RED

Chateau Vrai Caillou Bordeaux Superieur 2022

Winery: Chateau Vrai Caillou

Region: Bordeaux, France

Grape Variety: 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc

Notes: The region of Entre-Deux-Mers lies in the heart of Bordeaux between the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers. Here, the Meillac family has been making award winning wines for six generations. Their home, Chateau Vrai Caillou, is planted to over 200 acres of vines on the highest point of Entre-Deux-Mers, in order to protect the grapes from humidity, allow for well-draining soil that doesn’t collect too much water, and gives the best exposure to sunlight. Innovation has always been at the heart of the estate. The Chateau’s ancestors were the first in the region to market their wines in bottles instead of barrels, and they were the first to implement modern harvesting equipment in the vineyards. Today, Christel and Philippe de Meillac have converted the property to organic farming and winemaking in a region where humidity and insects often do not allow for such changes.

The Chateau’s Bordeaux Superieur has always been the main wine of the estate and has always been made with the three main red grapes of Bordeaux – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. With the conversion to organics, the Meillac’s soak the skins of the grapes in their juice for 5 days in oxygen-free, pressurized vats in order to prevent any oxidation. No sulfites are used at any point during the winemaking process. The resulting wine is classic Bordeaux. Fruit forward at first, leading to an earthy and mineral-laden finish. This medium-bodied red is perfect with classic steak frites, but is incredibly versatile and works equally as well with mushroom dishes, pork, southern Italian pastas, and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Chateau Vrai Caillou Bordeaux Superieur 2022

Winery: Chateau Vrai Caillou

Region: Bordeaux, France

Grape Variety: 40% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Gris, 25% Sauvignon Blanc

Notes: The region of Entre-Deux-Mers lies in the heart of Bordeaux between the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers. Here, the Meillac family has been making award winning wines for six generations. Their home, Chateau Vrai Caillou, is planted to over 200 acres of vines on the highest point of Entre-Deux-Mers, in order to protect the grapes from humidity, allow for well-draining soil that doesn’t collect too much water, and gives the best exposure to sunlight. Innovation has always been at the heart of the estate. The Chateau’s ancestors were the first in the region to market their wines in bottles instead of barrels, and they were the first to implement modern harvesting equipment in the vineyards. Today, Christel and Philippe de Meillac have converted the property to organic farming and winemaking in a region where humidity and insects often do not allow for such changes.

The Chateau’s Entre-Deux-Mers White is a classic example of the white wines from this part of France. Made with Semillon, Sauvignon Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc, the blend changes every year depending on what nature provides. No oak is used in the making of this wine, and the lees (yeast) spend a long time in contact with the wine while it ages in order to provide a richer texture and mouth feel. The citrusy nature of the Sauvignon Blanc make it a perfect pairing with shellfish and lemon butter, while the Semillon adds a weightiness to it that works well with stronger foods such as pork and veal in cream sauces.

Fryer’s Cove Grenache - Cinsault

Winery: Fryer’s Cove

Region: Bamboes Bay, South Africa

Grape Variety: 90% Grenache, 10% Cinsault

Notes: South Africa is a New World wine region making some of the most exciting wines available

today. The primary wine regions are located in what is called the Western Cape, in areas that are

slightly to the interior of the country, but close enough to enjoy the moderating influences of the ocean.

Fryer’s Cove is an outlier in that it is located in Bamboes Bay, the smallest wine region in South Africa,

approximately 185 miles north of Cape Town, with vineyards only a third of a mile from the cold Atlantic

Ocean. In fact, Fryer’s Cove is the only winery and vineyard in Bamboes Bay.

In 1999, Wynand Hamman and Jan Van Zyl purchased the land in Bamboes Bay that would become

Fryer’s Cove, but the initial going was tough. This region receives less than 2 inches of rain per year, and

the harsh winds and salt air make for difficult agriculture. The ground water contained too much salt,

and without a water source, the winery could never get started. A water pipeline from the city of

Vredendal, almost 20 miles away, was the only solution, and they had to go across three private farms

to get there. After the neighbors agreed, Jan and the farm workers built the pipeline themselves. With

access to reliable water, they planted their vineyard on a sloping hill facing the Atlantic. Here, the cold

winds temper the hot dry climate and the vines produce very small quantities of grapes for high quality,

world class wines.

As we enter the month of April and the days begin to get much warmer, the Fryer’s Cove Grenache-

Cinsault provides a light to medium bodied red wine that is very versatile at the table, but also light

enough to enjoy on its own. It is wonderful when served lightly chilled.

Fryer’s Cove Chenin Blanc

Winery: Fryer’s Cove

Region: Bamboes Bay, South Africa

Grape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Notes: South Africa is a New World wine region making some of the most exciting wines available today.

The primary wine regions are located in what is called the Western Cape, in areas that are slightly to the

interior of the country, but close enough to enjoy the moderating influences of the ocean. Fryer’s Cove

is an outlier in that it is located in Bamboes Bay, the smallest wine region in South Africa, approximately

185 miles north of Cape Town, with vineyards only a third of a mile from the cold Atlantic Ocean. In

fact, Fryer’s Cove is the only winery and vineyard in Bamboes Bay.

In 1999, Wynand Hamman and Jan Van Zyl purchased the land in Bamboes Bay that would become

Fryer’s Cove, but the initial going was tough. This region receives less than 2 inches of rain per year, and

the harsh winds and salt air make for difficult agriculture. The ground water contained too much salt,

and without a water source, the winery could never get started. A water pipeline from the city of

Vredendal, almost 20 miles away, was the only solution, and they had to go across three private farms

to get there. After the neighbors agreed, Jan and the farm workers built the pipeline themselves. With

access to reliable water, they planted their vineyard on a sloping hill facing the Atlantic. Here, the cold

winds temper the hot dry climate and the vines produce very small quantities of grapes for high quality,

world class wines.

The Fryer’s Cove Chenin Blanc is a classic example of the grape South African white wine is known for. It

is fermented in both stainless steel and oak, and then aged in French oak barrels for 4 months for added

complexity. It is both round, expressive, and refreshing. The proximity of these grapes to the ocean

allow for an extracted minerality and saline quality in the wine that you don’t get from too many other

Chenin Blancs.

MAAL “Biutiful” Malbec

Winery: MAAL

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Grape Variety: Malbec

Notes: Matias Fraga is a former restaurant business entrepreneur who never expected to become a winegrower. His background in restaurant business and wine distribution gave him the chance to meet the famous Catena wine family of Mendoza, for whom he would later work for over a decade, learning many of the aspects of wine growing and wine business. In 2010, he had a unique opportunity to buy an abandoned Malbec vineyard in an up-and-coming area in the heart of the Uco Valley named “Vistaflores”. Although initially the place was in very bad shape, he believed that with patience and hard work he could turn it into an iconic vineyard. Today, his hard work has paid off with the creation of MAAL, a partnership with winemaker Alfredo Merlo (Matias + Alfredo = MAAL). “Biutiful” is just that…a pure Malbec of true beauty, without any ‘makeup’ to distract from the essentials. It does not see oak in any part of the process and is fermented in cement vats without additions or corrections. Its essence is represented by a butterfly inside a cocoon. Its beauty is appreciated by those who know how to look inside.

Finca la Escarcha “Encubierto” Blend de Blancas

Winery: Finca la Escarcha

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Grape Variety: 50% Viognier, 25% Marsanne, 25% Roussanne

Notes: Santiago Reta is the man behind Finca La Escarcha. His small 64-acre vineyard is dedicated to the voluminous, aromatic whites and the dark, earthy reds of southern France, but grown in Argentina. The winery, designed by architect and wife, Carolina, handles Santiago’s tiny 1,000 case production and appeals perfectly to his sensibilities as a winemaker; concrete eggs, a small barrel room and a couple of stainless steel tanks are the essential elements in the minimalist, but well considered space. His wines demonstrate a skilled rhythm of acid, elegance, fruit and persistence. His wines labeled “Encubierto,” were inspired by the mischievous old fox that wanders the vineyards. His Blend de Blancas is a Rhone- style white, a blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier – the only white grape varieties grown on the estate. The wine spends 12 months in concrete egg-shaped tanks before bottling and Santiago prefers to hold back his wines for a few years before release. The result is a full bodied wine with notes of ripe peaches and pears, white flowers and a lot of minerality.

Winery Regional Spotlight: Umani Ronchi from Italy’s Adriatic Coast

Umani Ronchi “Jorio” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

In February your Wine Club takes you to Italy’s Adriatic Coast, to explore the wines of Umani Ronchi. Umani Ronchi got its start in 1957 in the village of Cupramontana, in the region of Le Marche on Italy’s Adriatic Coast. Today, almost 70 years later, the winery continues to produce the highest quality Verdicchio grapes in the area, and has also expanded its holdings into the neighboring Abruzzo region where it showcases the native Montepulciano grape in its wine offerings. Umani Ronchi is run by the Bianchi-Bernetti family who has converted all their vineyards to organic farming practices and has elevated the winery to higher levels on the international wine scene. For 15 years Umani Ronchi has been a member of the Istituto del Vino di Qualita-Grande Marchi. The IQV brings together 18 of Italy’s most important wine making families, including Sassicaia, Antinori, Ca’ del Bosco, all of whom share similar values and goals, in order to plan for the future growth of the wine industry.

Down the road from the Verdicchio vineyards of Le Marche lies the region of Abruzzo, world famous for its native grape Montepulciano. In fact, Montepulciano is the second most planted red grape variety in Italy. The Bianchi-Bernetti family knew for a long time that they wanted to expand outside of Le Marche and produce red wines of the same quality as their whites. The Montepulciano grape grows throughout most of Abruzzo, particularly in the lower hills and coastal plains. Umani Ronchi sources their grapes from organically grown vineyards that are all harvested by hand to make a wine that is medium bodied with notes of plum, red cherry, and balsamic. About 50% of the wine is aged in very large oak barrels, and the remainder in small oak barrels that have already been used four or five times, so as not to overpower the flavor of the wine. The name “Jorio” is in homage to the great Abruzzese poet Gabriele d’Annunzio who wrote of his ancestral home in his pastoral tragedy about the daughter of Jorio.

Ideal pairings include pasta with meat sauces, roasted red meats and game, and mixed grills.

Winery Regional Spotlight: Umani Ronchi from Italy’s Adriatic Coast

Umani Ronchi “Casal di Serra” Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore

In February your Wine Club takes you to Italy’s Adriatic Coast, to explore the wines of Umani Ronchi. Umani Ronchi got its start in 1957 in the village of Cupramontana, in the region of Le Marche on Italy’s Adriatic Coast. Today, almost 70 years later, the winery continues to produce the highest quality Verdicchio grapes in the area, and has also expanded its holdings into the neighboring Abruzzo region where it showcases the native Montepulciano grape in its wine offerings. Umani Ronchi is run by the Bianchi-Bernetti family who has converted all their vineyards to organic farming practices and has elevated the winery to higher levels on the international wine scene. For 15 years Umani Ronchi has been a member of the Istituto del Vino di Qualita-Grande Marchi. The IQV brings together 18 of Italy’s most important wine making families, including Sassicaia, Antinori, Ca’ del Bosco, all of whom share similar values and goals, in order to plan for the future growth of the wine industry.

One of the most famous and historic Marche wines, these dry white wines are made from the ancient Verdicchio grape variety. Legend has it that when the troops of the king of the Visigoths, Alarich (370- 410), marched on Rome, they drank barrels of Verdicchio to maintain their strength. Verdicchio means “little green one”, a name which holds true for the wines it makes in this region. These are typically straw colored with pronounced green tinges and have a correspondingly “green” aroma profile, leaning towards herbaceous notes and fresh apples. This is complemented by crisp acidity and a pleasant, aftertaste of toasted almonds.

The term Classico refers to grapes grown in the traditional winemaking zone which encompasses the hilly area around the town of Jesi. This area features many medieval fortified villages – the Castelli in the wine’s title. This is considered a theoretically superior wine to those from outside the classico sub- zone. The Superiore designation denotes wines with an extra 0.5 percent of final alcohol by volume.

The wine is an ideal match with regional seafood dishes such as Brodetto di Pesce, a rich seafood stew like bouillabaisse, or cheeses such as pecorino.

Regional Spotlight: Northern Portugal

Casa Ferreirinha “VInha Grande” Tinto

In December your Wine Club takes you to Northern Portugal to explore wines outside of Port.

A Douro Valley pioneer and leader, Casa Ferreirinha has carried the torch for creative, quality winemaking in the Douro, becoming the region’s most historic and iconic house. The story of Casa Ferreirinha is inextricably associated with one extraordinary woman: Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira who was born in 1811 in the country town of Régua, the gateway to the wines of the Douro Valley.

Though small in stature and reserved by nature, Dona Antónia was a charismatic visionary with entrepreneurial drive. In 1845 at age 33, she took over her family’s business, Ferreira Port, the first Portuguese family owned Port House in the Douro. During her tenure at Ferreira Port, Dona Antónia expanded her estates, created new expanses of terraced vineyards and improved the hard lives of the local farming families. She was affectionally called ‘Ferreirinha’ – ‘the little Ferreira’. Dona Antónia’s legacy and quest for excellence continues to be a fundamental pillar of Casa Ferreirinha. In the 1950’s,

Ferreira’s technical director, Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, set out to make the highest quality unfortified wines in the Douro. His aim was to produce elegant, top-quality dry wines with the aging potential of the best Port.

A varied line of wines in different styles are produced. Vinha Grande – one of the first dry wines Casa Ferreirinha ever made - is a Douro red blend using native grapes from the Douro’s two top subregions: Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. Classic and intense, with a distinctive character that reflects the richness and quality of the region. 42% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional, 22% Tinta Roriz, 6% Tinta Barroca.

Regional Spotlight: Northern Portugal

Soalheiro Alvarinho

In December your Wine Club takes you to Northern Portugal to explore wines outside of Port. Quinta de Soalheiro is a leading wine estate nestled in Portugal’s verdant northwest in the Monção e Melgaço subregion. Monção and Melgaço, the most northern region of Portugal, is protected by mountains that form a unique microclimate. This allows a perfect marriage between rainfall, temperature, and the number of hours of sunshine needed for the best maturation of Alvarinho grapes.

The microclimate in Monção and Melgaço is especially important during ripening, when hot days alternate with cold nights, it enables the development of fresh and fruity aromas and an acidity that is present, but moderate.

Soalheiro was founded in 1974 when João António Cerdeira and his parents, António Esteves Ferreira and Maria Cerdeira took the bold decision to plant a single, sun-soaked parcel of farmland entirely to Alvarinho. At the time, this decision was in stark contrast to the traditional practice of Portuguese farmers, which relegated grape vines to grow up pergolas planted at the periphery of dense cereal crops like maize. It was in this spirit of innovation and progress that one of western Iberia’s great wine producers was born. Today, third-generation siblings Maria João and António Luís, along with their mother Maria Palmira Cerdeira, continue to test limits and break new ground in pursuit of the finest expressions of their territory by way of the noble Alvarinho grape.

Soalheiro Alvarinho has the nickname “Clássico,” as it was the first wine ever to be made by the family, back in 1982. Since then, it remains the most classic style of single varietal Alvarinho, with aromatic freshness, intense flavor, and an unusual evolution in the bottle. The flavor has intense tropical and mineral notes that balance perfectly with the acidity and moderate alcohol content.

Winery Spotlight: Hedges Family Estate

Hedges C.M.S. Cabernet Sauvignon

In November your Wine Club takes you to the Pacific Northwest, but if you’re imagining verdant green forests and foggy beaches, think again. The main wine regions of Washington State are located east of the Cascade Mountains. Driving over the range from Seattle, you’d think you were arriving on the barren surface of the moon, if it wasn’t for the occasional patch of green vineyard that pops up near the Columbia River and its tributaries. The long hot summers and dry conditions (Washington State wine country receives more sunshine hours per year than Napa Valley!) create a region ideal for producing concentrated grapes that translate into rich full flavored wines. We invite you to explore not just these but many more!

Hedges Cellars was founded in 1987 when Tom Hedges and his wife Anne-Marie transitioned from traveling around the world working in the produce industry to moving back to Tom’s home state of Washington and entering the still-new wine industry by shipping their first red blend to Sweden. Fast forward a few years later and Hedges now produces wine from their own vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State and slowly begins promoting their brand, and Washington State wine throughout North America. As the business grew, so did the family, and today Hedges Cellars is now Hedges Family Estate, with son Christophe being promoted to Director of National Sales and daughter Sarah becoming Head Winemaker. The winery focuses on making wine from the Bordeaux varieties and has been growing grapes organically and biodynamically since 2008.

For the Hedges C.M.S. Cabernet Sauvignon, winemaker Sarah Hedges Goedart sources fruit from famous vineyards in the Columbia Valley and Red Mountain AVA’s of Washington State. The final blend is made of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, and 2% Merlot. The fruit flavors are plush and deep, with the characteristic black cherry and chocolate notes of Washington State Cabernet. The wine is aged for 19 months in a combination of new and used French and American oak to give it its toasted walnut, vanilla, and leather finish.

Curious about this month’s White Wine from Washington State? Wine Club members are enjoying a refreshing yet full bodied Sauvignon Blanc blend made by the Hedges Family. If you’d like to try it out, it is available for you in the retail shop at Cru Cellars Palma Ceia. Just ask our staff!

Winery Spotlight: Hedges Family Estate

Hedges C.M.S. Sauvignon Blanc

In November your Wine Club takes you to the Pacific Northwest, but if you’re imagining verdant green forests and foggy beaches, think again. The main wine regions of Washington State are located east of the Cascade Mountains. Driving over the range from Seattle, you’d think you were arriving on the barren surface of the moon, if it wasn’t for the occasional patch of green vineyard that pops up near the Columbia River and its tributaries. The long hot summers and dry conditions (Washington State wine country receives more sunshine hours per year than Napa Valley!) create a region ideal for producing concentrated grapes that translate into rich full flavored wines. We invite you to explore not just these but many more!

Hedges Cellars was founded in 1987 when Tom Hedges and his wife Anne-Marie transitioned from traveling around the world working in the produce industry to moving back to Tom’s home state of Washington and entering the still-new wine industry by shipping their first red blend to Sweden. Fast forward a few years later and Hedges now produces wine from their own vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State and slowly begins promoting their brand, and Washington State wine throughout North America. As the business grew, so did the family, and today Hedges Cellars is now Hedges Family Estate, with son Christophe being promoted to Director of National Sales and daughter Sarah becoming Head Winemaker. The winery focuses on making wine from the Bordeaux varieties and has been growing grapes organically and biodynamically since 2008.

For the Hedges C.M.S. Sauvignon Blanc, winemaker Sarah Hedges Goedart sources fruit from famous vineyards in the Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley AVA’s of Washington State. The final blend is made of 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, and 2% Marsanne. This unique combination of grapes always produces a wine with a pleasant aromatic character. Zesty citrus fruit, white peach, pineapple, gooseberry, and a touch of dried herbs. Lean, crisp and refreshing, it finishes with a touch of baked apple and shortbread. The wine saw no oak at all in order to retain its fresh fruit character.

Curious about this month’s Red Wine from Washington State? Wine Club members are enjoying a rich Cabernet Sauvignon blend made by the Hedges Family. If you’d like to try it out, it is available for you in the retail shop at Cru Cellars Palma Ceia. Just ask our staff!