may 2010 wine club newsletter

Dear Friends,

I can hardly believe we’re about to

embark on the summer months once again.

The spring flew by as we were busy bottling

the last of the 2007 and many of the 2008

vintage reds and even a few of the 2009

whites. Curator Bob Nugent and I have had

a grand time, as always, selecting labels to

adorn our newest editions. Even after almost

10 years, I never tire of trying to capture

and match the spirit of a wine with another

artist’s work. It continues to be both

humbling and inspirational.

For your last installment of the spring,

we’ve selected 2009 Wow Oui and our 2007

Mourvèdre. The Wow Oui is positively

perfect this time of year as its fresh, crisp

flavors are always refreshing in the warmer

weather. Mourvèdre actually makes an

excellent BBQ wine in addition to being

one of my favorite ways to end the day.

Sitting on the porch, watching the sun set

behind the Mayacamas Mountain range and

sipping either of these wines really feels like

summer to me.

Don’t forget, this is your last paper

edition of the Wine Club Newsletter. Come

September, you’ll visit the website to

download newsletters, recipes and event

calendars. Go to www.imagerywinery.com

now to view your May recipe.

Cheers,

Joe Benziger, Winemaker

mark your calendars for the 1st W

ednesday of the month –

imagery after hours

started back up as of May 12th!

varietal: Wow Oui is our interpretation of

Sauvignon Blanc. Typically thought of as crisp

and sometimes acidic, we soften our Sauvignon

Blanc with a touch of Muscato. This twist adds

lovely floral aromas and a hint of sweetness.

vintage: Rains in May took the edge off the

drought and were responsible for the beautiful

canopies we had going into harvest. Through

the summer, we had 10-12 days of cool weather

followed by 2-3 days of very warm weather.

The heat wasn’t high enough and didn’t last

long enough to damage anything, but it gave

the grapes a good push towards ripening. The

heat bumps brought up the flavors and the cool

weather kept the structure and acid intact.

vinification: Sauvignon Blanc from the

MacLeod family, our friends and neighbors

in Sonoma Valley, was then blended with

organically grown Muscato from our friends

the Bartolucci Family in Mendocino. Free run

Sauvignon Blanc juice was tank fermented in

stainless steel to preserve the crisp acidity and

clean flavors of the grapes. The wine was bottled

in February 2010.

wine: Together Sauvignon Blanc and Muscato

produce a bright, fresh wine with layers of pink

grapefruit, lemony citrus and aromas of

gardenia. Whether providing refreshment from

long, hot days or being paired alongside a light

summer salad, the result is a resounding

WOW...Oui!

2009 wow oui

alcohol: 13.6%, total acidity .65, pH 3.22, 36 stainless steel barrels produced label artist: Fay Jones, Seattle, WA

varietal: This classic Spanish varietal thrives

in the red volcanic soil found on Morine

Vineyard in Lake County. With a high elevation

and the cooling affects of nearby Clear Lake,

this spot produces fruit with deep, rich flavors.

vintage: Overall the 2007 growing season

was paced fairly evenly with a just a few heat

spikes in the early summer. This year, a dry

winter led to a fairly early bud break, but warm

August weather ended up starting harvest early,

particularly for thin-skinned varietals. This

vintage was certainly smaller in quantity than

2006, but in many cases the lower yields meant

more concentrated flavors.

vinification: The grapes cold soaked for

3 days prior to fermentation. Fermentation

went to dryness and lasted 14 days. The wine

was then lightly pressed to maintain a delicate

balance between flavors, color and tannins. The

2007 Mourvèdre spent 14 months in French

oak barrels before bottling in April 2009.

wine: Medium bodied with layered flavors

of blueberry, currant, spice and herbs, our

Mourvèdre is equally lovely with a meal or

on its own. French oak barrel aging softens

tannins and adds complexity to the mouthfeel.

Enjoy our 2007 Mourvèdre with rack of lamb

or duck confit.

2007 mourvèdre

alcohol: 14.6%, total acidity .94, pH 3.77, 27 barrels produced label artist: Barry Buxkamper, Nashville, TN

wine club shipment re-order

imagery may 2010 newsletter price list:May Shipment (Re-order by June 15 to receive 25% off 1-11 btls, 30% off 12+):

2009 Wow Oui | $27

2007 Mourvèdre | $42

other wines:Your Club benefit entitles you to 20% off all Imagery wines:

2007 White Burgundy | $29

2008 White Burgundy | $29

2009 Rosé-Aleatico | $24

2006 Barbera, Sonoma Valley | $35

2006 Cabernet Franc | $38

2007 Cabernet Franc | $38

2008 Code Blue | $36

2006 Dragonsleaf Red | $38

2006 Mourvèdre | $42

2007 Sangiovese | $29

2006 Petit Verdot | $39

2006 Petite Sirah | $42

2006 Tempranillo | $39

2007 Tusca Brava | $50

2007 Wow Red | $24

2007 Petite Sirah Port, Paso Robles | $34

2008 Coco Blu Port | $38

2008 Interlude Port | $34

2006 Pallas Cabernet Sauvignon | $60

2006 Pallas Estate | $75

for orders or questions: & 800-989-8890

wineclub@imagerywinery.com

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