1-25-06

Dear Colorado Wine Club Member,

Winter Solstice has come and gone.  The days are lengthening by a few minutes each day.  Along with that trend, the air and soil temperatures will be rising.  The soil temperature has the greatest effect on the timing of budbreak, which normally occurs around mid-April.  The buds that are hopefully a long way from breaking out already have microscopic leaves, shoots, and even flowers built into their structure.  All they need is water and warmth and they’ll grow into their fully expanded forms.  If for some reason these primary buds should fail, due to cold or drought, there are secondary and tertiary buds that will grow in their place.  The secondary buds have just a little fruit built into their structure, while the tertiary buds have none.  This amazing, intricate process is happening all over Colorado’s vineyards while most of us are cozy and warm inside our homes, schools, and workplaces, taking care of our own complex lives.

Enclosed are your January Wine Club bottles.  This month’s wines for the Vintner’s Choice Colorado Wine Club are:

S Rhodes 2003 Merlot

Here is a very nice example of a Colorado Merlot.  It did quite well in our most recent blind panelist tasting.  In fact, it was second best of the 27 wines tasted that evening according to our fifteen panelists.  It’s so new to the lineup that we’re still getting to know this wine and can’t give you many details on it.  All we know is that it did very well in the tasting, it was a broad-based opinion of a good majority of the panelists, and it bested three other merlots.  Feel free to drop by and taste the wine anytime for a preview.

Stoney Mesa 2005 Gewurztraminer

This delicate, floral wine is a little gem.  It’s just been released and possesses all the traits of a German early harvest Gewurz (Guh verts).  There’s a bit of lively spritz to it, along with the unique, spicy aroma and flavor that distinguishes this grape from all other varieties.  We call this varietal character and there aren’t any better grapes to demonstrate this important wine appreciation concept.  Enjoy this by itself or with mild cheeses before dinner.

As always, enjoy the wines in good health!

Sincerely,

Glenn & Natalie Foster