The Wine Section - Cellar Craft Wine Kits


Cellar Craft 2008 Limited Release Collection is available for order For centuries, classic grape varieties had exclusive regional associations. In today's world of wine, traditional regional associations are giving way to a new reality. Many classic grape varieties are finding new promise and new style in non-traditional New World vineyards. Sometimes varieties from two or more regions are blended in New World areas with very striking results. Our 2008 Limited Release Program uses the new "Wines Without Borders" reality, allowing you to experience the new styles that have developed when classic reds ignore borders and flourish in non-traditional regions. We think that you will enjoy the journey of discovery that this year's collection offers. Note: Due to the weight of these kits each will be shipped as a single item.
Limited Release: All the kits listed as Limited Release are for sale for only a short time. Customers may not order these kits after the sell date. Due to the special order status of these wine kits you will be charged at time of ordering for the kit, shipping and handling.
All 4 Reds are prepared in 18 Liter, more juice format. Only premium, varietal juices and concentrates are used. The musts contain no added sugar, flavors, colorings or non-grape botanicals. Crushed grape solids, made from over 12 pounds of virgin, varietal-specific grapes are included with each red for "fermented on the skins" quality. Region specific grapes, from low yield vineyards, are featured in each wine. All juices have been pressed with no filtration, centrifuging or forced clearing in order to retain maximum varietal character, body and flavor. Each offering uses our 2 - stage Hungarian oaking process. All kits include a set of 30 labels. All Cellar Craft Limited Release wine kits are $130.00
January 2008 Limited Release Discovery - Super-Tuscan style Rosso Fortissimo Reserve Cuvee: We have created an even more exciting version of our most popular wine kit for our 2008 Limited Release program. The wine is built upon the same principles as our original super-Tuscan style wine but with significant modifications that elevate the sensory impact to a new level. More than twice the amount of Tuscan Sangiovese 50% more juice than the original. 30% larger Crushed Grape Pack (2.6 litres) of virgin, crushed grapes. Juice and Crushed grapes upgraded to Walla Walla Appellation Quality from Bare Ridge Vineyard. Crushed grape pack contains a 2/3 Cabernet and 1/3 Merlot blend of grapes. Premium, toasted European oak is used in our 2-stage process. No sugar added to the must. Juice from our finest, low-yield block in Walla Walla, heightens the aromatics and creates more defined structure and concentrated flavors. Walla Walla Merlot skins add ripe plum notes and a sense of roundness to the taste profile. The newly added Cabernet skins intensify black currant notes, build body and add more pronounced tannins. The extra Sangiovese adds more bright and lively red fruit character typical of Tuscan wines. The 2-stage, toasted oak treatment harmonizes with the tannins while introducing vanilla, toast and a hint of smoke. Overall, the depth, complexity, mouth-feel and finish of the wine are significantly enhanced. This Reserve Cuvée is truly special and would be a great addition to your cellar for special occasion meals. CELLARING Quite approachable after about 7 months, but do plan to give the wine extended aging (up to 3 or even 4 years) so that you and your guests can discover all that the wine has to offer. FOOD PAIRINGS Open early (decant if possible) to let this big wine release its aromatics and multiple layers of flavors. Serve with your choicest red meats, game and other rich or sauced dishes item #4799-0108 No longer available		February 2008 Limited Release Discovery - Red Mountain Syrah: Sunset Ridge Vineyard AREA AND VINTAGE The 2007 crop year on Red Mountain was terrific! A late bloom was followed by excellent ripening conditions during the summer and continued through August and into September. As a result, the grapes matured weeks early and were packed with flavor. This was bad news for some wineries which had contracted the fruit because they did not have enough tank space available to take all of the grapes when they had to be picked. It was good news for Cellar Craft customers because we were able to pick up about 15% of the total Red Mountain Syrah crop - enough grapes for a Limited Release offering. Truly a once in a blue moon opportunity. Red Mountain is the preferred source for Syrah in Washington. The grapes are traditionally sold to wineries throughout Washington for vineyard designated wines or to add power and intensity to topend blends. Several of these wines have ranked in "Best American Syrah" lists. Only about 2% of Washington's Syrah comes from this acclaimed appellation. 15% of that is now available to Cellar Craft customers. THE WINE In the Rhône style, we have included a tiny amount of Viognier to co-ferment with the Syrah. The Viognier contributes lifted floral scents that overlay the wealth of fruit and spice aromas from the Syrah. The initial flavors suggest licorice and tobacco then quickly give way to powerful and complex notes of blackberry, blueberry, plum, candied orange, fig, black pepper, raspberry and chocolate. The chalky Red Mountain soil contributes a taut edge of minerals that keeps the wine fresh and pure. The fully mature grapes, along with the ripe skins and mature pips contribute to and lift the luscious texture and display a gentle, creamy grain in the tannins. We have included shavings and cubes of medium toast, European oak for a 2 stage oak processing. The oak adds toast, a suggestion of smoke and vanilla, while pulling all the elements into harmony. Fruit, minerals, acid and tannins achieve exquisite balance. Blackberry, black pepper and floral flavors build to a concentrated, muscular finish. While fruit dominates, it is not of the jammy, fruit-forward style popularized by Australia. Rather, it is more refined, elegant, integrated and could more reasonably be likened to the style of North Rhône reds. CELLARING This special wine deserves special treatment. We strongly suggest that you plan on cellaring it for at least a year and keep a few bottles for 2 years or longer. FOOD PAIRINGS Serve with your best cuts of red meats or rich, braised and simmered shanks. item #4799-0208 No longer available
March 2008 Limited Release Discovery - Yakima Valley Washington, Gentil: A tribute to "Noble White Blends of Alsace" Gentil is the ancient, traditional name given to wines assembled from Noble Alsatian varieties of grapes. The tradition carries on today with recognized standards for the blend. A minimum of 50% of the wine must be made from 2 or more of the Noble varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. Alsace has always set the standard of excellence for aromatic white wines in Europe. In recent years however, the globalization of wines has proven that great wine styles have no borders and that aromatic whites are now successfully being made in many new world regions. Washington state, with its short, intense growing season, typified by hot days and cool nights, closely mimics conditions in Alsace and has proven to be world-class in the production of Noble varieties formerly associated mainly with Alsace. Our Limited Release, Tribute blend utilizes grapes grown in Washington's Yakima Valley appellation. Lowyield, self-managed blocks within Cherry Hill, Snipes Valley and Lazy Lizard Vineyards provide the fruit for the blend. We expect that 35% - 40% of the Noble content will be Riesling, with 25% - 30% each of Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. Muscat will make up the balance. The blend will be finalized after trials with the 2007 crop juices. Riesling is refined and delicately fruity. The perfume gives a prelude to the peach and apricot flavors that follow, along with subtle mandarin and floral notes. The elegant structure and defined edge make Riesling an ideal base for the Gentil blend and opens vast opportunities for food pairings. The Gewurztraminer is full-bodied, powerful, exuberant and seductive. Its deep bouquet contributes rich aromas of mango, lychee, rose petals and spices. Pinot Gris is full-bodied with characteristic opulence and roundness that provide the framework for a well structured wine and a long finish. The small amount of Muscat releases heady top-notes of grapey aromatics that define this Alsatian specialty. They draw you into the waves of sensory delight that follow from the combined mélange of pleasures. An all natural flavor reserve will be included to elevate the aromatics, contribute just enough unfermented, natural sugars to balance the fruits' acid and round-out the mouth-feel. The result is a vibrant wine with perfect acid/sugar balance that is incredibly food friendly. This is the trademark of the great whites of Alsace and the Gentil blend is the perfect introduction to the Alsatian style. Promotional materials proclaim, when describing the Alsatian style "Seven grapes and one thousand aromas". Hyperbole aside, our tribute wine will expose you to a multitude of aromas - some that you may not have previously experienced. We invite you to consider this Limited Release for a new wine discovery. We think that you will be thrilled by it. CELLARING Enjoy a taste straight from the carboy but then let the wine rest for a couple of weeks. It is fresh and racy while young but can be expected to develop for a year or more. It is usually consumed during the first year. FOOD PAIRINGS Serve lightly chilled and experiment with food pairings. We enjoy the wine with Asian foods, chicken, scallops, halibut and pork, but you will find it to be a suitable companion to most dishes. item #4799-0308 No longer available		April 2008 Limited Release Discovery - Gard France, GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) : This mix forms the basis of classic South-Rhone wines Red wines from southern France, on both sides of the Rhône, have long been enjoyed as sound, often light, wines of good value. In recent years, there has been increased emphasis on quality; lower vineyard yields, increased use of Syrah, introduction of modern wine making practices and use of new oak barrels. Today's wines are more substantial, but not over-powering, show brighter fruit character and the refinement that comes with new oak. They are now being sought for their unique qualities more than for their value. Not profoundly deep and complex, they offer straight-ahead pleasure with bright and lively fruit. Friendly and extremely easy to enjoy. Pleasing wines that don't cry out for a steak to balance their heft. Our GSM has been designed to reflect this new style. AREA, VINEYARDS AND GRAPES The Département of Gard is an area which, on its eastern border, extends along roughly 100 km of the Rhône River and runs south to the Rhône delta and the Mediterranean. The Côtes du Rhône appellation of Costières de Nimes lies within the Gard. Stone covered Vineyards within the area and south west of Avignon produced the 3 principal grapes used in this blend. The mix forms the basis of classic South- Rhône wines. Yields from our blocks ranged from 2.8 - 3.2 tons / acre. The fruit was fully ripe at 22.7 - 25.3 brix at harvest with pH running 3.6 - 3.8. Intense, lush and full of flavor! VINTNING PROCESS The must ferments with 2 liters of Crushed Grape Pack made from a mix of the French grapes used in the blend. 2-stage processing of toasted European oak is used. THE WINE Grenache, the dominant grape, is mellow, round and fruity while adding a little spice. Syrah, the next largest component, is responsible for the color, adds tannins, contributes berry aromatics and enables longer term aging. Mourvédre is used in lesser proportion, but completes the structure and adds intensity and aromas that improve with age. The finished wine shows deep garnet color with violet tints. The nose is bright and open with the perfume of raspberries, strawberries, plums and cherries. Herb and spice notes build with aging. On the palate, the wine, in its youth is medium-bodied, well-balanced and fruity. Older, it offers a lovely concentration of flavors with a long, delicate finish. CELLARING Pleasant to drink after a few months in the bottle and it will age elegantly for 2 years or even longer. FOOD PAIRINGS A good choice for social enjoyment (consider instead of Merlot). Young, the wine is perfect with chicken, pork and grilled meats. Older, it works well with more robust dishes - red meat cooked in sauce, game, cheese and chocolate. In this case, it is better to serve it temperate (15°C). item #4799-0408 No longer available