I can only say, “amazing.” In 1972, a young man, Don ... · I can only say, “amazing.” In 1972, a young man, Don Schliff was hired as the first sales representative of what

@Wine of theMonth Club

contd >>

@WineoftheMonth

MEMBERSHIP IN THE WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB IS OPEN TO ANYONE WITH

AN INTEREST IN & APPRECIATION FOR SUPERB WINES...

& EXCELLENT WINE VALUES. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE.

I can only say, “amazing.” In 1972, a young man, Don Schliff was hired as the first sales representative of what is now a mainstay of wholesale wine in Los Angeles, Wine Warehouse. Sound engineer turned wine salesman, and Don had much to experience. One of his first accounts was my father’s store, Palos Verdes Wines and Sprits. A relationship with my father started that has endured through Don’s entire career culminating as President of the organization for many years. Dons love of Port wine, and the collection began at this time and has culminated into one of the greatest collections of Porto in the WORLD. Our tenure together landed me an invitation to what Don billed as Decades of Tasting with only enough of some of the rarest vintages available in the world to

only allow 40 very exclusive guests, I was one of them. I sacrificed the first half of the Super Bowl to attend, and Don aptly renamed the event “The Super Bowl of Port.” One question I get quite frequently is, “how would a 100-year-old wine taste?” I can now confidently answer “incredible!” Let me clarify, regular still wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot will not survive 100 years. Thus, the age of the bottle becomes collectability, not the character. Port, however, because it is fortified with wine spirits during the process of manufacturing, can and will last. Well, the oldest wine we tasted Sunday was from 1834 or 185 years old, and it was fabulous. Not just because it was that old, meaning that the age component was essential to the character, but the wine was just flat out gorgeous. We started at 1834 and went thru 1844, 1851, 1858, 1870, 1887, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1931, 1945, 1955, 1963, 1970, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2011, 2017 and one mystery wine! Each unique and each was forcing one to find new terms to describe. Thankfully, there were the who’s who of the port wine world to walk other wine dignitaries and me through the tasting. Richard Mayson (noted Porto authority) commented that this was probably one of the greatest Porto tastings

A P R I L 2 0 2 0

“ Chef Wolfgang Puck ”“Richard Mayson” leads the discussion

ever assembled. Oh, and just for fun, I had a great conversation with Wolfgang Puck (he created the days’ meal). Did I mention the Champagne? As an aperitif, we had Krug 160-year Edition in Jeroboams (6 regular bottles). And at intermission, Jacquart Brut Mosaic, of course, there was intermission, can’t taste 20 something ports without a break! More to come, but I did want to mention that the accumulated value of the wines was $57,630!! Guess it was worth half the Super Bowl! (anyway, the exciting part was the second half).

Salud,

Paul KalemkiarianOwner/Cellarmaster

January 2006 Selection of Domestic WinePetite Sirah, 2007. Congress Springs. $7.99/bottle (750 ml)This winery sat on the highest ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and was one of the most legendary wines in the state. We featured it when it was its peak of popularity.

March 2010 Selection of Domestic WineHavens, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. $8.99/bottle (750 ml)After more than 30 years of winemaking and building an incredibly successful brand for over 20 years, Michael and Kathryn sold their winery to an investment group in 2006. Michael stayed on as a consultant to make sure that the wines lived up to his reputation. But didn’t have to deal with the day to day routine of running a very complicated business. The investment group that took over tanked it in three years, and Michael had to come back and liquidate the inventory. Guess who got first dibs?

F L A S H B A C KA LOOK BACK AT SOME STE L LAR SELECT IONS W I TH ED MASCIANA

T H E P U R E W I N E C L U B S E R I E ST A S T E T H E D I F F E R E N C E

“Darrell Corti” explains the 1844 port

value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

W W W . W I N E O F T H E M O N T H C L U B . C O M | 1 . 8 0 0 . 9 4 9 . 9 4 6 3 * value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal.

Comparable Price: A price comparable to wines of similar grapes, vintage and region.

96

ID: C0420R1DC Comparable Price: $18.95 Reorder Price: $9.49

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Classic PR Merlot. Vineyard designate. ” – PK

Blueberry, Lilac

Full, Jack Fruit, Spice

Now through 2025

Red Meat, Game

Very Deep Purple

Continuing Swirl

Suspicion is crafted by Ancient Peaks Winery and Vineyard in Paso Robles, a showplace destination for private parties, weddings, and great wines. Its pride of ownership is the Santa Margarita Ranch, a distinctive vineyard settled by the missionaries in the late 1700s.

The vineyard is the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch area. Beginning in 1999 the vineyard was planted by none other than Robert Mondavi. He saw the great potential.

Today three prominent families control the ranch and winery. Doug Fillipponi is COO, he is also president of Fillipponi-Thompson Drilling. Rob Rossi, a Paso native who introduced the Robert Mondavi Winery to Santa Margarita’s stunning grapes. And Karl Wittstrom, a longtime Paso rancher and grape grower. One look at this stunning property, and you know these guys know what they’re doing.

Merlot is a relative newcomer to Paso Robles, and despite what some wineries think further north, it has flourished here like few others. Santa Margarita is further west than most, so it relies on the cool ocean breezes to improve the temperature, a condition in which Merlot thrives. It is mostly used as a blending grape with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. But, here it shines brightly onits offering supple blueberry and cranberry flavors to enhance beef ribs off the grill or smoked spare ribs with jalapeno jelly.

SUSPICION2016 MERLOTPaso Robles, California13.4 % Alcohol by Volume

“ mur • loh ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________

Tasting Comments: ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES

W W W . W I N E O F T H E M O N T H C L U B . C O M | 1 . 8 0 0 . 9 4 9 . 9 4 6 3

value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

ID: C0420W1DC Comparable Price: $13.99 Reorder Price: $8.49

Ken and Julie Warwick took an unconventional route to get into the wine business. They were born in Liverpool, England, and grew up to produce Emmy winning television shows. You may have heard of one... it’s called American Idol.

As producers, they traveled extensively to interview and audition new talent. One of those auditions occurred in Paso Robles. For those of you who have heard similar stories, we all know the ending. They fell in love with the area and its wines and decided that this was their new calling. So, in 2005, Villa San-Juliette was born.

Like most wine newbies, they realized early on that they didn’t know a thing about growing grapes or making wine. Fortunately, there are a lot of people in Paso Robles who do. That lead them to winemaker, Dan Smith, an Oregon native who graduated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in wine and viticulture.

Though the climate is quite different between the Willamette Valley and Paso Robles, the mindset isn’t. Dan brought with him a sense of delicacy, nuance, and complexity that, when mixed with lower alcohol levels, produce wines that envelop the palate, not assaulted it.

Our selection is a perfect example of Dan’s lighter touch. Picking took almosta week as only the mature grapes were harvested. Thus, assuring the delicate aromas would be held in suspension by the lively acidity for as long as possible. This lovely combination would sing with shrimp in a basil cream sauce.

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Been trying for years to land this one. Here it is. ” – PK

Spice, Fresh Herbs

Clean Peach,Citrus

Now through 2022

Fish, Fowl

Very Pale

Very Crisp

VILLA SAN-JULIETTE2017 SAUVIGNON BLANCPaso Robles, California12.4 % Alcohol by Volume

“ saw • VEE • nyon • blahnk ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


UPDATE YOURCONTACT INFO

SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATIONPLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSFOR SHIPMENT & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS.

MOVE RECENTLY? CREDIT CARD LOST OR STOLEN?To ensure uninterrupted delivery of your hand selected wine, please update your credit card information and/or shipping information online:

www.womclub.com/update or call us at 1-800-949-9463 to update

value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Beautiful expression, good winemaking. ” – PK

ACCOUTRE 2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNONPaso Robles, California13.9 % Alcohol by Volume

Plum, Chocolate

Dense Cherry, Spice

Now through 2028

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

Red Meat, Game

Deep Crimson

Astonishing, Long Fruit

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

Our Accoutre selection is made at the Arciero Winery and Vineyards in Paso Robles. The Arciero story is quite colorful. It can be explained in three words that have probably never been used in one sentence before; wine, racing, and concrete. Then, there’s the story.

The Arciero brothers, Frank and Phil, emigrated to the United States from a small town in Italy in the 1930s with very little money between them. Phil was a decorated soldier in World War II and, upon return to the US, decided that there was going to be a lot of building needed for the returning GIs. So, they set their sites on cement.

They came from an agricultural background, and though they left it in Italy, it never left them. So, while amassing a vast enterprise in construction, they were also purchasing land for agriculture as well as their country’s favorite beverage, wine. But that wasn’t enough.

A budding passion for building racing equipment lets them cross paths with the likes of Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, and Roger Penske. They built a 13,000 square foot facility in Southern California to construct exotic racing equipment.

And, not to be outdone, they crafted a monumental winery in Paso Robles and planted 700 acres of grapes in 1986. Our selection is a product of that venture and a delicious one at that. Our Cabernet comes from 30-year-old vines just reaching their prime and producing a Cabernet for the ages to grace any venison dish or the Arciero favorite, Osso Buco.

ID: C0420R2DC Comparable Price: $18.95 Reorder Price: $9.49

“ CAB • burr • NAY SAW • veen • YON ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES






value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



GRAN PASSIONE2017 BIANCO 95

ID: C0420W2II Comparable Price: $14.50 Reorder Price: $8.49

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Love the new vintage .” – PK

Apple, Pear, Kiwi

Prickly Pear

Now through 2022

Seafood, Vegetarian

Very Pale

Slight Citrus Rind

Almost 100 years ago, a Venetian countryman named Carlo Botter had enough of all the talk of the best Italian wines coming from places like Chianti and Piedmont. So, he set his mind to show the world what great Italian wine was like from Veneto.

He began by buying bulk wine from local producers and blending them to his liking. Then he contracted with wineries to crush and bottle the grapes he purchased from his favorite vineyards. It wasn’t long before his “grand passion” was born and eventually his own winery. Today the company is run by the third generation and produces over four million cases of wine a year.

We love stories like this almost as much as we love the wines. We especially love the wines of Veneto, this one in particular. It is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Garganega, the principal grape in Soave. The wine sees no oak, so the flavors can integrate and blossom without any interference. These clean, crisp whites from Italy were unheard of 30 years ago. Back then, they made whites the same as reds, throw them in a barrel and top them off once in a while. As a result, the wines were oxidized and tired.

Then they discovered cold fermentation in stainless steel, and almost overnight, these lovely wines were coming from all over Italy. The shy apple and pear make an excellent foil for curried chicken salad or crab cakes.

Veneto IGT, Italy12.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ B’YAHN • coh ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE” Amazing value. ” – PK

Red Apple, Cherry

Smooth, Ripe Berry

Now through 2026

Fish, Fowl, Game

Lovely Garnet

Medium Grip

ID: V0420R1DC Comparable Price: $19.99 Reorder Price: $13.49

CAL FRESCO 2016 PINOT NOIRCentral Coast, California14.0 % Alcohol by Volume

The Cal Fresco story is one of those that we love to hear. It’s about the Ehlers Family’s trials and tribulations they endured but never succumbed to. It began in 1921 When Herman Ehlers was working at a Lodi winery as a teenager doing the lowest job on the pole, moving barrels from one part of the winery to another as space was needed.

Herman wasn’t destined to be a barrel mover. His curiosity and learning ability enabled him to realize his destiny and become the winemaker a few years later.Unfortunately, it was during Prohibition, so Herman learned the art of making “sacramental” wine. A stunning amount of sacramental wine was made during this time.

Herman’s offspring would go on to carry in their fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfather’s footsteps in creating wine and brandy for Korbel, Paul Masson, and The Guild, three of the most prominent wineries of the time.

In 1980 Walter and his son, Steven, secured and planted 80 acres of grapes to the Tokay, a popular sweet jug wine variety. But, Fetzer came along and told them that if they converted those grapes to Merlot, they would get triple the price. That’s all it took.

Today, the Ehlers Family is still celebrating its history by making exceptionalwine like our selection. Our Pinot Noir has received numerous accolades forits superb cherry and vanilla components along with spice and mint to tackle anything from grilled salmon with fennel to a black truffle rigatoni.

“ PEE • noh NWAR ”





Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



STEPHEN VINCENT2016 CHARDONNAY 94

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Fell in love with the nose. ” – PK

Vanilla, Green Apple Spice

Rich Tropical Fruit

Now through 2025

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

Fish,Fowl

Medium Gold

Endless

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

Stephen Vincent Situm came to own his own winery in the best way possible. He worked his way up by learning from those who knew like Gallo, Mondavi, and Zellerbach of Hanzell. He also worked for one of the pioneers in importing great wines from France, Draper, and Esquin.

After 40 years, he decided to partner up with Bob Goyette, founder of La Crema and Hosssein Namdar, a vineyard owner, and manager in Lake County and Sonoma. And so it was in 2003 that it all came together.

They all knew that wine is made at a vineyard, so that’s where they started. Instead of spending money on a winery, they spent it on a vineyard. You can make the wine anywhere, but you can’t grow the grapes anywhere. So, they planted grapes in some of the best parts of Sonoma and purchased grapes from other premium vineyards. And contracted with custom crush facilities, like, Wine Hooligans, (how could you not love that name?) and off they went.

We were familiar with Vincent’s wines from the very beginning, but he never made enough for us to feature them. When he finally did, we wasted no time in securing this fabulous selection.

Our Chardonnay comes of grapes from mostly Monterey County with additions from Edna Valley and Lodi. The cobblestone and sea matter in the soil blends seamlessly with the cool climate to make wine of incredible complexity. The length and complexity of this gem would be perfect with lobster thermidor or a scallop mousse.

ID: V0420W1DC Comparable Price: $19.99 Reorder Price: $12.49

Paso Robles, California13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

“ SHAR • doh • NAY ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Pure malbec. ” – PK

DANTE ROBINO 2016 MALBECMendoza, Argentina13.0% Alcohol by Volume

Currants, Plum

Rich, Medium Tannins

Now through 2030

Red Meat, Game

Opaque Purple

Richly Textured, Black Cherry

Santos and José Robino founded Dante Robino in 1949 in the heart of Argentina’s premium wine district, Mendoza. From humble beginnings, they grew to produce nearly one million cases of wine, half of which is sparkling from their 1,000 acres of vineyards.

The winery is currently owned by the Squassini Family, direct descendants of the original founders. In their quest to produce the finest wines possible, they enlisted the famous Paul Hobbs as their consulting winemaker. Paul is renowned worldwide in the Wine Industry as one of the finest international winemakers on the planet.

Hobbs has worked as a winemaker for Opus One and Simi. He later advised such names as Peter Michael, Fisher, Lewis, and Catena, among others. He founded Paul Hobbs Winery in 1991 and nowadays is one of the most renowned flying wine consultants in the world.

Our selection is nothing short of a world-class Malbec from the country, which does it better than anyone else. Here are all the explosive characteristics of great Malbec from Mendoza.

The stunningly dark and imposing color signals the dense flavors to come and does it ever. Dark chocolate combined with blackberry and leather form a massive combination. That would love roast leg of lamb on a mesquite fired rotisseriefinished with garlic and caramelize shallots or a charred steak topped with onion rings and sitting on pureed hominy doused with garlic and fresh mint.

ID: L0420R1IF Comparable Price: $17.98 Reorder Price: $13.49

“ mal BEK ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

Acacia,Peach

Guava, Melon

Now through 2022

Rich Pasta, Veal, Fowl

Very Pale

LivelyCitrus

Our selection is made and imported by the Opici Winery. Their story began in 1899 when Battista Opici traveled from Italy to New Jersey with his wife and sons. His son, Joseph, and his wife, Esther, began working in the wholesale beverage industry in 1913. They imported wines from Italy and sold them throughout the city of Paterson. For twenty years, the business grew steadily. But in the early 1930s, the Opicis fell on hard times as the Depression and Prohibition hit.

After struggling through, they managed to save enough money to buy land in Cucamonga and establish their first winery in 1939. After serving in WWII, Joseph’s son, Hubert, rejoined the family business and reconnected with his family roots in Italy. It was there that the Opicis began importing wines from their homeland like our Alverdi Pinot Grigio.

The winery is located in the Terre Degli Osci appellation of Abruzzi. It is so small that it doesn’t even show on the World Atlas of Wine. But, that’s probably all for the better as they can spend their time making wine instead of entertaining tourists.

Pinot Grigio is one of the most planted grapes in Italy. It is grown in every province and made in every style. Most of those made in the South, are heartier with more flesh and body. Ours is such a selection. The weight on the palate and bold flavors make it a natural with compelling dishes like pasta Puttanesca or Osso Buco atop a saffron risotto.

ID: V0420W2II Comparable Price: $18.99 Reorder Price: $12.49

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Classic PG from Terre Degli Osci. ” – PK

ALVERDI2017 PINOT GRIGIOTerre degli Osci, Italy12.4 % Alcohol by Volume

“ PEE • noh GREE • joe ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



98

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE” Smooth expression of Cotes du Rhone. ” – PK

LES COLLINES 2017 CÔTES DU RHÔNE

A.O.C. Côtes du Rhône, France13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

Lilac, Spice, Cherry

Rich, Medium Tannins

Now through 2027

Grilled Meat

Very Deep Purple

Exceedingly Long

Leon Perdigal was born in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so it’s safe to say he was born into wine. When Mason Ogier was founded in 1859, Perdigal was their first winemaker and the first to age their wine in oak barrels. As a result, Ogier became one of the most heralded wineries in the region.

He founded Leon Perdigal, which is now run by his fifth generation. However, the bond between Ogier and Perdigal has lasted for over a century as they still share the same winemaker in Armelle Barbanson.

Armelle has undoubtedly made a name for herself in this almost male-dominated arena and as a result, so has Perdigal. She has retained the use of oak barrels, which adds a softer dimension to the wines and actually lowers the alcohol slightly. In other words, it’s all good.

Our Cotes du Rhone is made precisely as Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made except a different area. Those areas could be next door, but the appellation draws a very serious line. The grapes here are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault and could easily be considered Chateauneuf until one sees the price.

Les Collines translates to the hills, the finest part of their vineyard. This offering from the spectacular 2107 vintage is everything you could expect and more.Thunderous cherry, spice, licorice, and earth would rip through the saddle of lamb cooked on an open pit or a veal chop with porcini mushrooms.


“ coat • do • roan ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



CHÂTEAU BRIOT2015 BORDEAUX 97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE” Great Bordeaux at this price…yes please. ” – PK

Raspberry, Spice, Vanilla

Lush Plum, Cassis

Now through 2030

Red Meat, Game

Deep Garnet

Medium to Full Tannins


Château Briot is part of the Ducort family of chateaux. The company was founded in 1858 by Pierre Ducort in Entre-Deux-Mers, basically the middle of the Bordeaux appellation. Eventually, the company built 14 châteaux in six different appellations covering over 1,000 acres.

The family has held on through wars, depressions, and the vagaries of the wine business and now controls a vast empire of chateaux in the most recognized name in the wine world, Bordeaux. One thing about companies with this kind of history is they never forget their humble beginnings, trials, and tribulations. And they make sure every generation is brought up to speed and held accountable.

Briot is one of the Ducort’s flagship properties. It consists of 100 acres with equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon under the direction of Philippe Ducort. The grapes are harvested just after sunrise, while it’s still very cool. They are then brought to the château and are placed on a conveyor belt where workers remove the leaves and under-ripe grapes before they go into the crusher.

Once crushed, the temperature is lowered to 40º where the grapes can very slowly extract color and flavor from the skins. This process is only done in spectacular vintages, and 2015 is certainly recognized as such. Lesser vintages would accentuate the tannins and produce too much tartness in thewine. Here they balance the lovely fruit that would make it a fine foil roast squab with dried cranberries or wild boar cooked in juniper.

A.O.C. Bordeaux, France 13.0 % Alcohol by Volume

“ bore • DOH ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES






value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Great Gasconge.. ” – PK

DOMAINE DE RIEUX 2018 CÔTES DE GASCOGNE

A.O.C. Côtes de Gascogne, France10.5 % Alcohol by Volume

Peach, Pear, Granite

Lovely Floral

Now through 2022

Seafood, Fowl

Very Pale

Citrus Edge

Not only is the Côtes de Gascogne, one of our favorite places for white wine. It is one of our favorite places for brandy, namely Armagnac. Rieux is owned by Chateau du Tariquet a producer of very fine Armagnac. The same grapes are used for both, Ugni Blanc and Colombard. It was first formed in 1912 by the Artaud Family but upended by the WWI. Then it was purchased several times before until the Grassa Family acquired it, unfortunately just before WWII. You have to hand it to these people. They don’t give up.

Finally, Pierre Grassa was able to make fine Armagnac, but so did many others, and sales began to slow some 20 years ago. Grassa experimented with making white wines from his Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes and Voila! Rieux was born as was new wine, Côtes de Gascogne.

It was an instant hit. Nobody ever knew just how incredible these two rather ordinary grapes, grown all over the world, could make such an astonishing wine. Ugni Blanc is known as Trebbiano in Italy and is the most prolific white in the country. Colombard is grown all over California for mainly jug wines. But, in Gascogne, they create magic.

Obviously, it’s the soil, and though there is no technical explanation, who really needs one? Here they produce luscious exciting wines with balance and beauty to absolutely rock with scallops with tomato and chives or Cajun catfish.

ID: L0420W3IF Comparable Price: $25.00 Reorder Price: $14.99

“ coat • deh • gask • on • nay ”





Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ One of my favorite whites…always ” – PK

A.O.C. Côtes du Rhône, France13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

Floral, Fruit, Spice

Extracted Lilac, Peach

Now through 2022

Seafood, Vegetarian

Very Pale

Spicy Flecks, Tropical

Leon Perdigal was the son of a master cooper in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As such, he hung around winemakers discussing the properties and limitations oak brings to the wine. He became so knowledgeable about the subject that when Mason Ogier was founded in 1859, he was installed as their first winemaker. To no one’s surprise, he was the first in the area to age his wines in oak barrels.

Over 150 years later, the Perdigal family still uses oak barrels and even share a winemaker with Ogier, Armelle Barbanson. She is one of the few women winemakers here and, to no one’s surprise, one of the best. She may also be the only female winemaker to craft a white wine in the Rhone.

White wine in the Rhone Valley accounts for less than 5% of the wines made here. But, that’s no reason to ignore them. They are spectacular and probably so because they are so rare, and winemakers take particular interest in making them perfect. Our selection is nothing short of a perfect example.

Armelle uses no oak here to preserve the natural freshness and character of each grape. The grapes are Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Viognier. A rather unique mix in that the complexity of flavors is staggering. From spices to flowers to fruit and soil, here is a heady mixture that would foil all comers from grilled salmon to spicy Portuguese smoked sausage.

ID: L0420W4IF Comparable Price: $22.99 Reorder Price: $14.99

“ coat • do • roan blonk”

LES COLLINES 2017 CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Mel Masters is the master. ” – PK

Apricot, Peach

Full Flavors

Now through 2022

Fish, Fowl, Vegetarian

Fresh Pink

Touch of Citrus

ID: R0420R1IF Comparable Price: $15.00 Reorder Price: $10.00

LE CHARMEL2018 ROSÉ

If you met Mel Master of Winesellers Ltd., you’d never guess how successful he’s been. Successful people aren’t usually that interesting, that jovial and that much fun to hang out with. Well, Mel’s been hanging out with us since the beginning, 48 years ago, and it’s as much fun today as it was then.

Mel started in the wine business in his native England but saw a bigger market in the United States. In the beginning, he brought in French wines that of great values. One day he came to the store and announced that he and his lovely wife, Janie, are moving to Provence and opening a winery. We thought he was kidding. He wasn’t.

He established Les Jumelles soon afterword, and it didn’t take long for that brand to become one of the most significant imports in the U.S. Mel would be the first to tell you that it’s no secret. You put out a great wine at a great price, and people will buy it. He now imports wine from no less than 14 countries and is probably the only guy around who we would consider buying wine from without even tasting it. That’s how good they are.

This beauty made from Cabernet Franc and Gamay comes from the Loire Valley, an area that runs neck-in-neck with Provence for making the best rosés in the world. The fresh peach and cherry blasts from the glass and begs to be consumed with either smoked salmon or mussels in a saffron broth.

Loire Valley, France 13.0 % Alcohol by Volume






Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ First 2019’s I loved. ” – PK

LA DOMITIENNE2019 GRENACHE GRISIGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, France13.0% Alcohol by Volume

Stone Fruit, Citrus

Expansive Fruit

Now through 2023

Seafood, Fowl, Vegetarian

Pale Pink

Floral, Citrus

La Domitienne is part of a massive coop, though privately owned by the Bonfils Family, a significant force in the Provence wine culture. The name comes from the road the Romans used to control Gaul, which today is known as France.

Very few wine areas in the world have risen in prominence in the last 30 years as much as Provence. The relatively warm temperature produced alcoholic, coarse wines that were used as blending agents for other areas in France. The only problem was that the wines were sold for less than they cost to produce.

Entrepreneurs like the Bonfils began acquiring small producers to assemble a united group that would concentrate on quality instead of quantity. What they discovered was the area had more diversity in soils than they had ever imagined and began a massive data collection process to isolate each of them.

The result was the plantings of over 100 different varietals that were new to the region and they have adapted better than what was already there. Grenache Gris was one of those new varietals introduced. It is also known as Grenache Blanc, a grape that has literally exploded on the scene in France, Spain, Italy, California, and Australia. Gris means “gray” and refers to the slightly darker skin than most white grapes. Just a little contact with the skin, and you have that lovely blush color.

Ours is true to form with outstanding bursts of tropical fruit, orange peel, and peach. It’s perfect with chicken piccata or crab cakes.

ID: R0420R2IF Comparable Price: $25.00 Reorder Price: $15.00

“ Grey • NOSH gree ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96CHÂTEAU PASCAUD2015 BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR

A.O.C. Bordeaux, France 14.5% Alcohol by Volume


WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Bordeaux value at its best. ” – PK

Violets, Plum

Rich, ExtractedBlackberry

Now through 2030

Red Meat

Very Deep Purple

Long, Medium Tannins

ID: B0420R1IF Comparable Price: $22.00 Reorder Price: $13.50

Château Pascaud was built in 1892 as a primarily vacation spot. It had architecture with a cross between an English country house and a luxury Mediterranean villa. At the time, they didn’t even have vineyards.

After all, this is Bordeaux, the most famous wine region in the world. Some years later, the estate was purchased by the Averil family. They purchased the adjoining vineyard and a new Bordeaux estate was born.

The Averil’s spent considerable time improving the vineyards and adding winemaking equipment. The fifth-generation owner, Bernard Averil, has just completed a similar task and made the estate sustainable as well.

Location in Bordeaux is critical. Just a few feet can make a difference as to how the wine is designated. Because the vineyard crosses two borders, it cannot be labeled after a place of origin, though it is mostly in Fronsac and very close to Saint-Émilion. As a result, Pascaud can’t get the prices those other châteaus get, but that doesn’t mean it’s not in the same league.

Two things come into play here. First, the 2016 vintage will be considered one of the finest in Bordeaux. It isn’t yet because 2015 is still getting all the accolades, but it’s just a matter of time.

This beauty is 80% merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and exhibits all the grace and style of Classified Growth Bordeaux from the dense color and earth tones to the lilting berry. Perfect with Chateaubriand and Lyonnaise Potatoes.





Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



Sometimes the label doesn’t give you all the essential information. We know that Laurets comes from the spectacular 2015 vintage and is in a sub-appellation of Saint-Émilion, all of which provides us with great anticipation.

The chateau was built in 1860 and enjoyed an excellent reputation for nearly 150 years when it was purchased by Edmond de Rothschild of Chateau Latour. Once that is thrown into the mix, the lens narrows down to a very fine point as it doesn’t get any bigger than those two names.

As good as the wines were before, they are even better now. Along with the Rothschild name comes the responsibility and the expectations that what is in the bottle is extraordinary no matter where the grapes came from, and they never fail to deliver.

The average age of the vines is 25 years, and they are spaced very close together, which means there are almost twice as many vines per acre than what you’d find in most vineyards. It also means each vine need only produce about half the grapes to get the same yield. Like any agricultural product, less is more. The less produced, the more the flavor.

The result, of course, is monumental. While still a powerful experience, Laurets also exhibits the subtlety range of great Bordeaux to enhance any dish from pork loin in a mustard sauce or a wedge of Stilton.

ID: B0420R2IF Comparable Price: $34.99 Reorder Price: $29.00

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Château Bordeaux that is classic. ” – PK

CHÂTEAU DES LAURETS 2015 BORDEAUXA.O.C. Bordeaux, France 14.5% Alcohol by Volume

BlackCherry

Dense Plum, Chocolate

Now through 2030

Red Meat

Very Deep Crimson

Spice and Cassis


97

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



96

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Full expression of area. ” – PK

CHÂTEAU LA ROSE DU PIN2018 BORDEAUX BLANC

AOC Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France13.0 % Alcohol by Volume

Granite, Chalk, White Peach

Swirling Peach, Lime

Now through 2022

Shellfish,Fowl

Very Pale

Long, Extracted

When scientists hear the word limestone, they think of sedimentary rock, fossilized sea matter, and calcium carbonate. Say chalk to a teachers, and they think writing. Say these words to a wine person, and we get thirsty. Add Sauvignon Blanc, and we get really thirsty.

That’s the grape and soil makeup at La Rose du Pin, and it doesn’t get any better. There’s something about this combination that is magical, and they should know. They’ve been making wine for over 150 years, and their 35 acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon prove it.

La Rose du Pin is in the center of Bordeaux, known for its spectacular white wines grown in the Entre-Deux-Mers, “between two seas.” That’s not just a name which reflects its geography; it also says how special this place is. Grapes love to be grown on land that was formerly a body of water. The remains of what lived in that water are some of the best soil on Earth in which to grow them, especially Sauvignon Blanc.

The grapes here are picked early in the morning and immediately crushed with skin contact for 24 hours. This procedure helps intensity the flavors and, along with the soil, present a gripping finish. The stone fruit and dried fig mix with mango and guava to offer an unbelievable array of flavorsto match sautéed shrimp with ginger and lime or crab coquettes in mint pesto.

ID: B0420W1IF Comparable Price: $27.00 Reorder Price: $16.99

“ bore • DOH BLONK ”

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES






value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



SALVESTRIN 2014 RED BLEND 97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ First time I have tasted… in love. ” – PK

Dark Plum, Licorice

Dense Fruit, Dark Chocolate

Now through 2030

Red Meat

Opaque Purple

Blueberry, Spice

ID: N0420R1DC Comparable Price: $35.00 Reorder Price: $24.00

John and Emma Salvestrin emigrated from Cavaso, Italy, in 1932 to purchase their home in Napa, complete with a 23-acre vineyard. That St. Helena vineyard was initially planted in the 1850s by Doctor George Crane as a place of respite. The vineyard added a little income to the estate, so all was well. At his passing in 1889, he had amassed over 100 acres of grapes. Over the years and through the torture of Prohibition, the property was parceled off to various owners. The Salvestrins purchased the original 23 acres and named it Dr. Crane Vineyard in commemoration.

What is interesting here is that it wasn’t until 1994 when the third generation made their first wine, manned by Rich Salvestrin. The winery was constructed in 2001, but is wasn’t unti 2012 when they made their first wine from Dr. Crane Vineyard.

Our Cavaso selection was named after the town, located in Trentino, where the grandparents of the current generation hailed. It is nothing less than a classic homage to Napa and particularly to one of the oldest vineyards in the state. The blend is 61% Merlot, 31% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The finished wine was aged in 35% new French and American oak for 18 months so that all the flavors could integrate. The result is as complex as imaginable throwing dark fruit and silky texture at very turn and just waiting for pork tenderloin in a mustard sauce pinched by tarragon.

Napa, California14.8 % Alcohol by Volume

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Great Napa value. ” – PK

TYROS 2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Napa Valley, California14.5 % Alcohol by Volume“ CAB • burr • NAY SAW • veen • YON ”

Black Currant, Plum, Spice

Soft Cherry, Vanilla

Now through 2028

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

Red Meat

Very Deep Purple

Everlasting

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

A very unique winery crafts our Tyros selection in the Oak Knoll district of Napa, Silenus. It is the brainchild of Scott Meadows, a University of Utah grad who worked in Tokyo, creating language learning software for Apple. Wine was becoming very popular, and when he had his first glass of Château Latour, it was game over. He now wanted to speak the language of wine.

He moved to Napa in 2001 and eventually founded Silenus. Because of his background and learning from place to place on how to make wine, he decided to create one for others. So, though Silenus makes its own wine, they invite others to share in, learning, and producing as well, a joint effort. It’s similar to a coop, except with more interaction between those involved.

This brings us to Tyros. It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. The grapes came from three separate vineyards in Napa, all with their own personal imprint on the wine. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 28 months in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new.

Aging in oak does two things. It adds a spice and vanilla dimension, but if overdone it can add too much and obscure the flavor. That’s why only 50%was new. It also reduces the alcohol because alcohol evaporates quicker than water. By doing so, it allows the wine to age more gracefully. Try with a venison loin in a tart cranberry sauce and enjoy! ID: N0420R2DC

Comparable Price: $39.99 Reorder Price: $25.00





Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



98

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Firm backbone…big wine. ”– PK

Floral, Spicy,Guava, Peach

Forward Stone Fruit, Citrus

Now through 2025

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR


Medium Yellow

Almost Endless

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

Cliff Lede founded his winery in 2002, creating a spectacular estate vineyard and winery in the heart of Napa. He spared no expense in hiring the best people in the industry to plan and plant his vineyard, build his winery, and eventually make his wine.

You don’t need a calculator to figure out the difference between planting Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley. Basically, you can charge more than double for the Cabernet. So, one must be so committed to Sauvignon Blanc as the money is secondary. Cliff has that commitment, and it shows in the wine.

Two-thirds of the wine was fermented in oak barrels and then transferred to stainless steel to get just a hint of oak. It was then aged on the tiny bits of pulverized seeds and skin to pick up the gripping mouthfeel.

Our selection is the result of three different grapes—first, the classic Sauvignon Blanc, then Musqué Clone of Sauvignon Blanc and finally Semillon. The classic Sauvignon Blanc is the backbone of the blend, establishing structure and acidity. The Musqué adds its signature aromas and flavors of fresh-cut flowers, spice, and pear, and the Semillon contributes the fig and guava.

The complexity here is almost exhausting. It enters and descends on the palatein a constant swirl of exotic flavors and textures. It demands demanding foods, rich sauces, and the like. Scallops in Beurre Blanc, Black Cod in cilantro and mint pesto, or just a roasted chicken with rosemary would shine through.

ID: N0420W1DC Comparable Price: $27.00 Reorder Price: $22.00

CLIFF LEDE2018 SAUVIGNON BLANCNapa Valley, California14.2 % Alcohol by Volume“ Sew • Veen • YON • Blon ”





Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: ______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ The famed Dodger manager hit this out of the park. ” – PK

Dark Cherry, Mint, Truffle

ImposingPresence

Now through 2028

Fish, Fowl, Game

Deep Magenta

Long & Lovely But Subdued

Ask any baseball fan from any city, who are the two most popular Dodgers in history, and most of them would get it wrong. One of them never played in a game, while the other played 60 years ago.

With all the great names in Dodger history like Duke Snyder, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, and Jackie Robinson, most fans would choose announcer Vin Scully and Tommy Lasorda.

Lasorda is well known for all the hilarity, World Series rings, and famous rants. But actually, Lasorda came from a family of restaurateurs and home winemakers. So it comes as no surprise that owning a winery is about as natural as bunting with a man on second and no outs.

Lasorda has used the same strategy as a famous manager to make great wine; hire the best people you can. That strategy lead him to Terry Culton, a 20-year veteran winemaker who has embraced Pinot Noir as his go-to grape and excelled in making them in California’s most suitable appellations. But, Napa wasn’t one of them. Terry and Tommy decided to check out other places and chose Monterey. It wasn’t a tough choice, as many of the best Pinot Noirs come from Monterey, and we all know Lasorda’s best take on the best.

Grapes were picked at optimum ripeness and went into an arduous, coldfermentation lasting twice as long as normal. Thus bringing out all the flavor of this gem to hit the ball out of the park. A perfect pair with grilled salmon and tomato coulis or rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic.

ID: P0420R1DC Comparable Price: $33.00 Reorder Price: $29.00

LASORDA FAMILY WINES2017 PINOT NOIRPaso Robles, California14.5 % Alcohol by Volume


Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



value SCORE*97

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Solid value. ” – PK

AIKEN 2014 PINOT NOIRRussian River Valley, California 13.0 % Alcohol by Volume

Violets, Spice, Cherry

Rich Cherry

Now through 2030

Fish, Game, Vegetarian

Very Deep Crimson

Medium Tannins

Joel Aiken always thought he’d be a farmer and enjoyed the thought. He set his sights on Fresno State, one of the best agriculture schools in the nation. Since most of his friends were going to Davis, Joel changed his mind and, once seeing the wine program at Davis, changed his mind about his future.

He worked the harvest at Inglenook in 1980 and then went back to Davis for his master’s in biology. After graduation, he landed an enology position at BV, working with the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff, who had retired ten years earlier but still consulted.

Aiken knew he was in a special company and used it to acquire as much information from Andre as he could. After all, it was Tchelistcheff who made the first Cabernet of note in the Napa Valley, Beaulieu Vineyards Private Reserve, in 1936. As a result, Joel advanced to winemaker at 28 and became the youngest winemaker in BV history.

His legendary status made him an instant celebrity. He was called on for advice so many times that he ended up starting his own consulting business and making wine when he found exceptional grapes. Such was the case with our selection.

It was Sonoma Mountain were Joel found those grapes and crafted this fantasticwine. Here is mountain fruit at its best with penetrating presence of cherry and plum, spice, and vanilla match all comers from swordfish diablo to chicken cacciatore.

ID: P0420R2DC Comparable Price: $55.00 Reorder Price: $35.00


points

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: _______________________________ Date:___________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


PREPARATIONSprinkle salt and pepper on skin and score with a sharp knife being careful to not break through to the meat. You should score the width and length of the breast making about ¼ inch squares.

Let rest in fridge for 4-5 hours or even overnight. Place at room temperature for 1-2 hours.

Place breast skin side down on a medium heat cast iron skillet for about 8-10 minutes you should be able to see most of the fat has rendered away from the skin. Turn over. You should notice a golden brown color on the skin.

Cook for 3-5 minutes until instant read thermometer reads just under 130 degrees drain on paper towel for 10 minutes. Should be served medium to medium rare or it can be tough.

PREPARATIONPound chicken breasts to ¾ inches. Season flour with salt, pepper and cheese, drench cutlets until well coated.

Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces. Brown each side, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan. Place breasts on a rack over a roasting pan, keep warm in a 225°F oven while you prepare the sauce.

In the same pan, heat stock, wine, lemon juice, capers, on medium heat and reduce by half, stir in butter. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.

Remove chicken from oven, poured sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with parsley and server.

RECIPES CELLAR NOTES

Crispy Skin Duck BreastServes: 2

INGREDIENTS2 duck breastsalt and pepper

Serve with Villa San-Juliette Sauvignon Blanc, or Rieux Cotes de Gascogne.

Serve with Suspicion Merlot, Dante Robino Malbec or Perdigal Cotes du Rhone.

Chicken PiccataServes: 3 - 4

INGREDIENTS4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves½ cup flour¼ tsp. salt 1 pinch ground black pepper3 tbs. grated parmesan cheese4 tbs. extra virgin olive oil4 tbs. butter¼ cups. chicken stock¼ cups. dry white wine¼ tbs. lemon juicel and zest from 1 lemon¼ cups. brined capers, rinsed2 tbs. freshly chopped parsley

A report on how previous selections are faring with age. Obtained from actual tastings of wines under optimal storage conditions.

CLASSIC SERIESApril 2018: Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015. Crusted Pie. Still going strongGrenache Blanc, 2015. Zaca Mesa. Drink or holdSyrah, 2013. Zaca Mesa. Drink or hold.Chardonnay, 2014. Pacific Oasis. Ready.

April 2019 :Red Blend, 2011. Sassenage. Ready.Pinot Grigio, 2017. Discoveries. Drink.Zinfandel, 2015. Piledriver. Drink or holdSauvignon Blanc, 2018. 2 Copas. Perfect now.

VINTNERS SERIESMarch 2019:Malbec, 2015. Finca Saurez. Drink or hold.Cotes Du Rhone, 2015. Dom Des Espeirs. Years to go.Ventoux, 2015. Cave Beaumont. Still great.Ventoux, 2013. Cave Beaumont Prestige. Best now.Chardonnay, 2017. Terre Eulalie. Drink or hold.Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013. Tylers Curveball. Ready.Gruner Veltliner, 2015. Circum. Drink up.

March. 2020:Petit Verdot, 2017. The Big Red Wine Beast. Years to go.Chardonnay, 2016. Roald Wine Company. Perfect now. Chianti Classico, 2016. Tiziano. Drink or hold.Riesling, 2017. Cartagena. Perfect.

LIMITED SERIESApril 2018:Cabernet Sauvignon\Carmenere, 2015. Key. Great now.Bordeaux, 2011. Brun-Depagne Heritage. Drink or hold.Sylvaner, 2013. Albert Hertz. Drink.Pinot Gris, 2015. David Hill. Ready.

April 2019:Malbec, 2017. Kilhix. Years to go.Ventoux, 2015. Cave Beaumont. Drink or hold.Ventoux, 2013. Cave Beaumont Prestige. Ready.Rose, 2018. Dom. Cala Bertrand. Ready.Albarino, 2017. Porta Da Ria. Best now.



ROSE SERIESHand curated Rosés from all over the world. A Rosé lover’s dream.

pure Organic SERIESThe newest in wine categories, these are curated from all over the

organic/biodynamic vineyards of the world.

BORDEAUX SERIESFrom the most prolific district in the world come wines from my favorite chateaux.

NAPA SERIESFrom the backroads of the Napa Valley come these hard to find versions.

SWEET SERIESLight, fresh and lively are these wines with a sweet edge.

CALIFORNIA SERIESA red wine only club that features great California wine

values across many styles.

PINOT NOIR SERIESPinot Noir lovers will forever remember the worldwide

examples of this club series.

“After tasting over 100,000 wines, I have learned to choose only the best representations of the grapes and growing regions.”

-Paul Kalemkiarian 2nd generation owner

Try one of our specialty wine series

value SCORE*

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH



WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Pedigreed wine… declassified. ” – PK

MOSKETTONV ROSATOItaly5 % Alcohol by Volume

Peach, Musk Oil

Raspberry

Now through 2021


Lovely Pink

Light, Refreshing

Our selection is more than a lovely, light, and refreshing wine. It’s a lesson in Italian wine laws. To guarantee the quality, the G in the DOCG, you have to limit quantity. But, too often, Mother Nature doesn’t go along, and that’s when things get a little complicated.

This wine is made in the commune of Asti, which is part of Piedmont, and home to one of its most famous wine, Moscato d’Asti. They also make a red version, Brachetto, and a rosé, which is a blend of the two. By law, they can only make so many gallons of wine off their vineyard. If you make more, you can’t call it any of those names. You can’t even say it comes from Asti. But, you can charge a lot less for it.

Our selection is just that. It has all the pedigree of the higher-priced model but slips in under the price point. The Moscato and Brachetto of Asti are two of the hottest selling wines in America now. Their slight sparkle, low alcohol, and refreshing sweetness seem to fit everyone’s palate.

And that’s what we have here. Mosketto is a blend of the words Moscato and Brachetto. Apparently, the laws don’t cover that. It’s made at Cuvage, the largest winery in Piedmont. Their resources are substantial, which allows them to bring us this lovely offering. It features peach and apricot flavors, citrus notes, and spice to match anything from crab cakes with tomato aioli or fish and chips.

ID: S0420W1II Comparable Price: $24.00

Reorder Price: $15.00

“ roe • ZA • toe ”

98

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: ________________________ _______ Date:_________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

______________________ ______________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES


value SCORE*

WHY I CHOSE THIS WINE“ Pure quality from Armenia ” – PK

KARAS NV MUSCATArmavir, Armenia12.0 % Alcohol by Volume

Musk, Apricot

Full Tropical

Now through 2025

NOSE

PALATE

CELLAR

Cookies, Lemon Pie

Medium Gold

Ingratiating

PAIRING

COLOR

FINISH

Do you think France has a wine history? Do you think Italy has a wine history? Fuhgedd-aboud-it! Armenia has been making wine for 6,000 years. The oldest winery ever discovered was discovered here. You could say they taught the rest of the world how to make wine, and it would be tough to argue.

When the Iron Curtain fell, Armenian families couldn’t show the world their incredible wines. One of those was the Eurnekian family who founded the Karas Winery in Armavir. Juliana Eurnekian, President, was eager to share with the world the story of Armenia with her wines. Karas is Armenian for amphora, the clay pots that were used to store the finished wine.

Armavir is one of the perfect areas in the world to make wine. It is 3,000 feet above sea level where the air is as pure as possible. The soil is almost all rock, making it impossible for anything else to grow there, even weeds, except grapes. And the vines couldn’t be any happier. There is barely enough soil wedged between the rocks, but just enough for the roots to keep digging deeper to find water, all the while sending nutrients to the branches on the surface.

Muscat is the oldest grape there is. It was the first grape made into wine, and basically, every other grape is a descendent of Muscat. Ergo it is highlyrevered here. Its pungency is its trademark. The musk oil and wild peach scent signal the body and flavor to swallow. This would elevate almond cookies to a new level or be the finishing touches to lemon bars topped with cherries.

ID: S0420W2IM Member Price: $24.00

Reorder Price: $14.00

“ MUSS • Cat ”


95

* value score: the points awarded to a wine compared to wines tasted of the same price, region and varietal.

Wine : _______________________________________________________

Color: ________________________ _______ Date:_________________


_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

______________________ ______________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Overall Rating: _______________(1-100)

TASTING NOTES






I can only say amazing

W I N E O F T H E M O N T H C LU B | 320 W C H E S T N U T AV E , M O N R O V I A , C A 91016


A P R I L 2 0 2 0

@Wine of theMonth Club @WineoftheMonth

In 1972, a young man, Don Schliff was hired as the first sales representative of what is now a mainstay of wholesale wine in Los Angeles, Wine Warehouse. Sound engineer turned wine salesman, Don had much to experience. One of his first accounts was my father’s store, Palos Verdes Wines and Sprits. A relationship with my father started that has endured through Don’s entire career, where he advanced to President of the organization for many years. Dons love of Port wine, led him to begin collecting Ports has culminated into one of the greatest collections of Porto in the WORLD. Our tenure together landed me an invitation to what Don billed as Decades of Tasting with only enough of some of the rarest vintages available in the world to allow 40 very exclusive guests, I was one of them. I sacrificed the first half of the Super Bowl to attend, and Don aptly renamed the event “The Super Bowl of Port.” One question I get quite frequently is, “how would a 100-year-old wine taste?” I can now confidently answer “incredible!” Let me clarify, regular still wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot will not survive 100 years. Thus, the age of the bottle becomes collectability, not the character. Port, however, because it is fortified with wine spirits during the process of manufacturing, can and will last. Well, the oldest wine we tasted Sunday was from 1834 or 185 years old, and it was fabulous. Not just because it was that old, meaning that the age component was essential to the character, but the wine was just flat out gorgeous.

T H E P U R E W I N E C L U B S E R I E S

T A S T E T H E D I F F E R E N C E

CONTINUED >>

Paul kalemkiarianOwner/cellarmaster

We started at 1834 and went thru 1844, 1851, 1858, 1870, 1887, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1931, 1945, 1955, 1963, 1970, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2011, 2017 and one mystery wine! Each was unique and each was forcing one to find new descriptive terms. Thankfully, there were the who’s who of the port wine world to walk other wine dignitaries and me through the tasting. Richard Mayson (noted Porto authority) commented that this was probably one of the greatest Porto tastings ever assembled. Oh, and just for fun, I had a great conversation with Wolfgang Puck (he created the days’ meal). Did I mention the Champagne? As an aperitif, we had Krug

’ .

160-year Edition in Jeroboams (6 regular bottles). And at intermission, Jacquart Brut Mosaic, of course, there was intermission, can’t taste 20 something ports without a break! More to come, but I did want to mention that the accumulated value of the wines was $57,630!! Guess it was worth half the Super Bowl! (anyway, the exciting part was the second half ).

Salud,


T O E N S U R E U N I N T E R R U P T E D D E L I V E R Y O F Y O U R H A N D S E L E C T E D W I N E ,

P L E A S E U P D AT E Y O U R C R E D I T C A R D A N D / O R S H I P P I N G I N F O R M AT I O N O N L I N E AT:

www.womclub/update or call us at

1.800.949.9463


SEND US YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SHIPPING & TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS

“Chef Wolfgang Puck”“Richard Mayson”

Nose

Palate

Cellar

Pairing

Color

Finish

V A L U E S C O R E *


Why I Chose This Wine



VILLA ILANGI2016 ROSSO TOSCANAI.T.C. Tuscan, Italy14.0 % Alcohol by Volume

VIOLETS, CHOCOLATE, CHERRY

LINGERING CHERRY, SPICE

NOW THROUGH 2030

RED MEAT, GAME

MEDIUM MAGENTA

MEDIUM TANNIN

Our story began in 1936 with the family settling in Casignano, just a few miles outside of Florence in Tuscany. Concetta, with a wise business sense, and Nicolas, a breeder/farmer, set the future for their family with their farming.

All was well until WWII decimated the country and wreaked havoc, which took decades to resolve. It wasn’t until 1977, when Nicola’s son, Camillo, purchased a small property from the Antinori family. The property had a history of wine production going back 500 years; Thus, Villa Ilangi was conceived.

The family had survived on determination, and they were determined to continue. A bold and significant decision was made to farm their grapes organically, which was unheard of at the time, but the time seemed right.

So, with little training and no experience, they set out to do what very few had accomplished, and they did so magnificently. Villa Ilangi is a testament to their work ethic and determination. It is now considered one of the pioneers in organic farming in Tuscany. Where now, most of the properties are farmed as such.

Our selection is the purest expression of organic farming. It is the past, present, and future of Tuscany. This blend is 60% Sangiovese, which is the backbone of Chianti, with 10% each of Caniolo and Colorino, stalwart Chianti grapes, and Cabernet Franc. The result is a spectacular amalgam of flavors that would be a perfect accompaniment to roast loin of pork seasoned with sage and garlic.

Item ID: U0420R1II Reorder Price: $18.00

“ roe · so toss · KAH · nah “

96

“ LOVE ITALIAN ORGANICS ” – PK

OrganicSustainable

T A S T I N G N O T E S

WINE

COLOR DATE

TASTING COMMENTS

D E S I G N A T I O N S F O R T H I S W I N E

MINIMAL INTERVENTIONDRY-FARMEDSUSTAINABLE

HAND-HARVESTED NATIVE YEASTSORGANIC

NO/LOW SULFUR

Nose

Palate

Cellar

Pairing

Color

Finish






FILODIVINO2015 LACRIMA DI MORRO D’ALBALacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC, Italy13.5 % Alcohol by Volume

BERRY, PLUM, ANISE

DENSE FRUIT

NOW THROUGH 2030

WILD GAME, RED MEAT

VERY OPAQUE

STRONG, PENETRATING

This is probably the most spectacular winery we’ve ever seen. It is built entirely underground. Instead of being pumped, which introduces oxygen, the wines are gravity fed from destination to destination until bottled. The procedure is overseen by winemaker, Matteo Chiucconi, who was born and bred in the Marche region.

There are a few wineries that operate mostly underground for that reason, but we’ve never seen one entirely subterranean. Of course, with that kind of dedication, you can only imagine what the wines are like. One of the significant advantages is temperature. It never gets too hot or too cold, so the amount of additional energy to improve either is minimal. Add to that a completely organic vineyard, and you are as close to perfection as conceivable.

As if that were enough of a story, then there’s the grape. Lacrima Di Morro D’alba was as close to extinction you could get. In 1985 there were 2.4 acres planted in all of Italy. It was through the efforts of wineries like Filodivino, which translates to “divine thread,” that this grape has seen a resurgence and now covers 250 acres in 10 different appellations of the country.

One taste and you’ll understand why. It is very dark, which would signal a big, dense wine. But, it delivers a much more supple offering with flashes of wild strawberry and currant to shine on a marinated flank steak with garlic and fennel or lemon roasted lamb leg seasoned with sage and oregano.

“ la · cree-mah de mo · roe · dal · ba “

96

OrganicSustainable

Item ID: U0420R2II Reorder Price: $18.00

“ WHEN IN ITALY! “ – PK



WINE

COLOR DATE

TASTING COMMENTS

NO/LOW SULFUR

ORGANIC HAND-HARVESTED NATIVE YEASTS

MINIMAL INTERVENTIONSUSTAINABLE

Nose

Palate

Cellar

Pairing

Color

Finish






CA’ RUGATE 2017 SAN MICHELESoave Classico DOC, Italy12.0 % Alcohol by Volume

GUAVA, KIWI, APPLE

RICHLY TEXTURED

NOW THROUGH 2022

FISH, FOWL, VEGETARIAN

VERY PALE

VERY LONG, SWEEPING EXTRACT

The history of Ca’ Rugate centers around the hills of Rugate in the famed region of the Veneto in northeastern Italy. The Tessari family harvested cherries, plums, peaches, and almonds in the 1930s, and the word Soave was just a town, not a wine destination.

But, it did have an indigenous grape, Garganega, which would become better known than any other fruit. The Tessari’s had a few vines of Garganega and decided to try their hand at making wine from it. Others joined in, and a movement began.

Soave became so popular that many of the producers added another, less interesting grape, Trebbiano, which was plentiful and cheaper to grow. When it became its own appellation, Trebbiano was allowed in the blend, but it wasn’t mandatory. The Tessari’s would have none of that.

In 1986 the third generation produced their first wine Labeled Ca’ Rugate, which in Romanian translates into “prayer” made from 100% Garganega, as it is still made today.

The grape is grown on volcanic hillsides where the yields are low and the quality high. It is fermented in stainless steel with a touch of skin contact to give it penetrating mouthfeel. Because of it’s lively fruit flavors of guava, peach, and kiwi, the added skin contact allows the characters to linger longer on the palate. The impression of weighty flavors are just made to go with a shrimp cocktail or even a Caesar salad.

“ SWAH · vay CLAHS · see · coh “

95

OrganicSustainable

Item ID: U0420W1IIReorder Price: $15.00

“ MY FAVORITE WHITES NOW ORGANIC “ – PK


WINE

COLOR DATE

TASTING COMMENTS


ORGANIC HAND-HARVESTED NATIVE YEASTS

MINIMAL INTERVENTIONSUSTAINABLE NO/LOW CARBOHYDRATES

Documents

I can only say, “amazing.” In 1972, a young man, Don ... · I can only say, “amazing.” In 1972, a young man, Don Schliff was hired as the first sales representative of what