AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY
A non-profit corporation
John Marshall Chapter
Wine in the bottle does not quench thirst.
George Herbert – 17th Century
APRIL MEETING
On April 7th, Carl Brandhorst bedazzled us with his performance of "Spectacular
Maderias." The information packet he provided at the onset of the
meeting received a standing ovation, then he was booed by everyone, except
Walt, for administering a quiz. Of course, the tasting experience more
than nullified any negative vibes. Ya just had to be there to sample the
succinct examples of dry, semi-dry, and sweet Maderias. The phenominal
educational experience concluded with another, well deserved, standing
ovation. Thank you, Carl, for a most informative and tasty evening!
| Social Wines |
|
|
Chardonay/
Sauvignon Blanc |
Alameda |
2000 |
| Malbec |
Vinterra |
2000 |
|
|
|
| Maderias |
|
|
| Sercial |
Leacock |
5 year N/V |
| Verdelho |
Henriques & Henriques |
10 year N/V |
| Bual |
Leacock |
10 year N/V |
| Bual |
Henriques & Henriques |
15 year N/V |
| Malvasia |
Henriques & Henriques |
15 year N/V |
| Bual |
Barbeito Frasquerira |
1957 Vintage |
| Sercial |
Barbeito Reserve Velha |
1910 Vintage |
MAY MEETING
On May 5th, Glenda Leister will present Virginia Cabernet Francs (one of
the Virginia's premiere grapes). Here are Glenda's comments: "The meeting
is starting to stack up (as bottles in my house) quite nicely. Carter Nickolas
of Barboursville had to decline doing the presentation because there are
two festivals that same weekend. But he sent me three bottles from his
library ('93, '98 and '99) which will represent the central region of Virginia.
I purchased three from Tarara's library to represent Northern Virginia.
Valhalla is sending me their award winner of '98 plus their new 2000 release
(southwest region). I have a '98 Ingleside (eastern region) and Chris Pearmund's
Rappahannock 2000 (to support a club member)." Please RSVP to Mike Schlosser
if you are planning to attend so he can make sure there are enough purple
table cloths. 703-369-6416, or email mwschlosser@yahoo.com
P.S. The ’00 Cabernet Franc from Rappahannock was a silver medal winner
at the 2001 Governor's Cup.
FUTURE MEETINGS
On June 9th, Bruce Schaefer will not be doing Consumer Reports Best Buys.
Buckle your seat belts, because is Bruce's surprise: "My presentation for
the June AWS meeting will now be on Wines of the Finger Lakes, New York.
Renny
and I are going up there for a long weekend in May, coming back loaded.
With bottles of wine, of course. That's all. Over and out."
WORLD-CLASS FAVORITES
During the past decade or so, the U.S. embibber has benefitted from the
availability of new single varietal wines derived from grapes in international
blends. For example, Merlot was used as a blending grape prior to California's
experiments with single varietal bottlings. History was made, so
to speak, on the success of that experiment.
More recently, Merlot, Syrah, and Viognier have been discovered to flourished
in non-Rhone growing areas around the world. Then, there’s the story of
Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. Also, one of my personal top thousand
most liked varietals, Tempranillo is now thriving outside Northern Spain.
As you would expect, Chile and Argentina are growing that Spanish winegrape,
and I’ve read that areas of California are succeeding also.
The exciting factor is that a grape varietal will yield unique flavor
and aroma characteristics in each area it is successfully grown. As I said,
we are the benefactors of the newness occurring in the wine world.
Remember that, "wine in the bottle doesn’t quench thirst."
See ya on the 5th!
Smile . . .
Fletcher