Winery of the Month
Torbreck:
"Cutting Edge Australia"
Having emerged
from the Winter months, we couldn’t think
of a more appropriate cover feature than
the warm, sun-filled wines of Torbreck
from Australia’s Barossa valley.
Although founded in 1994, Torbreck began in 1992, while Dave Powell
(right, pressing in 1994) was working for
Rockford Winery, one of the Barossa
Valley’s most highly-regarded estates. It
was during this time that Powell
discovered and nurtured back to health
some neglected dry-farmed old vines Shiraz
in the valley and began making a small
amount of wine from the grapes. Over time
he secured a contract for the supply of
grapes from a run down ancient Shiraz
Vineyard and the rest is history.
Dave decided to name his wine Torbreck (in 1995) after a forest in
Scotland where he had previously worked as
a lumberjack. Today, his grapes are
sourced from select vineyards within the
Barossa Valley and his wines are made from
Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre in keeping
with his love of the wines of France’s
Rhone Valley...
California has returned to the front page
scene in a big way this month with an
outstanding Cabernet bargain that confirms
the greatness of the Golden State’s 2005
vintage. As most already know, 2005 is the
finest “world vintage” since 1990. Virtually
every winemaking country and region has
produced superb wine in 2005 including the
up-and-coming Paso Robles district. We’ve
watched this locale evolve over the past
decade or so and have been unduly impressed
with the progress made. Every year, wines
emerging from Paso show increased complexity
and refinement as our neighbors to the north
understand more clearly their terroir,
varietals and microclimates. Five Rivers
provides ample evidence!
The wine leads off with a
perfumed nose redolent of sundry
cherry and black cherry fruit
reiterated to the palate in
conjunction with crowd pleasing
streams of sundry plum, red
raspberry, mixed currant and
boysenberry fruit. Nuances of
cardamom, allspice and blueberry
provide additional complexity to
this classic Paso production
that finishes with spice
inflected notes of wild berry
and tea leaf. The wine is a
textural delight in providing
silky, lush fruit to the imbiber
that can’t help but bring one
back for more! With the warm
weather/BBQ season either upon
us or just around the corner,
you’ll find this wonderfully
wrought Cab perfectly up to
snuff for all of your outdoor
cooking and entertaining needs!
Straight from the “don’t judge a book by its
cover” department comes a screaming Bordeaux
deal that qualifies as a sure-fired Bordeaux
bargain emanating from this vintage of vintages!
We’ve long carried Augey (pronounced O-Jay) as
kind of a standard staple to our upstairs
national brand set. Upon cruising through the
aisle recently, we noticed that the wine had
shifted over to the 2005 vintage. As the saying
goes, “a rising tide lifts all boats” so we
decided to pop a bottle just for the heck of it.
Boy, were we surprised! The wine is simply
delightful! It’s easily the best Augey Bordeaux
we’ve ever experienced surpassing even the 2000!
It leads off with an enticing nose of mixed red
currants and cherries reiterated to the palate
in conjunction with warm hints of spice and
sweet earth. Several staff members were shocked,
upon tasting blind, to discover that the wine
they were enjoying and lavishing praise upon was
none other than good old “Augey Doggie.” Even
long time wine buyer Chuck Hanson shook his head
in disbelief! It’s a classic “pop and go”
production that’s perfect for informal
gatherings, surprise guests and large group
parties. It goes without saying you can’t beat
the price given the pedigree provided the wine
by the superb 2005 vintage! We’re not proffering
this as something extraordinary or profound or
probably even that age worthy but the bottom
line is that for $7.00, this “dog” will hunt!
Perfect for tax season!
California MARK
WEST 2006 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIR $9.99 [#241150]
Nothing new here – we just wanted to refresh
you. That’s because the Mark West Pinot
revolution has been a rather quiet one – no
gorilla tactics, no mudslinging, the rebels
aren’t sneak attacking from the hills. In fact,
we know their exact location – Graton,
California. Lead by General Derek Benham
(founder of Blackstone Winery) and first
lieutenant/winemaker Alex Cose (former assistant
at Joseph Phelps and Peter Michael), the goal is
to bring the most elusive of grapes — Pinot — to
the people, for an attractive price. Sourced
mostly from Central Coast vineyards, this is
pretty nice wine. The fact is, Pinot lovers are
looking for haunting aroma, velvety mouthfeel,
and delicate, “pretty” fruit. Indeed, here you
will again find enticing aromas of cherry,
strawberry, and plum followed by a fairly
weighty palate of brown sugar, spice, and
rhubarb. There’s also a touch of cedar and oak.
Here’s the perfect red for any large breakaways
you may be planning!
France CHATEAU BELGRAVE 2005 HAUT MEDOC
$39.99 [#375478]
Belgrave is one of those wines we always look
forward to tasting because this winemaking team
refuses to make any concessions to either
modernity or critics! They fashion
traditionally-styled claret that one either
takes or leaves! Predominantly Cabernet
Sauvignon, Belgrave is a 5th Growth estate that
has hit the jackpot in 2005! Those with a
predilection for old-fashioned Bordeaux, the
kind your Dad used to drink with you, will love
this! It combines the glorious fruit of the
vintage with an underlying grip, tension and
sense of place that only old-school Bordeaux can
deliver! We flat out love this wine and at $40,
it’s a steal given the context of the vintage!
Wine Spectator 91
France
(Rhone) COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES 2005
“CAIRANNE-FONT D’ESTEVENAS” DOMAINE ALARY $21.99
[#306010]
Here’s another traditionally wrought wine that
combines power and finesse with sundry rich
flavors of mixed red and black fruits accented
smartly with hints of fig, licorice, smoked
meats and game. This superb wine could easily
pass for a Chateauneuf-du-Pape in a blind
tasting! Wine Spectator 90
CHAMPAGNE OF THE
MONTH
CLAUDE CARRE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS 1ER CRU $36.98
[#325317]
The small Champagne estate of Claude Carre
specializes in producing only Blanc de Blancs
exclusively from the Premier Cru village of
Trepail. The soil of Trepail is a chalky marl
(with high limestone content) and the hamlet is
a highly regarded “island of Chardonnay” located
in Champagne’s “sea of Pinot Noir”-- the
Montagne de Reims. All of Claude’s Chardonnay
vines are fully mature and are blessed with a
mid-slope elevation and a perfect southeasterly
exposure. His cuverie is a masterpiece of design
and cleanliness. The structure is built across
many levels of cellars so the entire Champagne
process can be totally gravity-driven.
Malolactic fermentation is not blocked and no
oak is utilized which all works to make his
Blanc de Blancs very seductive and pure. This
mono cru bottling is a blend of three vintages
with the lion’s share (70%) being from the
excellent 2002 harvest. In the flute steady
streams of bubbles release scents of assorted
citrus fruits backed by a pleasing cinnamon roll
dough aroma. Lip-smacking Pippin apple and lemon
custard flavors dominate the palate while the
penetrating finish reveals savory accents of
toast and chalk. This modestly priced Blanc de
Blancs really delivers major flavor intensity
and sophistication, qualities that most Big Name
Houses don’t come close to creating except in
their expensive tete de cuvees. Click here to see
this month's featured Sparkling Wines
Other Sparkling wine:
American Sparkling
-
Champagne -
Other Sparkling
Click here for description
of Champagne Houses we stock.
World Wines
-
Spring into Spring Whites!
France, Chile,
Spain, Italy
CONO SUR 2007 “VISION SERIES” VIOGNIER
(CHILE) $11.99 [#380121]
Building upon the success of last year’s
edition, Cono Sur is back on the shelves
again with a knock-out Viognier that’s
perfect for outdoor patio and poolside
dining. This very well-done Viognier
provides a fruit bowl of mixed yellow peach,
dried apricot and nectarine essence to the
palate nuanced with hints of mango, tangelo
and spice. Despite all of its fruit
lushness, Cono Sur exhibits remarkable
restraint and balance in the glass with an
under swelling of refreshing acidity that
keep you coming back for more. Click here to see
this month's World Wine reviews.
Spirits EL
DON PLATA $36.99 [#166621]
El Don is a gem to behold- a relatively
new offering we are glad to introduce. The
nose is fruit filled, containing lemon
zest and greengage plum hinting also at
honeysuckle-- all seemingly dipped into
agave nectar. Initially, the taste is
overshadowed by an amazingly viscous
mouth-feel. The flavors do come, and they
are rich with coconut oil and Macadamia
nuts twisting into fruit and light spice.
This lengthy finish is replete with
splendid agave subtlety, and mild capulin
that is quite delicious.
Gift Baskets -
DON'T FORGET MOTHER'S DAY
IS MAY 11TH
ALL
THE MOMS ARE READY.........ARE YOU? CHAMPAGNE
BODY &SPA
$112.95 [#810922]
This is a fabulous
Champagne and spa basket with candles and
potions...and all mom's favorite delights you
can think of to add!! Like jewels, trinkets and
chocolates. Of course you can always create your
Mom's Day basket with a different Champagne or
wine.
Two
Basket Order 'Special' For
Spring - Call Today 1(800)331-3005 Ext. 219
Beer ROCHEFORT
8 TRAPPIST ALE 11.2 OZ $5.53 [#411161] This
Trappist abbey creates 3 delicious styles of ale, the 6, 8 and 10, all
of them dark. The numbers basically categorize the amount of alcohol in
each beer. The 6 being the lightest and the 10 of course being the
fullest. I like the 8 a lot, I think it is very well balanced. This
Trappist ale is dark and chewy and is basically liquid food. Slowly
decant this elixir into a Cognac style glass and enjoy the huge nose of
rich malted barley, dark honey, raisins, walnuts and other spices. The
palate is rich and decadent with huge flavors of cocoa bean, hazelnut
and black currant. The finish is medium sweet and almost oaky with light
berry fruit and some resiny hops barging in at the last minute. This ale
drinks ridiculously smooth despite its robust 9.2% alcohol content.
Trappist ale at its best! Click here to this
months featured Beer.
Other Beers:
Domestic Beer-
Imported Beer-
Kegs -
Non Alcoholic -
Beer Accessories -
Home Brew Supplies
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you will be participating in the only
national effort to overturn the
anti-consumer and protectionist law
that is in place to prevent you from
legally obtaining the wines you want.
No one but consumers and retailers,
together, will fight this fight. It's
not just about wine. It's about our
rights.
Gift Cards!
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Hi-Time Wine Cellars | 250 Ogle Street | Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Store Hours: Sunday 10am -7pm | Mon-Wed 9am-8pm | Thurs-Sat 9am-9pm
