| Introducing the August edition of Vine Arts Wine Club! We hope you've been having a superb summer! Included in this months bag of treats are some excellent wines from California, Ribera del Duero, Sicily, the Loire Valley, Martinborough, and Burgenland. For everyone who've signed up for pickup, your wines will be ready on Monday, August 1st. For everyone signed up for delivery, your wines will be delivered via courier on Thursday, August 4th. Cheers! |
| 2020 Bodegas Félix Callejo Flores de Callejo Ribera Del Duero, Spain $26.30 | Where Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s premier wine regions. Located within Castilla y Leon in northern Spain, it’s home to some of Spain’s most prominent wineries. Translated to English as “on the banks of the Duero”, the region's name comes from the river that divides it. The Duero River provides much needed water to this inland area that sits 800 meters above sea level. Sheltered by the Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Guadarrama mountain ranges, the vineyards experience a strongly continental climate. During the summer months temperatures can reach up to 40°C, whereas during the winter, temperatures can plummet to –18°C. During the growing season a strong contrast between daytime and nighttime temperatures ensures ideal accumulation of ripeness and structure in the grapes. What The Flores de Callejo is a youthful expression of Ribera Del Duero’s principal grape variety - Tinto Fino (aka Tempranillo). Whereas most red wines in Ribera Del Duero are broadly structured and full-bodied, this particular cuvée is geared towards freshness. To this end, grapes were manually harvested from multiple high elevation parcels of vines. The vineyards - La Emilia, La Huelga, Astrales, Jaime and Sandelaisa - are located between 830 and 850 meters in elevation and lie near the village of Sotillo de la Ribera. The grapes were hand sorted in the winery and moved via gravity into tanks for spontaneous fermentation. This was followed by maturation for 5 months in a combination of barrels and tank. Who Bodegas Félix Callejo was founded in 1989 by Félix Callejo. Born in 1943 in the village of Sotillo de la Ribera, Félix’s father and grandfather had worked in the wine world as grape growers and “corredores de vino”, or local wine brokers. Today management of the winery has been passed to the next generation. All four of Félix’s children are involved in day to day operations. José Félix and Noelia Callejo handle wine production, while Cristina and Beatriz Callejo run the commercial aspects of the business. In charge of winemaking since 2000, José Félix Callejo gained experience working at Pétrus in France and Miguel Torres in Chile. Noelia Callejo joined her brother at the winery in 2009, having previously worked at Viña Cobos in Argentina and Araujo Estate Wines in the United States. Located north of the Duero river, the family organically farms 60 hectares of vineyards planted to a mixture of Tinto Fino, Garnacha, Albillo Mayor and Merlot. Taste Vivid ruby red in appearance, on the nose the Flores de Callejo is highly aromatic with marked wild scents of blackberries, ripe figs, bay leaf and balsam. The palate is medium bodied with tart acidity, fresh tannins, and flavors of saccharine black fruits. On the finish the wine is dry and fresh. We suggest pairing this wine with robust tapas dishes like albondigas (Spanish meatballs), croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes), and chorizo al vino (sausage cooked in wine). |
| 2020 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Central Coast, United States Previously $29.13 | Where The Central Coast appellation extends some 450 kilometers from Contra Costa County to the Santa Ynez Valley. Within its borders are 40 sub-AVA’S, including Paso Robles, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, and Santa Barbara. In a state that is seeing warmer vintages, the Central Coast's proximity to the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean is hugely important. Gaps in coastal ranges allow cool breezes from the ocean to funnel into the vineyards. Further inland the Central Coast receives significant sunshine and warmth. What Accounting for ¼ of all vineyard plantings in the state, Cabernet Sauvignon is easily the most popular grape variety in California. Now although this may be true, the Golden State has still much more to offer. For instance, Rhône grape varieties have proven particularly well suited to the region's warm and sunny climate. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre among others, have been grown in California since the 1800’s. They’re popularity waned over much of the 21st century, but during the Reagan era the ‘Rhône Rangers’ wine collective set in motion a plan to rehabilitate the image of Rhône grape varieties in California. Their plan worked, and today grape varieties of the Rhône ride again! The Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant is made of 56% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 13% Syrah, and 1% Petit Sirah. The wine's distinct name and label derives from an obscure law that was passed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1954, which prohibits UFO’s (‘flying cigars’) from landing in vineyards. First introduced in 1986, the style of the wine has morphed in recent years. In order to achieve greater freshness, Mourvèdre was dropped from the blend and the percentage of Cinsault was increased. Who Bonvivant Randall Grahm is THE Rhône Ranger! The eponymous moniker was given to him by Wine Spectator in 1989, who featured Randall on the magazine cover dressed as the Lone Ranger. Born in Los Angeles and educated at the University of California at Davis, he originally purchased Bonny Doon winery to create ‘the Great American Pinot Noir.’ Although his efforts with Pinot Noir bore little fruit, his experiments with Rhône grape varieties proved wildly successful. Serendipitously this led Randall to become the champion of Rhône grape varieties in America. He has achieved this not only through the quality of his wines, but also through frequent lectures and poetic newsletter articles. Although Randall Grahm no longer owns Bonny Doon, having sold the winery in 2019, he is still a partner in the business and has stayed on as head winemaker. Taste The Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant is where California and the south of France collide. In one corner you have nicely ripened fruit, in the other you have fine grained spice and earthiness. Medium garnet red in hue, on the nose you find savor aromas of wild raspberries, dusty red currants, stewed plums, leather and crushed rock. The palate is medium bodied fine grained tannins and tense acidity. It culminates in a refreshingly savory and youthful finish. Serve this wine slightly cool with cured meats such as saucisson de lyon or rosette lyonnaise. |
| 2020 Judith Beck Ink Burgenland, Austria $26.86 | Where Burgenland is an important Austrian wine appellation with a distinct character and history. Today the region is located on Austria’s border with Hungary, but for much of its history Burgenland was joined with its eastern neighbor. The complex and often chaotic story of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire meant that at multiple times Burgenland had Hungarian rulers. In fact in its current form, Burgenland has only been Austrian since 1921. Geographically it forms a strip of land from the Danube river to Styria. The foothills of the Alps flank the region to the west. A major feature is the shallow Lake Neusiedl, which extends the growing season by emitting warm summer heat into the vineyards. What This Austrian wine district is home to a flourishing wine industry. Like in Hungary’s region of Tokaji, the area is highly regarded for the quality of its sweet wines. Honeyed and wickedly decadent, their very existence is made possible by Lake Neusiedl, which provides enough humidity to promote noble rot (botrytis) in the vineyards. Even more so though, Burgenland is the home of Austrian red wine. Grape varieties such as Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt happily thrive thanks to the overall warm continental climate. These aren’t flimsy red wines either, but rather concentrated and dense red wines capable of aging. The Judith Beck Ink is made from a cuvée of two Austrian grape varieties - Zweigelt (90%) and Saint Laurent (10%). Pronounced ‘zz-why-galt’, Zweigelt is the most popular grape in Austria. It was created in 1922 by Friedrich Zweigelt, who crossed St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch. The origins of St. Laurent are murky, but it is thought to be a natural crossing of Pinot Noir with another unknown grape variety. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged in wooden casks for 12 months. Who Judith Beck is a winemaker based in the Burgenland commune of Gols, near Lake Neusiedl. The estate was founded in 1976 by her parents, Matthias and Christine Beck. A graduate of Klosterneuburg Viniculture College, Judith earned her stripes by working at some of the worlds finest wineries - Chateau Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, Braida in Piedmont and Errazuriz in Chile. In 2001 she rejoined her parents in Gols, and then assumed full control in 2004. In total she farms 13.5 hectares of vines, with holdings in the vineyards of Altenberg, Gabarinza, Salzberg and Schafleiten. From the get go Judith has farmed sustainably, something her father Matthias did as well. In 2007 she upped the ante and converted fully to biodynamic practices. In her own words - “I seriously believe in this low-intervention winemaking and I am going to continue like that. For me this is not about a trend, but a deeply held commitment.” For her fermentations, only natural yeasts are used, and nothing else is added aside for a small amount of SO2 at bottling, if at all (a max of 30 g/l.) Extending her influence beyond the winery, Judith is a member of the Pannobile association as well as 11 Frauen und ihre Weine' (11 Women and their Wines). The former being an association of growers in Gols that was formed 25 years ago to bolster and popularize local winemaking and grape varieties. Taste In the glass the Judith Beck Ink is vibrant ruby-violet in hue. On the nose primary aromas of sour cherries and cranberries are complemented by scents of cinnamon, clove, and juniper. On the palate the wine is medium bodied with slight tannins and spicy red fruit flavors. The finish is harmonious and fruit-driven. This is the perfect wine to serve with a heartwarming bowl of spicy gulasch, which like this wine, has both Hungarian and Austrian roots. |
| 2020 LaMura Nero d'Avola Sicily, Italy Previously $19.66 | Where Italy’s most southern wine region, Sicily has a 2500 year history of producing wine. An ideal Mediterranean climate brings lots of sunshine and little rain. Vine disease has never been much of a problem here, so growers are often organic by default. Vines thrive so readily in Sicily’s volcanic soils that the biggest danger has historically been overly high yields and overproduction. The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, its inner hinterland is mountainous and sparsely populated. Vineyard elevations range from sea level along the coast, up to 3600 feet on the slopes of rumbling Mount Etna. What This red wine is made from Sicily’s headlining red grape variety - Nero d’Avola. Initially confined to the southeastern tip of the island, the variety obtained its name from the town of Avola (Nero d’Avola = the Black Grape of Avola.) It is thought that the grape has been grown in this area for hundreds of years. Extremely well suited to Sicily’s hot climate, it thrives in dry conditions. The grapes for this wine were harvested from vineyards located in Valle del Belice, a hilly area in western Sicily. The vines are trained traditionally, using spalliera and alberello methods. Hand-harvested in September during the evenings, the grapes were destemmed and then gently pressed. Around 10% of the grapes were fermented with the stems to add greater structure and complexity to the wine. Fermented for 3 weeks, pump-overs and délestage (oxygenating the juice and then pouring it back over the skins) were frequently used for ideal flavor extraction. Who LaMura is a fully organic winery created by Casa Girelli. Founded in the late 19th century, this family run company has a wide portfolio of wines that represent numerous Italian wine regions. The modern history of the business began with Giovanni Girelli, who purchased a small vineyard in the village of Borghetto. Forced to rebuild after the second world war (the winery was completely destroyed), Giovanni and his son Renato constructed the modern winery that would eventually become the company's headquarters. Taking over from his father in 1959, Renato greatly expanded Casa Girelli’s reach. The company has proven so successful that today Casa Girelli is the fourth largest wine producer in Italy. Taste The LaMura Nero d’Avola is a youthful and easy drinking expression of Sicilian red wine. Bright ruby red in color, punchy aromas of black cherries, prunes, licorice, and allspice leap out of the glass. Ripe sunkissed red fruit flavors are complemented by smooth tannins that coat the medium bodied palate. The finish is persistent and savory. Pair it with classic Sicilian dishes like caponata or pasta alla norma. |
| 2021 Palliser Estate Riesling Martinborough, New Zealand $23.99 | Where The region of Martinborough is situated at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island, some 55 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Wellington. It is 1 of 3 official subregions within the larger region of Wairarapa. Although Martinborough is today home to many well respected wineries, viticulture came late to the area. Farmers first arrived in the late 1800’s, but it wasn’t until the 1970’s that people started planting vineyards. The cool climate and free-draining soils proved ideal for grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. What Although the Martinborough wine industry has grown considerably, it still only accounts for 3% of all the vineyards planted in New Zealand. What it lacks in scale, it surely makes up for in quality. Today Martinborough is home to many well respected wineries and the wines produced are thought to be among the most complex in New Zealand. This wine is made from another cool climate grape variety that is very much at home in Martinborough - Riesling. The majority of the grapes were harvested from the organically farmed Om Santi vineyard, with the remaining grapes coming from the Pinnacles and Clouston vineyards. The fruit was gently pressed and then left to settle before being racked to a stainless steel tank. About 20% went directly into a barrel, where fermentation was done with indegenous and inoculated yeasts. The portion in the tank was fermented to a point where 7.8 g/l of residual sugar remained. Once blended, the wine rested on the lees for 2 months prior to bottling. Who This pioneering Martinborough wine estate conducted its first harvest in 1989. The winery’s founder, Richard Riddiford, planted the first vineyards in 1984. The land he purchased was ideally located on the so-called Martinborough Terrace, where the soil is predominantly composed of alluvial gravels. Unfortunately Richard Riddiford passed away in 2016, but his long time collaborator Pip Goodwin carries on his legacy. She is joined in the winery by head winemaker and viticulturist Guy McMaster who has introduced new concepts to Palliser Estate. Recent changes include a move to organic and biodynamic farming practices. As of 2022 a significant portion of the vineyards are organically certified, as is the winery itself. Taste The Palliser Estate Riesling lives in the goldilocks zone between austerity and fruitiness. There’s some pep in its step, but you won’t feel like you're chewing on razors, as can be the case with some dry Rieslings. Very pale lemon yellow in appearance, on the nose there are precise aromas of lemons, citrus blossom, honey apricots, and wet stone. Mouthwatering acidity on the palate is complemented by pleasing notes of fresh squeezed limes and crunchy green apples. A vein of youthful minerality on the midpalate continues into the dry finish. It’s almost cliché to say that Riesling pairs well with spicy dishes, but this just cannot be refuted. Low alcohol and bracing acidity make Riesling your go-to for everything from Baja fish tacos to Thai garlic prawns. |
| 2020 Domaine François Chidaine Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley, France $27.99 | Where The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) of Touraine sits at the very heart of the Loire Valley. Lying to the east of the city of Tours, the vineyards of Touraine look upon France’s longest river. Originating in the highlands of the Massif Central, the Loire river meanders some 1,000+ kilometers to the Atlantic Ocean. Located mostly on the southern side of the river, the best vineyards tend to be planted on free-draining soils rich in tuffeau (calcareous rock). This stark white rock was the favored material of 17th century builders who erected stunning country châteaux for the French nobility. The remaining rock quarries made excellent wine cellars. A place where maritime and continental influences meet, Touraine enjoys a mostly moderate climate with warm and sunny summers. What Accounting for over 40% of all vineyard plantings, Sauvignon Blanc is the most common grape variety for white still wines in Touraine. In fact, the Loire Valley as a whole is considered the homeland of this racy grape (although winemakers in Bordeaux may argue this point.) The combination of soil and climate result in a style of Sauvignon Blanc that is finely tuned with focused acidity and smokey minerality. You can actually age these wines, which is uncommon for Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested from vines planted to flinty clay and limestone soils in the Cher Valley. Farming of the vines was done entirely without the use of synthetic sprays. The grapes were directly pressed and cold settled prior to fermentation with natural yeasts at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Here the wine rested on the lees until bottling. Who Located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, domaine François Chidaine is managed by the dynamic pair of François and Manuela Chidaine. The winery is a beacon of natural viticulture and winemaking in the Loire Valley. François, who worked with his father before setting out on his own in 1989, is a leader in what is called “regenerative agriculture.” Adherents of this viticultural philosophy rebuff the role of tilling, which they believe disrupts the natural fungal and bacterial networks formed within the soil. Left intact, the networks can successfully share nutrients with the vines. François encourages biodiversity by sowing different types of melliferous and nematicidal plants amongst the vines. Rather than a monoculture, the vine now finds itself within a healthy polyculture, as naturally occurs in nature. Although François prefers to spend his time in his 45 hectares of vines (10 ha in Vouvray, 22 ha in Montlouis, and 13 ha designated as Touraine), his progressive attitude extends to the winery, where he applies a light touch. Taste This is benchmark Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc from a highly regarded grower. Once again we can see that although Sauvignon Blanc is planted all over the world, it’s in the Loire Valley where it finds its zenith. Pale lemon green in hue, on the nose you find bright aromas of key limes, green apples, grapefruit, and crushed chalk. Lean citrus fruits and taut acidity define the refreshingly light palate. A streak of complex minerality lingers into the fresh finish. The Loire Valley is famed for the quality of its goat cheeses, so unsurprisingly they make excellent pairings for this wine. A visit to your local cheese monger for Selles-sur-Cher or Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine is in order! |
