The Wine Century Club celebrated its 3^nd birthday on April 14^th 2008 in New York City. The room was packed once again with some of the brightest minds, sharpest wits and most delicate palates in the wine world today. As could be imagined, the accompanying wines were outstanding. . .

Two incredible old oddities came from Tom Reagan: a Royal Oporto 1896(!) Vintage Port and a Wisdom & Warter NV (bought in 1945) Golden Cream Sherry. They truly fit the theme Unusual, Delicious and Slow!

Another favorite of the crowd was the 2006 Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli. Both Kathleen Lisson and Karen Page and Andrew Dornenberg brought bottles of this truly remarkable New York State wine.

Sadly, one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the club couldn’t make it; Thom Perry passed away 2 months ago. He was responsible for many people joining the club, especially Thom’s fiancée Kathy Wertalik and friend Tom Reagan who both attended the party. We all raised a glass for Thom in his memory and honor.

Once again, the amazing Jeff Grossman brought his inimitable brand of contagious enthusiasm and charm all the while taking copious notes:

Impressions from the Century Club (third anniversary gathering) party:

1. Ewald Gruber NV? “Punkt Genau” - sparkling brut gruner veltliner from Austria’s Weinviertel; pleasant and crisp …Good (Gruner Veltliner)

2. Bonny Doon 2007 Albarino “Ca del Solo” - lemony, texture is a bit watery but there is a persistent finish …Good (Albarino)

3. Amesguren 2007 Getariarko Txakolina “Rubentis” - good zing but over a too-sweet candied flavor …Good (Hondarribi Zuri (white), Hondarribi Beltza (red)

4. JSC Corp year? Georgia White Dry Wine “Tsinandali” - Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane, moldy and bitter …Poor (ed: probably corked) (rkatsiteli and mtsvane)

5. S. Dona 2006 Gelber Muskateller - floral nose, of course; clean and crisp with a long finish …Good+ (Muscat Blanc)

6. Vino Graben 2004 Rumeni Plavec, Bizeljsko-Sremic region - the grape name means ‘yellow blue’; a tired white wine …Fair (Rumeni Plavec)

7. Joan d’Anguera 2002 Montsant “El Bugader” - decanted 2 hrs ahead; pretty nose, creamy in the mouth with fine tannins and a good finish; a little too much wood for my tastes …Good (Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon)

8. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 Rkatsiteli - “Giggle Juice!”; crisp, bright, grapefruity, zingy …Excellent (Rkatsiteli)

9. Clos du Gravillas 2004 Minervois blanc “L’Inattendu” - complex honeyed nose, a little closed otherwise …Good+ (Grenache Gris)

10. Wisdom & Warter NV Golden Cream Sherry - According to Tom, this was purchased in 1945 and held safely from then till now; The paper strip for the store lists the phone number as “Templeton 8-7500″ ! The wine is cloudy and brown; it is caramelly and sweet but not cloying; the acidity is quite soft; pleasurable …Excellent (Palamino)

11. Terredora Dipalo 2006 Falanghina Irpinia - a bit leafy, a little low in acid …Good (Falanghina)

12. Dr. Parce 1993 Collioure “Les Junquets” - probably a mourvedre blend; earthy, metallic (which I sometimes get from brett), something like an old Burgundy …Good+ (90% Syrah, 5% Roussanne, 5% Marsanne)

13. Dom. l’Aigueliere 1995 Montpeyroux - barnyardy, flavors of deepest mulberry and black raspberry; the finest furry tannins; nice secondary development …Excellent (Carignan, Syrah, Grenache)

14. Burlotto 2005 Pelaverga - zippy, lightweight, strawberry candy, wow …Excellent (Pelaverga)

15. Cascina Tavijn 2006 Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato - dark, vigorous, muted nose of fig and black raspberry, kinda closed tonight …Good (Ruche)

16. Plouzeau 2005 Gamay “Sans Tra La La” - clove, face-powder (ed: ?), fruity …Good (Gamay)

17. Royal Oporto 1896 Light Tawny Rich - After a protracted fight with the cork, Tom and I finally just push it in and use a screen when we pour. Another brown and cloudy wine, but it’s alive!: still fruity, brown sugar (but not caramel), chocolate and cocoa, just OMG wine …Excellent, Excellent, Excellent (most likely Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz (syn: Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca, Tintã Cão, plus some others)

18. Black Rock 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - varietally correct, nicely made …Good+ (Cabernet Sauvignon)

19. Black Rock 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - less rich than its sibling, the wood is sticking out …Good (Cabernet Sauvignon)

20. De Silva 2006 Alto Adige Lago di Caldaro Scelto “Peterleiten” - lightweight and suave, a bit green? …Good (Schiava)

21. Yoakim Bridge NV Courrier Red - a blend of 04 cab, 04 merlot, 05 zin, and 05 petit sirah; interesting effort; would love to try this again in 5 years …Good (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Sirah, Zinfandel)

22. Marco Carpineto 2004 Lazio Rosso “Dithyrambus” - montepulciano and nero buono, bland …Fair (Montepulciano and Nero Buono)

23. Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2004 Etna Rosso “Calderara Sottana” - good acidity, shapely, bright cranberry flavors …Good+ (Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio)

24. Sabon 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Prestige” - this seems very soft, is something wrong? …? (Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Terret,
Counoise, Vaccarese and Muscardin)

25. Dom. Monte de Luz 2006 Tannat “Carquera” - buttery and smooth but fruitless …Fair (Tannat)

26. Dom. Martinho (Q. do Carmo) 2002 Alentejo - bland …Fair (Aragonez (syn:Tempranillo), Alicante, Castelão, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah)

27. Grgich Hills 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon - varietally correct, not as woody as I feared it would be …Good (Cabernet Sauvignon)

28. Santomas 2005 Big Red Reserve - from Slovenia, really really dark refosco, big black fruit, I like it …Good (Refosco)

29. Chignin 2006 Vin de Savoie “Anne de la Biguerne” - varietal jacquerre; it’s whispering in a room full of shouting wines …Fair (Jacquerre)

30. Stadlmann 2006 Zierfandler - another indifferent white …Fair (Zierfandler)

If you tasted all 30 wines, you would have had 44 different grape varieties!

As Jeff said, it was a room full of shouting wines so it was difficult for the more subtle ones to shine. Bear this in mind just in case you think your wine got a poor rating. Personally, my Dithyrambus got robbed!!!

In the fiercely contested blind tasting competition, Angela Romano edged out Rodolphe Boulanger for top honors. She took home an official Wine Century Club shiny spittoon.

The blind tasting wines and delicious Gruner Veltliner bubbly were all supplied by LeNell’s - thank you for the excellent wines and for gracing us with your company, Lenell!

It’s time again for the Wine Century Club’s annual party in New York City. It looks like a great event this year as fellow Centurian Jimmy Carbone is letting us use his restaurant – Jimmy’s No. 43 – as our clubhouse for the evening. Jimmy’s No. 43 was just awarded a Snail from the Slow Food Association which means everything is local and organic in addition to being delicious. His rising star young chef, Philip Kirschen-Clark (formerly of WD-50) will be preparing a variety of small plates for a wine pairing extravaganza. There will be a variety of vegetarian and fish options among the small plates for our veggy and pescy members.

BYOB a bottle of something interesting, delicious and possibly slow.

Location:

Jimmy’s No. 43

43 East 7^th Street Downstairs
New York City
212.982.3006

Time: 7 PM

Date: Monday, April 14th

Cost: $75 includes tax, tip and a glass of bubbly.

RSVP: Please purchase tickets in advance at

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/30925

I am happy to announce the formation of The French Broad Chapter of the Wine Century CLub organized on January 12 at Blue Water Seafood and Wine Cellar. Twenty wine enthusiast met to elect officers and sample ten wines. Two members are already recipients of the Wine Century Award. Keith Dalbec was elected President, Jere Dabbs Vice-President and Nan Jennings Secretary. The group will meet every other month to expand their appreciation and joy of wine.

Varietals tasted included Palamini, Louriero, Trexadura, Godello, Albarino,Torrontes, Bourbelanc, Grenache Blanc, Roussane, Viognier, Encruzado Assyrtico, Xynomavro, and Chambourcin.

White Wines:

NV Valckenburg Madonna Sparkling Riesling, Germany

2005 Vina Reboreda White Blend, Ribiero, (Spain)
Varietals: Palamino, Loureira, Treixadura, Godella

2003 Seniorio de Cruces Albarino, Rias Biaxas, (Spain)

2005 Santa Julia Torrontes, Mendoza, (Argentina)

* Perrin Reservé White Blend, Côtes du Rhône, (France)
Varietals: Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Viognier
Vintage not shown on bottle, on website, vintage is shown on separate sticker. Blend differs by vintage.

2003 Quinta des Roques Encruzado, Dão, (Portugal)

2006 Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini, (Greece)

Rosé

2006 Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec, Mendoza, (Argentina)

Reds

2004 Boutari Naoussa Xynomavro, Greece

2005 Westbend Vineyards Chambourcin, Yadkin Valley, (North Carolina)

The Blue Water Seafood and Wine Cellar is located in Hendersonville, NC in the French Broad River Valley, 20 miles south of Asheville. If you would like pictures forwarded we would be pleased to send them,

NEXT MEETING: 

The French Broad Chapter of the Wine Century Club will meet March 8 at La Riserva Ristorante on Main Street in Hendersonville.  The Wine Century Club is dedicated to helping others to expand their experience with wine by eventually tasting at least one-hundred different types of wine grape varietals.  At the initial meeting held at Blue Water Seafood and Wine Cellar officers were elected and members tasted 16 different varietals.  Many of these were new to many members. Those who achieve the goal receive a Wine Century Club Certificate free of cost.

Call La Riserva to make a reservation.  Mention the Century Club.  The meeting is from 5-7PM.  Bring an interesting bottle to share, preferable two bottles of the same, in case attendance is large.  You will be charged a fee to cover the cost of the antepasti and setup.  La Riserva is at 342 N. Main.  The phone number is 692.6636.

Hi Guys:
In case you don’t get Grapegrower & Winemaker Magazine, or are too busy to read it, please find attached the latest article on Alternative varieties.
I hope you enjoy it, and with a bit of luck I might see some of you in Mildura on the 10th of November.
Cheers

DAN TRAUCKI - MWCC
WINE ASSIST PTY LTD
Wine Industry Consultants
In: Exports, Marketing, Label designs,
Logistics, Packaging,
Production Efficiency Assessments.

Phone/Fax: +61 8 8382 4920
Cell/Mobile: +61 408 801 795
Postal Address: P.O. Box 1050
Morphett Vale. South Australia. 5162

MWCC - Member The Wine Century Club

Wine Century Club member Susanne Kuehne has help organize a wine tasting for the Helping Hands Foundation.

A Wine Tasting Fundraiser
for the Helping Hands Foundation
Friday, October 19th, 2007 | 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm
At the home of Cynthia and Bernard Jennings
5126 Northern Fences Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
Tickets are $35 per person
~~~Casual Attire~~~
RSVP NLT Monday, October 15, 2007

For more information, please see the online invitation.

We’ve been getting some excellent press lately!

New member and wine educator Kelly Magyarics wrote a piece for the Wine Enthusiast: 100 Bottles of Wine on the Wall. It’s about her experience in becoming a member - a good read even if its title is a play on the most mind numbing song of all time.

And today in Bloomberg, there’s an article - Exotic Grapes, From Aglianico to Zweigelt, Now Make Trendy Wine - by Elin Mcoy, their wine columnist and author of The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr., and the Reign of American Taste. It features our very own Don Romano who makes a good case for adventurous wine drinking!

Last but not least, thanks to Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page for pointing out that DC member Henry Richardson was quoted in William Safire’s On Language column in the New York Times. And if you missed Andrew and Karen’s last article on the club in the Washington Post, you can check it out here.

How ironic. One of the most exclusive clubs in the world, and a true wine snob could never hope to join.

I am sipping a half-full glass of spritzy ‘vinho’ from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal on this unnaturally brisk Tuesday evening. May the millionaires with cellars full of 100 point wines gnash their teeth; it is this bottle’s humble $4.75 price tag that gained me entrance into a different ‘100′ club - the Wine Century Club.

Exclusive, like many things in New York City, the Manhattan-based Wine Century Club has just over 250 members worldwide. According to Deborah and Steve De Long, the Wine Century club, founded in 2005, is “for adventurous wine drinkers everywhere.” Adventurous, indeed. To gain membership, wine drinkers must have tasted wines with a sum total of at least 100 different grape varieties. The Arinto, Azal Branco and Louriera grapes in my wine glass tonight brought my total to 101.

As a wine drinker, I am very lucky to live in the Empire state. Though a wine from halfway around the globe helped me finish my trip, I would be nowhere near the 100 mark without the help of the wide variety of grapes grown in New York. From a Hudson Valley Baco Noir tasted in the cellar at Benmarl Winery to a Heron Hill late-harvest Vignoles sampled at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival, New York wines have given me a lot to savor and enjoy.

Since we are all just a day trip away from both Long Island wineries and the wonderful wine shops of New York City or the Finger Lakes, Niagara and Hudson Valley wine regions, most anywhere in New York is a great place to live for wine lovers.

Determined to get a good jump start on filling up the boxes in my freshly printed Wine Century Club application, this spring I traveled to New York City, rubbing elbows with urban wine lovers at a fabulous and crowded French wine tasting at the Chamber Street wine shop in Manhattan. A pour from legendary Beaujolais producer Jean Paul Brun added Gamay to my list. Later that day I stopped in Little Italy to have dinner, and a glass of the house white helped cross Grechetto off as well. The tasting bar at Vintage New York in Soho is also great place to sample New York wines; a pour of ‘Sculpture Garden’ from Long Island winery Channing Daughters introduced me to Blaufrankisch and Dornfelder.

At the midpoint, with over 50 varietals comfortably under my belt, the going got a little tougher. Having only a few dozen untasted grapes to cross of my list led me to drink any wine I came across. Sure, I was feeling particularly sophisticated as John McGregor of McGregor Vineyard watched expectantly as I sampled his exotic blend of Rkatsiteli and Sereksiya Rose, but I also found myself guiltily bellying up to the bar at a local Elks lodge in working-class Cohoes, NY one night to sample Lambrusco and Riuniti from a plastic cup.

By the time I got into the high 80’s, I was absolutely sure that being adventurous and willing to try something, anything, as long as it’s new, is an essential character trait in a wine lover looking to join the Wine Century Club. I will never forget the first taste of Greek Retsina wine and North Carolina Scuppernong.

Though I do love a glass of wine, my Wine Century club ‘field trips’
taught me more than just how to count grapes and swallow a bunch of exotic fermented juice. Visiting wineries across New York gave me the opportunity to ‘increase my number’ at the same time that the tasting room staff helped me improve my palate. At Pellegrini Winery on Long Island, I tasted chocolate in wine for the first time, and Finger Lakes whites helped me appreciate apricot, honeysuckle and peach aromas. Delicious!

I also learned a lot from attending the Golden Nose Wine Judging in Corning, NY, where I was one of over 50 ‘amateur’ judges charged with choosing the best wines that the Finger Lakes had to offer. I added several native grapes to my list as I tasted and evaluated wine flights for the afternoon competition after enjoying the ‘noses-on’
morning workshop on detecting wine faults.

The quest for 100 grapes also led me to discover the amazing variety of beverages that can all still call themselves wine. I sampled Cava, which is sparkling wine from Spain, and Madeira, a Portugese fortified wine that rose to fame because it actually tasted better after oxidizing during long voyages at sea. Closer to home, fun and fruity wines from native grapes like Catawba, especially Hazlitt Vineyard’s Red Cat wine, are at home on the deck or hot tub – tasting nothing at all like a wine snob’s big tannic red.

After learning about and tasting many, many wines, I have made a few new ‘friends,’ the best two being a Viognier from France and Rkatsiteli, a fruity white from Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars in Hammondsport.

Now that I don’t have a wine-stained, dog-eared application sheet to fill out, I have found it hard to stop pulling out dusty bottles from the back shelves of the local wine shop and automatically scanning winery tasting sheets and the wine lists at ethnic restaurants in a desperate search for an untasted varietal. I think my next focus will be in the opposite direction – I’ll pick one grape, like Riesling, and follow it around the world.

In a few weeks I’ll receive my certificate and proudly frame and hang it on my living room wall, but the Wine Century club is more than a piece of paper, it’s a state of mind. It’s a certain type of wine drinker that looks in her backyard and to all corners of the world to learn about her own palate and discover great wines. Wine snobs need not apply.

Kathleen’s Blog is called Wine and Stories from the Vineyard.

I am happy to announce the formation of The Wrath of Grapes chapter of the Wine Century Club in Aiken, South Carolina with 10 members. They completed their journey mostly as a group (3 more are still working on it). Listed in the front from left to right are: Marianne Scogin, Greg Teese, Caroline Teese, Jeff Brault and Fatina Ann Washburn Clark. Those in the back from left to right are: John Scogin, Mark Clark, Steven Delgenio, Ernest Hammond and Bruce McMurray.

Marianne Scogin is the Chapter President.

Congratulations to all the Chapter Members!

Pictured: Wine Century Club Members Maj Capps, left, and William Holby

Two of our most famous members, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, have written another excellent article on the club.

To read it, please go to the Washington Post website.

The Wine Century Club celebrated its 2^nd birthday on March 18^th 2007 in New York City. The room was packed once again with some of the brightest minds, sharpest wits and most delicate palates in the wine world today. As could be imagined, the accompanying wines were outstanding. . .

Highlights included the 1990 Red Burgundies generously shared by Alan Goodman and the Joly 2004 Savennieres “Les Clos Sacres” from Michael Gitter’s cellar. Still, the most suprising wine of the day was the Chris Wilford’s 2005 Bentalda Bizkaiko Txakolina “Gorrondona“, which truly fit the theme Unusual and Delicious.

The amazing Jeff Grossman brought his inimitable brand of contagious enthusiasm and charm all the while taking copious notes:

Attendees:
Michael Gitter
Ben Schmerler
Alan & Carolyn Goodman
Meredith Cleland & Chris Wilford
Tracy Kamens & Jared Skolnick
Jeff Grossman
Mark & Diane Friedland
Pedro Rosario
Jameson James
Bridget Amiri & Greg Nelson
Steve DeLong
Arthur Stein & Lauren Elliot

A wide variety of wines were brought, some classic and some funky:

WHITE

1. Etxaniz Txakolina 2005 Txomin Etxaniz, Getariarko Txakolina - a
whiff of face-powder and bright acidity, round and full-flavored, very
drinkable …Good+

2. Amesguren 2006 Getariarko Txakolina “Amestoi” - sharper and a bit
less substantial than the previous, stony, a little of petillance,
reminds me of muscadet …Good

3. Louro do Bolo 2005 Valdeorras “Godello lias finas” - lacking in
acidity, flavor, or intensity …Fair

4. Channing Daughters 2005 White Table Wine “Sylvanus” - blend of
pinot grigio, pinot bianco, and muscat ottonel; citrus zest in the
nose, but thin body and just barely-adequate acidity, one guest says,
“Froot Loops!” …Fair

5. Dauvissat 2002 Chablis “Sechet” 1er - stones, lemon cream, good
(but not great) acidity, no noticeable oxidation, a bottle in a
friendly mood overall …Good+

6. Joly 2004 Savennieres “Les Clos Sacres” - full, citrus-y, waxy,
honeyed, a rich cup …Excellent

7. Jermann 2004 Bianco Venezia Giulia “Vintage Tunina” IGT - good body
with lots of yellow (and even some red) fruit, long finish, not
unjustifiably popular …Good+

RED

8. Jean-Claude Marsanne 2004 Crozes-Hermitage - yup …Good

9. Frick 1999 Syrah (Dry Creek) - very heavy, generic ‘red wine’
flavored syrup, varietal characteristics are indistinguishable …Fair

10. Saxon Brown 2005 Syrah “Flora Ranch” (Chalk Hill) - warm spices
(e.g., cinnamon, clove), dirt and flowers, a pretty syrah …Good+

11. Drouhin 1990 Mazi-Chambertin GC - gorgeous, red fruit and velvet,
the components of the wine are all in balance, an example of why folks
buy Burgundy, have I said “gorgeous” yet? …Excellent, Excellent,
Excellent

12. Dujac 1990 Charmes-Chambertin GC - cloudy, the Dujac perfume is
there (along with roasty fruit and substantial acids) but the wine is
unravelling, might need to drink up …Excellent

13. Vinedo de los Vientos 2002 Tannat IGT - The back label says, “With
the overwhelming scent of dry Autumn leaves and a hint of morning dew
covering newly sprouted Crimini mushrooms, near a bush of ripe
blueberry. With a pronounce overtone that inhibits the game like
nature of this varietal. Its pinenut finish enhances the warm
marmalade coating of the palate.” I’m told this was written by an
ambitious fellow named Ulysses who no longer works at the winery. I
have no reason to doubt his veracity but those flavors no longer work
at the winery, either. What’s in the bottle is, indeed, very black in
color but is kinda bland and flat. …Fair

14. Bentalda 2005 Bizkaiko Txakolina “Gorrondona“ - spicy, herbal nose,
lightweight and silky, like a good franc …Excellent

15. Ch. Musar 1998 Rouge - raspberry, currant, strawberry candy, a bit
of shoe polish (nail polish?), typical complicated Musar profile,
showing nicely …Good+

16. Vega Montan 2003 Bierzo - suave, nicely ripe, but it’s too woody
(”criado tres meses en barrica de roble Americano y Frances”) and the
finish is short, how to evaluate such a wine? …Good

17. Horton 2004 Norton (”The Tower Series”) - well-made but it tastes
like a million other red wines, where’s the typicity? …Good

18. Huber 2005 Zweigelt - fresh, cranberry and mulberry, works well at
the table …Good+

Thank you to everyone who braved the ice dams to make our 2^nd birthday a great time.