TRAVERSO'S WINE TASTING SPECIAL IN-STORE WITH WINEMAKER HUGH CHAPPELLE OF QUIVIRA WINERY THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 NOON TO 3PM
MEET THE WINEMAKER: Our friend Hugh Chappelle has recently joined the Quivira Team. Hugh comes to Quivira from neighboring Lynmar Estate in the Russian River Valley, where his wines achieved widespread critical acclaim. Prior to joining Lynmar, Chappelle served as winemaker for the noted boutique winery Flowers Vineyard & Winery on the Sonoma Coast. He is one of the brightest people in the business we know. Hugh will be on hand to pour and discuss these wonderful arrivals. He'll also be here to discuss the many new exciting things that Quivira has planned with their ongoing commitment to organic and Biodynamic farming practices.
ALL FEATURED QUIVIRA WINES WILL BE 10% OFF THIS SATURDAY ONLY! We can ship or hold the wine if you cannot attend this event. Contact us anytime 707-542-2530 or info@traversos.com
**FOUR-PACK SAMPLER SPECIAL** Purchase one bottle of each from the tasting for the special price of $89.99 + tax!
Featured Quivira Wines
2009 QUIVIRA DRY CREEK VALLEY FIG TREE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC OUR PRICE $18.99
VARIETAL MIX 88% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Sauvignon Musque
FERMENTATION 100% Stainless Steel
PRODUCTION 3150 cases
Winery Notes: Fig Tree Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley This vineyard, named for a majestic 130-year old Black Mission fig tree that stands amongst the vines, became certified 100% organic and Biodynamic® in late 2005. Located at the confluence of two waterways on the Quivira estate, Dry Creek and Wine Creek, the soil has an extensive gravel layer due to its proximity to the creeks, creating a well drained site and yielding grapes with a unique flavor profile.
The short crop level this year gave us very concentrated flavors leaning more to the fig and melon side of the spectrum as opposed to the lemon and grass side. The mineral notes that distinguish this bottling are nicely framed in the background but with a bit more fatness to support it. While it is a joy to drink on its own as a warm summer day draws to a close, it will truly shine with herbed chicken, dishes with a simple cream sauce or pretty much any creature from the sea.
2008 QUIVIRA DRY CREEK VALLEY WINE CREEK RANCH GRENACHE OUR PRICE $27.99
VARIETAL MIX 100% Grenache
PRODUCTION 929 cases
Winery Notes: Grenache can be one of the more challenging varieties to grow. It wants to set a crop larger than it can fully ripen. It takes a severe thinning of fruit and good weather late in the season to craft a wine of consequence. The crop level we can control, but the weather, we have to work with what we are given. Harvest 2008 got off to a rocky start with extreme heat in early September only to be followed by unseasonably cool temperatures for the rest of the month. October ushered in much more even conditions for the fruit to achieve a healthy degree of ripeness, while retaining a better acid balance than seen in warmer years. The vinification was conducted with only wild yeast and the naturally occurring bacteria found in our cellar. Aging in 400-500 liter oak casks for 15 months rounded out the rough edges, revealing a wine with underlying power and an invitingly supple feel on the palate. Not to be confused with many of the monochromatic, strawberry-jam scented Grenaches flooding our shores of late, this wine shows all the savory and spice notes that make it a versatile match for everything from Szechwan peppercorn duck breast, to King salmon cooked on a cedar plank.
2008 QUIVIRA DRY CREEK VALLEY WINE CREEK RANCH PETITE SIRAH OUR PRICE $27.99
VARIETAL MIX 100% Petite Sirah
PRODUCTION 461 cases
Winery Notes: Petite Sirah is loved for its big, thick texture and black-purple fruit flavors. If you can’t wait to start drinking this beauty, I won’t blame you one bit. But, those who wait will surely find a treasure worth the wait. So, please set at least a couple of bottles aside until the cool weather returns in the fall. Then, take the time to braise a lamb shoulder in Moroccan spices or grill a pepper-crusted rib eye, and I promise you, your patience will be rewarded.
2007 QUIVIRA DRY CREEK VALLEY WINE CREEK RANCH GRENACHE-SYRAH-MOURVEDRE BLEND OUR PRICE $29.99
VARIETAL MIX 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre
PRODUCTION 249 cases
Winery Notes: When asked what my favorite wine from Quivira is, I usually avoid giving a direct answer. It is sort of like being asked if I have a favorite son. Today, for the first time, I have a clear favorite. (Wine that is). The 2007 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre is one of the most compelling bottlings I've had the pleasure to be a part of. It has intensity, but is not at all heavy. It is very complex, yet retains incredible focus. In making this wine, I had excellent raw materials to work with from the very fine 2007 vintage, so the odds of a good blend were in our favor. Now that the three components have completed their one year of aging together in foudre (a 600 gallon oak cask) and another twelve months in bottle, I'm just blown away by this beauty. Red fruits, black fruits and Christmas spices dance together with a precision I haven't seen since that annoying River Dance spin-off. Anyway, I'm sticking my neck out there and calling this a great wine. Not something I do casually - or often.
UPCOMING EVENTS & TASTINGS (schedule subject to change)
Saturday, September 11 - Our Favorite Red Wines From Italy
Saturday, September 18 - Tasting With Bill
Saturday, September 25 - TBA
Wednesday, September 29 - Four Roses Bourbon at Hyatt Hotel RESERVATION REQUIRED
Sunday, November 7 - Single Malt Whisky DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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**HOURS** Mon-Fri 10am to 7pm, Sat 10am to 6pm
Cheers,
Michael Traverso, Minister of Propaganda
Fred Thumhart, Minister of Spirits Enlightenment
Bill Traverso, Senior Wine Advisor & Minister of Tourism
Traverso's Gourmet Foods
Wines & Spirits Department
2097 Stagecoach Road (corner Fountaingrove Pkwy)
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
www.traversos.com
info@traversos.com
(707) 542-2530
(877) 456-7616 toll-free
(707) 542-0736 fax
