Villa Creek and Euros
April 14, 2007
I am very hesitant to offer the latest
releases of Cris Cherry's cult followed Villa
Creek wines from "west side" Paso Robles sources in an email. I
only receive a case or two of each, so I must offer them in
sets. Always destined to receive high ratings, these
wines are very modern, high toned, ripe, and lavishly fruit
forward. Composed of Rhone varietals, along with Tempranillo and
Carignane, Villa Creek's efforts are California's answer
to traditional Mediterranean winemaking. Arriving this week, I have
not had the opportunity to sample yet, but below you will find VC's notes.
Robert Parker says, "Villa Creek Cellars is a stunning Rhone Ranger producer.
In addition to the extraordinary high quality of their wines, they deserve
enormous credit for their innovative packaging, blending, and unbelievably fair
prices."
Also, in this email, I wanted you to have
the opportunity to compare and contrast the Villa
Creek wines with similarly priced wines utilizing these same grapes,
but produced in more traditional European winemaking styles. We
want to share the results of our "homework", as this summer we will be
traveling to visit Spain's Priorat region in
Montsant, and a mulitude of wine producing appellations in
the Languedoc-Rousillon region just within the
coastline of southern France. The Priorat
region is widely acknowledged to be the most exciting area in the
world to re-emerge (savaged by phylloxera in 1900) over the last 20 years,
and was awarded only the second D.O.C. in Spain in 2001 (Rioja is the
other region to receive this distinction). The high quality and
value now being found in the Languedoc-Rousillon
region is only indicative of "neighboring" Priorat's unbridled success.
2005 Villa Creek - Paso
Robles, California
Garnacha - 100% Denner Vineyard
Grenache
APPEARANCE: Ruby red. NOSE: strawberry, green tea, tobacco and
vanilla spice along with aromas of cherry candy. PALATE: medium bodied, lush
black cherry and plum, medium tannins and bright acidity, luxuriously lingering
finish. Drinks well now over the next 5-7 years. -
$35.95
Mas de Maha - 60% Ohana
Tempranillo, 25% Denner Grenache, 15% Denner Mourvedre
APPEARANCE: dark purple NOSE: black fruits, cocoa, freshly turned
earth, and tapenade. PALATE: plush, ripe black fruits, molasses, tabacco and
spice, lengthly tannins that will allow for 8-10 years of cellaring. -
$30.95
Willow Creek Cuvee, - 60%
Denner Grenache, 20% James Berry Syrah, 20% Denner Syrah
APPEARANCE: deep blood red NOSE: dark fruits, minerals, licorice,
meat and earth. PALATE: dried figs, plums with notes of kirsch, smoked meats and
black cherries. Hints of wet stones and silky tannins give this wine a rich and
complex mouth feel. Perfect Duck Confit wine! Should cellar nicely for 7-10
years. - $35.95
Bete Noire - 60% James Berry
Syrah, 40% Denner Mourvedre
APPEARANCE: dark inky purple. NOSE: old world, earthy, aromas of
smoky meat, agave nectar, tar and wet earth PALATE: the wine is dark and complex
with ripe dark red fruits, anise, spice and tobacco. To borrow a phrase our
friend Wendy used to describe butter ice cream she enjoyed recently at Bacar,
this wine is "so good you'll want to roll in it.". Will age gracefully for 10-15
years. - $40.95
ONE 6 BOTTLE SET = 2 bottles of Mas
de Maha, 2 bottles of Willow Creek Cuvee, 1 bottle of Garnacha, 1 bottle of Bete
Noire: $210.70
Montsant/Priorat -
Spain
2003 Laurona - Montsant
(Falset), Spain - 50% Garnacha, 15 % Syrah, 25% Merlot, 10% CS -
$34.95
"Pretty raspberry and strawberry flavors gain depth from floral,
mineral and herbal accents in this plush, well-structured red. Balanced and
deceptively powerful." - 91 points, Wine Spectator
"...multifaceted nose of minerals, earth, soy, black currants,
blueberry, and licorice. This full-bodied effort is mouth-filling, sweet from
glycerin, and supple, with layers of flavor." - 92 points, Wine Advocate
(Robert Parker)
2001 Capcanes "Cabrida" -
Montsant (Falset) - 100% Old Vine Garnacha (90 to 103 year old vines) -
$59.95
Miniscule yields (half ton per acre) from vineyards at 2700
feet. 16 months in new French oak. "....sumptuous,
inky/purple-colored offering. Rich aromas of briery fruit, raspberries,
blackberries, crushed stone, and flowers emerge from a glass of this Spanish
red. It boasts superb purity, tremendous intensity, and a full-bodied, long,
flowing finish." - 94 points, Wine Advocate (Robert Parker)
2004 Vall Llach "Embruix" -
Priorat, Spain - 35% Garnacha, 30% Carignane, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon,
and 5% Merlot - $38.95
Younger vines, meaning 10 years old or so...... Aged in 2 and
3 year old French oak barrels for 16 months. "Purple-colored....aromas of
smoke, toast, pepper, grilled meat, blueberry, and blackberry". Chance to
try a value Priorat from top producer that does not break the bank. 2004
is a stronger vintage than 2003, and it was scored 93 points by the
Wine Spectator. 2003 "Idus" also available at $69.95.
Languedoc-Rousillon -
Southern France
The Languedoc is located in Southern
France between the Rhone Valley and the Roussillon. It is one of the largest
wine-growing regions in the world (in terms of total hectares under vine.)
Possessing a warm, temperate climate with Mediterranean influences, the
Languedoc produces wines of ample body and aromas that have become widely
appreciated.
Coteaux du Languedoc
2004 Domaine de Saumarez
"Aalenien" - 65% Syrah, 35% Grenache - $29.95
Luscious, rich and full-bodied, with layers of dark plum,
chocolate, cassis and brandied cherry flavors. Muscular structure, with plenty
of smoke and bittersweet chocolate on the finish. Needs some time in the cellar.
Best from 2007 through 2012. 450 cases made. 92 points, Wine
Spectator
Pic St.-Loup
The region of Pic St. Loup lies some 30 kilometers north
of Montpellier in the Languedoc region of Southern France. It is so named as it
lies between the L'Hortus Mountain and the rock wall of the Pic St. Loup. The
land between these two dramatic rock-faces is blessed with a remarkable
microclimate that is found in no other part of the Languedoc. On the south-facing slopes of the valley, Grenache
thrives, while Mourvedre and Syrah flourish on the cooler northfacing slopes on
the other hillsides. The soil is quite varied, with high levels of hard and soft
chalk, gravel, and some sandy plains.
In Europe, Christophe
Peyrus's Clos Marie
wines are amongst the most cult followed and sell out instantly! He
is the darling of the French press, and the limited amount imported
into the USA market are only for the savvy who
know!!! Meeting Christophe will be one of our most anticipated
appointments this summer.
2005 Clos Marie - "L' Olivette"
- 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre - $19.95
This is the declassified base wine that does not make the cut for
the Simon and Metairies Clos. Black and bluish fruit is lush
and forward, but underlying tannins support. One third new oak and
two thirds neutral barrels. it is a joy to drink!
2004 Clos Marie - "Simon" - 50%
Syrah, 50% Grenache - $29.95
Time to get serious! A great wine from a great vintage.
Dark berry and plum flavors provide the stuffing for this voluptous
wine! Another 3 to 5 years will make it a true
seductress.
2004 Clos Marie - Metairies
du Clos - 50% Carignane, 30% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5%
Cinsault - $34.95
Produced from very low yield vines up to sixty years old, this wine
was aged 1/3 in large ovals and 2/3 in 1-2 year old barrels. This
wine could be mistaken for a top flight Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Big,
brooding, dark personality with aromas hinting of truffles and game,
but mixing it up with dark ripe cherries and plums on the
palate. Should improve for another 12-15 years, if you can resist its
temptation now.
Jean Orliac of the Domaine de
l'Hortus is "godfather" of Pic St.-Loup and is leading
the fight to attain inevitable full AOC status .
2004 Domaine L' Hortus Grand Cuvee
Rouge - 50% Mourvedre, 40% Syrah, 10%
Grenache - $25.95
Jean Orliac's benchmark wine. Americans scrambled for the few
imported cases of his 2003 that received 93 points in the Wine
Spectator. I kept six bottles for myself. However, this
vintage is far superior with layers of complexity and perfect harmony that keeps
you just shaking your head,.... the wine beckons for another
translucent sip....and another! Extraordinary! Yields are about
a ton per acre. Aged in new French oak for about 15 months. Can not
wait to meet this visionary pioneer!
Saint-Jean-de-Bueges
St. Jean de Bueges, a steeply
inclined, hillside village near the Pic St. Loup. The vineyards are at 200
meters on a rocky, steep slope and are exposed to the southeast. In this particular corner of the region, the vines are
somewhat protected from the heat and are able to produce grapes with higher
levels of acidity and balance. The soil on the hills are mostly gravel and silex
on a "mother rock" of granite just a few feet below the
surface.
2004 Clos du Prieur -
Languedoc, France (50% Syrah, 40% Grenache 10% Carignan) - $17.95
Fermentation in cement tanks for a long, cool fermentation.
Half then barrel aged in used French oak for 13 months before being blended back
into the tank aged wine.
Terroir expression of "real" wine! Like it!! A Jean
Orliac project.
Corbieres
2003 Chateau Camplong, Le C de
Camplong - $34.95
Suave, full-bodied red with ripe, rich and thick flavors of dark
plum, cherry, cassis and roasted meat. Powerful tannins yet still juicy. Silky.
Finish is filled with cocoa and espresso notes. Syrah, Grenache, Carignane and
Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2012. 630 cases made - 93 points, Wine
Spectator
COMBINE ANY 12+ BOTTLES OF THE ABOVE
WINES FROM SPAIN AND FRANCE TO RECEIVE A 12% DISCOUNT.
ORDER BY SIMPLY REPLYING DIRECTLY TO
THIS E-MAIL -
Saturday's tasting bar will pour a selection from the
wines listed in this e-mail.
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