Wines:
Skins
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Limited Release Wines
These wines have received numerous awards at winemaking competitions throughout North America. Only available by pre-ordering. For details, call/email Clarkson Vine today!
December 2011
Hang Ten - Muscat Symphony/ Sauvignon Blanc/ Chardonnay
2 - 0 - 1
The Region: California
Tasting Notes: A luscious blend with flavours and aromas of peach, apricot, baked apple and pear. This soft white also has a hint of tropical fruit. The wine is a #1 in sweetness, but don't let that put you off as this helps it pair well with spicey foods like Epicure pulled pork, BBQ sausage and mild Thai food along with medium Swiss Gouda.
Food Pairing: Pair your Hang Ten with Lobster Bisque, BBQ sausage or Baklava.
January 2012
Toro - Monastrell/ Tempranillo/ Cabernet Sauvignon 3 - 4 - 0
The Region: Spain
Tasting Notes: It is difficult to envision Spain's culture without their famous icon – the bull or 'Toro' as it is known in Spanish. A Toro is bold, aggressive and intense - a fitting name for this unforgettable and powerful wine. Red ripe fruits with a little bit of anise, hay/straw, dried prune, cherries and blackcurrant entice the nose. Coffee with black pepper or dried leaves are layered with the sweetness of fresh cherries and strawberries.
Food Pairing: Smoked Gouda, beef fajitas, Epicure onion and bacon cheeseball,and braised or roast lamb.
Bella Sonoma Vineyard - Pinot Noir
The Region: Sonoma Coast, California
Varietal Profile: The Sonoma Coast is California's "hottest" Pinot Noir region because it is California's coolest temperature wine region where soils are generally demanding with high rock, gravel and clay content. These conditions result in low crop yields and wines which are concentrated, complex and elegant with ageing and attracting a rush of new plantings within the region. The Bella Sonoma Vineyard in the south-west part of the region has rocky, shallow soil and was planted 15-16 years ago with a variety of Dijon clones. It is heavily influenced by marine fogs which flow freely inland though the Petaluma Gap keeping temperatures low for ideal flavour development.
The Wine: This bright ruby-hued wine is medium-bodied with classic aromatics dominated by bright cherry, fresh raspberry, elegant spice and subtle notes from medium toast Hungarian oak introduced post-fermentation. The palate shows more cherry, a suggestion of black fruits and licorice with a balance of vibrant coastal acidity and fine tannins.
Ageing: Sensory refinement and elegance will begin to develop after 12 months and should continue through the third or forth years of cellaring to become a very special Pinot.
Food Pairing: With moderate tannins and bright coastal acidity the wine will compliment a wide range of foods - from white fish to beef steaks and most dishes in between. Classic pairings include coq au vin, duck, pheasant, rabbit, salmon, shellfish, and smoked foods. Of course, it is also the first choice as a red, social sipper for your special guests. Don't fuss it – just serve it!
Mid-January 2012
Washington - Meritage
The Region: The Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) is Washington's smallest, at approximately 3,600 acres. Grape growing conditions are almost textbook perfect: slope, exposure, weather conditions, good air drainage, large day/night temperature swings, gravelly soil with high calcium carbonate content and high pH, and the nearby Yakima River to moderate temperature extremes – there could hardly be more positive flavor influences to grapes grown here.
The Wine:A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine features great extract, deep color and intense aromatics of dark berry fruit, cassis, peppery spice, cedar and smoke. The seductive nose of this wine foreshadows magnificent texture and flavor, including dark berries, licorice, vanilla and warm brown spices that glide across the palate. The texture and mouthfeel of the wine offer up silky tannins and a velvety smooth structure.
Food Pairing: Marinated & Grilled Flank Steak with Blue Café De Paris Butter.
Sweetness Code: 0 (Dry)
Late-January 2012
South African - Sauvignon Blanc
The Region: Known as "Valley of Wine and Roses," South Africa's Robertson Valley has a very hot climate with minimal rainfall—less than a foot per year. Luckily the calcareous red clay loam and clay Karoo soils have excellent water-holding capacity, and the gentle slopes and varied microclimates allow for precision planting to maximize grape quality.
The Wine: Semillon Sauvignon Blanc has wild, herbaceous flavors and tart, grapefruit-like character, which shows strongly in the young wine, while Sémillon has flavors of honeydew melon and sweet honey that take a bit longer to come out. Together the two grapes make a lush, balanced wine with great up-front fruit and a satisfying, rich finish.
Ageing: The citrus notes of the Sauvignon Blanc make this wine tempting to drink right away and after three months the Semillon will rise up to give a mellower white wine. It will improve for at least a year, giving deeper flavors of melon and honey as it goes.
Food Pairing: Pan Roasted Digby Bay Scallops, Jewel Yam Purée, White Truffle Oil & Salsa Verdé.
Sweetness Code: 0 (Dry)
February 2012
California - Petite Sirah/ Zinfandel
(Encore – Limited Edition 2005)
The Region: Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Amador County is sometimes called "California's Piedmont." With vineyards running from 250 to 2,900 feet in elevation, and summer temperatures ranging from 80 to over 100 degrees F, the excellent growing conditions have encouraged diversified plantings.
The Wine: Grippingly tannic, bold and deeply colored Petite Sirah complements the jamminess of Zinfandel, taming the abundant blueberries and blackberries with a hint of dark cherry and vanilla. Full-bodied with a lingering palate and peppery spice, this is a wine of unprecedented power and length.
Ageing: This is a wine that shows best with ageing. After one year the blackberries will come out and at two years will tame the tannin's grip, showing the black pepper and rich dark fruits.
Food Pairing: Apple Cider Brined Thick-Cut BBQ Pork Chops.
Sweetness Code: 0 (Dry)
Erickson Farm - Nebbiolo
Madera, California
The Barolo Varietal: The Nebbiolo grape is most famous for being the primary varietal in Italian Barolo and Barbaresco wines. It has also been slowly making inroads in California vineyards.
We have been running trials with Nebbiolo grapes from Erickson Farm in Madera, California for nearly a year and are pleased to now offer you the chance to discover Nebbiolo in our take on an American-style Barolo in this year's Limited Release program.
The Wine: Captures the classic profile of Barolo and Barbaresco. It is indeed a very BIG wine with deep, brooding red colour, dense and traditional in style with highly extracted ripe fruit, dark spice, tobacco notes, high alcohol and very pointed tannins that give a sense of power and majesty.
The secret that enabled us to achieve this lofty profile was found when we introduced some rich Syrah juice from Rattlesnake Valley Vineyard in Yakima Valley, Washington into the main bladder and blended Yakima Syrah skins with the Nebbiolo skins into the crushed grape pack. Fermentation on robust crushed grapes seems to be essential to make this blend achieve the levels of intensity that is found in Barolos.
Ageing: The assertive tannins do demand that this wine be aged at least a year (most Italian Barolo or Barbaresco wines require 5-10 or more years before they are considered approachable) but the rewards for patience are high. After a year the cherry fruit aromas and flavours begin to show balanced integration with the spice notes, the 2- stage Hungarian oaks, the maturing tannins and the elevated alcohol level. Further ageing will pay further rewards but the wine does retain its signature chewy, dry texture.
Food Pairing: game meats (venison, duck, and pheasant), braised beef and lamb, cured meats, truffles and mushrooms, heavy tomato-sauced pasta, rich risottos or break the bank and serve with foiegras. Appropriate cheeses would include Pecorino Romano and a favourite blue cheese.
March 2012
German - Traminer Spätlese
The Region: Germany's most famous growing region, the Mosel Valley, with its mineral-laden soils, produces some of the world's finest off-dry wines. The sheer mountains and rugged steep slopes make the most of the northern sunshine, but they also mean that vineyard work must be done by hand, and yields are very low. This results in carefully crafted, very intensely flavored wines.
The Wine: Traminer is the parent of the more familiar Gewürztraminer and Spätlese is a German wine term meaning 'late harvest', indicating a wine made from fully mature grapes that are picked at least 7 days after normal harvest, so they are riper and have higher sugar levels. This is a gently golden-colored wine, unmistakable in its heady, aromatic intensity, with a pungent fragrance of lychee, tropical fruit and rose petals. Its flavours are ample, lusciously fruity and spicy.
Ageing: The intense fruit character will be apparent immediately in this rich wine making it a tempting sipper right away, but the deeper floral characters of rose petal and lychee will become much more apparent after six months to a year.
Food Pairing: Peach and Blueberry Cobbler.
Sweetness Code: 0 (Dry)
Down Under - Australia - Shiraz/ Cabernet/ Sauvignon/ Petit Verdot 4 - 3 - 0
The Wine: The unique red, rich, fruit flavours are topped with aromas of red currants, chokeberry with hints of sour cherry and cherry. Dried fruit notes are present in the nose and dried prunes or figs in taste.
Food Pairing: Enjoy the Down Under Red with Osso Buco or Grilled Prime Steaks.
Lake County, California, Yakima Valley, Washington
Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillon/ Chardonnay
A New World Take On French Standards
The Wine: This wine without borders looks to 3 grapes originally from 3 French areas – Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Loire Valley and uniquely blends them together in a new world fashion. The result is fabulous wine that still cannot be produced in their most important French Homelands. Our exclusive blend is 37% Sauvignon Blanc from Lake County California; 35% California Semillon and 28% Chardonnay from California and Yakima Valley, Wash. Sauvignon Blanc from cooler climate Lake County establishes a base with gooseberry, citrus and grassy notes amid a bright framework. Semillon adds lushness, softness and fullness to the mouth feel. Chardonnay contributes apple, pear, melon and more structure.
A flavour Reserve of Chenin Blanc is included for recommended, but optional, use. American toasted oak is included and is optional based upon personal preference. Our panel was evenly split.
Ageing: This wine drinks well after 2 or 3 months and is best enjoyed with 18 months.
Food Pairing: The wine is a great social sipper and cries out for goat cheese as appetizers or in salads. Pairs nicely with fish, scallop, chicken, pork, veal, pasta and vegetable dishes. Serve lightly chilled.
Late-March 2012
Tango - Argentina - Tempranillo/ Malbec 4 - 4 - 0
The Wine: A significant expression of Argentine culture, the tango is smooth, sexy and romantic. The Argentine people have gained global attention for their flawless tango and recently received international praise for perfecting their wines. It is their love for both that has inspired our wine 'Tango'. Rich flavours of ripened cherries and dried prunes carry throughout. The dark notes present a hint of chocolate or coffee. Aromas of eucalyptus, violets, black cherry and black currants entice the nose while the sweet ripe apple finish will have you wanting more especially if you like a blend of French and American oak chips.
Food Pairing: Pair your Tango with tomato soup, vegetable lasagne or Irish stew.
April 2012
Spanish Matador Trio Red
The Region: From the green damp north to the arid south, Spain is the country with the most land under vine in the world. Mancha is Europe's largest denominated wine region and its hot, dry growing conditions yield intensely-flavored red grapes.
The Wine: Tempranillo are deep blue-black berries, high in color and extract, with delicate aromas. Cabernet Sauvignon's small berries yield high tannins and intense structure, while Monastrell adds grip, earthiness and ripe red fruit. Lush, tannic and complex, with intense black fruit flavors of black cherry, raspberry, black currant and notes of plums and tobacco, the wine takes gracefully to oak, adding layers of vanilla, cedar and rich coffee nuances.
Ageing: With soft acidity and lush tannins, this wine is enjoyed after only three to six months, but the black fruits, cherry and plum notes will take six months to show well, and the vanilla/coffee nuances will show best after one year.
Food Pairing: Mediterranean White Bean Salad Marinated with Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano & Fine Herbs.
Sweetness Code: 0 (Dry)
Down Under - Australia - Syrah/ Merlot Rosé 2 - 0 - 1
The Wine: This Rosé offers floral notes of honey and flavours of strawberry, raspberry, fresh apples and fig. On the finish, it delivers extra light tannins and a slightly sweet finish.
Food Pairing: Pair the Down Under Rosé with Greek salad, mussels, shush, roast chicken, turkey or pork with a strawberry-rhubarb crisp.
Sunset Ridge Vineyard
Red Mountain Trio - Cabernet/ Syrah/ Merlot
The Wine: Each of these Red Mountain varieties has been offered in prior Limited Release offerings to great acclaim. Red Mountain Cabernet has been awarded more gold medals than any other Cabernet in recent competitions and both the Syrah and Merlot have shown similar success.
While Red Mountain Cabs, Syrahs and Merlots continue to receive acclaim as single varietal wines, Red Mountain has been developing an identity and solid reputation for unique blends combing all three, as we are doing with this offering.
This offering has been styled by our Washington supplier to mimic his most successful blend: 50% Cabernet; 35% Syrah and 15% Merlot. Both juices and skins will share these proportions.
Of particular note, the Syrah stock will include a combination of Cote Rotie and Hermitage clones which have proven to be particularly well suited to Red Mountain. The wine will be truly special and unique on several levels!
The wine will be of the highest quality stock available anywhere. The power of RM Cabernet with its black currant, unique notes of orange essence and notable minerality and chalk will drive the blend. Syrah will add brightness, black fruit and peppery spice while Merlot helps integrate and soften the whole for earlier approachability.
Two-stage Hungarian oak treatment will add its distinctive nuances and provide the structure upon which the fruit will be built.
Ageing: Cellar at least a year and up to 3 or 4.
Food Pairing: Beef, lamb, game and pork dishes as well as hearty pastas, fowl, pizza or wherever you would be reaching for a red wine but want to make the meal more special.
Please check back often as this page is regularly updated with new Limited wines added.
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