Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION
October 19th, 2006
Dry Creek Valley, California
	
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Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Blanc 2005

Medium-bodied dry white wine; very pale yellow. Aromatic, with suggestion of banana 
and other tropical fruits, some peach, fruit flowers; silky mouthfeel, with lush 
tropical fruit flavors, and well-integrated acidity. Suggestoin of taste of honey, 
not sweetness. Lush texture; long finish. Fermented slowly; no oak to preserve fruit 
flavors. Serve moderately chilled, about 55-60 degrees, although still tastes good 
colder. Use tall tulip-shaped glasses for white wine.

Mousse of smoked salmon or crab and red pepper; grilled scallops with French tartar 
sauce or honey mustard; crackers with taramosalata; grilled garlic shrimp; baked 
flounder stuffed with crab meat, crab cakes, Asian seafood or chicken dishes 
(but not too hot), (e.g., mild curried chicken salad); roast chicken or Cornish hen 
with classic bread stuffing, roast pork loin with pear chutney or relish. 
Winery suggests oysters or Thai food.

Quality Wine & Spirits
$22
91

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Dry Creek Vineyard Reserve Fumé Blanc DCV3 2004

Medium-bodied dry white wine; very pale yellow. Clean, crisp fresh aromas of fresh 
herbs and citrus; with a slight green bell pepper note, followed by amazingly 
intense (but not over-the-top) citrus (grapefruit), fresh herb, and green bell 
pepper flavors. Clean, crisp. Brisk acidity pushes the fruit through to the end 
of the very long finish. A handsome piece of work. Balanced and elegant. 
DCV3 designates the vineyard that is the source of the grapes for this wine. 
Cold temperature fermentation in stainless steel. Serve moderately chilled, 
about 59-55 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses.

White asparagus either plain or with homemade mayonnaise; pasta tossed with 
lemon/caper/parsley pesto; grilled shrimp with the same pesto or French-style 
tartar sauce; taramosalata and crackers; cocktail potatoes stuffed with fresh 
herbs, oysters Rockefeller; goat cheese with green olives and herbs (yum!); 
smoked salmon mousse; chciken baked with olives, lemon, whjole garlic and 
caramelized onions; garlic and yogurt cheese, chicken or shrimp salad with 
tarragon  

Atlanta Wholesale Wine/ NDC
$23
92

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Quivira Vineyards "Fig Tree" Sauvignon Blanc 2004

Medium-bodied dry white wine; pale greenish straw. Gentle, well-integrated aromas 
with distinct aroma of bees' wax and melon. Aging in Frnech oak imparts a tiny touch 
of wood in the background, but the flavors exude fruit, minerality and good acidity. 
Grapes include some Sémillon, crafting a Bordeaux-style blend, along with Sauvignon 
Blanc (2% Musqué clone). Fig Tree Vineyard now is biodynamically certified. 
French oak, but wine is not "oaky."  Serve cool, about 55 degrees in tulip-shaped 
white-wine glasses. Quivira was recently purchased by Atlantan Pete Kight, 
founder (1981) chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based CheckFree Corporation.
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Smoked salmon mousse (yum!), cocktail-size chicken croquettes; mild fish 
(flounder or sole) baked with gralic and butter, crab cakes or crab legs, 
pasta with lemon/caper/parsley pesto (just a notch better with this one); 
white asparagus plain or with homemade mayonnaise; taramosalata and crackers; 
crisp fried oyster on a simply parsley salad (a la Re-Past); mild curried 
dishes such as curried chicken salad, creamy pasta with slivered sweet red 
and green bell peppers (really lovely!). Winery suggests clementine 
(a seeldess Spanish tangerine) and endive salad- oystersm Asian food 
(certainly not very hot fare), and cheese-and-prosciutto-wrapped grilled 
asparagus. 

Empire Distributing
$16
92

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Ferrari-Carano Winery Zinfandel 2001

Medium/full-bodied dry red wine; translucent purple red.  Aromas of fresh dark fruits, 
plum, boysenberry, very spicy dark fruit flavors, with emphasis on plum, plus 
lots of spice. Moderate tannins. Evolves slowly in the glass, so decanting ahead 
a good idea. Hefty alcohol, as is typical of Zinfandel, at 14.3%, but moderate 
compared with some. Able to stand out from the crowd without being a jaw-breaker. 
Serve at cool room temperature, between 65 and 70 degrees for safety. 

Cacciatorino and similar dried cured well-seasoned salamis; grilled or smoked 
sausages; smoked beef brisket; eggplant with tomato; chicken or rabbit cacciatore, 
barbecue; pasta with Bolognese sauce or with chicken and a spicy Cajun cream sauce; 
picadillo; mild chili; coq au Zinfandel (coq au vin made with Zinfandel), 
Mongolian beef (with sesame oil and ginger). Winery suggests: Grilled red 
meats, cioppino, blackened fish with Cajun flavorings, hearty winter dishes, 
stews, meat braises, cassoulet (but other hefty bean dishes should work, too), 
and for seasonings: pepper, nutmeg, oregano, sage, bay leaf.

Georgia Crown
$26
88

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Fritz Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Full-bodied dry red wine; nearly opaque purple red. Aromas focus on black fruits--
black currant; blackberry--with a notch of tobacco; on the palate, firm black 
fruit flavors are framed by gentle tannins. Very long finish, but just a bit of 
heat. Prominent fruit; oak not a big player. Cool room temperature is best to 
temper alcohol, and serve in large-bowled tall glasses. Fruit comes from both 
sunny eastern slopes and shaded western slopes, melding interesting characters. 

Creamy mild pâtés, grilled meats, including steak with Béarnaise sauce; prime 
rib; roast duck; leg of lamb; smoked pork loin, meat pies and stews; legume 
dishes with mild seasoning; ok with firm aged cheeses

Empire Distributing
88
$30

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Martin Family Vineyards Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Full-bodied dry red wine; inky deep purple red. Aromas of fresh dark fruits, 
with blackberry and black currant dominating. Integrated easy tannins support 
dark fruit flavors. Think chocolate-covered dark cherries. Good acidity pushes 
a long finish. Tiny bit of brown spice in the finish. Exquisitely balanced. 
Touches of oak are subtle, not overwhelming. Chairman's Gold Medal at the 
2006 Riverside International Wine Competition. Cool room temperature 
(65 degrees) in tapered large-bowled glasses. .Martin is located in Dry 
Creek Valley, and this is its first Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon.

Creamy-textured pâtés; pasta with meat and tomato sauce; creamy slightly 
spicy pastas, eggplant with tomato; smoked pork with mild barbecue sauce; 
prime rib; game (both dark meat feathered and furred); lamb stews with a 
slight touch of curry; garlic-studded beef dishes; mild creamy cheeses 
(brie de Meaux especially); roast duck or dark meat chicken/turkey

Atlanta Wholesale Wine/NDC
$45
93