newsletter from
Wine Expressions

Volume 2, Issue 2
May 31, 2006

We are thrilled to welcome Ian Hongell, winemaker for Peter Lehmann wines, as guest speaker for our next Winemaker's Dinner.  Join us for an elegant five-course dinner at Lombard's newest restaurant, Ristorante Lorica.  Each course will be paired to one of Peter Lehmann's fantastic wines.  Lehmann crafts wines that reflect the big, bold fruit-forward style of Australia's Barossa Valley.

This dinner takes place on Monday, June 12, starting at 6:30 pm.  Cost is $70 per person. Call for your tickets today!  630-435-9463 

(Purchase tickets by June 7. No refunds after June 7. Because this is an off-site event, wine club discount cannot be applied to ticket purchases. Wine club members will receive their normal discount on any wines ordered at the event.)

(back to top)

If the whole world were to select a single red wine varietal as its flagship grape, it would likely be Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape established Bordeaux’ first–growth Chateaux as the finest in the world; it put Napa Valley on the map; and, it gave upstart producers like Chile, Argentina and South Africa a leg up into the international wine market. That’s an impressive resume for a mongrel grape that was virtually unknown before the 18th century, now believed to have originated from a spontaneous crossing of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc in a mixed-planting vineyard.

Despite its humble beginning, Cabernet Sauvignon is highly qualified for leadership. It’s relatively easy to grow, provided the climate’s not too cool. The small, thick-skinned berries provide a high ratio of pit to pulp and yield deeply colored, tannic wine redolent of black currants, with a solid structure, an affinity for French oak, and a predisposition to graceful ageing in the bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon also shows remarkable versatility in the hands of a gifted winemaker, evoking a strong sense of place in much the same way as Chardonnay.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s climb to stardom began in Bordeaux, more specifically in the gravelly soils of the Medoc and Graves, on the left bank of the Gironde river. The Chateaux of Haut-Brion, Latour, Lafitte-Rothschild and Margaux rose to eminence through brilliant blending of Cabernet Sauvignon with the region’s other classic varietals (Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). The Merlot grape's round, lush and plummy character provides the perfect foil to Cabernet Sauvignon’s sturdy framework. Cabernet Franc adds gentle fruitiness and fragrance, and small amounts of Petit Verdot contribute spice when added to the blend.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s status as a standout performer lies partly in its potential to produce wines that are appealing at every stage of their development. The majority of the Cabernets produced under modern winemaking methods drink beautifully from the day of their release, but a few years in the cellar will soften and refine them. The wines of Bordeaux, however, most aptly illustrate the varietal’s capacity for longevity. While the 2000 vintage is considered a post-modern classic, wines from legendary years long past (1900, 1899, 1870, 1865) continue to be sought after and purchased at extraordinary prices by collectors. Publisher Malcolm Forbes set a record in 1985 which stands to this day, paying more than $150,000 for a 1787 Lafitte-Rothschild thought to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson. Many connoisseurs would consider it a crime to open a first-growth Bordeaux fewer than 20 years after its release.

Cabernet Sauvignon can also take credit for launching some modern-day successes. One famous example is Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap Cellars, which outscored Europe’s finest in a blind tasting in 1976. The very idea that a “new world” wine could best the big boys of Bordeaux was enough to give the old world winemakers pause, and give the newcomers cause to redouble their efforts (and investments), while raising their sights to the highest levels. California has never looked back, and a measure of Napa’s success since 1976 can be found in the prices commanded by the region’s top producers (a bottle of 2002 Screaming Eagle will set you back more than $300). The soaring prices of Napa wines are simultaneously driving and being driven by soaring real estate prices, with the resultant upward spiral putting many of these coveted wines out of reach of “real world” fans of new world Cab’s.

By comparison, Chappellet’s 2002 Signature release is a relative bargain, retailing for less than $50 and boasting a 92-point rating. Sonoma’s winemakers are hoping to ride Napa’s coattails to success, and Cabernets from the Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley appellations continue to reward consumers at more affordable price points.

Many other "new world" wine regions owe a debt to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape,  which now grows (and flourishes) in most wine producing regions of the world. It is the single most planted top-quality varietal in the world, and is typically the first of the “international varietals” to be planted in a region looking toward modernization and increased exports.

The Australians wowed the world by combining Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz, and the world (particularly the Americans), can’t get enough of these stellar releases from down under. Open a bottle of Peter Lehmann’s “Clancy’s” Shiraz-Cab-Merlot blend to see what we mean.

Argentina’s wonderful 2002 releases include a satisfying number of top-notch (and well-priced) Cabernets, in addition to the region’s signature Malbec. Valentin Bianchi is a consistent performer on the Argentinean stage, and the expectations for the 2003 releases are as high or higher than for the ‘02’s. Just across the Andes, Chile’s winemakers are also hitting high notes (and earning high ratings) for their Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Apaltagua’s “Envero,” for example, beautifully illustrates the wisdom of combining Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenere, a reliable grape produced in Chile’s fertile valleys.

Even the Italians, already blessed with more indigenous varietals than anybody else, found a way to work Cabernet Sauvignon into the mix. When Chianti’s quality and sales faltered in the late 1980’s, the world’s wine lovers were introduced to the so-called “Super-Tuscans,” which are lusty and powerful wines that incorporate the best qualities of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was an unheard-of departure for a region that had been making wine for eons from the same recipe (yawn). It was also a huge success, and provided the Tuscan winemakers with a much-needed boost in the direction of re-energizing their winemaking. The quality of Tuscany’s wines improved across the board, even among those wineries who eschewed the addition of this “foreign” grape.

The possibilities inherent in this little blue grape with the long name appear to be endless, much to our delight. The biggest problem we foresee can be summed up in that most ancient of laments: “So much wine, so little time!”  Here’s to red wine!

(back to top)

Monday, June 5:  Ladies Night Out, "Is There Treasure in Your Basement?"
For our June Ladies Night, we welcome Pam & Ron Amato of Geneva Antiques Market, to provide practical ideas and advice on identifying the hidden treasures in your home. 

We start at 7:30 pm in our store. The event includes tasting of six wines, paired to gourmet hors d'oeuvres. Cost is $25 per person, advance reservations required. Call Wine Expressions at 630-435-9463 for your reservation.

Monday, June 12: Winemaker's Dinner Featuring Peter Lehmann Wines
On Monday, June 12, we welcome Ian Hongell, winemaker at Peter Lehmann winery, for a winemaker's dinner.  Our event takes place at Ristorante Lorica in Lombard, and will feature a five-course meal paired to a selection of Peter Lehmann wines. 

The dinner starts at 6:30 pm.  Tickets are $70 per person. Call Wine Expressions for details and to reserve your seat for this stellar event.  630-435-9463.

Weekend Tastings:

Friday, June 2,  4 - 6:30 pm &
Saturday, June 3,  1 - 3:30 pm: Al Fresco Favorites

Friday, June 9,  4 - 6:30 pm &
Saturday, June 10,  1 - 6:30 pm: Continental Holiday (European Favorites)
Also on June 10, 1 - 6 pm: Riedel Stemware demo, Sauvignon Blanc glass

Friday, June 16,  4 - 6:30 pm &
Saturday, June 17,  1 - 6:30 pm: BEER - Your Dad Called, Bring Beer

Friday, June 23,  4 - 6:30 pm &
Saturday, June 24,  1 - 6:30 pm: Summer Solstice Reds & Whites

Friday, June 30,  4 - 6:30 pm &
Saturday, July 1,  1 - 6:30 pm:  Salute to American Wines

(back to top)

You must be 21 years of age or older to order any alcoholic beverage.

By law, we are allowed to ship wine to the following states: Arkansas, District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

(back to top)