Upcoming Events
We have plenty
of exciting news to share. First, we're changing the format for our
Ladies Night Out events.
In addition to the great wines, food and company, we're adding short
education topics each session. Click here
for details, and plan to join us on Monday, February 7.
Second, we are
again planning for a special tasting event featuring
Single-Malt Scotch, which will
take place on Wednesday, February 9th. This tasting is a
great chance to either introduce yourself to or reacquaint yourself with this premium beverage.
We'll sample from our finest selections and demonstrate scotch glassware
throughout the evening.
We will run
two flights of tastings, at 5:30 and 7 pm.
The event includes a selection of single-malt scotch for tasting, mixed
snacks, and an educational presentation. We are pleased to welcome
Mike Frampton of Union Beverage, who will be our guest presenter for the
evening. You can review
our article on single-malt scotch whisky in the Wine Express
Newsletter #20. Advance
registration is required, so call today to reserve your spot at this
special event. Cost is $30 per person. Call 630-435-9463.
Third, we
have put together a wide selection of gift
arrangements for Valentine's Day. You can choose from
our selections, or create a custom gift. Stop by or call us today,
for an elegant gift that's sure to be appreciated!
Finally,
Patrick Fegan is offering
several one-night "primer" courses on various topics.
Click here for details.
back
to top) |
In this issue:
Feature: Argentina
Upcoming Events:
The View: Argentina
Ladies Night Out: Why
Do I Like this Wine?
Weekend Tastings
CWS "Primer" Courses
Store Hours
Legal Notice on Ordering Wine
Remember Valentine's Day!
|
Feature Article
Keep an Eye on Argentina
Wine
lovers with a sense of adventure would do well to keep an eye on what’s
going on in Argentina’s vineyards these days. A cadre of hotshot
winemakers and viniculturalists (vineyard managers) are hitting their
collective stride, it seems, and making their presence known on the
international wine scene. Led by native Argentinean Nicolŕs Catena, owner
of Catena Zapata and mentor to many of the country’s most promising
winemakers, Argentina is fast gaining credibility as a producer of
world-class wines. Wine Spectator awarded scores of 90 points or better
to 31 the 255 Argentinean wines tasted last year, mostly from the 2002 and
’03 vintages. An additional 54 wines earned ratings upwards of 88 points.
Not a bad showing for a country whose economy imploded just three years
ago.
(Act quickly, and you
can join us on Tuesday evening, January 25th, at The View restaurant in
Lisle, for a tasting featuring wines from Argentina.
Click here for details.)
Argentina’s wine heritage is something of a multi-cultural mosaic, and a
little schizophrenic at that. The first recorded vineyard was planted by
Jesuit missionaries in 1557, in what would become the Mendoza
region in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains. Argentineans have
long been enthusiastic consumers of wine; more than 500,000 acres were
planted with vines in 1996. But 70% of those vineyards were devoted to pink-
and white-skinned grapes destined for domestic jug wines, and demand was
so great that nobody gave much thought to the notion of export, or even
raising the quality bar.
That began to change in the late 1990s, when
domestic wine consumption started losing ground to beer and soft drinks,
and an apparent stabilization of the economy lured foreign investors with
a taste for European varietals and an eye toward export. When the economy
nose-dived in late 2001 the wine industry managed to keep its footing,
largely due to its export market. In spite of the country’s ongoing
economic travails, it appears that its winemakers are not only holding
their ground, but reaping some significant rewards from its produce.
While the domestic market continues to favor weak, mass-produced wines,
and the majority of Argentina’s vineyard acres are dedicated to that
market, the landscape is changing. Bonarda from Italy, Tempranillo from
Spain, Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from France are taking root in
the arid soil and producing wines literally worlds apart from their
European origins. Argentina is developing a reputation for serious reds,
and much of the credit goes to a varietal all but discarded by the
winemakers of Bordeaux in recent years: Malbec. Temperamental at best in
France, Malbec has found its true home in Argentina, where it ripens
reliably and yields flavors reminiscent of blueberries, plums, mocha and
chocolate. It is fast becoming Argentina’s signature grape, and a small
but significant number of her winemakers are tying their fortunes to it.
Nicolas Catena gets the credit for bringing Argentina’s wine industry into
the modern age. Born in Argentina, educated in economics at Stanford,
inspired by the vision and methodology of Mondavi, Catena is the guiding
light of Argentina’s wine industry. He released his first ultra-premium
wines in the 1990s and built a state-of-the-art winery in 2001, launching
his new label, Bodega Catena Zapata, at the same time. His other wineries
include Bodegas Escorihuela and Familia Rutini, and they have been the
training ground for the some of best and brightest of Argentina’s new
breed of winemaker.
Catena mentored Pedro Marchevsky, Argentina’s leading
viticulturalist, and Marchevsky’s wife, winemaker Susana Balbo, through
their formative years, ultimately seeing them through the launch of their
own Dominio del Plata winery in 2002. Susana Balbo, now internationally
recognized, is the only Argentinean winemaker to consult back to the rest
of the world.
Californian Paul Hobbs sought out
Catena when he came to Mendoza, as did countless others seeking to explore
this new frontier. Catena is the master, the guru, the patriarch of the
industry for Argentina, and the success of his own operations and those of his offspring
is a credit to his dedication and vision.
Catena’s flagship wine, a sumptuous, oaky, Napa-style Cabernet, carries an
equally sumptuous price tag to go with its many accolades. But many of
Argentina’s best efforts are both highly rated and reasonably priced. Both the 2002 and 2003 releases of Bodegas Escorihuela’s Don Miguel
“Gascon” Malbec received a “Best Value” label from Wine Spectator.
Catena’s “Alamos” Chardonnay is rated an “Excellent Value” by Hugh
Johnson, and many of the other “Alamos” wines boast high ratings and
reasonable price tags.
Other labels to watch are Dominio del Plata’s Susana Balbo and BenMarco
offerings. In particular, Balbo’s “Crios” (Spanish for “offspring”) wines
offer an affordable taste of this winemaker’s particular finesse with
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah-Bonarda blends and the relatively
obscure white Torrontes grape. The latter in particular reveals a glimpse
of Mendoza’s sunny skies: hinting of peaches, silky in texture, with crisp
acidity and a dry finish, Wine & Spirits pronounced it “our favorite
warm-weather aperitif” last summer.
Bodega Norton also shows a fine command of the language of Argentinean
reds, with its oaky Reserva Malbecs leading the way. But Norton is
also making a splash with its white wines, turning out consistently
delicious and well-received Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The number
of top-rated white wines from Argentina is small but growing, a testament
to the adventurous spirit of her winemakers. It’s a new frontier, with
little or no government regulation and a sense of limitless opportunities
for those with the vision and fortitude to embrace them. Stay tuned; it
promises to be an interesting saga.
back
to top) |
Store Location
We are located in downtown Lisle at the southwest corner of Burlington
Ave. & Main St.
Extra parking is available behind our building.
Hours of Operation
Mon - Sat 10 am - 8 pm
(back to top)
About
Our Mailing List
The mailing list for this newsletter was gleaned from the personal email
archives of Wine Expressions' owners and from direct requests received
from our customers.
We hope you enjoy the newsletter and decide to remain on our distribution
list. You are welcome to pass this newsletter along to a friend, or
click
unsubscribe
to be removed from our lists.
By the way, we never share your email or address information with anyone
else.
(back to top)
The Wine Spectator's "Top 100" List of
2004
Those of you who track the world of wine closely are already aware that
Wine Spectator recently released its list of the Top 100 wines of 2004.
But did you know, we were already selling eighteen of those top one
hundred wines?
Stop in and see the wines that Jack picked, before they did, as well as the rest of our
fantastic selections!
|
|
The View Tasting: Argentina Wines,
Tuesday,
January 25:
Join us for a sampling of some of the great wines from Argentina.
The evening includes education materials and a tasting of 6 - 7 wines, paired
to appetizers.
The event takes place at 7 pm on January 25th, at The View restaurant in
Lisle. Cost is $20 per person. Call The View to register, 968-1920.
Ladies Night Out: February 7
- Why Do I Like This Wine?
Join us as we take a global wine tour, with special focus on techniques
for tasting and recognizing the flavors of the world's wines. Enjoy
some great wines, learn specifics on wine flavor differentiation, and have a great evening out
with the girls.
The evening includes a tasting of seven wines with
gourmet hors d'oeuvres from The Upper Crust bakery in Lisle. Cost is
$25
per person, and the deadline to register is Thursday, February 3.
Ladies Night Out:
Monday, February 7, 7:30 pm
$25 per person
Call for Reservations: 630.435.9463
or 888.656.9463
(back to top)
|
|
Chicago Wine School Primer Courses in February
Patrick Fegan
will be teaching several one-night "primer" sessions at The Upper Crust
restaurant in Lisle.
You can attend any or all of the sessions, they are independent of one
another. Courses to be taught are:
Wine Basics, February 9th, $65
Italy Primer, February 16th, $65
France Primer, February 23rd, $65
All sessions will start at 7 pm.
Patrick Fegan is a world-renowned educator of wine. He has been
running the Chicago Wine School for 20 years. You must be 21 to enroll
in these courses. Course fee includes all materials and wines
tasted.
Sign up
directly with Patrick Fegan at
Chicago Wine School.
Payment can be on-line or by check payable to Chicago Wine School.
(Because these courses are offered through the Chicago Wine School, our
wine club discount does not apply.)
Chicago Wine School
1942 S. Halsted Street,
#2F
Chicago, IL 60608
312-491-0248
PWFegan@aol.com
(back to top)
Legal Notice
on Ordering Wine
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 only: California,
Idaho, Illinois, Missouri and New Mexico.
(back to top)
|
|
