WineLife March 2010

WineLifePuerto Rico

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Guía de Compras

Galería de Fotos: Festival de Vinos Colegio San Ignacio y Amigos de Vinos de España Tour 2010

Prensa: Alvaro Palacios en Decanter y Paul Draper en NY Times

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C o n t e n i d o

4 Nuevos vinos:Angeline

6 NY TimesPaul Draper

10 DecanterAlvaroPalacios

Guía deCompras30 X $30 23 Galería

Social

14A surtirla neveritade la semana

www.plazacellars.com

191859 Angeline California Pinot Noir 2008 $20.7590 | Beverage Dynamics “Rated 90 - A blend of vineyards from Mendocino, Sonoma Coast, the Russian River Valley and Santa Barbara; the palate is full with flavors of strawberries, raspberries and cherry cola, finishing with tea and spice; a pinot that tastes like a pinot; great value.”

191856 Angeline Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $26.50Medalla de Oro San Francisco Chronicle 2010 Wine CompetitionRich black cherry and plum flavors are layered with hints of vanilla, creamy oak and cassis that linger on the palate.

191860 Angeline Russian River Merlot 2008 750 $24.75Medalla de Plata San Francisco Chronicle 2010 Wine Competiton

191857 Angeline Sonoma Pinot Noir Mendocino 2008 750 $26.50Bright flavors and aromas of wild blackberries, cherry and vanilla with subtle oak accents.

191858 Angeline Sonoma Chardonnay 2007 750 $24.75“A pure, vibrant Chardonnay, with crisp flavors of lush peach and apple, balanced by hints of creamy oak.” -WEMedalla de Oro San Francisco Chronicle 2010 Wine CompetitionTop Value y 88 | Wine Spectator

Les presentamos...

Una bodega que en ha demostrado compromiso con el entorno, la calidad y el bolsillo del consumidor, a la vez que ha conseguido importantes distinciones al competir entre sus vecinos. Les invitamos a que descubran estas etiquetas y nos digan su opinión de Angeline.

4

Dossier

“Bye-bye, sugar-laden mystery juice, au revoir, watered-down junk in a box. Thanks to sustainable winemaking technologies and increased competition, populist vintners like Wente are offering complex varietals at nonruinous prices..”

Por menos de $20 les recomendamos

Wente Cabernet SauvignonSouthern Hills 2006 / $15.75

Wente MerlotSandstone 2005 / $15.75

Wente ChardonnayMorning Fog 2007 / $15.75

hay más enwww.plazacellars.com

The PourLetting a Grape Be a GrapeBy ERIC ASIMOVPhotos by Noah Berger for The New York Times

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(CUPERTINO, Calif.) HERE at the rustic wooden head-quarters of Ridge Vineyards, nestled 2,400 feet up in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Silicon Valley, the winery is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, prac-tically an eternity in the California wine business. Most wineries seize anniversaries as an opportunity for market-ing and promotion and Ridge is not immune, assembling a small group of wine writers and sommeliers for an in-depth, historical tasting of its top wines.

Ordinarily, I pay little attention to such events. But for half a century, Ridge has made one of California’s greatest cab-ernet sauvignons, Monte Bello, in a remarkably consistent style independent of the twists and turns of fashion. Ridge has also been the leading standard-bearer for zinfandel, which has likewise followed a serpentine path of styles.

Perhaps because of its longevity and its consistency, and because its wines are actually available to consumers, Ridge tends to be taken for granted, its achievements not-ed dutifully even as attention shifts to the new, the expen-sive and the scarce. That seemed reason enough to spend an afternoon visiting Ridge before the celebration.

Over the last few years I’ve had the opportunity to drink Monte Bellos covering a range of 40 vintages. The 1970 is one of the greatest California cabernets I’ve ever drunk, beautifully balanced and graceful with a pronounced min-erality and the sort of herbal accents that are routinely denounced in California but which I think are integral to good cabernet.

Meanwhile, the latest release, the 2006, offers all of these qualities, along with the gentle fruit and violet flavors and aromas that you would expect to find in a young wine. In an era when cabernet growers pick grapes ever riper for wines of great power, fruit magnitude and impact, Monte Bellos remain focused and intense yet, above all, balanced.

Not that Monte Bello hasn’t evolved at all. The first vin-tage, 1962, cost $3.50 a bottle. It’s now up to $145, though

it is still cheap next to other elite wines. (The vineyard-designated zinfandels are more approachably priced, from $25 to $35.)

Over time, Ridge has refined its approach in the cellar, treating the youthful wine more gently so the tannins are softer and less imposing. One thing that hasn’t changed: Ridge’s reliance on American oak for its barrels, rather than the French oak that is standard for almost all leading California cabernets. In its style and the methods by which it is made, Monte Bello manages to bridge Old World and New.

In many ways this is a testament to Paul Draper, Ridge’s chief executive and winemaker, who is marking the 40th anniversary of his affiliation with the winery. For as much as Ridge wines display the greatness of place — Monte Bello as well as its two primary zinfandel vineyards in So-noma, Geyserville and Lytton Springs — Ridge’s success also affirms the greatness of Mr. Draper’s vision of apply-ing traditional European techniques to wines that demon-strate the potential of California.

Indeed, it may seem odd to celebrate Mr. Draper, who at-tributes his success to what he calls “non-action.”

“Our main thing is to allow grapes to show their character rather than imposing our will on them,” he told me as we looked out over the dormant cabernet vines awaiting their winter pruning.

Noninterventionist winemaking has become one of the great modern marketing clichés. But Mr. Draper’s beliefs are grounded in preindustrial techniques practiced by Eu-ropeans for centuries: rely on natural yeasts for fermenta-tion, use minimal amounts of sulfur dioxide as a stabilizer and otherwise do as little as possible beyond gently guid-ing the transformation of grape juice into wine.

Crucially, he also believes that wine’s place is on the ta-ble with food, which explains why, year in and year out,

Monte Bello’s alcohol content hovers around 13 percent, even as other top California cabernets break the 15 percent level. Its zinfandels are higher in alcohol, naturally, but not as high as the full-bore, high-octane zins that top most critic’s charts.

Here in the Santa Cruz Mountains, cabernet and the other Bordeaux grapes in the vineyard cannot achieve the high levels of ripeness typical of grapes grown in the warmer parts of Napa Valley. Warm air wafts over from the San Francisco Bay, fending off the fog and cold that blow in from the Pacific and moderating the temperatures just enough to ripen the grapes.

Apparently not enough for some critics. In his blog last fall, James Laube, who covers California for Wine Specta-tor, suggested that the cool climate made for reds that were too green and herbal to suit his taste. It was an opinion that stung Mr. Draper.

“We’ve always made wines that we loved to drink,” he said. “We’ve never made for the market. Luckily, people have always bought our wines.”

Mr. Draper has always contended that he knew nothing about making wine when he joined Ridge in 1969. The winery was founded in 1959, which makes both anniver-saries a bit approximate. Four scientists from Stanford Re-search Institute bought 80 acres on Monte Bello Ridge, including an abandoned winery and a mature vineyard. Without training, they made wine and liked the results so much that they went into business.

Mr. Draper, born in the Midwest and educated at Choate and Stanford, had served in Army intelligence in Italy, where he developed his taste for fine wine and food. After his discharge and further work for the government, Mr. Draper and two partners began an economic development project in Chile. Among other things, they had the idea of creating a model winery, making first-class wine that could be exported for hard currency.

When the partners determined that the political climate in Chile would not support a profitable enterprise, Mr. Drap-er returned to California with the cabernet he had made. The Ridge partners, impressed by its quality, invited Mr. Draper to join them.

Mr. Draper had no formal training, either, so he took as his guiding light an 1883 manual written by E. H. Rixford, who coincidentally planted a cabernet vineyard in the San-ta Cruz Mountains that became legendary as La Questa. Cuttings from La Questa were the basis of the original Monte Bello vineyard, planted in 1886 by Osea Perrone, an Italian doctor from San Francisco.

Even today, getting to Monte Bello requires a harrowing 4.4-mile drive of narrow hairpin turns around which one can only pray a truck is not barreling. Whatever possessed somebody, I asked Mr. Draper, to plant a vineyard up here?

“They were Europeans,” he said. “You grew grapes where nothing else would grow.”

Mr. Draper, who will turn 74 next week, has made few concessions to age. He still moves easily up and down the old steps of the restored three-level winery, where the original 19th-century redwood joists and limestone walls are covered in the sort of black mold common in ancient European cellars but rare in California. His new Acura is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, and he doesn’t plan to rest on his laurels.

“Every year we’re trying to learn something that will push us 1 percent or 5 percent forwards,” he said, “and it’s gone on for 40 years.”

Original article online at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/dining/03pour.htmlPublished: March 1, 2010

Paul Draper has been the winemaker at Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino, Calif., for 40 years.

Más laureles para RidgeJusto cuando estábamos en el cierre de esta edición de WineLife, recibimos un correo electrónico desde la bodega, informándonos de las últimas puntuaciones publicadas en el boletín de Robert Parker.

Para pre-órdenes y más información, llámenos al 787 781 2070 X1339. Para el portfolio en inventario visítenos en www.plazacellars.com

Alvaro Palacios

ALVARO PALACIOS

Press

DECANTER ( U.K.)

March ‘10

SPANISH WANDERS

By Beverley Blanning MW

La entrevistade

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“Yo sólo creo en los grandes vinos clásicos de Europa, pero éso lo aprendí cuando viajé fuera de España”

-Alvaro Palacios

“La bonita Ermita”; así se refiere el “Delfín del Priorat” a su afamada viña.

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Cantidades limitadas. Precios válidos del 15 al 31 de marzo.Para ordenar por teléfono, 787 781 2070 X1399 | Por web: www.plazacellars.com

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196008 Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose $34.50 |$28.00| 93|WS“A rosé with serious intentions, it has a delicate pink hue and floral aromas of strawberry and spicy yeast rolls. The flavors show good focus, offering raspberry, Gala apple, ginger and fig flavors. Drink now through 2012.”The Mirabelle Brut Rosé is a specially crafted blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Schramsberg’s select cool-climate vineyards in Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coastal areas of Northern California. Pinot Noir lots, including a few fermented with skin contact, provide brightness of berry fruit and body, while Chardonnay lots lend length and zest to the palate. Additional flavor depth and aromatic complexity results from the blending of base wine lots aged in barrels and tanks for one or more years. The finished Brut Rosé exhibits fresh, elegant and toasty aromas that lead into lively and delicious fruit flavors on the palate. -Winemaker’s notes

194070 Eroica Riesling 2007 Columbia Valley $31.75 |$25.75| 95|CG95 points, three stars and a “Top 10 Wines of 2008” designation from the Connoisseurs’ Guide: “Taking its accustomed place at the head of the class as it has in so many past vintages, this latest rendition from Chateau Ste. Michelle and Ernst Loosen is a remarkable wine of impeccable balance and stunning depth. Slightly sweet and buoyed by fine fruity acids, it smells of honeysuckle, white peaches and minerals and follows with long, compact, layered flavors that presently only hint at the richness to come. Top-notch Riesling is capable of great beauty and complexity with age, and, we have no doubt that the greatness lurking here will gradually become more and more evident with time. GOOD VALUE” (09/08)

“The 2007 Eroica Riesling, made in collaboration with the Dr. Loosen estate in Germany’s Mosel region, is light to medium straw-colored with fragrant aromas of spring flowers, mineral, and honeysuckle. Crisp and just off-dry, in a Kabinett style, it delivers flavors of melon and pineapple. The wine is balanced and vibrant and may well evolve for several years in the manner of a top German Mosel Kabinett. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 5-7 years.” 91|RP

“Bright and juicy, with bracing acidity against lightly sweet, expressive pear, apricot and quince aromas and flavors, remaining vibrant as the finish persists.” 91 & Smart Buy |WS

196506 Adegas Galegas Veigadares Rias Baixas 2007 $28.75 |$23.25| 90|RPThe 2007 Veigadares is composed of 85% Albarino, 10% Treixadura, and 5% Loureiro fermented and aged in French oak for six months. This ambitious Albarino (these wines rarely see oak) is light gold in color with a slight green tint. It offers up an attractive bouquet of baking spices, mineral, and lemon meringue with the oak nicely integrated. It has a creamy texture, excellent depth of flavor, and a fruit-filled finish. Drink this well made Albarino over the next 2-3 years.

Código Vino y Año P. Reg |ESPECIAL| Prensa

30 x $30WS Wine Spectator | RP Robert Parker | ST Stepehn Tanzer | WE Wine Enthusiast | WRO winereviewonline | *D Estrellas Decanter

MC Canada Mondial | W&S Wine & Spirits | JH James Halliday | AA Argentina Awards | CGC Connoisseurs Guide California

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193699 Joseph Drouhin Laforet Chardonnay Borgoña 2007 $19.67 |$15.93|“Laforet has a bright and golden-green hue. The wine is very aromatic, full of life and fruit. It has fresh and crispy notes, with crushed grapes and almond flavors. This is a wine to enjoy young, either alone as an aperitif or with light meat or any seafood.” -Winemaker’s notes

Este vino es muy solicitado por los dueños y sumilleres de los restaurantes más finos por ser un excelente embajador del tipo de chardonnay que se disfruta a diario en su región de origen. En muy pocas ocasiones tendremos la oportunidad de ofrecerlo a este excelente precio.

190215 Trimbach Riesling Alsace 2007 $26.75 |$21.75| 91|WS#55 Top 100 Wine Spectator Wines 2009 / “This subtle Riesling offers a finely woven mix of white peach and crushed pine needle flavors, with hints of brine and smoke. There’s racy acidity, but it’s well-meshed, and a mineral note lingers on the delicate finish. Drink now through 2015.”

194012 Ch Ste. Michelle Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2006 $20.00 |$16.25| 87|WSThe magical combination of sun, soil & water - the “terroir” of Washington state’s world class growing region produces Chardonnay that is rich, complex and always welcome on the palate. A harmony of flavors - apple, citrus and subtle oak - are integrated through barrel aging. “Sur lie” aging (extended yeast contact) creates a soft, appealing mouthfeel.

197403 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2008 $30.50 |$24.75| ¡Muy popular!“This Sauvignon Blanc seamlessly combines lush, mouth-filling fruit with refreshing acidity. The aromas highlight bright citrus notes of lemon zest, grapefruit and kaffir lime, underscored by subtle hints of pear and dried apricot. Echoing the aromatics, the palate reveals vibrant citrus layers complemented by more subdued tropical elements of banana, coconut and lychee. 76% Sauvignon Blanc, 24% Sémillon.” -Winemaker’s notes

194027 Frogs Leap Chardonnay, Carneros 2006 $33.00 |$26.75| 90|WE“There’s something Chablisian about this Chardonnay. It’s partly the acidity, which is high, and partly the gunmetal minerality, courtesy of another cool vintage in the southern Napa/Carneros region where the grapes were grown. Add in oak-infused pineapples, peaches and pears, and you have a fairly significant wine that could even benefit from some years in the cellar.”

193211 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses 2007, DOQ Priorat $36.50 |$29.50| 93|RP60% Cariñena, 30% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah “The 2005 Les Terrasses is sourced from a biodynamically farmed vineyard. This purple-hued wine offers an already complex bouquet of mineral, pencil lead, scorched earth, leather, and black cherry. This is followed by a full-flavored wine with layers of ripe fruit,




silky tannins, and a smooth palate-feel. Although it can be enjoyed now, it has enough stuffing to evolve for several years and drink well through 2017. It is also a great value in Priorat, a rarity these days.”

193214 Camins del Priorat 2007, DOQ Priorat $26.50 |$21.50| 90|ST“Complex, highly aromatic nose melds zesty red berries, minerals, flowers and Asian spices; smells a lot like a sexy pinot noir.”

El nuevo vino de Álvaro Palacios, un vino con 8 meses de crianza en roble, procedente de viñedos con muy diferentes exposiciones y edades varias (entre 10 y 50 años). Plantados en laderas pronunciadas y terrazas de suelo pizarroso en las localidades de Gratallops, Porrera, Torroja, Les Vilelles, Bellmunt, El Molar, El Lloar plantados entre 350 y 600 metros de altura. 30% Garnacha, 60% Cariñena, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon /Syrah

196327 Condado de Haza, Crianza 2006, Ribera del Duero $30.75 |$27.75| 92|STBright ruby. Vivid raspberry, blackberry, anise and floral scents are fresh and pure. Juicy dark berry flavors are complemented by succulent herbs and dark chocolate, becoming sweeter with air. Leaves strong floral pastille and berry liqueur notes behind, finishing with excellent cut and precision. Very nicely focused wine.

193711 Miguel Torres Cordillera Tinto, Curicó 2003 $20.75 |$16.75| Oro|MCIntense dark ruby colour, with hints of purple and mahogany on the edges. Warm and dense aroma reminiscent of spices and forests. The elegant palate has silky tannins and notes of fruit (blueberry and blackcurrant jams) over a background of rich vegetal and spicy tones (clove, tobacco, pepper). Barrel ageing has added touches of vanilla and smoke. The varietal character of the old Cariñena vines is outstanding in the long and intense aftertaste.

194084 Erath Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2006 $27.00 |$22.00|The ‘Oregon’ Pinot Noir bottling is the cornerstone of the Erath wine portfolio. A blend of different vineyard sites from the northern Willamette Valley, this wine is a fruit forward, ready-to-drink style of Pinot Noir. New oak was used sparingly so as to not mask the purity of fruit. Two-thirds of the fruit used in this wine is from our estate vineyards located in the Dundee Hills viticultural area. Our goal with this wine is simple a great Pinot Noir at a very reasonable price. Black cherry aromas, underscored by sweet mandarin orange, greet the nose as warm, clove-laced vanilla wafts gently among subtle hints of anise and caramel. The wine opens on the palate with more hints of sweet black cherry, which flows seamlessly into a supple silkiness. A long, clean fruit-filled finish is punctuated by a playful wink of youthful tannin. -Winemaker’s notes

194804 Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot, Napa Valley 2004 $38.75 |$29.00|Sourced entirely from our Napa Valley estate vineyards including Rutherford, Carneros, Stags Leap and Oakville, this wine consists of Merlot (86%), Cabernet Sauvignon (11%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). This Bordeaux style blending contributes structure, complexity and ageability to the wine. This full-bodied Merlot opens with sweet, concentrated aromas of cherry and dark berry, woven with spice, currant and slight cola



MC Canada Mondial | W&S Wine & Spirits | JH James Halliday | AA Argentina Awards| CGC Connoisseurs Guide California

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notes. The mid-palate is round and sweet, revealing layer upon layer of dark berry, currant, dried cranberry, blueberry and allspice, with a lingering finish fueled by firm tannins and toasty oak character. Very nice with Abbaye de Belloc cheese. -Winemaker notes

197506 Ch St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2005 $34.00 |$27.75| 87|RPCabernet Sauvignon (88%) blended with Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%) / “Inviting aromas of blackberry, black tea and wildflowers begin the nose of this Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is concentrated and structured with sweet, dark berry fruit and elegant, round tannins.” - Winemaker’s notes

199097 Filsell Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2004 $36.33 |$29.43| 87|STGrant’s Filsell vineyard with near century-old vines, is considered one of the best vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and consistently produces fruit of great intensity and concentration. Planted in the early 1920’s this vineyard also produces the fruit for Grant’s flagship Shiraz, the highly acclaimed Meshach; with Filsell known to loyal followers as the wines younger brother. “Dark red. Spicy, herb-accented red berries and cherry on the nose, with a deeper tobacco note adding complexity. Taut, minerally cherry and cherry pit flavors are braced by firm tannins and bright acidity. Youthfully wound up on the finish, which features a musky licorice quality. Will time in bottle bring more pliancy? ”

190454 Chateau Teyssier Chateau Teyssier, St Emilion 2006 $36.00 |$29.25| 90|RP“The 2006, which I did not review in my report published in issue #181, is an outstanding success as well as a sleeper of the vintage. Its dark ruby color is accompanied by plenty of black fruit, licorice, earth, and spice characteristics. It should drink nicely for 8-10 years.” -Robert Parker

192478 Dolium Petit Reserva Malbec, Mendoza 2006 $24.00 |$19.50|100% Malbec con 12 meses, 80% en Barrica de Roble y 20% en Tanque de acero inoxidable.

193723 Alto Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva 2007 $30.75 |$25.00| 91|WS“A dark, lush style, with a dense core of plum sauce and crushed blackberry fruit laid over velvety tannins. The long, toast- and black licorice-filled finish carries some heft, but stays nicely balanced. Drink now through 2010.”

190477 Envoy GSM Barossa Valley 2006 $36.00 |$29.25| 91|JHThe Barossa Valley is a store of old vines coupled with an extended number of grape varieties that produce ripe, fruity, modern wines. The traditional mix from the Southern Rhone excels in the Barossa Valley – the home in Australia of old bush-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre. Handpicked before being transported to the winery in shallow trays, the grapes are double-sorted before vinification. The wine is aged for a year in French and American oak barrels. -Winemaker’s notes


30 x $30WS Wine Spectator | RP Robert Parker | ST Stepehn Tanzer | WE Wine Enthusiast | WRO winereviewonline| *D Estrellas Decanter


“The shiraz component adds some structure to the blend, but the flavours are essentially driven by the grenache. All of these wines have elements of Southern Rhône.” 91 | JH

“Deep ruby. Red and dark berries on the nose, with exotic floral and incense qualities adding complexity and lift. Medium-bodied raspberry and blackberry flavors are energetic and strikingly precise, with dusty minerality adding grip to the back end. Clean, racy and focused, with very good finishing lift and cut.” 91|ST

“The 2006 Envoy GSM is composed of 50% Grenache, 30% Shiraz, and 20% Mourvedre. Dark ruby-colored, it delivers a fragrant perfume of earth notes, mineral, wild cherry, and blueberry. Smooth textured, savory, and concentrated, this tasty wine will blossom with another 2-3 years of cellaring and offer prime drinking from 2010 to 2018. The Colonial Estate is the Australian project of Englishman and Bordeaux chateau owner Jonathan Maltus. His first vintage in Australia was 2002. The entry level wines are line-priced at $30 offering excellent bang for the buck. “ 91 |RP

190710 Chateau Greysac Haut Medoc 2005 $27.00 |$22.25| 89|WS“Has a very pretty nose of Indian spices, currant and Christmas pudding. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, caressing finish. Best after 2011.”“... Very attractive nose. Blackcurrant, coffee, bitter-dark chocolate and charred oak. Big, bold, expressive. Drink 2010-13.” - 4(of 5) Stars Decanter

192029 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2006 $25.75 |$21.00| 89|RPThe 2006 Chianti Classico is especially round in this vintage. The wine shows gorgeous transparency in its perfumed fruit, sweet herbs and flowers, with excellent persistence and a long, refined finish. As always, this is a fresh Chianti with plenty of verve, and it will offer its most enjoyable drinking at the dinner table. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014. Proprietor Paolo De Marchi is one of Tuscany’s most inspired growers. As is often the case, the wines are very strong across the board.

194501 L’Ecole 41 Syrah, Columbia Valley 2003 $31.00 |$25.25|This Washington’s Columbia Valley Syrah shows opulent blackberry and plum fruit with blueberry and brambly flavors of raspberry and blackberry, with spice and pepper notes on a richly structured finish. -Winemaker’s Notes

105244 Belle Glos Meiomi, Sonoma County 2008 $31.00 |$25.25|Meiomi is the Wappa and Yuki tribal word for “coast,” and it symbolizes this Pinot’s source: the wild expanse of Sonoma Coast from Mendocino County to Marin. Deep garnet color. Luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla. The complexity of the palate smoothly




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layers rich red currant notes and baking spice flavors with light smoke, earth and leather. A balanced, velvety texture and supple tannins carry the wine through to a lingering, succulent finish. -Winemaker’s Notes

195407 Calera Pinot Noir, Central Coast 2007 $30.00 |$24.50| 88|RPFrom Robert Parker: “Another fine bargain is the 2007 Pinot Noir Central Coast, also produced from fruit grown in three different counties. Proprietor Josh Jensen ferments it with 50% whole clusters and ages it in primarily neutral French oak. There are nearly 16,000 cases of this wine, which exhibits plenty of sassafras, damp earth, soft plum, currant, and pomegranate notes, a deceptive light to medium ruby color, loads of flavor, silky tannins, and a luscious, sensual finish. Drink it over the next several years.” -Robert Parker“Firm and complex, with spicy wild berry, currant and mineral notes that are focused and concentrated. Represents a solid value in Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2014.” 88|WS

193909 Silverado Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2004 $36.00 |$29.25| 90|WRO“This seamless Merlot from Silverado is a throwback to the style of Merlot that inspired the Merlot fad of two decades back. It’s plush and mouthfilling, with soft, ripe tannins, lovely red-fruit aromas and a long, dazzling finish. The Silverado has all of that and a wonderful floral note on the nose that just sets up the entire pleasurable experience.” - Roberty Whitley, winereviewonline.com This Stags Leap District winery, located on a knoll just above the Silverado Trail, is perhaps best known for its pricey, Limited Reserve Cabernet. But they make a pretty mean and remarkably affordable merlot, too. The 2004 vintage (89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon) walks the wine between savory and sweet, with nutty, spicy aromas balancing out sweet fruit and kirsch that follows onto the palate. Medium-bodied with a solid mid-palate (the merlot is supported by an 11% dose of cabernet sauvignon), this wine is approachable now, but structured enough to age for the short-term. Drink it while you’re waiting for your Limited Reserve Cabernet to mature.

103131 Montecillo Gran Reserva Rioja 2001 $29.50 |$24.00| 91|WENotas de bodega: De profundo color teja, intenso, limpio y brillante. De complejos aromas a crianza con notas balsámicas y recuerdos a especias y regaliz. De gran cuerpo, potente y robusto aunque elegante y muy equilib-rado. Largo aterciopelado y sabroso al retrogusto. Muy vivaz y persistente. Sólo los viñedos de mayor edad y en cosechas excelentes o muy buenas, pueden producir uvas capaces de dar vida a vinos con semejante intensidad, concentración, maduros taninos, riqueza aromática y larga vida. Es necesario domar estos vinos durante más de 3 años en barrica bordelesa de roble francés, antes de proceder a su embotellado y posterior afinado en botella. Sólo los más grandes vinos del mundo tienen capacidad de soportar tan larga crianza.




192259 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 2008 $28.50 |$23.00| Nueva añadaCastello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino is a wine of noble origins and impressive original thinking. Made from 100% select Sangiovese clones, Rosso di Montalcino is considered Brunello’s younger sibling. Rosso di Montalcino is aged less than its elder counterpart - 12 months in wood (half in French oak barrique and half in Slavonian oak casks) followed by at least 6 months in the bottle before release. It is deep ruby-red in color with a dry, round, velvety taste and generous body - characteristics similar to those desired in a great Brunello.

“A delicious, fragrant rosso with generous red fruits and an engaging personality.”-From Robert Parker’s Wine Bargains

192672 Pulenta Estates Gran Cabernet Franc Mendoza 2006 $32.50 |$36.25| 96|RP“The prodigious 2006 Pulenta Gran Cabernet Franc is a glass-staining opaque purple. The aromatics are nearly ethereal with the complexity of a great Saint-Emilion. Exotic spices, wild blueberry, and mineral notes intertwine and mesmerize. Once on the palate, the wine is layered, plush, and voluptous. The wine’s sweet fruit is perfectly balanced by silky tanning and the finish lasts for over a minute. It will benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and provide pleasure through 2026. The price makes it a sensational value.”

193321 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec Reserva 2007 $22.00 |$18.00| Oro |AA“The 2007 Malbec Reserva is purple-colored with a brooding bouquet of violets and black fruits. Chunky and slightly rustic on the palate, the wine does not lack for fruit. Layered and rich but lacking complexity, this will satisfy the senses more than the intellect. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. Frenchman Jean Bousquet had a winery in Carcassonne before moving to Argentina 15 years ago. He purchased his land in 1997 and Domaine Jean Bousquet’s first harvest was in 2002. His vineyards are certified organic and the wines are all estate bottled. Current production stands at 100,000 cases with 30% going to the USA.” -erobertparker.com




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Galería SocialEn este edición compartimos momentos de dos importantes encuentros. En primer lugar, la cata de Ignacio Arzuaga durante el Festival de Vinos de San Ignacio y estampas del festival. Y la visita de los miembros de la sociedad Amigos de los Vinos de España quienes pasaron una velada fabulosa entre amigos miemtras disfrutaron de excelentes etiquetas de vinos españoles. A esta cita también asistió el señor Arzuaga, como figura especial de la ocasión. Más fotos en www.winelifepr.com ~WL

Nombre: _______________________________________________________________________________

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Código Vino Año P. Reg ESPECIAL Orden

LISTADO DE ESPECIAL DE 30 x$30 DEL 15 al 31 de MARZO, 2010. CANTIDADES LIMITADAS.PARA ORDENAR: TEL 787 781 2070 x 1339 / FAX 787 783 6475 / www.plazacellars.com

ESPUMOSOS196008 Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose NV $34.50 $28.00 _________

BLANCOS 194070 Eroica Riesling Columbia Valley 2007 $31.75 $25.75 _________196506 Adegas Galegas Veigadares Rias Baixas 2007 $28.75 $23.25 _________ 193699 J. Drouhin Laforet Chardonnay Borgoña 2007 $19.67 $15.93 _________ 190215 Trimbach Riesling Alsace 2007 $26.75 $21.75 _________194012 Ct Ste Michelle Chardonnay Washington 2006 $20.00 $16.25 _________197403 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2008 $30.50 $24.75 _________194027 Frogs Leap Chardonnay Carneros 2006 $33.00 $26.75 _________

TINTOS193211 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrases Priorat 2007 $36.50 $29.50 _________193214 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat 2007 $26.50 $21.50 _________196327 Condado de Haza, Crianza R Duero 2006 $30.75 $27.75 _________193711 Miguel Torres Cordillera Tinto Curicó 2003 $20.75 $16.75 _________194084 Erath Vineyards Pinot Noir Oregon 2006 $27.00 $22.00 _________194804 Pine Ridge Crimson Crekk Merlot Napa 2004 $38.75 $29.00 _________197506 Ch St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma 2005 $34.00 $27.75 _________199097 Filsell Shiraz Barossa Valley 2004 $36.33 $29.43 _________190454 Chateau Teyssier St Emilion 2006 $36.00 $29.25 _________192478 Dolium Petit Reserva Malbec Medonza 2006 $24.00 $19.50 _________193723 Alto Las Hormigas Malbec Reserva 2007 $30.75 $25.00 _________190477 Envoy GSM Barossa Valley 2006 $36.00 $29.25 _________ 190710 Chateau Greysac Haut Medoc 2005 $27.00 $22.25 _________192029 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2006 $25.75 $21.00 _________194507 L’Ecole 41 Syrah, Washington 2003 $31.00 $25.25 _________105244 Belle Glos Meiomi Sonoma 2008 $31.00 $25.25 _________195407 Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast 2007 $30.00 $24.50 _________193909 Silverado Vineyards Merlot Napa 2004 $36.00 $29.25 _________103131 Montecillo Gran Reserva Rioja 2001 $29.50 $24.00 _________192259 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 2008 $28.50 $23.00 _________192672 Pulenta Estates Gran Cabernet Franc Mendoza 2007 $36.25 $23.00 _________193321 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec Reserva 2007 $22.00 $18.00 _________

WineLife March 2010

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