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WineoftheMonthMa2012WineCellarsHi-Time250OgleStreetCostaMesaCA92627949-650-8463800-331-3005949-631-6863FAXwww.hitimewine.netwww.twitter.commrhitimeDIGITALEDITIONCONTINUEDPAGES2LAurentMiqueL2007nordSudSyrAh9.99333011WinemakerLaurentMiquelproducesthisSyrahfrommaturenaturallylow-yieldingvinesathisfamilyestatehighinthehillsoftheLanguedocSouthofFrance.VinesareplantedintheoptimumNorth-SouthhenceNordSudorientationmeaningthatthegrapesareexposedtothegentlewarmthofthemorningandeveningraysbutprotectedfromtheburningeffectsofthemiddaysun.LaurentoriginallyqualifedasamechanicalengineerandreceivedamastersinqualitymanagementfromLeedsUniversityuntilthepassionofhisfatherandthecallofthegrapesreachedhim.WhilewinesfromtheLanguedoctraditionallyhavebeenmoreaboutvolumequenchingthethirstoftheworkingclassoverthelastcenturyMiquelbelieveslikehisfatherbeforehimdidthatthelandandterroirshowpotentialforbetterhighqualitywines.Withbottlingslikethissomehowwethinkotherswillstarttosharetheirbelief.Thenoseisrichfruit-ladenandearthywithnotesofblackplumcherryandtapenadeleadingtoalayerofspiceandearthandatouchofcassis--aseriouslygoodnose.Inthemouthsweetraspberryandmixedberryfruitsmeldwithpepperspicemineralityandagooddoseofacidityleadingtoabriefbutenjoyablefnish.VerymuchinbalancethisonedrinksgreatsolobutwillbolstermanymealsfromBBQtospringlambroastbeeftoagedcheeses.Wereenteringthatmagicaltimeofyearwhenyouthandvitalityblossomingandburgeoningcometotheforefrontupliftingmoodsandvisagescausingsmallwoodlandcreaturestofrolicandcaperdanceandjoininsongwhenlithemaidensraisetheirvoicesinnearbyforestsgrottosorgourmetfoodtruckstops--SpringNaynayItsdryFrenChroSSeASonandthatmeansitstimetoenjoysomeofthemostrefreshingfood-friendlywinesknowntowomanormanChteAudeCAMPuGet2011roSCoStiereSdenMeS9.9531135130GrenacheNoirand70SyrahWelovethedryrossfromthesouthofFrance.Thisoneismadefrom30GrenacheNoirand70Syrah.Theredgrapesarecoldmaceratedforbetween4and12hours.Thejuiceisdrawnofftheskinswhenthedesiredcolorisreached.Thewineisthenfermentedintemperature-controlledstainlesssteeltanks.Theresultisadelightfuldryroswitharomasandflavorsofblueberriesandblackberriesandacrispfinish.Trythiswithquichehamshrimporfishorturkeyburgers.TheRosenthalRossarehereTheseareverylimitedandwillselloutsocomegetthemearlyChteAuPeyrASSoL2011roSCteSdeProVenCe21.95306007Thecolorofthisrosislikethatofarosebudblossominginthemorningdewwithglintsofpaleviolet.Thearomaandflavorofberriesandfruitmoreespeciallyofdeeplyripenedstrawberriesandraspberriespeachesandapricotsmakeforaheartyrefreshingdelicateelegantandsubtlepalate.Itsmaturitypointstoagreaterroundnessassociatingapepperyhintoftheunexploredtotheintensityofitsfruitytaste.CoMMAnderiedePeyrASSoL2011ProVenCeroS15.98306006LocatedintheheartofProvencethisdrycrispsalmon-coloredroswhichoffersbriskmineralityhasbeenmadeinthesameplaceforcenturies.InfactthefirstrecordedharvestatitsSaintTropezvineyardwasin1256bytheKnightsTemplar.Itx19sdryanddeliciousBlendofCinsaultGrenacheandSyrahdoMAineGiLBert2011Menetou-SALonroS21.98322853Thisrosisvinifiedusingthedirectpressmethodfollowingthesameprinciplesastheprocessusedformakingthewhitewine.Itis100PinotNoirandthegrapesaresourcedfromtheClosdesMorogues.Approximately300casesperannumaresetasideforouruseintheUSmarket.ChteAuVALCoMBe2011VentouXePiCureroS12.95322388Thisisanutterlydelightfulwinecreatedbysixth-generationwinemakerPaulJeunetheChteauneuf-du-PapeproducerofDomaineMonpertuis.Thecolorisclearpetalpinkandfeaturesaromasofwhiteflowerscarnationsandahintofmelon.OnthepalateValcombeisdryanddelicatewithmorehintsofcanteloupeandjuicynectarineleadingtoacrispbutmouth-wateringfinish.Thiswouldbegreatwithsaladsgrilledchickenorjustoutonthepatio.PerfectforsummersippingThe2011ValcombeEpicureRosehailsfromVentouxandisablendofGrenacheNoir60Cinsault20Carignan10andatouchofClairette10.ThevinesfortheRosareofanaverageageof40yearswiththesubsoilcontainingtheunusualblue-inflectedclayx1cbleuargilex1dthathelpsdefinetheuniquecharacteristicsofthewinesofValcombe.Thiswineisorganicwithharvestingdonebyhand.RosRoundUp