Duke of Bourbon: E-mail Specials

Wine and Spirits magazine annually lists their top choices in each of several varietal categories. In 2007, they tasted 531 American Chardonnays and listed the top 9 wines. We were stunned, but not at all surprised, when our good friends at Iron Horse Vineyards took three of the top nine places for three of their world-class Chardonnays. Iron Horse has been highly regarded for many years for making extraordinary wines, both still and sparkling, from the Green Valley AVA in Sonoma County. In fact, they were one of only two wineries mentioned in Icons of the American Marketplace, a recent reference tome featuring the most famous brands and logos powered by pride, passion and quality.

Pride, passion and quality have been Iron Horse traditions during our long association with them. Read on to learn how this kind of tradition results in delivering the absolute best product to the consumer. The tasting notes are from both the winery and Wine and Spirits and scores are from W&S. FYI: The other Chardonnays in the top 9 included bottlings from: Flowers (2), Marimar Estate, Qupe, Patz & Hall and Testarossa. Fast company, indeed!

Don't miss our special combination packs at the bottom of this email.

Iron Horse 2005 Chardonnay, Green Valley, Natural Yeast - W&S 94
Tasting notes: This is Iron Horse's first release using native yeast fermentation. The wine is a blend of three distinct blocks in the vineyard, each block supporting a different strain of yeast. It is proof positive that unique Chardonnays can be achieved from individual vineyard sites. This bottling has a remarkably sensual, silky mouth feel. It is a big wine, as unctuous as Bosc pear juice and floral as fresh-pressed apples. Its depth, power and delicacy place it on the level of a grand cru.
Suggested food pairings: Ceviche, shell fish, light white fish (petrale sole, rock cod), simple salads with citrus-based vinaigrettes, fresh goat cheese.
Duke's price - $37.99 per bottle.

This wine is in extremely limited release and the Duke is privileged to be the one and only retailer with it. (See below for a tasty sampler 6-pack.)

Iron Horse 2005 Chardonnay, Green Valley, Estate - W&S 93
Tasting notes: 2005 is the quintessential Green Valley vintage. It beautifully expresses the bright, focused, clean, sweet-tart flavors of cool, foggy Green Valley. It is beautifully balanced, imparting a delightful "leesy," toasty, perfectly integrated barrel character that doesn't overwhelm the fruit. The texture is soft, smooth, silky and sensuous. The finish is long and lingering.
Suggested food pairings: Enjoy with corn soup, rainbow trout, sole, halibut with mushrooms and asparagus, salmon, steamed lobster, lemon roast chicken served with jasmine rice, veal chop, anything with a cream sauce, goat cheese, walnuts - in other words, as often as possible.
List price - $26.99 / Duke's price - $21.99 per bottle. (See below for a tasty sampler 6-pack.)

Iron Horse 2005 Chardonnay, Green Valley, Unoaked - W&S 93
Tasting notes: This is a young, bright, exciting, fresh, pure expression of Green Valley fruit from a superlative vintage. It has a very, very pretty nose. The flavors are Gravenstein apple and complex citrus with a hint of lime, which is part of the Iron Horse signature along with a distinct minerality. It is ultra smooth and impressively luscious and fleshy. For those of you who think less oak is more, this is the wine for you.
Suggested food pairings: Caesar salad with anchovies and capers, steamed mussels, shrimp with citrus, linguine with white wine and clam sauce, Asian flavors like spicy red Singapore chili crab, Chinese chicken salad with crispy wontons, cured meats.
Duke's price - $24.99 per bottle. (See below for a tasty sampler 6-pack.)

Can't decide which to try? Try a Duke's Sampler Six-Pack! Two of each of these fabulous wines to save 5%. Or, double your fun and double your savings - Duke's Sampler Twelve-Pack - Four of each of these fabulous wines to save 10%! Hint: Great taste treat for an informal wine tasting at your dining room table with your wine-loving friends.

Call the Duke today!!