NOVEMBER TASTING NOTES:

The many Faces of Grenache-November 22nd, 2003

Entry Wine:

2002 Ochoa Rossado-Navarra (Spanish Grenache Rose $8
Tasting Wines:

1) 2001 La Vielle Ferme Blanc, Perrin (Rhone Valley blend with Grenache Blanc etc) $6
2) 2001 Rosemont (Australian
Grenache/Shiraz blend) $7
3) 2002 Borsao Campo de Borja (Spanish Grenache/Tempranillo blend) $5
4) 2002 Vina Alarba (Spanish Old Vine
Grenache) $6***
5) 2000 Bosquet des Pape (Grenache
Cuvee from Chateauneuf du Pape) $30
6) 1999 James Berry Equus (Californian,
Paso Robles Grenache) $14*
7) 2001 Yalumba Barossa Bush Vine
(Australian Grenache) $15**
8) 2000 "Fifteen" (French, Pyrenees
Grenache) $12

Favorites:
* Voted #1
** Voted #2
*** Voted #3
Wine 5 showed bottle to bottle variation

Program Notes:

The program started with a review of the proposed programs for next year. See enclosed sheet. The dinner at Warfields's restaurant will be regarded as a special event in addition to the regular tasting in May.

Rich Hemmenway reported that we had a balance of $1204.26 in the AWS account.

Next season's officer candidates were announced. There being no alternative candidates proposed, Brian Thomas was nominated as President, Tone Kelly was nominated as Secretary, and Rich and Pam Hemmenway will continue in the role of Treasurers.

Hank Jankowski gave an introduction to the Grenache grape. Originally from Spain, this grape is now very widely planted throughout the world. It thrives in hot, dry areas. The grape ripens to produce high alcohol wines, which are fruity, low in tannins and acid, and sometimes lacking in color. For this reason Grenache is frequently blended with other grapes. It often used to produce the Rose wines found in Southern France and Spain. There is a white variety known as Grenache Blanc that is genetically unrelated to the red grape. This varietal is seen in France and Spain.

Committee:
Hank and Cindy Jankowski, Tim and Nancy Jacobs, Tom and Nancy Hammond, Jan Klapetzky, Larry and Janet Lavery

December Christmas Holiday Party

About 50 members and guests enjoyed a wonderfully festive evening on December 6th.

A tasteful selection of Hors D'oeuvres prepared by the attending members were enjoyed with a selection of sparkling wines.

Duvall-Leroy Brut Champagne
Chateau Frank Celebre Rose (NY)
Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut (California)

The main rooms were once again beautifully decorated, thanks to the splendid efforts of the ladies of the Hammond, Jankowski and Stavisky families.

Once seated, a Mixed Green Salad with Honey-Mustard dressing was partnered with a very special Riesling, the 2002 Hermann Wiemer Reserve Dry, from Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes. This wine was awarded the 2003 Governor's Cup at a competition in California, for the best wine in NY State submitted for judging. This elegant wine has great length and texture, attributable to the old vines (30 years) used for this reserve bottling.

Sam and Marissa's sterling efforts in the kitchen turned out a wonderful entrée dish of Beef with Bordelaise Sauce, Roasted Vegetables and Grilled Portabello Mushrooms. This was served with a diverse selection of red wines, something for all tastes.

1999 Benefizio Morellino di Scansan Sangiovese (Italy)
2000 Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek Zinfandel Reserve
California)
2000 Ch. Petit Fombrauge, St Emilion (France)

Dessert consisted of a delicious chocolate and cherry cake served with a cherry sauce and chocolate "cigar". A combined effort of Amy Haas, Brian Thomas and Sam and Marissa. This was served with a fortified red dessert wine from SW France, a great way to end a splendid evening.

2001 Banyuls - Domaine de la Casa Blanca

" Mailing Dues: The Final Reminder
Notices are going out to all those who have not yet paid the $5 mailing fee. This will be the last mailing for those who choose not to pay. We do not want to lose you so please pay promptly.
" Glasses At the last tasting we could account for only seven full cases of glasses. Are there any more out there? If your case was not included in the count last month, please contact Brian Thomas on 264-0079.

IN THE NEWS

" Oak and Red Wine Inhibit Tumors

According to an article in Scientific American, two French Scientists have discovered another potential cancer-inhibiting property of red wine.
The researchers have found that red wine stored in oak barrels extracts a substance called vescalagin from the oak.

When vescalagin reacts with the flavonoids catechin and epicatechin, which are both present in red wine, a compound called acutissimin A can be formed. Acutissimin A and its sister compound Acutissimin B (which has also been found in red wine kept in oak) have antitumor properties. They inhibit the enzyme DNA topoisomerase II, which is known to be a cause of cancer. Studies showed that Acutissimin A was 250 times more powerful than a current clinically used cancer drug called etoposide.

But they stressed it was important to understand red wine could not be considered a cancer preventative.

UPCOMING TASTINGS

February 21st: A Tour of Greece
(Michael Warren Thomas)

March 20th : Zinfandels from Ravenswood
and Ridge (Brian Thomas)