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| Persistent fog and cool weather in Alexander Valley
resulted in a late pick. |
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2003 Harvest Recap
We have had another successful
harvest despite the difficult weather. The roller coaster
of heat, cold and drizzle when the grapes are most vulnerable
was, at times, frightening.
It was a tough year for Zin. While
other wineries were lamenting the fate of their more delicate
Zinfandel, we had ours off the vine and in the tank. We avoided
the worst and most destructive of heat and cold due to a smaller
crop on our newest Zin vineyard. Growers Dick and Lois Pusich
dropped enough fruit so that the remaining was ripe earlier
which saved the fruit from the worst of the damaging heat
spike of later September.
While thin-skinned varieties like
Zinfandel might have suffered at the hands of Mother Nature,
tough grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon were cool and composed
inside their small, thick skins. Early projections have 2003
as a stellar year for Cab!
Our Carignane, another tough,
hardy variety, was not picked until mid-October, which is
the latest we have ever picked it despite a tiny crop on the
dry-farmed 50-year-old vines. The vines are deep and widely
rooted and thus are able to use a more vast reserve of water
that helps them survive the difficulties of a year like 2003.
We are very excited to sample these 2003 wines as they start
to integrate and develop!! We will keep you updated…
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| Grower Dick Pusich and his 2003 Zinfandel crop |
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Friends of
AmicitiA Winery
There is a change in the air around where we make
our wines and grow our grapes. Not a change of practices, policies
or winemaking style, but rather of purpose. When we began as young
men in our twenties we were exhilarated by the process of growing
grapes and making wine into a drink that brought our friends and family
together for quality human connection and, sometimes, revelry. Today,
many of our close friends are beginning families and the next generation
of winemakers has been born. The inspiration for Amicitia continues
to be about the enchantment of wine and the thrill of the process
that creates it, but we have woven a distinctly forward-thinking,
new thread through our revised mission.
Our wines are made to stand the test of time. They are not overly
dosed with oak character or frightfully sweet and incompatible with
food. Our package may not compete on the shelf with other ‘jazzy’
or bright labels, but it will sit well next to your holiday bird and
not joggle your sense of style when you pull it out of the cellar
for Christmas 2008. Our wines are subtle and sublime. They are our
truest and best representation of a given time (the vintage) and a
given place (the vineyard). Please share them with your friends and
family today or with your next generation when they are ready.
This bi-annual newsletter is designed to give you, our most loyal
customers, an informative and brief look inside Amicitia. For more
information, please e-mail or call us and we will gladly respond.
We sincerely wish you a fantastic holiday season! |
| Gift
Pack Special
The rain is falling, there is a chill in the
air and we are headed into another holiday season of family, food
and wine. Every year around this time we rejoice, for our wines
are especially good with holiday meals. We are producers of robust
red wines with spice and character that have the distinct purpose
of accompanying great feasts with closest family and friends.
This year we have bundled our wines into two
outstanding 3-packs that we feel are excellent representations of
two of the distinct styles of wine we produce. We hope this will
make your holiday shopping easier!
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Cabernet Franc
2001 Merlot
$65
2001 Zinfandel
2001 Carignane
2001 Syrah
$59
Each 3-pack bundle represents
a savings of greater than 10% off of the normal retail price!!
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Three generations of hands sort grapes from
Katherine’s Vineyard – harvest 2003 |
Finally, there is our “end of the bin”
2-pack that is comprised of two of our older vintage wines that
we had listed as “sold out.” Our Syrah we pick at the
peak of ripeness to make a balanced table wine and the Port we let
“hang” until the flavors are unbelievably concentrated
that results in a wonderful, sweet dessert wine.
2000 Syrah
2000 Port (375mL)
$45
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Important Shipping
Info:
We will ship these wines on December 15 and will include a
personalized holiday greeting as well as information about
the wines. This is a unique, thoughtful and convenient gift
that is perfect to share with business acquaintances, friends
or family. These are very limited wines that the recipient
will not find just anywhere!!
 Order
these gift packs with the enclosed order form, online or via
e-mail. Deadline is Dec. 15 to be shipped before Christmas.
Shipping for gift packs in California is $15
each and to CO, ID, IL, IA, MN, MO, NE, NM, OR, WA, WV and
WI shipping is $25 each.
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Holiday
Recipe and Wine Pairing
Butternut Squash Soup with Curry, Ginger,
and Wild Mushrooms
Composed by Ariel Ross
This hearty winter squash soup is perfect for
the holidays as the ginger and curry spices gives the gentle kick
we all need. For a dynamite pairing, try serving this soup with
our 2001 Amicitia Merlot alongside holiday turkey this year. Fresh
wild mushrooms can be found in the grocery sections of most stores
these days. Hedgehogs, chanterelles, and shitakes are favorites.
If unavailable, reconstituted dried mushrooms work well too. Any
left over squash can be frozen for later use.
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4 cups butternut squash puree, about 4 # raw
4 tablespoons olive oil or butter
4 small yellow onions, peeled and finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh gingerroot, peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled, and minced
1 tablespoon fresh curry powder
Salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
6-8 cups home made chicken stock or vegetable stock
1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
1 cup fresh wild mushrooms, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
4 tablespoons fresh chives, minced
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Maria (left) and Ariel, help clear
brush after winter pruning. |
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise,
remove seeds, and place cut side down on a baking sheet. Cover with
foil and bake for about 1/2 hour or until squash is soft. Scoop
flesh from squash shell and discard shell. Puree the squash in Cuisinart
or blender until smooth.
Meanwhile, over medium-low heat, in a heavy soup pot, sauté
the onions and gingerroot in the olive oil until soft and translucent,
about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, curry powder, 1-teaspoon salt and
a grind of pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the squash mixture and then return to the Cuisinart or blender
again, and puree until smooth, adding chicken stock if necessary
to loosen for blending.
Add the rest of the chicken stock to achieve desired consistency.
Cook for about 10 minutes. Add the cream or half and half and keep
warm over very low heat. Do not let boil. Add salt and pepper to
taste. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil or butter in sauté pan;
add the mushrooms and dash of salt, and quickly sauté until
just wilted.
To serve, pour soup into bowls, garnish with a spoonful of mushrooms
and dust with chives. Serves 8-10
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2001
Vintage Wines
Alexander Valley – Gnarly old vines that are farmed
with no irrigation produce a rustic, concentrated wine of exceptional
backbone and drinkability. It has been devoured by our restaurant
accounts in the past year!
Cases produced: 123 $19/ bottle
Alex. Valley – A concentrated and deep expression
of this California varietal. It shows bright nectarine and black
pepper character and is polished with well-integrated oak.
Cases produced: 52 $23/ bottle
Sonoma
County – A wine of great finesse that is just beginning
to come out of its shell! The fruit is round with hints of raspberry
while mint and jasmine characters shroud the wine in mystery.
Cases produced: 73 $25/ bottle
Alex.
Valley – From a great block of vines in Geyserville that
produces an herbal, chewy and satisfying wine. Brambly, wild fruit
characters are finished with toasty oak. A top pick with holiday
bird!
Cases produced: 75 $22/ bottle
Alex. Valley – We are so delighted with the cedary
tobacco that frames the refined fruit and herbal characters of this
wine! It is so close to being gone for good…
Cases produced: 45 $25/ bottle
Sonoma County – A duo of fantastic vineyards created
the extraordinary pepper, cassis and herb fruit of this wine that
is clearly marked by ripe tannins. Put it next to the Opus One and
Harlan in your cellar!
Cases produced: 95 $28/ bottle
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Thank you for your support of our wine company! Please
write us or call us with suggestions, comments, if you have changed addresses
or if you would like to add a friend to our newsletter. Have a safe and
enjoyable holiday season.
AmicitiA Wines
Chris Russi and Tim Nordvedt |
