From Casablanca

That's the Casablanca Valley in Chile. No, we don't carry any products from that other Casablanca. The Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay is our pick of the week, and here's why.

Chile is a land of soaring Andes mountains, a mild Mediterranean climate, and fine wines. From the premium wine producing regions of Chile come the best grapes, and it is here that Viña Errázuriz has been producing the highest quality Chilean wines for more than 130 years.

Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errázuriz in 1870 in the Valle de Aconcagua, 100 kms north of the capital city, Santiago. Recognizing that this valley, with its cool, rainy winters, hot, dry summers and moist Pacific Ocean breezes, was ideal for growing grapes, Don Maximiano sent for the finest clones from France and with tenacity and perseverance transformed this barren land into a world-class vineyard.

Today, the tradition of quality lives on with Don Maximiano’s descendant, Eduardo Chadwick. Eduardo is the fifth generation of his family to be involved in the wine business.

Over the last five years, Errazuriz’ Chardonnay Wild Ferment has become recognized as perhaps the top Chardonnay from South America.  Errazuriz ferments its best lots of Chardonnay using natural yeasts. Natural fermentation starts slower than inoculated fermentation because the yeasts must grow to sufficient numbers to transform sugars into alcohol. During this period the yeasts produce by-products which add distinctive flavors and complexity to the wine. Some lots start the fermentation and eventually finish, others ferment slowly and do not finish off the sugars completely, leaving more mouth feel. These natural fermentations take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to complete while the inoculated lots take less than a week.

This 2013 vintage was a big hit with the wine industry's professional reviewers:

"This a phenomenal white with sliced apple, papaya, and chalk with hints of slate. Turns to limes. Full body, with bright acidity and a racy acidity that goes on for minutes with the fruit. Dry austerity at the end gives it incredible character. This was fermented and aged in second and third year oak. Ten months. A triumph. A reductive structured style. Screw cap. Drink now." - 95 Points James Suckling.

"The 2013 Chardonnay Wild Ferment Aconcagua Costa, from vineyards planted in 2004-2005 on schist soils on the coastal part of the Aconcagua valley, 10-12 kilometers from the sea, is fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques (and aged there for 10 months, 0% new). Fifteen percent of the wine went through malolactic fermentation, because it was a cold year and they wanted to give it more volume, with no battonage and only 13% alcohol. The nose is very clean, with well-integrated wood, orange peel, crisp aromas of citric fruits, high acidity, great freshness and minerality. The wine is light to medium-bodied, sharp and delineated, in a Chablis way. Drink 2014-2018."  - 90 Points Wine Advocate.

This great Chardonnay is available at Joe Canal's for only $22.99.

Cab Cab Carm

Some incredible wines, and amazing values as well, are coming from Chile. Wine has been made in Chile since the Spanish first settled there, and the industry has evolved into one of the world's top producers.

Today's wine comes from the Maipo Valley. Located in the Metropolitan Region to the south of Santiago in the foothills of the Andes, which causes high thermal variation of 20ºC (about 68ºF) between day and night. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers, dry falls, moderate winters and springs free of frost.

We've been fortunate to add the Viña Santa Rita Triple C 2008 to our shelves. The origin of the wine's name is pretty obvious, as it's a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. This vintage is a pretty special wine, earning 93 points from Wine Spectator, along with a spot (#47) on the 2013 Top 100. Here's the brief review: "A powerful red, with a surplus of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant flavors that are pure and focused, wrapped in layers of vanilla and cream. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and wild herb notes. Drink now through 2020."

Viña Santa Rita should be a familiar label. We carry their 120 wines, named for an incident during their war for independence. According to legend, 120 patriots, exhausted after a long, hard battle during the fight for Chile’s independence, reached the land belonging to Santa Rita. On that fateful night in 1814, these forces of liberty found refuge in the estate cellars. And we also carry their Reserva wines, which are young, fruity, dynamic, and well-structured. So even their everyday wines are well-made and enjoyable.

But the Triple C is something much more. This superb wine is a blend of three Bordeaux grape varieties that have been carefully grown by Santa Rita for more than 80 years. This wine benefits from the best of both: Old and New World combining the elegance of traditional grape varieties with New World techniques.The wine is robust on the palate, with silky tannins.

As with any wine of this caliber, we only have limited quantities available. Our regular retail price is $34.99, but the Viña Santa Rita Triple C 2008 is on sale in the Bottle Club® for only $29.99.  

New Stuff for the New Year

Every year in mid-January, a number of our wholesale distributors close for a week. For that time, we don't get any products from them, let alone new items. But it's a good opportunity for all of us to get our storage areas in order, following the business of the holiday season.

Thank goodness that's all behind us, so we can continue rolling out new products.

For the Scotch lovers out there, we're now stocking the Springbank 9 Year Old Gaja Barolo cask. Springbank is one of the few distilleries left in Campbelltown, and this whisky marries their complex and rich spirit with a fine wine cask, adding flavor and nuance. Limited production means limited availability, and it's priced at $97.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Speaking of Barolo, we also just received very limited quantities of the 2004 Azelia Riserva Barolo Voghera Brea. This received 97 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A seductive red, this boasts a pure bouquet of cherry and cherry jam flavors. Rich and expressive, unfolding on a bed of firm, supportive tannins, with lively acidity and a long, lingering aftertaste of fresh cherry, tobacco and mineral notes. Best from 2015 through 2033. 350 cases made." It's produced from vines that are more than 75 years old, and released after 6 years in the cellar. This fine wine is currently in the Bottle Club® at $104.99.

Due to arrive any day now is the 2012 Butter Chardonnay, from Jam Cellars. This wine has an ethereal creaminess on the palate, woven with smooth vanillin scented oak. Tropical flavors of pineapple and honeydew intertwine delicately on the mid pallet and linger on to the finish. Priced at only $14.89 in the Bottle Club®, we will also have limited quantities of the Butter.

Also due to arrive within the next day or so is the 2008 Santa Rita Triple C, from Chile. It rated 93 points from Wine Spectator, placing #47 in the 2013 Top 100. Their review: "A powerful red, with a surplus of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant flavors that are pure and focused, wrapped in layers of vanilla and cream. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and wild herb notes. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère." Our regular price is $34.99, and it will be on sale  in the Bottle Club® for only $29.99.

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are your best bets during the Big Game week, and all through the year.