Mulderbosch 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

John Platter writes the foremost guide annually about South African wines.  It’s in the Platter’s Guide where you’ll find the glowing, multiple-year reviews of one of South Africa’s most noteworthy, almost cult-worthy wines – the Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc.

It hasn’t been an easy road for either South African wines nor the Mulderbosch estate.  The Dutch originally colonized the area as a provisions stop at the Cape of Good Hope and established some vineyards.  But centuries later the South African country was still embroiled in political turmoil and the international wine market had not yet developed substantially.

So when Larry Jacobs bought his vineyard land that had laid fallow for a century, and hired winemaker Mike Dubrovic to build some great wines, they had no idea that 20 years later they would both be known as the creators of South Africa’s best white wine.

This racy bottling single-handedly put South Africa on the map as a source of world class Sauvignon Blanc. One of the Cape’s most heralded and sought-after wines, it garners 90+ scores vintage after vintage. Vivid tropical fruit aromas give way to succulent, mouth-filling flavors of guava, lychee, gooseberry, lime, and fresh cut grass, supported by a bracing jolt of acidity. — 90 Points, Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

This wine has a strength not present in the mineral-laden Loire Valley examples.  It has a broad and dynamic personality not found in the more sedate California Sauv Blancs.  The fruit is more tempered and mature than the Northwest entries.  It compares closely with the intensity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines, but you’ll discover a vein of spice hiding out.  It all combines into a wine that will dance with seafood and shellfish dishes.

This wine is regularly sold for $21.99, but is available to wine club members for only $19.99!

• Visit the Mulderbosch winery website
• Explore the WOSA site (Wines of South Africa!)
• A great history of South Africa wines is available at Vineyard Varieties online.
• Or find a complete history of South Africa at sahistory.org
• Find plenty of South African Wine information at Wikipedia
• Read the Salut profile of the Loire Valley, where much of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world is produced.

• Shrimp in Prosecco Cream Sauce
• Mediterranean Halibut and Pasta
• Orzo with Crab and Artichoke

Have you tasted this wine? When you’ve had a chance to enjoy this wine, please return to this blog and leave your comments! Others will appreciate your input, unique viewpoint, and recommendations.

 

Its Tea Time at the Wine Outlet

When we discovered the products of La Cafetiere, we jumped for joy.  Aisle after aisle of plastic, traditional, white or black only products for tea lovers populated the trade show we attended.  When we encountered something interesting, it was the rare entry into a company carrying an array of the mundane. . .

Until La Cafetiere! 

La Cafetiere is an 80 year old British coffee and tea company with the quality, unique products, great gift ideas and stunning upscale assortment we demand from our suppliers.  Whether you enjoy tea now or not, these items make you want to start doing it right. 

Most of their products combine glass beakers (replaceable) with designer stainless surroundings in a variety of colors.  Matching cups, presses and pots make up complete sets, and additional accessories add to your enjoyment.   Take a look at some of our fun La Cafetiere items:

Le Teapot – the new Red Star design

The new teapot version of their popular and bright gift-boxed Red Star line has a beautiful gloss finish to match similar anodized metal items.  It was just added during the 2009 holiday season to compliment their line of Le Teapots available in an assortment of bright colors.

The removeable stainless steel filter basket makes it ideal for use with tea bags or loose leaf teas.  The 23 oz. capacity creates enough for two people to enjoy.  Get this set for only $23.99 at salutwineoutlet.com!

Unique Cafetiere 8 Cup Coffee Press

The double-walled design of this 18/8 stainless elegant and practical press keeps coffee hot for three times as long as a standard pot.    It’s available in 3, 6 or 8 cup capacities.

Use of the coffee presses is simple.  Just put one heaping spoon of coffee in the bottom, fill with hot water, put the top back on and wait 4 minutes. 

To serve, simply press down the plunger to hold the coffee grounds at the bottom of the press while you pour the coffee from the top!  Quick and simple, and you retain the option of having any flavor you want fast and easy.  A quick rinse of the grounds and you can start anew with a fresh pot.

The Wave design cups and French presses

The Wave design adds fun design to both cups and the press, with classic brushed-stainless finish.  All of the La Cafetiere cups come in pairs, so you can multiply for your desired set of 2, 4, 6… 

The French press is sold separately, in 3 cup, 8 cup or 12 cup sizes.  Great for coffee or tea or hot chocolates alike.  Glass portions slip out for easy rinsing or replacement.

The Polka Dot Gift Set

How about just a little more whimsy with each moment you enjoy your beverage from this pink polka-dot set including an 8 cup French Press and two matching cups, set inside a beautiful gift box for added appeal.

All of the quality is still here, with the stainless steel filter, removeable glass beaker and baked-on enamel color.   It’s only $31.99 while supplies last.

The Titania 8 Cup French Press

The Titania is a new release for the holiday season of 2009.  The intricate floral etched design adds elegant and stylish detail onto the shiny stainless base.   A matching black gift box is just one more reason this item makes a perfect gift.

This item is available in our store for just $27.99.

Check out the dozens of La Cafetiere items we have from La Cafetiere online for your enjoyment at http://www.salutwineoutlet.com.

 

Leonetti and Quilceda Creek and other collectible inventory finds!

At the end of every year, our distributors inventory their warehouses only to uncover hidden gems under, beneath, behind and below where they should have been.

This year, we’ve been able to uncover a mix of great wines from Oregon distributors we’ve not had access to in the past!  We’re selling out the following extremely limited and collectable finds.  Call us immediately at 360-635-3614 or 503-939-6056 to hold your favorites!  (We’ll update this list as the sales are made until nothing is left). 

We will deliver bottles locally, or you can come pick them up from our office in Portland.  See you soon!

Leonetti Cellars

1. Leonetti Reserve $130  (1) 2002 available
2. Leonetti Merlot $75 each.  (3) 2003 available.

Quilceda Creek

1. Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon $160 each.  (2) 2000,  (1) 2004 available.
2. Quilceda Creek 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard $160.  1 bottle available. 

Kestrel’s Lady in Red

1. Kestrel’s Lady in Red 2nd edition bottles (full) $25 each.  4 available.
2. Kestrel’s Lady in Red bottles (empty) $15 each.  1 each available of the 2nd, 3rd, 2nd Holiday and 1st Holiday editions.  (1) first edition empty bottle of the “Drop Dead Red” available for $25

Marilyn Merlot

1. Marilyn Merlot 2003 $25 (3 bottles available)
2. Marilyn Merlot 1.5L Velvet edition 2002 (2nd edition) magnum $180, 2 available.

 

Spring Valley 2006 Frederick

Many wineries in Walla Walla lay claim to award-winning and microsopically brief histories, including Spring Valley Vineyards.  Their first marketed vintage was in 1999, and they’ve already carved a wide swath of 90+ point scores for their six estate-only wines.  After the loss of the owners’ son and original winemaker Devin Derby in 2004, winemaker Serge Laville took the reigns and honorably maintained the top quality of this assortment. 

Named after the son of Uriah and father of owner Shari

This year the blend is 54% Cab Sauv, 27% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, a traditional Bordeaux-style blend.  The winery says:

 ”The nose is seductive and fresh with scents of licorice, cassis, and rose petal. The mouth is an explosion of summer fruit: plum, dry cherry, blackberry, and cassis. The tannins are fine grained, concentrated and soft. The acidity keeps the wine in perfect balance and showcases the terrior of Spring Valley Vineyard. Notes of roasted coffee and vanilla linger on the long finish.”

While the Uriah blend often holds the spotlight and earns favor from publications (the Uriah blend will probably age longer and exhibits a more elegant flow), it’s the Frederick that, to me, represents the more vibrant and full character that gives Washington wines a more youthful vigor and ability to be enjoyed (without quilt) a lot earlier than cellar-able California and Bordeaux examples.

Rich and chewy, with a brightness to the cherry and mulberry fruit that balances well against hints of wet earth and cedar as the finish persists expressively. There’s nice balance and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and others. Best from 2010 through 2016. 3,000 cases made. – Wine Spectator 92 Points

This is a well rounded and beautifully structured red, and a great represenation of the style Washington has to offer.  The more youthful and full fruit will pair with spice rubs over hearty meat cuts or roasted fowl.

This wine is regularly sold for $49.99, but is available to wine club members for only $46.99!

• Visit the Spring Valley Vineyard website
• Read more about Bordeaux style wines with this profile of the region

• Find 69 different spice rub recipes from Clay’s Kitchen.
• Let Emeril at the Food Network help you with Perfect Roasted Chicken

Have you tasted this wine? When you’ve had a chance to enjoy this wine, please return to this blog and leave your comments! Others will appreciate your input, unique viewpoint, and recommendations.

 

You’re invited to a dock sale – Wines below wholesale!

There aren’t tons of opportunities to pick up wines below wholesale, but here’s a good one!  One of our distributors is holding a “dock sale” at their warehouse in downtown Portland three days each week until they’ve been able to reduce inventories.  It’s your gain!

This diverse grouping includes a selection of international and domestic wines ranging from rich Italian reds to subtle California whites.  The wines are overstock, discontinued items and rare “cellar gems”.  Add to your personal collection or purchase for holiday parties and cozy winter evenings.

The rules about a dock sale is that all sales must be in full-case purchases, so be prepared to stock up!  The sale is at the Bacchus Fine Wines unmarked warehouse in SE Portland at the corner of 3rd and Stark, just off MLK Blvd. 

Call Jennifer King, Wine Consultant, at 971-998-2237 for more information.

The sale runs

every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

from 3-6pm

until further notice.

Bacchus Fine Wines, 435 SE 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97214 (map)