Highlights from the Chateau St. Jean Cinq
Cepages Vertical Tasting Event
Mission Wine & Spirits wine specialists played host to
16 enthusiastic and curious tasters at the Cinq Cepages
event on March 5, 2009. For $30, each guest experienced 6
consecutive vintages of Chateau St. Jean’s flagship
wine. The vintages were 1999 through 2004. The hands
down favorite was the amazing 1999 which was Wine
Spectator’s # 2 Wine of the Year in 2002. The 1996 Cinq
Cepages elevated the wine to cult status in 1999 when it
was Spectator’s Wine of the Year.
Mission Wine and Spirits’ temperature controlled
wine cellar proved it’s worth in this tasting as each
wine showed the distinct character of each vintage, an
effect that can be lost if wine is improperly stored.
Besides the opulent and heady `99, tasters were
encouraged to nose each of the six vintages before
trying them. This side by side comparison ensured all in
attendance the opportunity to see how the wine differed
and evolved with time. The 2003 stood out with rich up
front fruit, a bit showy. Noted during the discussion
period was that this wine was at or near its peak now
and not likely to impress with age, but at less than
half the cost of the `99, a wine to savor now. Also
impressive was the firm 2001 and the tannic 2004, both
needing a little more time in the bottle to reach silky
excellence. If you can’t wait and need to smooth them
out now, try a half hour in a decanter accompanied by a
hearty steak with blue cheese butter. That should do the
trick.
Terraces Wine Tasting Event on St. Patrick’s
Day!
Mission Wine & Spirits Cork Club Members welcomed Timm
Crull, winemaker from The Terraces at Quarry Vineyards
in Napa, to a special wine tasting event on St.
Patrick’s Day. Known as one of Napa’s best hidden gems,
customers were treated to The Terraces current release
of their 2007 Napa Chardonnay, 2006 Napa Zinfandel, and
2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.
Timm shared the growing
techniques and processes he goes through to produce the
great quality of Terraces wines that were enjoyed during
the tasting. Join the “Cork Club” on the website and you
will receive information each week on the upcoming
schedule of classes and wine tastings offered at Mission
Wine & Spirits. You don’t want to miss the next one!
