![]() ![]() And while I’m on the subject of aging: herein also lies a wine perhaps more ageworthy than any other that has ever appeared in these boxes: the 2010 Bandol from Chateau Pradeaux ($40). It is 100% syrah from the terrific 2012 vintage, we are deeply proud of it, and what’s more, have high hopes for what this ‘little’ wine will turn into in five or ten years. Ringer #1 ($26), the inaugural Ringer, was made by Bob Lindquist with fruit from his biodynamic vineyard outside San Luis Obispo called Sawyer-Lindquist. ![]() The Ringer concept is something I’ve considered for years, and was conceived as way to bring special one-offs from top winemakers to our guests when they become available. I would be remiss if I didn’t lead the red section by introducing our first-ever Heirloom wine, which is the first wine made under our own label: Ringer. ![]() Somewhat more geographically concise are the red selections-nothing here but California and France. The Rotes Tor vineyard sits in a cool spot above the Danube river in the Wachau, and was an irresistible choice to show off the blazing acidity and complexity of these wines and this vintage. These are wines so good that they could be included in every wine club box, but the 2013 Gruner Federspiel ‘Rotes Tor’ ($35) forced our hand because of the extraordinary 2013 vintage in Germany and Austria. Synonymous with the very upper echelon of Austrian winemaking, Hirtzberger has been setting the bar for top gruner veltliners and rieslings since he assumed control of his family’s winery in the early 1980’s. To the northeast of Corsica by about 800 miles, in the western end of Austria’s famed Wachau valley, lies the world-famous winery of Franz Hirtzberger. Vermentino is often associated in the wine world with the sea-it is almost always planted somewhat proximate to the coast-and it’s hard to imagine a bottling being more expressive of salinity and briny citrus than this one. The 2014 Ajaccio Blanc ‘Cuvee Faustine’ ($32), comprised entirely of the Italian coastal grape vermentino, comes from 40 year-old vines that were planted by Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s father Antoine in an effort to retain some of the island’s viticultural history. From Santa Barbara to the Mediterranean coast of Corsica, the Abbatucci family has been around for centuries and their vineyards for decades. This wine is made from fruit sourced from young vines at Jim’s flagship vineyard, called ‘Le Bon Climat,’ and as we have come to expect from him, it reminds us that California chardonnay need not be 1) overly rich, nor 2) overly richly priced-in order to be delicious, balanced, terrific with food. Otherwise known for his Au Bon Climat wines, here Clendenen is represented (not for the first time) by his boutique family label Clendenen Family Vineyards, and the 2013 Chardonnay ‘Pip.’ ($25) Why not start in Santa Barbara County, where people like Bob Lindquist and Jim Clendenen, who have been plying their trade their for decades, continue to deliver many of California’s best wines at astonishing prices. The traveling would be far and wide to visit the three makers of white wine in this month’s holiday 2015 club box. ![]()
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