Waring 2021 Special Wine Selection Raffle
April 17-24, 2021
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Donate to Waring for a chance to win a case of specially selected and premium wines valued at over $900! These distinctive wines, from California, France (Champagne, Bordeaux, and the Rhone Valley), and Italy, have been specially curated by some of Waring’s most knowledgeable wine connoisseurs!
Tickets are $20 each or 6 tickets for $100 and can be purchased HERE. A limited number of tickets will be sold. The drawings will take place on Saturday, April 24th at 7:30PM during the virtual celebration. Wine cannot be shipped and will be delivered locally to the winner, within 50 miles of Beverly, MA. Thank you to the wine donors: Tim Averill, Paul & Liane Davis, Steve Miller, and Peter & Kerry Pound.
The case, listed by vintage, includes the following twelve wines:
Pol Roger White Foil Champagne (Non-Vintage) (Epernay, France): “The Brut Non-Vintage blend is traditionally composed from about 30 to 35 still base wines, drawn from different vineyard sites, grape varieties and vintage years. It usually contains wines of at least two vintages, often three or four. Reserve wines compose between 20-30% of the traditional blend. The Brut NV is never sold until the youngest component is at least three years old, which gives it more character and body.” “A graceful Champagne, round and creamy, with a fresh frame of citrusy acidity enlivening the delicate flavors of ripe Gala apple, candied ginger and toast point.”
2004 Leoville Barton (St. Julien, Bordeaux, France): “Powerful minerality runs through this wine, wrapping the primary flavors of blueberries into blackness. There's also an herbal edge, the scent of rosemary cutting through the fruit. More extracted and showing more oak than Bartons of times past, this is structured to age two decades from the vintage.”
2007 B.R. Cohn “Olive Hill Vineyard” Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley, CA, USA) (two half bottles): “The warm 2007 growing season, along with a light crop and small concentrated berries, produced a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with rich, ripe fruit. This wine has deep aromas of cherry, black currant, and plum, wrapped in French oak, anise and mint. Luscious berry and cherry flavors fill the palate and silky tannins follow through to a warm, lasting finish. This wine was fermented in small lots and aged for twenty-four months in the finest tight-grain French oak barrels.”
2010 Palmaz Gaston (Napa Valley, CA, USA): “Palmaz Gaston is the premier Cabernet Sauvignon made by the Palmaz family. After a legendary career inventing some of the most widely used and successful medical devices in history, the Palmaz’ bought a disused vineyard and committed to apply science to what they perceived to be overly ‘mysterious’ artistic wine-making practices. By melding natural process and keen scientific controls, they have come to make delicious, consistent age-worthy wines. This 2010 came from an excellent year for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley. Prior bottles have had a Bordeaux-like elegance. The wine should benefit from 20-30 minutes of decanting and can be drunk now or within the next few years.”
2011 Oakville East Exposure (Napa Valley, CA, USA): “In one of the world’s most legendary grape growing regions, there’s a place affectionately called Oakville East. Formed by a landslide of volcanic core stones from the Vaca Mountains, this west facing hillside of the Oakville AVA is the perfect combination of soil, elevation, microclimate and Exposure. The result is rich and luscious fruit from the meticulously farmed Stern, Buselli, Harter and Saunders vineyards, all located on this storied hillside. We hope you enjoy drinking this elegant and stylish Cabernet Sauvignon where you’ll get notes of chocolate/oak and blackberry.”
2012 Mascot (Napa Valley, CA, USA): “This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine shows all the typical Harlan hallmarks -- rich mouthfeel, chocolate and plums. A bit of cedar, tobacco and currant. As the wine opens up you’ll enjoy some secondary flavors of lead pencil and moist earth. The Mascot is a wine made from grapes grown on the youngest vines amongst Harlan Estate, Bond and Promontory. Each of these wines has garnered cult-like followings amongst California Cabernet devotees. The Mascot gives a yummy view into these wines. This wine is ready to drink, but could be aged for a few more years if you would like. Decanting will help the wine open up.”
2013 Palmaz Amalia (Napa Valley, CA, USA): “Because sometimes an elegant, Burgundian-style Chardonnay is what is called for… Another wine from Palmaz, this one is a passion project of Amalia, the founder’s wife. It is a steely, fresh wine that is a perfect pair for shellfish or grilled, rich “steak” fishes such as swordfish, salmon, halibut or tuna. Either that or a refreshing summer sipper. You’ll find it flinty, with notes of green apple, kiwi, a bit of lemongrass and some ripe green plums.”
2014 Sullivan Family Vineyards “Heart of the Vineyard” (Napa Valley, CA, USA): “The 2014 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is very fruitful, with candied cherry and hints of vanilla and spice. The brightness of the aroma jumps from the glass and invites one to indulge. A dense, rich, juicy palate complements the fruitfulness by adding complexity and sweetness. Yet there is plenty of acidity that adds backbone and length to the finish. This wine is fresh and clean, and gives a sense of pleasure, enjoy now and for years to come.”
2015 Paolo Bea San Valentino Umbria Rosso (Umbria, Italy): “The much-beloved ‘San Valentino’ is a full-bore Paolo Bea experience, and the 2015 is arguably the greatest version the Estate has ever produced. With an astonishing 59 days of maceration, this blend of 70% Sangiovese with 15% each Sagrantino and Montepulciano rested one year in steel, three years in large Slavonian casks, and an additional year in bottle before its release-the same long and rigorous aging process as its pricier siblings. The nose is pure Bea: a faint whisper of volatility leads the charge, met shortly thereafter by a rushing battalion of dark red and black fruits hurling all manner of Spice Route spoils at the stunned taster. The remarkably fresh palate underscores the vintage’s immense and deeply satisfying tension, and at 13.9% alcohol it feels nearly nimble.”
2017 Chateau Pesquié “Les Terrasses” (Southern Rhone - Cotes Du Ventoux, France)*: “Very smooth Cotes du Rhône. Made from Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%). Terrasses is a smooth and fresh wine developing aromas of fresh cherry with a peppery finish. Nice magenta pour, beautiful red - purple fruit notes on the nose with a prominent spice character. Medium to full bodied, more fruit forward than vintages past. The balance is still there, I think the ABV is a notch higher as well, clocking in at 14.5%. Plum and spice pave the way, a hint of tobacco blows around the back end too. The Grenache brings the weight and roundness, the Syrah also helps with the body and delivers a nice white pepper finish. A+ Paired with venison backstrap and sautéed peppers.”
2018 Château Canet Minervois Vieilles Vignes (Languedoc-Roussillon, Minervois, Southern Rhone, France)*: “In 2018 (a great vintage across southern France), the ancient Syrah and Grenache vines at Floris Lemstra’s 19th-century family estate produced a beautifully rich, food-friendly red. Look forward to ripe blackberry, spice, and wild herb flavors. 70% Syrah with Grenache making up the rest. Very nice earthy plum and apple-blackcurrant flavors are prevalent with sides of red pepper and tweaks of sweet licorice. The tannins work well, the acidity is abrupt but not an overburden resulting in a comprehensively accomplished creation. Summary: Subtly bold and reassuringly quaffable!”
2018 Château Grand Dignitaire 2018 (Southern Rhone, France)*: “Fourteenth-century Château Grand Dignitaire has been in Yannick Alliaud’s family for generations. Lovely wine. Beautiful purple red color. Blackberry, cherry notes. Nice finish and good balance. Good with dark chocolate covered almonds. Very nice , and quite smooth. Dark berry tastes, red fruits, an extremely easy drinking wine. Deep purple in color. Perfect before dinner, and also with light salads and even grilled chicken. Interestingly, this wine is near to Avignon and the historic Palais Des Papes, giving it the traits of an amazing Chateauneuf du Pape.”
*We add that, in addition to being delicious wines, the three bottles noted with asterisks have additional value for Waring community bidders due to the fact that they were specially selected by Waring’s beloved faculty member and debate coach Tim Averill! Tim comments that the bottles come “from Vineyards Lauren and I have visited in Provence. All three of these bottles are blends of the major grapes (cépages) grown in the Rhone Valley. They are dominated by Grenache and Syrah. The Grenache often gives a spicy (almost peppery) taste to the blend while the Syrah gives it heft, body, and a deeply red color. Other cépages give each vintage special traits.” The tasting notes for these wines were also provided by Tim.
