AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY
A non-profit corporation

John Marshall Chapter


Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin.
Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved

– Medieval German Saying


JULY MEETING

Our July meeting was nothing special. Nothing special, that is, if you reside in the Loire Valley, France. For those of us not so fortunate, Chris Pearmund presented Wine and Cheeses from the Loire Valley. Wow, I mean WOW! If you missed the meeting, get out your crying towel. Chris began his presentation by announcing that this tasting was definitely not comprised of bargain-priced wines. The retail prices of the wines he and Lisa served ranged from the low teens to the upper 70s. It was a palate pleasing evening, for sure. The cheeses included: Selles-sur-Cher, Crottin de Chavignol, Chevre Log, Buchette D’ Anjou, and Sancerre.
 
Producer
Varietal
Region
Year
Les Frères Couillaud, Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet Muscadet 1999
Domain Vincent Delaporte, Chauvignal Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre 2000
Guy Saget, Les Logeres Sauvignon Blanc Pouilly Fume 1999
Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, La Poussie Pinot Noir Sancerre 1999
Rodet Bourgegne, La Porte des Caillou Pinot Noir Sancerre 1999
Ratron Freres, Clos de Cordelier Cabernet Franc Saumur 1999
Francois Medard, Domain des Closiers de St. Hilaire Cabernet Franc Chinon 1999
S. A. Huet, Clos du Bourg Chenin Blanc Vouvray 1999

 
 

SEPTEMBER MEETING

On Sunday, September 9th, Mike Schlosser is going to zing us with zins. He was brief in his synopsis to me for the newsletter, so my one remaining neuron wonders if Cardinal Zin, one of Randall Grahms Bonny Doon Wines, is on the list. But, we’ll just have to wait till the 9th to find out! We’re meeting in the Parish Hall of Grace Episcopal Church. As always, if the parking lot isn’t full of cars with wine related license plates, then we’re up the street at the Turner House across from the BP station. Meeting starts at 7:00 PM with social commencing at 6:30 PM.
 

FUTURE MEETINGS

Mark your calendars:

On Sunday, October 7th, George Wilson is presenting Virginia Gold Medal Winners. However, this presentation will comprise previous years' medal winners because the Governor's Cup is not until mid-October. George promised to present the 2001 winners early in 2002. When asked where he will hold that meeting, George just grinned. Come to think of it, doesn’t George W. have a residence on Pennsylvania Avenue?!


ORGANIC VS. BIODYNAMIC

The U.S.D.A. ruled in January, 2001, that they would continue to allow wines to be labeled as "made with organic grapes." Keep in mind that grapevines are organic, regardless of whether or not synthesized chemicals are employed in the vineyard. And, a worldwide, multi-faceted debate continues over a succinct definition of what constitutes organic wine.

I have since learned that there is a stricter classification than organic viticulture called "BioDynamic". Biodynamic viticulture recognizes the rhythms of nature as a spiritual symbiosis between planet, air, and the cosmos - all of which contribute, in theory, to the health and balance of the soil. To align themselves with these cosmic rhythms, the applications of organic alternatives to synthesized chemicals are scheduled around the position of the moon and stars, the time of year, and even the time of day. Obviously, this is the most extreme ideological viticulture philosophy. And, yes, there are commercial wines made from biodynamic viticulture, mostly from France.
 

See ya on September 9th!

Smile . . .

Fletcher
 

P.S. For those interested, especially our brothers north of the Potomac, Caymus Conundrum 2000 is on the shelves of your favorite Virginia retailers. Or at least they were at the time of this writing !