april 2010 wine club newsletter

Dear Friends,

With spring officially arriving in Sonoma

Valley, there is much to look forward to in

these upcoming months. We’re seeing more

sunny days here in Glen Ellen, which means

the chance to enjoy our bocce court and patio.

And since budbreak last month, I’m thrilled

about what looks like the start of another

great growing season.

In this shipment, we present two new

wines: the 2008 White Burgundy and the

2007 Cabernet Franc. The White Burgundy,

a blend of North Coast Chardonnay, Pinot

Blanc, and Pinot Meunier, is rich and sassy,

and the Cabernet Franc boasts a generous

mouthfeel and fruit.

We recently spent a morning in southern

Sonoma filming our very first musical wine

label. Richard Derwingson, a local musician

and composer, wrote a song called “Imagine a

Waltz;” you’ll find the sheet music on a future

White Burgundy label. And when the wine

is released our wine club members will be

the first to see the video of Richard playing

“Imagine a Waltz” on his piano. For now,

you’ll just have to bide your time

savoring the 2008 White Burgundy and

enjoying Philadelphia artist, Tom Judd’s

original piece.

Just a reminder, we’re moving to paperless

Wine Club Newsletters this fall, but visit

www.imagerywinery.com to download your

April recipe pairing.

Welcome to spring,

Joe Benziger, Winemaker

mark your calendars for the 1st W

ednesday of the month –

imagery after hours

starts back up May 12th!

varietals: One of our most popular Imagery

wines, White Burgundy is a blend of the

Burgundian varietals Chardonnay and Pinot

Blanc, with a bit of Pinot Meunier from

France’s Champagne region as well. While the

Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc provide the

richness and structure necessary for barrel

aging, the Pinot Meunier contributes an

unmistakable youthful fruitiness.

vintage: A dry winter led to a fairly early

bud break in 2008. Warm August weather

started harvest early, but then a cool September

slowed things quite a bit and grapes hung on

the vines another few weeks. 2008 was one of

the longest harvests Sonoma County has seen

in recent years, spanning almost three months

from start to finish.

vinification: The three lots for our 2008

White Burgundy were all cold barrel

fermented to dryness in new and older French

and American oak, allowing us to preserve the

crisp acidity and aromatic fruit character. When

dry, the wine was put through partial malolactic

fermentation. After fermentation, the wine aged

in oak for eight months. Extended lees contact

enhanced the mouthfeel of the final blend.

wine: Chardonnay gives the wine tropical fruit

flavors, while the Pinot Meunier adds

aromatics and a subtle element of strawberry.

Pinot Blanc brings a bright, crispness to the

blend. Although the '08 is ready for drinking

now, it could be cellared over the next 2-3

years. Pair alongside fresh scallops with pesto,

pasta with alfredo sauce or a cheese plate.

2008 white burgundy

54% chardonnay, 32% pinot blanc, 14% pinot meunier, alcohol 13.9%, total acidity .70, pH 3.52, 37 barrels producedlabel artist: Tom Judd, Philadelphia, PA

varietal: Cabernet Franc, one of the

classic Bordeaux varietals, is most often used

as a blending grape to add interest and to

compliment Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot

based wines. On its own, Cabernet Franc

produces alluring wines that are early maturing

with generous mouthfeel and fruit.

vintage: 2007 was truly a year won in the

vineyard. A record heat spike that lasted 10

days in July shut down the vines until the

weather cooled again. Later in the year, rain led

to frantic leafing in an effort to let sun and air

into the clusters. In late October the weather

dried up and warmed giving grapes a little more

hang time. Overall, it was a late harvest with

excellent quality.

vinification: The harvest began on

September 18th. The fermentation took place

in small open top tanks and was punched down

daily. After pressing, the wine was racked to

French oak barrels and aged for 18 months

before bottling in April of 2009.

wine: Our 2007 Cabernet Franc has good

structure and firm tannins. Dark berry flavors

are balanced against more earthy notes of

coffee, tea, and tobacco. Delightful now, this

wine will continue to soften over the next

3-5 years.

2007 cabernet franc

alcohol 14.7%, total acidity .59, pH 3.72, 33 barrels produced label artist: William Case, Glen Ellen, CA

wine club shipment re-order

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

2008 White Burgundy | $29

2007 Cabernet Franc | $38

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

2007 White Burgundy | $29

2009 Rosé-Aleatico | $24

2006 Barbera, Sonoma Valley | $35

2006 Cabernet Franc | $38

20086 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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