Below are the November, 2007 Featured Wines for the Wines by Jennifer Wine Club.

 

White Wine   Heredad Ugarte 2006 Reinares Bianco La Rioja, Spain Heredad Ugarte was founded in 1957, and is one of the few long-standing, family-run wineries in Spain that oversees the winemaking process from start to finish: from growing the grapes, to making the wine and selling the finished product to consumers. This wine, like most whites of La Rioja, is 100% Viura. Pale and crystalline in appearance, the nose shows clean herbaceous aromas with hints of lemon. It is delicious on the palate, with a grand final sensation of fullness and lusciousness. The winegrowing region of La Rioja is comprised of 50,000 hectares of vineyards, divided between La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country. Average yearly wine production amounts to 190 million litres, 75% of which is in the form of red wine, with the rest being rosé and white wines. Heredad Ugarte is located in a unique spot between the two tectonic basins of the northern Iberian peninsula: the semi-arid area of the Ebro Valley, awash with Mediterranean sunlight, and the humid area of the Basque Country, which is bathed by cool Atlantic breezes. It falls within the municipality of Laguardia, the capital of the Rioja Alavesa region. Depending on the aging process, the following categories have been established for Rioja wines: Young wines: Wines in their first or second year that still conserve their primary characteristics of freshness and fruitiness. Crianza wines: Wines that have aged for at least three years and that have been barrel-aged at least one year as well as bottle-aged for some months. For white wines, the minimum period of barrel-aging is six months. Reserva wines: Wines from the finest vintages that have been selected for their outstanding qualities and aged for three years, at least one of which should be in the barrel. For white wines, the aging period is two years, of which at least six months should be in the barrel. Gran Reserva wines: Wines selected from exceptional vintages that have been aged at least two years in the barrel and three in the bottle. For white wines, the aging period is four years, of which at least six months should be in the barrel.

Red Wine   2003 Gordon Brothers Syrah Columbia Valley, Washington   In 1980, Jeff Gordon, along with his wife, Vicki and brother Bill decided to plant wine grapes on a sagebrush-covered slope overlooking the Snake River in southeastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. In 1985, he released his first small lot of Chardonnay wine produced from their estate vines, and today the Gordon Brothers brand is growing in both production and acclaim. Before planting the vineyard, Jeff sought out the expertise of Walt Clore, the “Father of Washington Wine.” Together the two inspected a 200-acre parcel of sagebrush-covered land near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Walt strongly approved of the land that would soon become Gordon Brothers. The land itself, and the Gordon Brothers tradition of respectfully nurturing its full potential, has always been central to the success of the winery. The vineyard is fertilizer free and the surrounding apple and cherry orchards are certified organic. With a unique volcanic soil breakdown that includes basalt, sandy loam, clay loam and gravelly loam, the earth of the Gordon Brothers estate vineyard produces grapes of great depth and intensity. The majority of the 100-acre estate vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer, with small experimental lots set aside for Tempranillo and Malbec. 2003 was an ideal growing season. Spring conditions led to an even bud break and the absence of rain made for a beautiful fruit set. Summer temperatures were above average and rainfall was below average, resulting in very even and predictable ripening. Very warm September temperatures led to full ripe flavors in the fruit. 100% of the vintage for this wine was aged in small oak barrels, the majority being from French forests, for 22 months. French oak seems to bring out the spice and dark chocolate in the Syrah. Gentle racking of the barrels allowed for the removal of solids without filtration. This Syrah shows great varietal expression laced with layers of rich cassis, dark chocolate and pepper. It is smooth on the palate, with a long-lasting finish. A great glass of wine by itself, Gordon Brothers Syrah can be paired with roasted lamb or spicy Asian cuisine.   Silver Medal - 2007 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition

Wines by Jennifer is also proud to announce our new "Cellar Club", featuring a new wine each month suitable for long-term aging. Call the shop and ask for Jennifer for all the details on this exciting new Club, or visit our Featured Cellar Club Wine page for details on this month's selection.