Wines By The Glass

Question 1

Sparkling BTG

Answer 1

Iron Horse, Wedding Cuvee , Green Valley 2009 $ 17 / $ 68
Nose: peach, raspberry, hazelnut
Palate: pink grapefruit, lime, nectarine, strawberries and cream
About: Estate bottled in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley as their interpretations of Blanc de Blancs.
78% Pinot Noir 22% Chardonnay. Aged on average for three years before bottling. The name Iron Horse came from a train that stopped at Ross Station at the turn of the 20th Century.

Question 2

Brut Rose BTG

Answer 2

Chateau de Breze, Cremant de Loire, Brut Rose , Loire Valley, France, NV $ 13 / $ 52
Nose: roses, raspberries, strawberries
Palate: red plums, red currants, cranberry, orange zest, flint
About: The legendary wines of the Brézé (pronounced Brey-zey ) vineyards in the Loire Valley have been lauded in classical literature and reached the apotheosis of its fame in the 17th century when the wines were regularly served in the royal courts of all of Europe, most notably that of Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King.
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc made in the traditional method, organic farming.

Question 3

Champagne BTG

Answer 3

Lanson, Brut, France, Reims, Black Label $ 22 / $ 88
Nose: spring flowers, toast, honey
Palate: green pear, green pineapple, lemon
About: With a history dating back to 1760 Champagne Lanson is the third oldest house in Champagne and was awarded the Royal Warrant in 1860 by Queen Victoria. An impressive range of 40 to 50 crus are blended together to form this Champagne.
35% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, aged for three years, no malolactic fermentation.

Question 4

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc BTG

Answer 4

Craggy Range, Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough, New Zealand, Te Muna Road 2012 $ 12 / $ 48
Nose: jasmine, sage, nectarine, lime
Palate: apple, grilled pineapple, gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf
About: Craggy Range Exclusively crafts single-vineyard, terroir-driven wines. Te Muna Road is located in Martinborough, on the North Island of New Zealand, an area that enjoys a climate that is closely aligned with the famous cool climate regions of Burgundy, the Loire Valley and Marlborough.

Question 5

California Sauvignon Blanc BTG

Answer 5

Lieu Dit, Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley 2012 $ 14 / $56
Nose: lemon, melon, hey, white flowers
Palate: lime, kiwi, apricot, white roses, ginger, green tea
About: Lieu Dit is a project headed by Justin Willett of Tyler Wines and Eric Railsback, the lead sommelier at Michael Mina-s RN74. It is made with fruit from 3 vineyards in the Happy Canyon AVA. Whole cluster pressed into tank and then fermented in both stainless steel and in neutral barrels.

Question 6

Pinot Grigio BTG

Answer 6

Tenuta Ca’Bolani, Pinot Grigio, Italy, Friuli, Aquileia 2011 $ 10 / $40
Nose:peach, pear, gardenia, almonds
Palate: yellow peach, savory minerals dry, medium body, silky texture
About: Ca’Bolani estate is located in the heart of Aquileia DOC; it’s roots go back to 16th century. The family’s most important member was Count Domenico Bolani, the Prosecutor of the Venetian Republic in Friuli.

Question 7

Furmint BTG

Answer 7

Verus, Furmint, Slovenia, Ormoz 2012 $13 / $52
Nose: Kaffir lime,white flowers, wild nettle
Palate: lemon curd, orange zest, fresh apricot, peach
About: Furmint is the classic variety of Hungary’s Tokaji region, where it makes the fabulous sweet Tokaji wines.It is known is Slovenia as Shipon. It comes from Štajerska (Styria) appelation, cool climate white wine region in eastern Slovenia on the Croatian border.This wine undergoes 15-months ageing in French barriques with constant lees-stirring, 12% abv.

Question 8

Riesling BTG

Answer 8

Dönnhoff, Riesling, Germany, Nahe 2011 $ 14 / $ 56
Nose: Anjou pear, white peach, honey, baked bread
Palate: apple, citrus peel, honeysuckle, quince, jasmine
About: Helmut Dönnhoff runs one of the most highly regarded estates in all of Germany, in the village of Oberhäus in the Nahe region. About 80% of his vineyards are in what is unofficially classified as Grand Cru sites in a system that is really very much like Burgundy. Fermented and matured in stainless steel vats.

Question 9

Moscofilero BTG

Answer 9

Skouras, Moscofilero, Greece, Peloponnese 2012 $ 10 / $ 40
Nose: rose petal, honeysuckle, passion fruit
Palate: white cherry, orange rind, green peache, white pepper, slate
About: Protected Geographical Indication : Peloponnese, 100% Moscofilero grape. Fermented in stainless steel vats. Short skin contact, no malolactic fermentation and short ageing over fine lees. Domaine Skouras is at the forefront of Greek estates. The winery is just under an hour and a half drive from Athens.

Question 10

Aligote BTG

Answer 10

Pierre Morey, Aligote, France, Bourgogne Aligote 2010 $ 13 / $ 52
Nose: herbs, gresh grape, gunflint
Palate:lemon, lime, green apple,very mineraly
About: Thia ancient grape originates in Burgundy and is today preserved in a few parcels and cultivated with passion and care. Pierre Morey ( the former winemaker at Domaine Leflaive )is one of Burgundy’s most highly regarded citizens and one of its most accomplished vignerons. His family traces its roots in Burgundy back to the 16th century and has been making wine in Meursault since 1793

Question 11

Heaviest Oaked Chardonnay

Answer 11

Alpha Omega, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, II 2010 $ 15 / $ 60
Nose: lemon, green apple, baked apple pie
Palate: banana, pineapple, melon, pear, vanilla bean
About: Alpha Omega’s winemaking team includes Michel Rolland, a wine world superstar who has been working with winemaker Jean Hoefliger. Wines come from Kelly Road Vineyard, they are aged for 10 months, 20% in 3 year old barrels and 80% in stainless steel, 50% malolactic fermentation and 50% fermented in oak.

Question 12

High End Napa Chardonnay

Answer 12

Far Niente, Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2011 $ 22 / $ 88
Nose: citrus blossom, honeydew melon, pear
Palate: Mayer lemon, pear, apricot, fig, flint, toasted almonds
About: Far Niente sources their Chardonnay grapes from the Napa Valley district of Coombsville, which features a similar climate to Carneros but with less wind and deeper, well-drained gravelly loam and volcanic ash soils. The cool growing season in 2011 was very well suited to the vibrant and aromatic style of their Chardonnay. The wine was barrel fermented without malolactic fermentation, and further aged for 9 months in 68% new French oak sur lie.

Question 13

St. Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

Answer 13

Hahn Estate, Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands 2011​ $12 / $48
Nose: golden apple, ripe apricots, lemon peel, melon
Palate: Bosc pear, marzipan, pineapple, baking spice
About: The grapes were harvested primarily from the 156-acre Lone Oak Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. 100% barrel fermented, aged in 33% new French oak. The wine is aged sur lies, being gently stirred every three weeks to enhance the texture and flavor of the wine.

Question 14

Still Rose BTG

Answer 14

Loomis Family Rosé Air Napa Valley 2011 $10 / $ 40
Nose: strawberry, cranberry, watermelon
Palate: somewhat candied fruit on the nose turns more savory on the palate with a round mouthfeel
About: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre.

Question 15

Lake County PN BTG

Answer 15

Brassfield, Pinot Noir, Lake County, High Serenity Ranch 2011 $ 12 / $ 48
Nose:rose petals, dark cranberries, cola, raspberries
Palate: black cherry, pomegranate, toasted chestnuts, leather
About: Brassfield Estate Winery & Vineyard is located in the western section of High Valley at High Serenity Ranch in the Lake County. Vineyards sit at the elevation between 1800 ft and nearly 3000 ft. Consulting winemaker is David Ramey.

Question 16

Santa Cruz Mountains PN BTG

Answer 16

La Rochelle, Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2009 $ 16 / $ 64
Nose: raspberry, pomegranate, blood orange
Palate: black cherry, cola nut, toasty oak, brown sugar, forest floor
About: This wine is a blend of several clones of Pinot Noir from the Deer Park Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation and the San Vicente Vineyard in Monterey. Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 15 months. La Rochelle is the name of the French port that the owner’s great-great-great grandfather left one hundred and sixty years ago. This is Steven Kent’s winery’s label.

Question 17

Russian River PN BTG

Answer 17

En Route, Russian River Valley, Les Pommiers 2011 $ 22 / $ 88
Nose: cherry, rose petals, toasted vanilla, baking spices
Palate: crushed raspberries, plums, anise, sandalwood, wild flowers
About: EnRoute was established in the Russian River Valley in 2007 by the partners of Napa Valley’s Far Niente winery.
The name, EnRoute, is a nod to the journey the partners. Les Pommiers” draws its name from the apple orchards emblematic of the Russian River Valley’s agricultural history. Wine is a blend of fruit from vineyards located primarily in the Green Valley and upper Middle Reach areas of the Russian River Valley AVA. Grapes are farmed according to organic principles and minimally handled at the winery. Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir. Aging: French oak barrels (50% new / 50% once-used).

Question 18

Carignan BTG

Answer 18

Lioco, Carignan, Mendocino, Indica 2010 $ 12 / $ 48
Nose: crushed blue & black berries, cinnamon bark
Palate: blueberry skin, salted plums, black tea, locorice
About: Before Matt Licklider and Kevin O’Connor started making wine together in 2005, they were working in the wine business in distribution and as a sommelier, respectively. Indica is a blend of old-vine Carignan (97%), Syrah (2%), and Petite Sirah (1%).The fruit was hand harvested, sorted and then fermented in stainless steel tanks using wild yeasts. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally and finished completely. The wine remained in neutral oak on fine-lees for 10-months. This is California wine for California food.

Question 19

Tempranillo BTG

Answer 19

La Rioja Alta, Tempranillo, Rioja Reserva, Vina Arana 2005 $ 16 / $ 64
Nose: orange blossom, quince, violets
Palate: maraschino cherry, red currant, blood orange, menthol, forest floor
About: The Arana 2005 is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo and has been aged for three years in third fill American oak casks. La Rioja Alta is established in 1890 and continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced Rioja wine. It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines.

Question 20

Syrah BTG

Answer 20

Skylark, Syrah, Knights Valley, Lawer Vineyard 2008 $ 15/ $ 60
Nose: black currant, black cherry, game, purple flowers
Palate: blackberry, smoked meat, chocolaty tannins
About: Knights Valley is an appellation in Sonoma (North bordering Napa). John Lancaster and Robert Perkins are the winemakers/owners (they are sommeliers at Boulevard).

Question 21

Zinfandel BTG

Answer 21

Limerick Lane, Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2010 $ 12 / $ 48
Nose: raspberry, dill, anise, violets
Palate: plum, black cherry, blueberries, cardamom
About: Limerick Lane is a thirty acre estate located in the north east corner of the Russian River Appellation just south of the town of Healdsburg. The estate was first planted to grapes in 1910, it is owned today by the Bilbro family. With 14.5% ABV, this wine is proof that Zinfandel doesn’t need alcohol to be full bodied.

Question 22

Malbec BTG

Answer 22

Altos las Hormigas, Malbec, Argentina, Mendoza, Clasico 2012 $10 / $40
Nose: strawberries, plums, violets, soft vanilla
Palate: black currant, wild blackberry, underbrush, licorice
About: Founder and winemaker Alberto Antonini was a winemaker for the Tuscan wineries of Antinori and Frescobaldi, two of the leading Italian winemaking families, as well as numerous New World wineries. Wine is 100% Malbec from the Mendoza subzones of Lujan de Cujo and Valle de Uco from the elevation of over 2700 feet. It is aged for 12 months in concrete “piletas”.

Question 23

Merlot BTG

Answer 23

Grgich Hills, Merlot, Napa Valley 2008 $ 14 / $56
Nose: Bing cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, sweet brown spice, dried fall leaves
Palate: blackberry, black cherry, dried cranberry, cigar box, flinty minerals, cocoa beans
About: Now 89 years old, and still sporting his signature blue beret, Mike Grgich was inducted into the Vinter Hall of Fame in 2008 in honor of his many contributions to the wine industry. He is the winemaker for the legendary 1973 Ch. Montelena Chardonnay, that won at the celebrated “Paris Tasting” of 1976. While many other Napa wineries pursue strategies of expansion, Mike, along with his daughter, Violet, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, prefer to stay
small.

Question 24

Bordeaux BTG

Answer 24

Château de Braude, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Haut-Médoc 2006 $ 16 / $ 63
Nose: black currants, leather, tobacco
Palate: blackberry, cedar, smoke, violets
About: 70% Caberenet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, from the Left Bank of river Dordogne in Haut- Medoc region in Bordeaux. Aged in 100% new barrels during 24 months. Soil: gravels from the tertiary period .
Average age of the vines: 25 years.

Question 25

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon BTG

Answer 25

Fisticuffs, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 $ 15 / $ 60
Nose: dark chocolate, cinnamon, espresso, black cherries
Palate: blackberry, black raspberry, cassis, baking spices, vanilla
About: Winemaker Rob Lawson crafted Fisticuffs using his years of experience making many of Napa Valley’s cult Cabernets at Napa Wine Company, such as: Ghostblock, Mirror, and Kapcsandy. He teamed up with the owners of Hourglass to produce this outperforming wine. Aged for 20 months in a mix of new and old French Oak.

Question 26

Santa Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon BTG

Answer 26

Domaine Eden, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2009 $19 / $ 76
Nose: licorice, sage, mint, sweet oak
Palate: black currant, cedar, earth, mocha, spicy tannins
About: Domaine Eden is mountaintop wine estate purchased by Mount Eden Vineyards in 2007 .Mount Eden Vineyards is a small historic wine estate located on a 2000 foot peak in the Santa Cruz Mountain Appellation about 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Founded in 1945 it’s recognized as one of the original “ boutique” Californian wineries. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Barrel regimen - 50% French, 50% American- 25% new; aged 24 months in barrel.

Question 27

HH Sparkling

Answer 27

Paul Clement, Blanc de Blancs, France

Question 28

Icewine

Answer 28

Inniskillin, Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula 2007. 29 / 174 ( 375ml )

With its brilliant red color and rich flavors, this vintage has produced a rare and exceptional red Icewine with an abundance of primary fruit aromas on the nose, strawberries and cream on the palate and a long, smooth lingering finish, intensely aromatic and varietally distinct, portraying aromas of herbs, eucalyptus, strawberry, baked rhubarb and spiced apple. Rich echoing flavors of cranberry, apple and strawberry are enlightened by a refreshed acidity. Icewine’s roots can be traced to centuries old German winemakers. Grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months to concentrate and intensify the flavors, as water content freezes, thaws and dehydrates in each precious Icewine grape.

Question 29

Sauterne style from California

Answer 29

Dolce, Late Harvest Wine, Napa Valley 2006 17 / 102 ( 375ml )

Exotic, tropical, apricot and melon notes combine with hints of honeysuckle on the palate. While undeniably sweet, the signature texture and long finish lead to a mouthwatering finish that is perfectly balanced and clean. More subtle flavors of toasted almonds, fig and pear integrate nicely with notes of brioche and bread pudding A combination of late harvest Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the foggy town of Coombsville, east of Napa, the Dolce is Napa’s Sauternes-style dessert wine, with its earthy, botrytis underpinning and joyful acidity. Wonderfully food-friendly, this will pair well with foie gras, poached figs, cheeses, chocolate or crème brulee.​

Question 30

Sauterne

Answer 30

Château Suduiraut, France, 1er Grand Cru Classé 2004 21 / 178 ( 375ml )

Discreet but ripe and rich nose offers apricot, marzipan and honey. Wonderfully plump, sweet and full, with uncommon depth and concentration to its flavors of soft ripe apricot, pineapple and spices. Offers an exhilarating combination of silky texture and sheer intensity. The nectar-like, rot-ennobled finishing flavors stain the palate and go on and on. It’s lying at the southern end of the commune of Preignac, a stone’s throw from those of Yquem. The terroir is mainly sand and gravel with some clay, and the vines are 90% Semillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, with an average vine age of 25 years. The nearby Garonne provides the mists that engender the Noble Rot.

Question 31

This is one of Italy’s most famous sweet wines

Answer 31

Donnafugata, Sicily, Italy, Passito di Pantelleria, Ben Rye 2009 16 / 75 ( 375ml )​

100% Zibibbo (Moscato d Alessandria).

Explosive, highly perfumed aromas of ripe apricot, peach, citrus fruits, cinnamon and pepper. Pure and clean, with impressive depth to the ripe citrus and peach flavors; an undercurrent of tropical fruits contributes volume and flesh. The concentrated, very long finish throws off notes of lavender and acacia honey . ‘Ben Rye’ is an Arabic word for ‘son of the wind’. Grapes are grown on the volcanic soils of the island of Pantelleria and left to dry naturally by the sun and the wind for 20 to 30 days.

Question 32

1990 Vin Doux Naturel

Answer 32

Mas Amiel, France, Maury, Vin Doux Naturel, Millesime 16 / 128 ( 750m )

The intense nose develops scents of black chocolate, figs and mint with a hint of pepper, the clean, powerful first impressions on the palate develop in complexity, brisk freshness, tender tannins. This naturally sweet wine (vin doux naturel) is aged for a year in partly filled glass jars, starting a slow process of oxidation, which will develop a complex pallet of aromas, followed by 27 years of maturing in large oak barrels. 90% Grenache, 5% Carignan, 5% Macabbeu. Vin doux naturel translates as “naturally sweet wine “, but the fermentation is halted by the addition of alcohol, resulting in what is really a blend of wine, unfermented grape juice and added grape spirit.

Question 33

2009 Vin Doux Naturel

Answer 33

M. Chapoutier, Banyuls, France, Vin Doux Naturel 10 / 80 ( 500ml )

Nose: dried fruits, crystallized orange peel and black pepper

Palate: rich and layers with dried plum, baking spices and dark chocolate flavors, boysenberry
About: Made since the 13th century, Banyuls is Grenache-based fortified wine from Roussillon region in South of France. All grapes are hand-picked from terraced slopes, de-stemmed, fermented slowly, fortified with pure grain spirits, and aged for up to 36 months in oak.

Question 34

Moscato D’Asti

Answer 34

Vietti, Italy, 2011 9 / 33 ( 375ml )

Nose: peaches, rose petals and ginger, orange blossom

Palate: apricots, of peach, lychee and a touch of nectarine

About: The Vietti family have been growing grapes for almost two hundred years in Piedmont, North West Italy.The grapes are farmed organically , fermented in stainless steel tanks, 5,5% abv.

Question 35

Demi-Sec

Answer 35

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Demi-Sec, France 20 / 50 ( 375ml )

Nose: peach, mango, minerals, toast

Palate: sweet butter ,sweet apple, brioche, pralines, peach compote, vanilla

About: This is a classic accompaniment to dessert and equally pleasing as an aperitif. This stylish blend is evocative of the wine Madame Clicquot herself produced in the early 19th century No fewer than 50 individual wines make up this cuvee, dosage - 45 g/l.
​

Question 36

Royal Tokaji

Answer 36

Royal Tokaji, Hungary, Betsek, 6 Puttonyos 2005 29 / ​148​(500 ml)

Nose: honey, smoke, spice, orange peel

Palate: apricot, peaches, barley sugar, orange marmalade, minerals

About: Tokaji is the name of the wines from the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary and Slovakia. The world’s first vineyard classification system is attributed to Tokaji. The wine is made from grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea ), a style of wine which has a long history in this region. Betsek (pronounced: bet-shek) is the largest of Royal Tokaji’s 1st growth vineyards. Aszu classification was traditionally based on how many puttonyos of dried out, aszu, grapes were added to a barrel of dry wine. Now it is based on sugar levels. This wine was aged for 4 and a half years in used Hungarian oak barrels, and aged in bottles (prior to release) for 8 months. Furmint, Harslevelu and Muscat, 190 g/L of residual sugar.

Question 37

10 Year Tawny

Answer 37

Neiport, Portugal, 10 Year Tawny 10 / 50 ( 375ml )​

Nose: orange, lemon peel, toffee, honey

Palate: caramel, almonds, bitter chocolate, dried fruits, nuts

About: Dirk Niepoort, whose family has been making Port since 1842, plunged into the table wine business in the early 1990s and is now considered one of the top producers of high-end Douro wine. The Niepoort lodges are located in the historical center of Vila Nova de Gaia; a magical place where Portwines are aged in old casks, bottles or demijohns.

Question 38

Sandeman, Portugal, 20 Years Tawny

Answer 38

Nose: lemon zest, orange, apricot, peach tart, caramel

Palate: dried apricots, honey, roasted walnuts, cinnamon, molasses, vanilla, delicate and silky texture

About: Tawny ports are wines made from red grapes, fortified with grape neutral spirit (brandy) that are aged in wooden barrels, exposing them to gradual oxidation and evaporation. As a result, they gradually mellow to a golden-brown color. The exposure to oxygen imparts “nutty” flavors to the wine, which is blended to match the house style. In general, a 20-year-old tawny port will emphasize dried citrus and exotic wood spice.

Question 39

Grahams, Portugal, 20 Years Tawny

Answer 39

Nose: caramel, cherry , fruit cake, raisins

Palate: soft burned toffee, milk chocolate, walnuts, almonds

Question 40

Graham, Portugal, Six Grapes

Answer 40

Nose: perfumed cherries, prunes, sweet tobacco

Palate: boysenberry, dusty earth, spicy plum, anise

About: This non-vintage Ruby Port is made in the style sometimes called “Vintage Character” because its full and tannic structure emulates that of the more pricey, ageworthy vintage wine. Made from six Port-grape varieties, hence the name: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela and Tintao Cão.

Question 41

Meyer Family, California

Answer 41

Nose: baked fruit, cooking spice, Zinfandel brandy

Palate: sweet cassis, brandied cherries, chocolate

About: The Meyer Family Port was sourced from Zinfandel vineyards in Lodi and from different parts of Mendocino. It’s blend of several vintages of old-vine Zinfandel that average eight years of age at release and it’s made by a modified solera method.

Question 42

Smith Woodhouse, Portugal, Late Bottle Vintage 2000

Answer 42

Nose: violets, plum, dark bitter chocolate

Palate: jammy blackcurrant, sweet raisin, nutmeg, peppery tannins

About: Smith Woodhouse Ports are produced in very small quantities by the Symington family, Douro winemakers for over 100 years. Smith Woodhouse 2000 LBV, like Vintage Port, is a wine of a single year but it is not a “declared” Vintage Port. After 4 years of cask ageing, the wines are bottled unfiltered and cellared for an additional 4 years. This bottle ageing allows the wine to develop outstanding style and complexity, At the time of bottling it has completed its maturation and is ready to serve without the need for decanting .

Question 43

Sandeman, Spain, Sherry, VOS Rich Oloroso, Royal Corregidor, 20 Year

Answer 43

Nose: maple, toffee, black walnut, allspice, brown sugar, molasses​

Palate: crème brulee, apricot, quince, cinnamon, nutmeg, prunes, raisins, sultanas

About: The wine comes from a solera started at the end of the 19th century and a limited number of bottles are released each year. The youngest wine in the blend is 20 years old! Some of the wine in this bottle is over 100 years old.Founded in 1790 by Scotsman George Sandeman, this is one of the most famous sherry and port houses in the world. The world famous sign of recognition of Sandeman’s is “The Don” and his black cloak, in Spanish Capa Negra. The Sandeman brand was registered as a trademark in 1877 (First Trademark Registrations Act) making it one of the oldest in the world. 90% Palomino , 10% Pedro Jimenez.

Question 44

Emilio Lustau, Spain, Sherry, Rare Amontillado, Escuadrilla

Answer 44

Nose: brown sugar, nuts, and honey backed by a soft floral note

Palate: notes of caramel, roasted walnut, coffee, and white pepper lead to hints of smoke and molasses on the finish, dry, rich.

About: The house Emilio Lustau with its 20 hectares of vineyard was founded in 1896. It belongs to the few producers still situated in family property in Jerez.
Initially aged under a veil of yeast, followed by several years ageing in the oxidative process. Made of 100% Palomino grape, 18,5% ABV.

Question 45

Cossart Gordon, Portugal, Colheita Bual 1997​

Answer 45

Nose: dried citrus, caramel, toffee

Palate: dried mangoes, burned orange, tart baked peach, hazelnuts

About: Cossart Gordon, established in 1745, is the oldest Madeira wine company . Cossart-Gordon’s house style is elegant with a bit more acid in the structure, and its trademark spiciness is evident in this wine’s aroma, which displays a faint suggestion of cinnamon. Cossart Gordon 1997 Colheita Bual is a single harvest Madeira wine aged for 11 years in oak casks.

Question 46

Broadbend, Boal , Madeira 1978

Answer 46

The history of Madeira wine stretches back to the Age of Exploration, when Madeira was a frequent port of call for ships whose captains would fuel up on wine—fortified to prevent spoilage—for their trans-Atlantic journey. The blazing heat of the sea voyage transformed the flavor of the wines, a metamorphosis reproduced by a process called estufagem during which the wines are heated to as high as 60°C (140°F) and oxidated. Boal is a medium-sweet style of Madeira, dark in color and packed with sweet raisin, toffee, nut and herb flavors. It is among the most complex wines of the world. The wines were hand-selected on the island by Michael Broadbent, Chairman of Christie’s International Wine Department and the world’s most experienced taster of Madeira. Bartholomew Broadbent is deemed one of the world’s foremost authorities on Port and Madeira, and is credited with spearheading the revival of Madeira in America.

Question 47

Broadbent Colheita Madeira 1996

Answer 47

Nose: espresso bean, sea mist, sweet toffee, caramel

Palate: walnut, almonds, toasted berad,orange zest, raisins

About: Made by Justino Henriques and selected by noted British wine writer Michael Broadbent . He is also the chairman of the Wine Department at Christie’s, while few people in the world know more about Port and Madeira than Bartholomew.Made from from Tinta Negra Mole, Complexa, Tinta da Madeira and Triunfo.

Question 48

Broadbent Rainwater Madeira NV

Answer 48

Nose: dried dates, figs, mixed nuts, vanilla, caramel

Palate: walnut, figs, plum jam, chalky finish

About: aged in oak casks for 3 years, it can be served as an aperitif or as an after dinner drink. “Rainwater, as a wine trademark, has been used for approximately two centuries, especially in the U.S.A. market.

Question 49

Blandy’s, Portugal, Madeira, Malmsey 10 Years

Answer 49

Nose: dried fruits, wood, toffee, spices

Palate: crème brulée, honey, orange peel, chocolate, raisin

About: One of the original founders of the Madeira wine trade, the Blandy family still owns and manages their wine company after almost 200 years. This 10 year old Malmsey (grape varietal) underwent fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After approximately 48 hours, fortification with grape brandy took place, arresting fermentation at the desired degree of sweetness. It was aged for 10 years in seasoned American oak casks in the traditional ‘Canteiro’ system, whereby the casks of this wine are gradually transferred from the top floors of the lodge, to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where it is cooler.