured here. 3. [3] Grace Lanes Washington Riesling 2014 Producing some of America's most precise rieslings, Washington State is really starting to shine. This peach-scented example has bright acidity balanced by just a touch of sweetness with mouthwatering lemon and lime flavours. Perfect paired with aromatic or spicy curries. Drink this year and next. 11.5% S ref US bottle 114 dozen 4. Lemelson Six Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 A great example of Oregon pinot noir, offering excellent value. Plenty of sappy cranberry and spice flavours with fine tannins and a refreshing red-berry finish. Drink this year and next. 13.5% S ref US bottle 204 dozen 5. Pedroncelli Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2015 Fruit from Sonoma s Russian River Valley is highly prized so this delicious pinot noir from the Pedroncelli family represents excellent value. With a complex perfume of red berry and leather, and fine-grained tannins supporting supple summer-berry fruit on the spicy palate, this is a very smart California pinot noir. Drink now to % S ref US bottle 150 dozen Sonoma s Russian River Valley is home to some of California s finest pinot noir. The cool climate is characterised by regular fogs setting in from the cold Pacific Ocean leading to a longer growing period for the early ripening pinot noir. The wines are typically light in colour with lively acidity.

3 6. The Society s Californian Old-Vine Zinfandel 2014 A generous blackberry and sour-cherry-laden wine, typical of zinfandel's uneven ripening pattern that allows the wine to have some riper notes whilst retaining good freshness too. This is a real crowd pleaser. Drink this year and next. 14.5% S ref US bottle 102 dozen Zinfandel has truly found its home in California. It has large bunches of grapes and so the ripening can be uneven, this is exacerbated by the fact that the best producers often pick earlier to avoid excessive potential alcohol levels which means some berries are yet to fully ripen. The result is a delicious sweet and sour contrast in the wines alongside a rich, velvety palate. Although some producers (such as Chris Brockway and his Broc Vine Starr) are pushing zin to its limits and picking even earlier. 7. Broc Vine Starr Sonoma County Zinfandel 2014 Chris Brockway is at the forefront of the 'New Californian' winemaking trend sweeping through San Francisco. Aiming for elegance and purity, the grapes are picked early, fermented with wild yeast and no new oak, with only light filtration. This has created a thoroughly modern zin with cherry perfume, fine tannins and a peppery finish. Drink now to % ref US bottle 300 dozen 8. The Society s Exhibition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Sourced from the highly regarded Frog s Leap winery in Napa Valley, this is a classic example of Napa cabernet that combines old world complexity and depth with new world fruit and polish. Cassis notes dominate, with blackberry and vanilla. A pinch of merlot is added to the blend to flesh out the palate, which it does perfectly. Drink now to % ref US bottle 216 dozen Starting in San Francisco Bay and winding its way north up to Mount St. Helena, Napa Valley s incredible range of aspects, soils and famous morning fog create a vinous playground that has produced some of the world s greatest (and most expensive) cabernet sauvignon over the past few decades. With regards to style think Bordeaux on steroids more concentrated cassis fruit with added body, colour, tannin and vanilla oak a perfect mix between power and elegance. Chile Surrounded by geographical barriers with the Atacama Desert to the north, the Andes to the east, the Patagonian Ice Field to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile s unique and diverse combination of geography and climate makes it ideal for winegrowing. Unusually it is not the distance from the Equator which plays the dominant role here, rather the vineyards proximity to the Pacific Ocean or the Andes Mountains, with a greater diversity in soils and climates from east to west than from north to south. 9. [1] Tabalí Limarí Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc 2015 From a new area of the Límarí Valley closest to the sea, the Caliza vineyard is just seven miles from the ocean and one of the coolest sites in Chile. The soil is formed from a sedimentary marine terrace and is white limestone with some clay, a very rare vineyard soil for Chile. This is a brisk, taut, almost saline sauvignon blanc. Drink this year. 13.5% S ref CE bottle 102 dozen

4 10. [1] Koyle Don Cande Itata Muscat 2016 This is an intense, grapy Chilean muscat with a dry and refreshing palate and moderate alcohol from the cool Itata region in the south of the country. A beautiful wine showcasing rose-hip and lavender aromas with a round, expressive body. Drink now to % ref CE bottle 95 dozen Muscat is one of the world s most expressive white grape varieties and, oddly enough, the only one that actually smells and tastes like grapes! The best dry muscats have a lovely fresh perfume with aromas of honeysuckle, rose hips and peach, with good body and bright acidity. 11. The Society s Chilean Pinot Noir Leyda Valley 2014 Fresh, black-cherry-fruit flavoured pinot noir from Viña Leyda s cool El Maitén and Granito vineyards. About half the wine was aged in barrels for 10 months to give the wine some added spice and mouthfeel alongside the bright acidity. Drink this year and next. 14% S Ref CE bottle 95 dozen The Leyda Valley is a wine district within the San Antonio Valley and the greater Aconcagua region of Chile, located just north of the Country s capital, Santiago. It s a cool-climate region that profits from the cooling effects of the Humbolt Current of the Pacific Ocean and consequently produces bright, vibrant wines from both pinot noir and chardonnay. 12. Vina Leyda Lot 21 Leyda Pinot Noir 2013 This is a lovely velvety Chilean pinot that is generously textured, perfumed, yet imbued with an attractive freshness. Lot 21 comes from a number of rows in the predominantly limestone Cahuil vineyard. The best blocks are selected and aged in barrel to develop their flavour and soften the tannins. Drink now to % S ref CE bottle 216 dozen 13. Koyle Cerro Basalto Cuartel G2 Carmenère 2015 This sweet, cedary-scented and fine-flavoured carmenère is one of the best we have tasted from Chile. The hillside vineyard is planted on the top terraces of Cerro Basalto, where the roots plunge deep into the friable, low-fertility schist rock. The altitude, restrained vigour and small yield explain the outstanding quality. Drink now to % ref CE bottle 186 dozen Originally from the Médoc region of Bordeaux, carmenère has truly found its home in Chile. It disappeared from Europe in the late 19th century only to be found planted amongst merlot grapes in Chile where they were originally thought to be one and the same. A notoriously late ripener, carmenère often produces deep purple wines with touches of spice and ripe bramble fruit.

5 14. Undurraga TH Alto Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Intense yet elegant Chilean cabernet, principally from the Pirque region, aged in oak for 13 months, of which 25% was new. A bold wine full of blackcurrant and cassis flavours with ripe, grippy tannins and savoury spice. Screaming out for a steak! Drink now to % ref CE bottle 150 dozen Argentina The world s fifth-largest wine producer, Argentina has an enviable diversity of grape varieties thanks to mid-19th century immigration from Spain and Italy. Here the quality of the vineyards is due to altitude, which ranges from 700 to 1,400 metres and up to 2,800 metres in the northern province of Salta. At this height, overnight temperatures regularly drop low enough to lengthen the ripening period producing deeply flavoured and coloured reds, and aromatic whites. 15. [2] Catena Chardonnay 2015 An attractively balanced Argentine barrel-fermented chardonnay taken from vineyards above 900m from the cool 2014 vintage. Barrel fermented but not marked by oak in terms of flavour, it merges appley freshness with melony ripeness. Drinking beautifully now but will reward those who are patient. Drink now to % ref AR bottle 131 dozen 16. [2] Faldeos Nevados Torrontés 2016 Torrontés is Argentina s signature white grape, here blended from two regions, Cafayate and Altamira, by leading winemaker Susana Balbo. Typically full and fragrant with heady grapy flavour and just a touch of sweetness on the palate. A fragrant Thai dish would be a good match. Drink this year and next. 13% S ref AR bottle 95 dozen Torrontés has become one of Argentina s best-loved wines, ranking second in white wine exports from the country. There are three strains of torrontés Mendocino, Sanjuanino and Riojano. The first two are best suited to being drunk whilst young and fresh; the latter is the most extensively grown of the three and is used for the production of premium wines. Torrontés makes a perfect aperitif, or is well suited to spicy and aromatic Chinese or Thai cuisine. 17. The Society s Exhibition Mendoza Malbec 2015 Fresh blueberries and herbs are just the tip of the aromatic iceberg in a glass of this generous Argentine malbec from five different Mendoza sites in the Catena portfolio. Hard on their heels come the deeper and more complex red and black fruits on the palate, a luxurious dash of wood spice from the 18 months spent in predominantly French oak, and a final hint of violets. Smooth, silky and delicious. Drink now to % ref AR bottle 126 dozen

6 Wines made from malbec, or cot as it is sometimes known in France, tend to be deeply coloured, intensely flavoured with black fruits, and sometimes exhibit a hint of violet or game aromas. The wines can range in style from soft and fruity to more structured, sophisticated examples capable of long ageing. The finest malbecs in Argentina are found in Mendoza, at elevations often in excess of 1,500 metres. 18. Mendel Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 A fine cedar and violet-scented cabernet sauvignon from a 15-year-old vineyard at Perdriel at about 1,100m elevation. This is a fresh, firm, fine linear cabernet of great class, aged for a year in oak barriques. Drink now to % ref AR bottle 162 dozen 19. Weinert Cavas de Weinert 2006 A bewitching Argentine blend made in a lovely traditional style, aged in large oak vats for three to four years until soft and mellow. Cavas is made from a blend of 40% malbec, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. Distinct, intriguing with a certain funk the wines of Weinert are certainly one of a kind. Drink now to % ref AR bottle 192 dozen Bodegas Weinert is one of Argentina s finest and most individual properties. Their red wines are noticeable for spending upwards of five years in old oak foudres in a deep, cool, granite cellar. Over time their brash fruit softens, mellows and develops the tertiary aromas of leather, tobacco and cedar. These wines have a certain similarity to other long-aged, slightly oxidative wines like Lebanon s Château Musar. Uruguay Uruguay is the fourth-largest producer in South America but the production is only a tiny 73,000 tonnes per year making Uruguay close to Japan or Switzerland in terms of volume worldwide! Uruguay is a flat country the highest point is only 514m above sea level. This flat landscape and its proximity to the Atlantic ocean give the southern coastal region a cool maritime climate that could be comparable to Bordeaux or Australia s Margaret River. In the main winemaking areas, the soils are a mix of alluvial clays, silts and sand with some gravel overlying a limestone bedrock. It is this combination of climate and soils which are the secret to the success of Uruguay s wines. In general Uruguay produces a more European style of wine with fresh fruit, lower alcohol, higher acidity and structured tannins. 20. Pisano Vina Barrancal Reserva Cuadro 214 Tannat 2013 Really good tannat is as delicious and as difficult to find as a beautifully ripe wild blackberry, which has lovely perfume, and its sweetness is perfectly counterbalanced by a bright acidity and a slight astringency. This tannat stood out in a line-up of many wines and is exceptional. Drink this year and next. 13.5% ref UR bottle 119 dozen Tannat is the star performer in Uruguay, producing deep, rich full-bodied reds, with a herbal, blackfruit character. Tannat produced in Uruguay is much plumper and more velvety than that produced in its homeland in southwest France and can often be drunk when only a year or two old.

The Society s The American Dream: Wines from the Americas tasting.

The Society s The American Dream: Wines from the Americas tasting. Canada and the U.S.A are producing some of the world s finest and most individual wines. Elegant chardonnay from Ontario, full-bodied