2007 WALL-OF-WINE

The featured auction item of SFGMC's Catered By The Chorus on Saturday, August 11, 2007, the WALL-OF-WINE is a single item featuring a fabulous collection of wines donated by SFGMC members and friends. The collection features approximately 100 bottles of red and white wine originating from several countries (e.g. USA, Chile, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia), including some unique, limited edition selections from Northern California.

Whether you want to start or expand your cellar, the Wall-Of-Wine will impress one and all! And if you're not a wine drinker, you'll have wonderful gifts for your friends and family for years to come. A tasteful wine rack is includes.

Last year's Wall-of-Wine, which consisted of more than 100 bottles, was valued at $3000 and sold at auction for $2000. What a bargain!

Below is a summary of some of the wines featured this year:

---

DONATED BY DR. WILL BROWN:

2004 Vintage Claret Collection, personally selected by Sommelier Elizabeth Pitt:

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon

Value: $125

Pahlmeyer Merlot

Value: $120

Leoville Barton Bordeaux (first growth), France

Value: $100

---

DONATED BY PORTER CREEK VINEYARDS (special thanks to Mike Bernard):

Porter Creek Vineyards, Russian River - case of wines, including:

2001 Syrah, Timbervine Ranch

2004 Pinot Noir, Hillside Vineyard

2004 Pinot Noir, Fiona Hill Vineyard

2005 Zinfandel, Old Vine

2005 Chardonnay, George's Hill Vineyard

$400 value

A case of some of Porter Creek Vineyards' finest selections. This award-winning winemaker is fast becoming one of the region's most well-known.

---

---

DONATED BY JOE HEGE AND MICHAEL MAMONE:

Peter Michael Winery 2003 Les Pavots Knights Valley Sonoma Cabernet Blend

Value: $160

Full medium ruby. Cassis, dark chocolate, licorice and flowers on the nose. Lush, broad and wonderfully ripe but classically dry, with terrific intensity of currant, chocolate, cedar and leather flavor. Distinctly suave wine, finishing with broad, dusty, building tannins and excellent length.

Peter Michael Winery, 2003 L'Apres-Midi Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

Value: $46

From reviewer Stephen Tanzer: Multidimensional nose combines lemon, lime, grapefruit, quinine, wet stone and oyster shell. Juicy, pure and extremely intense, with powerfully mineral flavors of white grapefruit, fresh pineapple and soft citrus fruits offering terrific cut. At once supple and tensile, with uncanny depth of flavor for California sauvignon blanc. Finishes with superb length and floral lift. A great vintage for this bottling.

---

DONATED BY CHRISTIAAN MCEWEN AND BRADLEY ALFORD:

Stryker Sonoma 2003 '3' Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Value: $50

This wine never made it to the general public and after its intial offering to the wine club members, it is no longer available even at the winery. The winner of the wall-of-wine will truly own a unique hard-to-find bottle of wine. The name of the wine is simply '3'. It is an experiment they tried which turned out to work in the winery's favor. They blended their Speedy Creek, Two Moon and Monte Rosso cabarnets; the result was an amazing full-bodied, richly textured, deep berry colored wine that should be held onto for at least another three to four years.

Dutcher Crossing 2005 Mapel Vineyard Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Value: $36

Donors Christiaan and Bradley are founding members of this winery. This particular selection won the gold medal in the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. As a side note on this winery, they will be hosting Christiaan and Brad's commitment ceremony this October followed by a dinner in the vineyard. They are wonderful folks and extremely gay friendly. You can only get their wine at the winery! Here is a link to this wonderful wine:

http://www.dutchercrossingwinery.com/dutcher/catalog/index.jsp?cat_id=1003

---

DONATED BY STEVE GALLAGHER:

Mazzocco Vineyards 2007 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Value: $50+

This unique bottle of classic zinfandel has been signed by the winemakers and is, therefore, priceless!

---

DONATED BY TIM PAVEK:

Windsor Vineyards 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon

Value: $50

---

DONATED BY BRIAN WEART AND RICHARD HILLMAN:

Hartford Family Winery, 2005 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Value: $45

Sensual aromas of caramel, honeysuckle flowers and Gravenstein apples complemented by fresh pineapple... you pick your pleasure!

---

DONATED BY AL MARTIN:
Benziger Family Winery 2003 Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, California
Value: $42

This wine is round, full bodied, and fairly complex in flavor, with a medium to long finish. In aroma, it features plum, vanilla, toasted oak, ripe cherry, and clove. With its evident richness and fruitiness, it can be enjoyed with broiled fish such as halibut, flounder, or swordfish; crab or shrimp Louis; earthy mushroom dishes; pork tenderloin; or broiled steak.

---

DONATED BY TOM BURTCH AND NEIL AUSTIN:

Papapietro Perry, 2005 Zinfandel, Russian River Valley
Value: $33.00 ~ 750 ml

Deep garnet in color leading to an aromatic nose of delicate oak, cherry and white pepper. This is an elegant, full-bodied wine with pleasing complexity with flavors of bright cherry, a hint of spice, and a delicate pepper finish. Smooth tannins add structure and mouth feel, but don’t overpower. This Zinfandel is perfect for lighter meat dishes and spicy seafood fare.

Trentadue, 2004 Syrah, Alexander Valley Estate
Value: $22.00

This wine qualifies for the "Big" category, but without the clumsiness usually associated with the heavyweights. The very dark and alluring color leads to a full spectrum of dark fruit aromas such as blueberry, plums and dark cherries. There is a nuance of earthiness and leather with a touch of vanilla and toast from the oak. On the mouth, the wine is lush but with enough acid and full tannins to achieve a long lasting finish. You’ll be rewarded if you age this wine for 3-5 years although it is tempting to drink it now.

---

DONATED BY DENNIS CHASE:

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne
Value: $30

Piper-Heidsieck cuvée Brut combines 50 rigorously selected growths. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes give cuvée Brut its earlier years are used to create a more rounded blend and ensure the originality of the Piper-Heidsieck style. The wine's harmony develops over the course of slow ageing in Piper-Heidsieck's chalk cellars.

---

DONATED BY RANDY LERNER AND STEVE HESS:

Obscurity Cellars 2003 Pinotage, Sutter Ridge Vineyard, Sierra Foothills

An outstanding example of an extremely rare variety. Only seven growers and eight makers of this wine exist in the county. Awards: Gold Medal and Best of Region, California State Fair; Gold Medal, Amador County Fair; Silver Medal, El Dorado County Fair. Value: $20

Karmere La Petite Morgan Nebbiolo-Syrah 2004

Boysenberries, vanilla and cloves tip your nose to the rich and lucious mouth feel of this blend of Italian and French noble varieties. Value: $24

Karmere La Petite Rachel 2005 Syrah

All of the Karmere vineyards are named after women in the family; the daughter, the granddaughters and daughters-in-law. In the case of the granddaughters, the vineyards were planted on the week that they were born. In 2004, they welcomed two new granddaughters, so the new release syrahs have their names: La Petite Drew and La Petite Rachel. As for the grandson, Clint, they names the tractor after him. Clint thinks this is cool! Value: $30

Both of these wineries are located in the Sierra Foothills, one of the best and unexplored wine areas in Northern California. Randy and Steve love to go visit periodically as there are dozens of small wineries where one typically finds the owners and winemakers pouring the wine themselves behind the counters. These selections were discovered on one of their visits to the region.

---

DONATED BY JOHN SIMS:

Domaine Chandon, Chardonnay, 2004 Carneros Appellation

Value: $25

---

DONATED BY SEAN HIGGINS:

Eroica 2005 Reisling, Chateau Ste Michelle, Columbia Valley, WA

Value: $22

White peach and fresh apricot aromas characteristic of Washington State Rieslings, melded with the mineral, floral notes and lively acidity associated with German Rieslings.

---

WINES VALUED AT $20 OR UNDER PER BOTTLE

---

DONATED BY PETER JACOBS:

La Crema 2005 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

Review: Smells of green apples and vanilla. Tastes spicy with strong lemon peel taste. Strong beginning, smooth buttery finish. This wine really benefits from letting it sit a long while. It becomes much smoother and creamier while retaining the strong citrusy beginning.

---

DONATED BY STEVE GARBER:

Bella Sera 2005 Pinot Noir, vinted and bottled in Trento, Italy
Typical of the approachable wine enjoyed throughout Italy over simple, yet delcious Italian meals. This wine exhibits aromas of fresh red berries with hints of spice. Its juicy berry flavors and smooth and silky style make it a perfect complement to your favorite pasta dishes, roasted meats and poultry, and grilled vegetables.

---

DONATED BY BRUCE FRIEDRICHSEN:

Beringer 2005 Knights Valley Alluvium Blanc
From The Wine Advocate: A wine that mimics a top white Graves is Beringer's 2005 Alluvium Blanc, a barrel-fermented blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon that represents terrific value. This honeyed effort possesses crisp acidity as well as loads of melon, fig, and waxy lanolin characteristics.

Chateau St. Jean 2005 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

This lively and refreshing Fumé Blanc offers bright aromas of grapefruit, melon and lemongrass. The Semillon contributes a hint of sweet red apple that combines with the vibrant citrus, fig and spice characters found on the palate, creating a beautifully balanced wine with a long, lingering finish.

---

DONATED BY BRUCE CARPENTER:

Seven Terraces 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

Clifford Bay Estate 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

These two bottles from New Zealand were specially selected and imported to our event tonight by Bruce! Think Sauvignon Blanc; think New Zealand. It is fair to say that New Zealand has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, or more specifically, Marlborough Sauvignon. This is the single most successful New World variety of the 21st Century: yes, Chilean Carmenère, Argentine Malbec and Australian Shiraz have all become benchmarks, but the Sauvignon from this one tiny area of one tiny country has become the global pinnacle for the variety, and one of the world's most recognisable wine styles.

---

DONATED BY MICHAEL LYNCH:

Two Brothers Winery, Big Tattoo Red, 2005 (6 bottles)
and Big Tattoo White, Riesling 2006 (6 bottles)

From the Colchagua region in Chile, Two Brothers Winery is a partnership between brothers Erik and Alex Bartholomaus. They founded the winery as a way to raise funds for cancer research and Hospice care in memory of their mother, Liliana S. Bartholomaus. It was the Bartholomaus brothers' goal to honor their mother, who lost her battle against cancer. They wanted to do this in a non-serious yet beneficial way.

---

DONATED BY GARY KUKUS:
Estancia 2006 Pinot Grigio, California

---

DONATED BY MICHAEL LEVY:

Barricas 2003 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

This fine red wine is round and full bodied. It is a very characteristic vivid purple varietal 100 % Malbec. It has mulberry and black cherry aromas, with hints of violets and vanilla. In the mouth it is round and friendly, with fine tannin notes and a long finish.

Smoking Loon 2005 Merlot, California

This Merlot has a dark ruby color and the aromas are reminiscent of raspberry jam with hints of lightly toasted oak and caramel. This wine is made in a fruit forward style exhibiting mouth filling Bing cherry, white chocolate, and just a touch of cranberry finishing soft with ripe plum and delicate vanilla oak flavors.

---

DONATED BY RAVENS WOOD (special thanks to Anthony Levintow):

Ravens Wood 2003 Merlot, Sonoma County - 10 bottles

Medium dark. Cherry aromas on the nose. Nice black cherry fruit, with some smoke, moderate acid, solid structure, some hard tannins, and long fruity finish. This not your usual wimpy Merlot. It needs a few years of aging to soften out the hard tannins.

Ravens Wood 2005 Chardonnay, Sonoma County - 12 bottles

An incredible throwback to the past, the '05 Ravenswood Sonoma County Chardonnay recalls a past that we almost forgot; rich, blustery, full-flavored yet balanced and dry; superb!

---

DONATED BY HORIZONS FOUNDATION (special thanks to Jeff Lewy):

Grand Cru 2003 Chardonnay, CA - 4 bottles

Barons de Rothschild 2003 Bordeaux, Reserve Speciale, Bordeaux, France - 2 bottles

Stephen Vincent 2004 Crimson, CA - 2 bottles

Fess Parker 2004 White Riesling, Santa Barbara County

Louis Jadot 2002 Chardonnay, Bourgogne, France

---

DONATED BY DAN JORAANSTAD:

Three Saints 2003 Merlot, Santa Ynez Valley

Full aromas of black cherry and plum are accented by the characteristic licorice note found in all of the Three Saints' Merlots. This lush and generous wine offers up juicy flavors of black fruit, wild cherry and plum and an earthy undertone that is the hallmark of the Star Lane Vineyard. Rich and velvety in texture, this 2003 Merlot will reward after a few years of careful cellaring.

Five Rivers 2005 Pinot Grigio, Monterey County

Five Rivers 2005 Pinot Grigio is a dry, straw-colored wine that immediately fills the mouth with tastes of green apple and pear. It is best cool, not cold. It is lovely to drink on its own, sitting in the garden on a warm spring evening.

---

DONATED BY MARK SORENSEN:

Bogle Vineyards, 2005, Clarksburg, CA - Zinfandel
Acacia, 2005, Napa Valley - Pinot Noir

---

DONATED BY DENNIS CHASE:

2003 Shiraz, Rosemount Estate, diamond label, Australia
Louis-Philippe Champagne, Cuvee' Des Etoiles
2004 Chianti Classico Banfi, Italy

---

DONATED BY R. KARL HEBENSTREIT:

Wente Vineyards 2003 Merlot, Monterey

Tamas Estates, 2004 Pinot Grigio Rosato

---

DONATED BY TIM PAVEK:

Glen Ellen Reserve 2004 White Zinfandel, 1.5 ltr

---

Go to Catered By The Chorus

Go to Dinner Menus