page 1 memberservices@ Samos Anthemis 2005 Halves Luscious, deep-gold sweet vin doux naturel muscat with beguiling hints of honey and caramelised oranges from Samos in the eastern Aegean. Startlingly good with creamy blue cheeses and honey-based puddings. Drink this year and next. Product Code GR452 Dominant Grape Muscat Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2014 Origin Greece Alcohol Level 15.0% Style 8 (of 9): Very sweet Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2005 Price No longer for sale Producer : Samos The Greek island of Samos, birthplace of Pythagoras, lies in the Aegean sea on Greece s eastern coast, and its wines were the first from Greece to be granted AOC status. The island has long been famous for its sweet muscats, with a winemaking tradition some believe dates back 3,000 years. Founded in 1934, the island co-op is one of the oldest in Greece. Its members have done much to modernise production, and have vastly improved both the quality and the reputation of Samos wines. It now represents 26 vinegrowing villages. The vineyards are in the north of the island. There are around 1600ha in all, many of which are up to 800m above sea level high up in the Ambelos mountain, with deep soils that allow the vines to dig deep and produce excellent-quality fruit. The altitude allows the grapes to ripen slowly and steadily, allowing high sugar levels to develop, making them perfect for sweet wine production. Muscat is king here, namely muscat à petits grains, which takes up 97% of the vineyard area. The co-op has two wineries in which it produces a range of sweet wines as well as various dry whites and rosés. Samos Anthemis is aged for five years in wooden casks.
page 2 memberservices@ Half bottle of Quinta do Portal Moscatel do Douro Reserva 1996 Bottled only in 2011, this is made from muscatel galegio (muscat à petits grains) aged many years in cask to produce a wine reminiscent of both tawny port and mature Madeira, and would serve a similar purpose, though the Portuguese would drink it with rich milk puddings rather than cheese. Product Code PW3352 Dominant Grape Muscat Product Type White Wine Drink Dates Origin Portugal Alcohol Level 18.0% Style 8 (of 9): Very sweet Closure type Stopper cork, ie sherry Vintage 1996 Price No longer for sale Producer : Quinta Do Portal This is a family-run estate based near Celeirós in the Douro Valley where vines have been grown for centuries. The Branco family produces a wide range of wines from light dry whites through easy-drinking reds to cellar-worthy Douro reds and superb fortified muscats. Portal burst onto the Douro wine scene in the early 1990s making very good wines in a modern style. Winemaker Paulo Coutinho, who was born in a neighbouring village, has been in charge of the winery since 1994. They now have an excellent visitor centre and delightful small hotel on the picturesque slopes adjoining the winery recognised in the Best of Wine Tourism Awards. Recent investment in the vineyards they own several properties, all at high altitude has paid dividends and Pedro Branco, current manager of the business, has his eye on even greater quality. The 2011 Douro Colheita, bought originally for our Vintage Cellar Plan members, was a winner in our 2014 Wine Championship tasting.
page 3 memberservices@ Brachetto d'acqui, Contero 2012 Contero is owned by the Marenco family who are moscato and brachetto specialists in Strevi. The 11-hectare estate remains one of the best producers of both varieties. Drinking this delightful muscat-scented sparkling red is like munching perfectly ripe grapes off the vine, but the uncomplicated pleasure can be spun out longer. A chilled bottle in the garden would be an excellent start to summer. Product Code IT16531 Dominant Grape Muscat Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2013 to 2015 Origin NW Italy (Piedmont) Alcohol Level 05.5% Style 6 (of 9): Dessert sweetness Closure type Twin top Vintage 2012 Price No longer for sale The Society's Exhibition Sauternes 2009 Halves Top notch, luscious Sauternes from the Dubourdieus in a ripe, seductive vintage. Product Code BW4012 Dominant Grape Semillon Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2018 Origin Sweet Bordeaux eg Sauternes Alcohol Level 14.0% Style 8 (of 9): Very sweet Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2009 Price No longer for sale Calcaia Muffa Nobile Dolce Orvieto Classico Superiore, 2006 (Barberani) 50cl A Barberani original to rival Sauternes with equally exotic aromatic apricot and honey bouquet and generous liquorous sweetness to match desserts but with a light clean touch. Muffa nobile is Italian for pourriture noble or noble rot, the natural beneficial action that increases grape sweetness while reducing water content in the grape. Product Code IT14781 Dominant Grape Grechetto Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2016 Origin Central Italy -Tuscany, Umbria Alcohol Level 11.0% Style 7 (of 9): Dessert sweetness Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2006 Price No longer for sale Producer : Barberani - See next page.
page 4 memberservices@ Producer : Barberani Barberani is one of Umbria s most respected producers, famous for its clean, pure-tasting wines. The vineyards lie on hills overlooking Lake Corbara, close to the city of Orvieto in the south-west of the province, which lies south of Tuscany in Italy s centre. Of the estate s 80-odd hectares, 50 are dedicated to vineyards and olive groves. The rest is given over to cereals and holiday cottages, making this an authentic place to visit for a spot of agriturismo. The close proximity of the lake below helps regulate the microclimate here by preventing extreme variations in temperature. Advised by consultant oenologist Maurizio Castelli, the estate, which is organically farmed and certified, is renowned for its clean, pure-tasting wines. By law, Orvieto is made from a combination of five grape varieties, of which the finest is grechetto, a Barberani speciality. Around 20,000 bottles of it are produced in every vintage under the designation of Grechetto Umbria IGT, which, in our view tastes not unlike a decent white Burgundy. Barberani also produce a fragrant dessert wine called Calcaia, from trebbiano di Toscana and grechetto grapes concentrated by noble rot (muffa nobile). It is similar to Sauternes in style but with a characteristic lightness of touch. More recently high class barrel-aged reds have been introduced, using sangiovese, merlot and cabernet. These can rival Tuscany s best in quality, but not in price.
page 5 memberservices@ Monbazillac Chateau Pech la Calevie 2008 Golden, superbly rich and opulent dessert wine from the Dordogne. Try with crêpes suzettes. Product Code FC21811 Dominant Grape Semillon Product Type White Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2016 Origin SW France (excl. Bordeaux) Alcohol Level 13.5% Style 9 (of 9): Intensely sweet Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2008 Price No longer for sale