Wine Club Newsletter - March 2022
US Becomes 2nd Biggest Champagne Consumer
I wonder if this has anything to do with COVID-19? A lot of us staying in, and what better way to pass the time than with a nice bottle of French Champagne. And as encouraging it is for our becoming a top importer of French Champagne, we still have a long-ways to go before we can be actually sticking out our chests: Both the UK and France have a population about one-fifth (each) of the United States. So, we must continue with the endeavor! (GP)
By the way, did you know that now we also offer a Champagne Club? Two Bubblies come to your door six times a year. Dozens of club members have already signed up, you should too! Check it out at https://winesellar.com/wine-club.
The US has become the biggest export market for Champagne by volume, with the nation now consuming more bottles than the UK for the first time in history.
Following a massive 62% increase in shipments from Champagne to the US in 2021 compared to 2020, the country has become the biggest Champagne consumer in the world after France – the domestic market drinks around 44% of all Champagne produced.
According to the Comité Champagne, which announced its year-end estimates of global Champagne shipments yesterday, the US imported 34 million bottles in 2021, which was up 62% on 2020’s total of 21m – when the effect of the pandemic on sales was being most acutely felt.
But the US total for last year was also up 15% on 2019, ensuring that the nation has outgrown the previous leader in terms of export markets for Champagne consumption by volume, the UK, which grew 7% (2021 vs 2019) and 34% (2021 vs 2020).
So, while the UK market was slightly bigger than the US during the Covid-struck 2020 (21.6m bottles compared to 21m in the US), for 2021, that situation was reversed as the US reached a total of 34m, surging ahead of the UK’s 29m for the same 12-month period.
This promotion to top spot for the US concerns shipments by bottle specifically, with the US already holding first place in terms of sales by value.
Meanwhile, shipments of Champagne within France reached 140m bottles for the year-end, up 25% on 2020 – a figure that was the same as 2019.
With shipments of Champagne to all countries – including the domestic market – reaching 320m bottles in 2021, a record has been made by the region, with exports hitting a new high of 180m bottles.
Commenting on this milestone achievement, Jean-Marie Barillère, co-président of the Comité Champagne, said that it was down to the huge growth in demand from the US, before stating that he was “very happy” to see that the US has “become the world leader in volume sales of Champagne” as he ends his final year as president of the Union of the
Champagne Houses (UMC) – a role he has held since early 2013.
When asked about the UK losing its first-place position as the largest export market of Champagne by volume – having already lost top spot by value – one London-based Champagne trade figure said that it was an inevitable development, but not one that diminished the UK’s role as an influential market.
In a conversation with today, chairman of the UK’s Champagne Agents Association, Andrew Hawes, said, “It’s not surprising if you think how much bigger the US is, but the UK will continue to be a highly significant market for Champagne.”
Continuing, he remarked, “The UK delivers a lot more than just the numbers; it is very much the launch pad of the major Champagne releases, which are centered on the London fine wine market.”
Champagne shipments to the US (2012-2021)
- 2021: 34m bottles
- 2020: 21m bottles
- 2019: 26m bottles
- 2018: 24m bottles
- 2017: 23m bottles
- 2016: 22m bottles
- 2015: 21m bottles
- 2014: 19m bottles
- 2013: 18m bottles
- 2012: 18m bottles
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We have TWO places left for our Rhone Valley Tour, April 19-29. We are visiting great wineries, eating at fabulous restaurants, and seeing exciting historical sites.
Would you like to join us?
https://winesellar.com/tastings/wine-tastings-tours
Please contact me or Lori at 858-450-9557
...
Cheers!
Gary Parker, Owner
The WineSellar & Brasserie
2020 Chenin Blanc, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard, Old Vines, Foxen
Growing Region Santa Maria Valley
Varietal Composition 100% Chenin Blanc
Fermentation Stainless Steel & 8% French Oak Puncheons
Alcohol Content 13%
Suggested Retail $26.00
WineSellar Club Price $23.39
Broad Strokes: (2019=94 Points, the 2020 is too new to rate)
Foxen’s Chenin Blanc comes from one of the oldest plots of Chenin Blanc in the United States, the Ernesto Wickenden vineyard, planted in 1966. Located inside the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the vineyard benefits from the cool air that funnels in from the Pacific Ocean to the sun-drenched hillsides, giving a much-needed cooling effect. This climate allows for optimum ripeness with crisp acidity that’s palpable in this exceptional wine. Ernesto Wickenden’s old vines produce low yields of highly concentrated grapes adding greater complexity and a rich texture.
Appearance:
Whenever I see the Foxen Label, I almost salivate with anticipation. Check that: I am salivating. The wine has a light metallic-golden hue and reflects light nicely. This Chenin Blanc has got to be one of the top ten best made in California according to various wine publications, and myself.
Nose:
Excellent fruit forward nose, bringing vanilla, orange, tangerine, freshly sliced almonds and floral notes, especially those pertaining to white flowers. Ripe fruit, hints of chalk and mineral, just SO LOVELY!
Texture:
Superb balance and feel in the mouth. The ripeness and roundness are edged by a fine, well-integrated acid. It is medium in body and weight, yet packed with dense fruit, finishing long and clean.
Flavors:
From the nose: the very ripe citrus notes of orange, tangerine and Mandarin Orange. Beautiful notes of vanilla, almonds (toasted), and that super fine line of complexity involving mineral, hot stones and chalk. All of that wrapped up and sailing smoothly through your palate with that mesmerizing dense fruit.
Serving Suggestions:
I had this with two types of hard cheese, and it made both tasted better. While excelling with food, this is great all on its own. Probably won’t be able to reorder this wine, so call or come in and grab your share before it is all gone!
2014 Pinot Noir, Reserve, Pomar Junction
Growing Region Santa Maria Valley
Varietal Composition 100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation 22 Months 25% New French oak
Alcohol Content 14.9%
Suggested Retail $36.00
WineSellar Club Price $32.39
Broad Strokes:
The Merrill Family’s agricultural heritage and grape growing history dates back at least 8 generations on California’s central coast. After nearly 30 years of growing grapes for many of the finest wineries in California, ranging from ultra-premium small producers to the largest international brands, the Merrill’s decided to produce their own wines. In addition to the family estate, the finest blocks of grapes from Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties are selected from vineyards managed by a sister firm, Mesa Vineyard Management, Inc. I had a visit to the winery last year and was blown away by the quality and wide range of wines made by Pomar Junction. Nice people too!
Appearance:
The packaging and looks of the Pomar Junction wines are so unique, so much fun, so very cool. They stand out very well, and they don’t even use paper! The wine has a hint of its six years in the bottle, with the red coloring softening gradually as it reaches the edges of your glass.
Nose:
The first-rate Pinot Noir varietal character is always a major plus. Ripe and sweet fruit of raspberries, very ripe and dark strawberries, with some cherry fruit and cardamom spices. The toasty wood notes are subtle and supple, blessed with layers of roasted nuts. Dr. Pepper.
Texture:
Medium to medium light in body and weight. Smooth, clean, even and balanced entry. Long and elegant in the mouth, the silken and velveted texture is caressed lightly by the well melded acids that only eight years of aging (the wine) can bring to the table.
Flavors:
The red and dark fruits (raspberry, strawberry, and cherry), though subtle, are first forward and rousing. Then I got the cola/root beer notes (yes, and Dr. Pepper), smooth wood oak,
Roasted nuts, vanilla, black tea, a hint of balsamic, and the spices, cardamom, and allspice. Also noted a bit of dark chocolate.
Serving Suggestions:
This will go a few more years, but it is drinking quite well presently. At this price, consider you are drinking an aged Pinot Noir you didn’t have to cellar at a GREAT price!
2018 Tannat, “Titan”, Midnight Cellars
Growing Region Paso Robles, California
Varietal Composition 100% Tannat
Fermentation 26 Months Neutral French Oak
Alcohol Content 15.9%
Suggested Retail $55.00
WineSellar Club Price $44.99
Broad Strokes: 91 POINTS! Wine Enthusiast, Just 200 Cases Produced
Midnight Cellars is home to the Hartenberger Family, and their small production of award winning wines. The 28 acre estate is situated in the newly established Willow Creek District, known for its strong maritime influence, mountainous landscape and calcareous soils. The climate, topography and soil composition create an environment for growing quality, low yield, sustainable farmed grapes. As a family owned winery for about 20 years, Midnight Cellars prides itself in providing fine wines at enjoyable prices.
Tannat: a red-wine grape whose origins lie in the Basque country, on the border between France and Spain. In the shadow of the Pyrenees Mountains, the terrain is rough, rugged, so it is only fitting that Tannat should create wines that are equally deep, dark, dry and rustic.
Appearance:
I like the graphic with the brushstroke of the sky with the old man in the moon style. Screwcap, Yay! Back label info, YAY. The wine is black at the core, and let its opaqueness go until the very edge of the glass, when it yields to a beautiful, brilliant magenta hue.
Nose:
Roasted walnuts hover over very dark, brooding black and blue fruits, sweet cherries, and hints of coffee. Powerful and deep, with notes of smoke, rich berry fruit, truffle, dark earthen soil, and vanilla oak.
Texture:
Sturdy, powerful and rich, and belying its 15.9% alcohol content, the wine reaches a smooth, robust presence in the palate. Thus, it brings a massive presence of fruit and flavors, without us incurring any penalties of high acids or other malaprops. In other words, it’s a big, lovely smoothy!
Flavors:
Black and blue fruits, sweet cherries, with cappuccino and some nice spices. The roasted walnuts from the nose translate to the palate, maybe more like mahogany and wood bark. Herb notes of rosemary and oregano, and that sweet vanilla oak coming from the fine wood treatment.
Serving Suggestions:
Foods high in protein and fat content are waiting in line for this baby. Sausage, BBQ, cheeses.
2015 Coplan, The Chairman, Sonoma
Growing Region Sonoma Valley, California
Varietal Composition 58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation Neutral French Oak
Alcohol Content 14.5%
Suggested Retail $52.00
WineSellar Club Price $33.29
Broad Strokes: 92 Points, Jeb Dunnick, Double Gold Medal SF Chronicle
From the Winery: We are a boutique vineyard located in Sonoma. "Coplandia" captures the family surname and our playful sense of humor about our purist farming practices and modern farmhouse architectural aesthetic. It's a dream project and retreat. Our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard contains a section that dates back to the 1940s. These vines have seen a lot! They may be among the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Sonoma Carneros AVA. We produce exclusive small batches of artisan wines made from our estate grown grapes, as well as grapes grown from other tiny production local vineyards who share our farming philosophy.
Appearance:
Straight up good-looking package, even though the cursive font is hard to read. Love the name “The Chairman”, it gives great identity and branding to the product. The wine has reached the stage where after five years of so in the bottle, the youthful colors have taken on a more mature, softer red tone,
Nose:
Very ripe red and black raspberry fruit is very focused. Notes of dark wood, black pepper, rhubarb, mint/basil with a bit of licorice.
Texture:
The wine has an old world/new world feel to it. I think it reminds me a lot of a Saint Emilion Bordeaux with its character, mellow but mouth-expanding feel fruit and lingering presence. The tannins are mild, and there is a nice touch of astringency to bring all kinds of food possibilities to the table. The old vines (75+ years) generally bring smoothness and density to the wine.
Flavors:
Beautifully balanced fruit of red and black raspberries feels smooth and plenteous upon entry to your palate. In fact, I got a lot of dairy flavors: vanilla ice cream, chocolate milk and the Milky Way candy bar. Wacky me, huh? These flavors are edged off my wood notes (mahogany), smoke, spices, black pepper, and balsamic.
Serving Suggestions:
Great on its own, also would be fabulous with roasted duckling in a cherry sauce.
2019 Pinot Noir, Wayfarer, WF2, Fort Ross-Seaview
Growing Region Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma
Varietal Composition 100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation 30% New French Oak for 10 Months
Alcohol Content 14.5%
Suggested Retail $45.00
WineSellar Club Price $40.49
Broad Strokes: 91 Points Cellar Tracker
Wayfarer is the manifestation of a remarkable place, masterful winemaking, and the drive to go to extremes to create something truly exceptional. After nearly 30 years as an acclaimed Napa Valley vintner, Jayson Pahlmeyer became increasingly entranced by the wines of Burgundy. “Every oenophile eventually gravitates to the wines of Burgundy,” he says. In the early 1990s, Jayson began seeking out the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the world. This search ultimately led him to one of my favorite vineyard sites in California, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Jayson’s winemaker, Helen Turley, declared this vineyard is destined to be “the La Tache of California” as Jayson claimed the land for his own.
Appearance:
The packaging on this wine is somewhat understated, and actually not too easy to read or instantly ascertain just what it is all about. The image of the fence runs through their lineup of wines, and I like the definition that kind of branding brings. Dark red garnet hue bleeds to fuzzy on the edge of the glass.
Nose:
At first, the Pinot Noir fruit aromatics were slightly reserved, but you could tell by the swiftly gaining complexities that it was a fait accompli. In fact, it opened up WILDLY! Lavender, terra noir, rose petals, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, tobacco, roasted nuts.
Texture:
Medium to medium full in body and weight. Even though a grander style of Pinot Noir, it maintains that seductive texture with silk and velvet. With the firm vibrancy of this wine, some could be fooled about this being a Pinot Noir in a blind tasting. Juicy, lengthy finish.
Flavors:
Rich and deep dark cherry fruit, edged by fresh herbs, dark soil and roasted chestnuts. In the fashion of truly wonderful Pinot Noir, hints of balsamic, cola, root beer, coming all together with outlandish complexities. Having this wine is one of the blessings of adulthood, as well as the appreciation of the finer things in life. This is a great find!
Serving Suggestions:
It would be challenging to find a Pinot Noir at this price I would like better. I suggest getting twelve bottles, to put six in the cellar for ten years and enjoy the rest in the near future.
2018 Pinot Noir, Wayfarer, Estate, Fort Ross-Seaview
Growing Region Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma
Varietal Composition 100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation 53% New French Oak for 15 Months
Alcohol Content 14.5%
Suggested Retail $90.00
WineSellar Club Price $80.99
From Gary Parker:
As you know, once a year or so I come across a wine for our club that is so profound, riveting, stunning, and exceptional, that words are hard to conjure on just a page. That is this wine. One of the most sensational California Pinot Noirs I have ever had . . . ever! And this after recently spending weeks in the Russian River Valley looking at Pinot Noirs.
Owner Jayson Pahlmeyer, a good friend of The WineSellar & Brasserie, bought a GREAT property in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA in Sonoma. His goal has been to produce a Pinot Noir that would rival/reminiscent to the great Domaine Romanee Conti La Tache. This 2018 Wayfarer is a really good stab at that lofty goal.
Lori and I were so blown away when we were taking this wine in the other night, we just kept looking at each other and shaking our heads . . . couldn’t say much more than WOW! I strongly and highly recommend you grace your wine collection with as much of this wine you are comfortable purchasing. It will be a highlight to your wine collection, and your wine life!
98 Pts Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
"The 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard has a medium ruby color and slowly opening perfume of garrigue, dried orange peel, prosciutto and rose petals with mineral-laced cranberry and red and black berry fruits. The medium-bodied palate, grainy and incredibly fresh, slowly gains in flavor amplitude and nuance in the mouth, ending in a fanfare of spicy detail."
96 pts Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
"Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard was just about completely destemmed and spent 15 months in 53% new French oak. This deeper ruby/purple-hued effort offers an awesome bouquet of black raspberries, scorched earth, toasted spices, and flowery incense. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, and a stunning effort. It also happens to be made in terrific quantities, with just over 1,600 cases produced. Bravo!"
94 pts Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com
"The 2018 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard is bright, precise and wonderfully nuanced. Sweet red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mint give the 2018 striking inner sweetness and perfume. Pliant, silky and inviting, the 2018 has so much to offer. Even in the early going, the 2018 is a delicate, absolutely exquisite beauty."
Ice Cream with “Sauternes” Sauce
Last month we were celebrating the birthday of a good friend, by my preparing dinner and the four of us supplying some fine wines from our personal collections. I decided it was time to open an old Sauternes to have with dessert.
The savory part of the meal was a bit elaborate, so I wanted to keep the dessert course simple (to prepare and enjoy). I used ingredients that taste like those of typical Sauternes and many other dessert wines. I prepared the sauce the day before, and just warmed it up to pour over the ice cream.
Serves four.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
- 1-2 ounce of fresh Lemon Juice (to taste)
- 2 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 2 Tablespoon Butter
- 5 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Banana, sliced vertically about 3/8 inch thick
- 1 Orange, peeled, pulp removed, divided into its natural sections
- Pinch (small) of red pepper flakes
- Pinch of Sea Salt
Method:
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Place coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium size saucepan
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Add low heat, gently melting them together
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Add orange sections, and heat them on each side for five minutes
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Add orange & lemon juice, honey and bourbon vanilla extract
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Reduce the liquid slowly over low heat, to about 70-75% of original total
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*Add the sliced banana to the pan, turning them over after five minutes
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After five more minutes, add the remaining butter and red pepper flakes, let them meld with the sauce
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Add pinch of salt
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Serve over vanilla ice cream
*If you are making this a day ahead of time, stop at number 5. in Method. Refrigerate.
Add the bananas the next day, and then complete Method 6-9. The bananas will turn brown overnight in the sauce and lose their appeal.