An
Obscure Grape...
A
Great Wine!
Osél
Ruchè, 2009
I am betting very few of our readers have ever
heard of a red grape called Ruchè.
It is a very rare, ancient varietal that
produces an amazing spicy red wine that is outstanding with food.
The trouble is that it is hard to grow, and has therefore fallen out
of favor with most commercial wineries.
The grape is finicky, demanding only limestone
soil and a high elevation on the hills. And even in the best of
conditions, it yields only a very limited production of
grapes. It takes a very committed wine grower
to attempt them.
In fact, some would say such a wine grower should
be committed - to an institution!
Still, there are pockets where dedicated (aka
"hard headed") winemakers refuse to let this wonderfully difficult
little grape slip away into oblivion; the resultant wine makes all
the hard work and dedication
worthwhile.
It seems to grow particularly well in a small
area of Italy's Piedmont region called Castagnole Monferrato, where,
nestled in its hills, you will find one such winemaker. Osél Winery
is keeping alive the tradition of this wine that was once a favorite
of the Piemontese people of this region.
The 2009 vintage of Osél Ruchè di Castagnole,
Monferrato, DOC is born of a small swatch of
tiny vineyards scattered in these hills, lovingly tended,
harvested, and vinified into one of the most amazing reds you will
ever taste!
It has intense floral and spice notes, rich with
pepper but with a harmonic demeanor that you will find quite
appealing. It offers soft tannins with a persistent finish, and the
overall impression is one of how great a companion this Ruchè would
be for foods that are rich in taste and
aroma.
As you can imagine this is an extremely limited
production. How Elizabeth continues to be able to get wines like
this to her shelf is a mystery that no one wants to broach!
We're just happy that she's able to pull these things off for
us!
But now for the most amazing part - she has it
priced at just $12.99! At that price, how can you not give it a
try?
For something new and intriguing, and only while
supplies last, I urge you to pick up a bottle of Osél Ruchè on your
next visit.
Only at Wine
World!
Defining the Flavor of
Luxury!
Dumante
Verdenoce Ultra Premium Pistachio Liqueur
If you like pistachios, you will love the taste
of Dumante Verdenoce! This one is almost too good!
Introducing a brand new taste in liqueur made
with ultra premium pistachios from the sun-drenched Mediterranean
island of Sicily.
Sicily is the only region in Italy where
pistachios can be cultivated, with the finest coming from the lava
rich soil of Bronte on the slopes of Mount Etna.
Dumante Verdenoce is inspired by Bronte
family recipes, for generations shared only with family and friends.
Made in small batches with a natural pistachio infusion, other nut
flavors, and natural ingredients, each batch reflects the unique
qualities of the particular harvest.
Handcrafted in select small batches, Dumante
Verdenoce is meant to be sipped and savored by connoisseurs who
enjoy fine Cognacs, single barrel bourbons, single-malt scotches,
artisan brandies and great Italian wines and spirits.
But we have found it is also superb when mixed
with other fine spirits and ingredients. It gives ultra premium
Italian flair to martinis, cocktails, and the iconic "Sicilian
Manhattan".
It can also be included with your culinary
artistry as a unique ingredient in appetizers, main dishes and, of
course, spectacular desserts. Experience Dumante with coffee or
espresso for an Italian coffee celebration!
The ultimate combination of slowly-steeped
pistachio infusion with fine artisan spirits and delicate natural
ingredients creates a flavor like no other... rich, smooth and
aromatic with a long and complex finish.
Presented in a unique art-glass
decanter, this magnificent expression of contemporary style and
Italian artisan craftsmanship is destined to become the world
standard of excellence for luxury spirits.
Wine World is proud to offer you this magnificent
self indulgence for just $36.99. Treat yourself!
An Amazing White
Bordeaux!
"Le
Cygne" du Château Fonréaud,
2010
On the west coast of France, sandwiched between
the Atlantic ocean and the Gironde estuary, you will find a 50 mile
long finger of land known as the Médoc region. Home
to names like Margaux and St. Juliene, this
peninsula on the famous left bank helps make Bordeaux arguably
the most famous wine region in the world.
Divided into 8 distinct sub-regions, each with
its own unique soil and microclimate, this relatively low lying area
can boast four of the greatest appellations in all of France.
Nestled between Pauillac to the north, and Margaux to the
south, at a height of just 43 meters (~130'), the Listrac
sub-region is considered the "Roof of the Médoc", and is home to
Château Fonréaud.
Here they produce mainly red wines consisting of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc, and hardly any white wines
are made in the entire Médoc. But one notable exception is "Le
Cygne", or "The Swan", so named from an emblem on the ancient family
crest.
The small south-facing vineyard contains gravelly
Pyrenean soil slopes from the highest point of the Médoc down to a
limestone and clay plateau. The precise location and soil make-up
are exactly the factors that have made it a source of
exceptional white wine, with the Sauvignon and Muscadelle
vines planted on the slopes, and the Sémillon at the
bottom.
This tiny vineyard is tended more like a garden,
and its fruit is nurtured by hand. In fact, at harvest time, the
grapes are picked by hand in several passes over a period of weeks,
selecting only perfectly ripened clustered at each
pass.
The whole clusters are then pressed, the juice is
fermented in barrels and matured on the fine lees. A regular gentle
stirring releases all the complexity of the ripe grapes. The
assemblage consists of 65% Sauvignon, 20% Sémillon, and 15%
Muscadelle.
Light amber in color, this dry white wine offers
an open, fruity bouquet of quince and apricot from its Muscadelle.
The sweetness melts on the palate with fine acidity from the
exuberant Sauvignon Blanc backbone, complemented by hints of ripe
berries and blossom honey, with a rich fullness from the Sémillon
component.
The 2010 vintage produced only 1,100 cases for
worldwide consumption. Under French law they had to be labeled
"appellation Bordeaux Blanc Sec" simply because there is no "Médoc
Blanc" appellation defined! The entire state of Maryland was awarded
25 of those cases, so you can see how rare this wine truly
is.
Elizabeth is very excited to be able to offer
this amazing wine to you. While fully cellarable, it is
suggested that it be enjoyed between now and 2025. We
are proud to have "Le Cygne" on our shelves priced at
just $27.99.
It is perhaps the finest white Bordeaux
blend that we have available today. Offering fragrance, freshness
and complexity, this is a remarkable wine from a vaunted corner
of the wine world, and a gem that would be a great discovery for any
lover of white Bordeaux wines.
