Club Corner
April 2024 Wine of Month Club
Women Winemakers in Mendoza, Argentina Situated in the eastern foothills of the Andes, Mendoza takes pride as the primary wine region in Argentina. Boasting some of the highest altitude vineyards worldwide, it covers an expansive area of 167,704 hectares (414,405 acres). Surpassing the combined regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa Valley, Mendoza accounts for an impressive 70% of the country's wine production. Within the Mendoza appellation, three sub-appellations, namely Maipu Valley, Lujan de Cuyo, and Uco Valley, showcase remarkable diversity in terms of soil quality, altitude, and climate. Despite not actively searching for female winemakers while curating this month's wine selections, I was delighted to discover that both of my preferred Mendoza wines were crafted by women. Susana Balbo graduated from Don Bosco University in Mendoza in 1981 and established herself as Argentina’s first female enologist and, since then, has been considered one of Argentina’s top winemakers. Three times her industry peers elected her to the Presidency of Wines of Argentina because of her work ethic, innovative winemaking techniques and dedication to the worldwide success of Argentine wine. After working for twenty years as a consulting winemaker, Susana founded her own brand in 2000. In 2001, she broke ground for her winery in Agrelo in the Luján de Cuyo district of Mendoza. There, she makes her Susana Balbo “Signature” line of wines, as well as wines under the Crios, Nosotros and BenMarco labels. Her winemaking approach for the wines that bear her name is to seamlessly apply her human touch and enhance the grape’s innate character. Over several decades of winemaking in Argentina, Susana has earned a reputation for a pioneering spirit and innovation. She is known for experimenting with various barrel sizes and aging regimens, fermentation of wine in egg-shaped concrete fermenters, and wild yeast fermentations. Jimena Lopez of Graffito has produced wine for almost 20 straight harvests in 7 countries including France, Germany, and California. She also owns her own boutique winery, Graffito, which boasts consistently high accolades from top wine reviewers. She is a passionate, dedicated winemaker with tenacious drive and an unmatched attention to detail. Jimena’s winemaking principles reflect her personality in their sincerity. “In my eyes, good winemaking is simple wine making. It needs to start in the vineyard. The good quality and purity of the grapes is essential. We can have the best technology in the winery, but what you don’t have in the vineyards you can’t have in the cellar. I believe there are three things that make the difference in great winemaking: Know-how, obsession for details, and above all passion.” Salud! The PlumpJack Wine Team 2022 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso White Blend Region / Country of Origin: Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina About the vineyards: Susana Balbo and her team strategically chooses to work with grapes from the best geographic indications (GIs) in the regions of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley in Mendoza. A region with a wide variety and styles of grapes, with vineyards of unbeatable quality make a great asset in the making of premium wines. About the winemaking: 38% Semillón, 34% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Torrontés. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillón: Destemmed. Macerated in the press with dry ice for 4 hours (before pressing), pressing, fining for 36 hours. The Semillón was de-vatted to concrete eggs and the Sauvignon Blanc to barrels. Fermented with natural yeasts. Torrontés: Destemmed. No maceration during pressing. Selected yeasts. Fermented in barrels. Once fermentation had finished, the wine was kept on lees for two months to improve the mouthfeel. Final blending and racking to oak barrels for four more months. Aged in French oak barrels (60% new, 40% second-use) for 5 months. Tasting Notes: It has many aromatic layers, with floral and citrus notes that combine with hints of fresh grass, white fruits and orange. In the mouth, floral, fresh and fruity flavors are in perfect balance with the unctuousness of a successful aging in barrels. A wine with minerality, lasting finish and a great aging potential. "A scented nose with pure golden berries, pears, fresh guava and a hint of grapes and lychee. Bright, high acidity on the palate with a fine, phenolic twist and minerality in the finish. Drink now.” 93 Points James Suckling Winemaker: Susana Balbo Price: $27.99 bottle/ $302.29 case Suggested Food Pairing: Fish, rabbit, Asian food and spicy and hot sauces. 2019 Graffito Cab Franc Region / Country of Origin: Perdriel, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina About the Winery: Winemaker Jimena Lopez left her corporate wine job to pursue her dream of making her own wine, and she now handles all aspects of Graffito from vine selection to the final blend with a precise attention to detail. She believes so deeply in her wine quality that she puts her fingerprint stamp of approval right on the label. Jimena made her own winemaking dream a reality when she came across an old-vine Malbec vineyard planted in 1908 in Alto Agrelo farmed by Don Pepe and his family. The balance and structure coming from these old vines are the pillars of Graffito. Jimena also sources grapes from family-owned vineyards in Los Arboles and Vistaflores in the Uco Valley to round out her wines with the perfect blend of fruit flavors, floral notes, and spices. About the winemaking: Graffito Cabernet Franc is hand harvested from vineyards that are about 25 years old and have an average vineyard height of 3000 feet that are planted in soil of clay and loam. The wine is aged for 15 months in second and third use French barrels. This deeply concentrated wine is named after the color of “graphite” and shows beautiful expression and structure. Only 100 cases are imported to the U.S. so this is a very special wine. Tasting Notes: Delicate and elegant wine with floral aromas and notes of raspberry, cherry and sweet pepper. “Dark cherries, plums, dried herbs, graphite, chocolate and cloves on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Rich core of dark fruit with delicious chocolate and walnut notes. Vivid finish.” 91 Points James Suckling Winemaker: Jimena Lopez Price: $25.99 bottle / $280.69 Suggested Food Pairings: This is a very food friendly wine and pairs perfectly with roasted chicken, lamb gyros or soft cheeses.
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January '24 Rosé Club
Grenache Rosé Garnacha/Grenache, a widely cultivated grape variety, has its origins in Europe, specifically in the region that is now eastern Spain/southern France. Flourishing in the arid Mediterranean climate, this grape quickly made its way to other areas in the south and east, starting with Catalonia and later expanding to regions under the Crown of Aragón's influence during the 12th-17th centuries (Corsica, Sardinia, southern Italy, Sicily, Croatia, and even Greece). The 18th and 19th centuries witnessed further expansion of Garnacha/Grenache beyond Europe, reaching non-European regions such as Australia, North Africa, and California. So, this month we’ve selected an old world Garnacha Peluda Rosat from Catalonia, and a new world Grenache rosé from San Luis Obispo. La Lieff Wines began as Lieff Wines in Rutherford, California, the jewel of the Napa Valley Wine World, on a rocky outcrop above Auberge du Soleil. Even though the Lieff Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon would ultimately be named one of the Big Guns of Napa Valley (Wine Spectator 2015), the family eventually left Napa for the increasingly dynamic and less crowded California Central Coast. There, they purchased a ranch in San Luis Obispo County, and began growing Rhone varietals like Grenache, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc. Three years ago, the metamorphosis was complete as La Lieff Wines emerged under the stewardship of Gretchen Lieff (who is also vice president of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network) and the inspiration of Gaia, the Greek mythological earth goddess and mother responsible for all planetary life. Edetària produces authentic wines with indigenous grapes, searching the purest soil expression, and restoring old vines' value thanks to organic winemaking in Gandesa DO Terra Alta, south of Barcelona. Joan Àngel Lliberia, Edetària’s heart and soul, started this adventure after studying Agricultural Engineering studies in Lleida and taking a Master of Science in Wine Management at OIV (Office International de la Vigne et du vin.) His first wine professional wine management work was in France, before he moved back to Catalunya, to continue his career in the wine sector, and later on with multinational corporations. Eventually, memories of a childhood lived amongst a universe of vineyards, grapes and cellars, and his passion for wine called him back to his origins to set up Edetària. This project is a dream come true, a homage to his oenologist grandfather Llorens and his viticulturist parents Pepita and Angel, and a wonderful legacy to pass on to future generations. Cheers! Carrie Upson-General Manager 2021 La Lieff Rosé of Grenache Region/Country of Origin: San Luis Obispo, California About the Winery: California’s Central Coast has more women winemakers than any other region in the world. This gives La Lieff an opportunity to be a truly woman owned and operated wine company. All key elements are managed by women, from the vineyard ownership/management, the winemaking, and the icon of the brand - Gaia, the Goddess of the Earth, who is featured on the La Lieff label. Grown in San Luis Obispo County along California’s Central Coast, the grapes continue to create our world class wines. Proximity to the ocean, orientation of the numerous canyons, and varying elevations produce diverse microclimates, allowing production of both cool and warm weather loving wine-grape varieties. About the Winemaking: The Grenache grapes used for this Rosé were not a by-product of red wine production; instead, they were crafted in the style of white wine; the grapes being gently whole cluster pressed allowing the optimum extraction of tannins and color. The resulting juice was racked to a tank and chilled to 45°F for two days, letting the juice clarify before inoculating for primary fermentation. Malolactic fermentation was prevented in this wine. Before bottling, this Rosé was maintained in stainless steel and kept at a temperature no greater than 58°F, helping it retain its true varietal characteristics and vibrant acidity. Tasting Notes: Pale Quartz Pink in color, this dry Rosé, is ripe, round and distinctive for its aromas and flavor profile, offering notes of strawberry, watermelon, and ruby red grapefruit, with hints of cardamom and lime zest. Winemaker: Kris Curran Price: $25.99 btl/ $280.69 Suggested Food Pairing: Gambas à la plancha, Quiche and Frittata, Pepper crusted tuna, Char Siu Bao. Edetaria, via Terra Garnatxa Rosat 2022 Terra Alta DO Catalonia Region/Country of Origin: Catalonia, Spain About the Winery: Garnacha Peluda (aka Hairy Grenache) gets its name from its downy, fuzzy leaves. As with rosemary and other Mediterranean plants, this seems to have evolved to allow the vine to conserve moisture in the heat. This grape variety is resistant to drought, it adapts well to arid soils and is less sensitive to pests. It is a mutation of the Red Grenache and is native to Catalonia. Edetaria uses sustainable practices to achieve the purest and the most genuine expression from their vineyards A few examples of their practices are: -preserving the soil’s structure and oxygenating it by rotating till and no-till cover crops, -using green fertilizers (pruning remains, cover crops cuts) and manure, -never using chemical fungicides and insecticides. Sustainable and organic practices used not only in the vineyards, but also in the cellar in the cellar, via solar energy. About the Winemaking: After soft destemming, skin contact is allowed for a few hours at 5°C. Fermentation: After debourbage, fermentation occurs at 16°C. Once fermentation is completed, they work with the fine lees to achieve a nice creaminess. Tasting Notes: Subtle salmon color with fresh red, zesty fruit and mineral aromas The wine tastes elegant, fresh and complex with a great balance of creaminess and acidity. Winemaker: Joan Àngel Lliberia Price: $13.99 bottle/$151.09 case Suggested Food Pairing: Coconut Curry soup, Onion confit stuffed with ham, Seafood Paella, Tiramisu.
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