(BLANC Telegraphe La Crau CdP) Focus Dear Friends, Today's weekend list has a few amazing deals, especially the Friday Focus wine, the 1998 Pruno. This library release has been aged under perfect conditions and the wine is at peak - a great opportunity to purchase aged wine that you can open tonight. Also, more Vieux Telegraphe Blanc - the 2005 is simply amazing wine. Have a great weekend everyone - - Jon Rimmerman ******************************* Friday Focus: 1998 Pruno (Tenuta la Palazza) STRICT LIMIT 6/person Despite a name that conjures up images of shriveled, dried fruit, this wine is anything but. From the mostly unknown Italian region of Emiglia-Romagna, I pulled a bottle of this from my cellar last night and it was just terrific. It's not often that you hit a wine at peak (or very close to it) but this wine is a real pleasure right now and a large contingent of you would feel very fortunate to have this in your midst for a special night. It combines the qausi-Bordelaise style of the best Tuscan wines with a more silky, exotic Cubano-laced personality from the soil and climactic differences in Emiglia-Romagna versus Tuscany proper. This location, on the eastern side of the Apennine mountains makes all the difference (Tuscany lies below and to the west of the Apennines, which trap far more rain and inclement weather). While not a shy wine, the Pruno acts like a mix of Valendraud junior and Solaia with a good dose of breed and elegance. This parcel is directly from the source with perfect provenance. Parker's drinking window estimate was very conservative - the wine is drinking superbly right now and has buckets of life left in the tank. We have an excellent price on this wine, even less than in Italy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED **************************************** Friday Focus #2: 2005 Vieux Telegraphe CdP "La Crau" Blanc (W93) STRICT LIMIT 6/person This would have been the Friday Special if I had enough quantity but I can say this with confidence - the 2005 la Crau Blanc is going to bowl people over - it's that good. I would rank this as one of the finest unheralded wines on the market and more of you need to discover its grandeur. This is a wine that will make you rethink your buying strategy with regard to grand cru white Burgundy (after trying this ). NO ALLOCATIONS, the margin is too small: **************************************** 2002 Domaine des Aubuisieres (B. Fouquet) Vouvray "Plan des Jean" STRICT LIMIT 3/person Speaking of dessert wines, this is a vessel for the cellar and it's from the top 2002 vintage - a steal at this price for Moelleux. Allow at least 6-10 years in the cellar. Only 10 cases for the entire US. 2006 Balboa "Cat's Meow" (Walla Walla) STRICT LIMIT 3/person Looking for everyday domestic wine? Lots of you will really like this Malbec blend... 2004 Colin-Deleger Chevalier-Montrachet STRICT LIMIT 2/person 2004 Sauzet Puligny Montrachet "Les Combettes" STRICT LIMIT 2/person Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy8601 Rhone7799 Loire9170 WA7990 Burg6370 Burg6380
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By Chris Kissack
(Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc) Login and sign up and see review text.November 2006, (See more on Winedoctor...)