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GREAT AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ
On Monday, December 11th at 7pm, join SPEC's and The Wine School for GREAT AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ. We'll taste and talk about 12 of the best Shiraz wines Australia has to offer. Topics of discussion will include how Shiraz got to Australia, how Australian Shiraz developed into the wine it is today, how Aussie Shiraz differs from Syrah wines made in France or the US, and the winemaking that goes into producing the best of these uniquely Australian wines. The anticipated lineup includes Clarendon Hills Liandra Shiraz 1998, Langmeil Shiraz 1998, Penny's Hill Shiraz 1997, Haan Shiraz 1998, St. Hallet's Old Block Shiraz 1995, Ausvetia Shiraz 1996, Rosemount Hill of Gold Shiraz 1998, Rosemount Balmoral Shiraz 1997, d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 1998, and Penfold's RWT Shiraz 1997 along with the two giants of Aussie Shiraz, Henschke's Hill of Grace 1995 and Penfold's Grange Hermitage 1995. GREAT AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ will cost $92.00 per person (cash) with a $10.00 discount available for 1,000 SPEC's KEY Points. The high cost of this class is due to the expense of the wines to be tasted. For directions, reservations, or more information on this class, please call SPEC's at 713-526-8787. This event will be held at l'Alliance Francaise, 427 Lovett Boulevard (on the southeast corner of Lovett and Whitney, one block south of Westheimer). The price includes SPEC's famous 5% discount for cash. SAVE THE DATES for these upcoming classes and events (details to follow via email and at www.specsonline.com) 01-11-01 (Thursday): The Wines of South America 01-17-01 (Wednesday): Bordeaux Dinner at Bistro Vino 01-23-01 (Tuesday): The Wines of the Southern Rhone and the South of France 02-13-01 (Tuesday): The Basics of French Wine 02-20-01 (Tuesday): Bordeaux Basics DECEMBER 2000 12-UNDER-$12 Sometimes you don't need a "great" bottle of wine. Sometimes you just want a cheap bottle and it wouldn't bother you at all if it were to taste really good. We're in the same boat. We're always looking for wine that tastes like it costs more than it does, preferably wine priced under $12.00. So here are twelve of our favorites, all priced under $12.00. LOUIS M. MARTINI Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 1998 (12x750ml $8.21 $91.85) Fine classic California Cabernet nose with notes of dusty oak, cedar, tobacco, and lots of fine black and red berry fruit. Super juicy with great fruit flavor in the mouth, a dusty, Napa-like texture, and a really nice medium-weight feel. The dusty fruit and tobacco notes last to the end. Martini is making perhaps the best buy available in a value-priced California Cabernet. Solidly Fine. SPEC's Score: 89+ points. CAPEZZANO Montalbano Chianti DOCG 1997 (12x750ml $10.43 $115.49) From the best modern Tuscan vintage on record, this is a nicely balanced, subtle, well-integrated Chianti featuring great cherry fruit and some ripe plum along with hints of tobacco and exotic wood. Rich and satisfying in the mouth, it is juicy with fruit and flavor. Good length. Finishes dry and slightly chewy. Delicious and Fine. SPEC's Score: 90 points. BOUCHARD Pere & Fils "Le Chamville" Macon-Villages, 1999 (12x750ml $9.23 $102.43) Crisp, well-focused, nicely balanced Macon Chardonnay featuring good tropical and banana fruit with a refreshing citrusy acidity and an unexpected but welcome mineral note. Has enough richness to keep it interesting. Long and fresh tasting. Very Good. SPEC's Score: 86+ points. BOUCHARD Pere & Fils "La Vignee" Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 1999 (12x750ml $9.23 $102.43) This well-balanced Burgundy Pinot Noir shows plenty of cherry fruit and hints of earth and mineral that start on the nose and expand onto the palate. The flavors are well-focused but there is a good level of richness. The finish really lasts and stays fresh to the end. Very tasty cheap Pinot; Really Very Good. SPEC's Score: 87+ points. Ch. de la GREFFIERRE Macon la Roche Vineuse (Vielles Vignes) 1999 (12x750ml $10.40 $115.48) Very nicely structured estate-bottled, old-vine Macon with nice mineral and terroir notes and good banana and pear fruit with a fresh tropical lime acidity that emerges through the subtle oak component. Quite tasty but a little sneaky; this is one of those wines that really grows on you while you?re drinking it. Fine. SPEC's Score: 89 points. OXFORD LANDING Limited Release Grenache, South Australia, 1998 (12x750ml $8.86 $98.30) Here?s a juicy, grapy, peppery, vibrantly fruity Grenache with just enough acid to keep it somewhat balanced. No complexity at all but its thrill is that it's a real fruit bomb. Quite fresh tasting but also solid and satisfying. Quite yummy; Really very good. SPEC's Score: 87+ points. Ch. MEUNIER St. LOUIS, Corbieres, 1998 (12x750ml $9.45 $98.28) Here?s another super value in a 1998 from the south of France. This well-built Grenache-dominated red is chock full of juicy black grapy-berry fruit and subtle spice with a hint of Corbieres? earthy terroir. The wine is balanced and fresh in the mouth with a fine, medium-weight feel and a softly chewy texture. The fruit and spice last through the fine finish. This one has both the fruit to handle a bit of spice and the stuffing to handle beef. Served cool (58-60o), it may be the perfect fajita wine. Fine. SPEC's Score: 90 points. PENFOLD's Koonunga Hill Chardonnay, Southeastern Australia, 1999 (12x 750ml $6.57 $73.45) Really surprising for a value-priced (read cheap) Aussie Chardonnay, this Koonunga Hill has plenty of fruit but it is more in the green apple and green banana range than it is like the typical Aussie pineapple juice Chardonnay. The fruit is well complimented with a welcome mineral component and enough acidity to keep everything fresh and balanced. Quite elegant with good length showing mineral-character and fruit that lasts to the end. Good food Chardonnay. Fine. SPEC's Score: 88 points. M. TRINCHERO Merlot, California Coastal, 1997 (12x750ml $8.57 $95.79) Soft textured, juicy, everyday-priced Merlot with plenty of ripe cherry Merlot fruit. Fresh and lively and full of flavor in a medium weight, very drinkable, well-balanced style. Simple but delicious, it makes a super party red. Really Very Good. SPEC's Score: 87 points. HOGUE Fume Blanc, Columbia Valley, 1999 (12x750ml $5.75 $64.25) Very fresh tasting, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with good crisp pear and lemon fruit, hints of green melon, and a touch of perfume (and no grassiness). Long and lively, it finishes dry. Good as an aperitif or with simple seafoods (especially oysters). Think of it as a sort of American Entree Deux Mers. Very Good. Spec's Score: 86 points. MARTIN & WYRICH Moscato Allegro, California, 1999 (12x750ml $9.95 $111.30) This delicious Orange Muscat is fresh, bright, and alive with lots of perfumed orange blossom and honeysuckle fruit. Surprisingly lively despite its sweetness, this wine is quite fresh in the mouth with just a touch of frizzante. Long and balanced with a clean, lemon candy-like finish it is very refreshing and quite delicious. Fine. SPEC's Score: 88 points. RAMOS PINTO Ruby Port, NV (6x750ml $10.96 $60.03) Here?s a juicy, grapy red Port featuring a good mix of fruit and fire along with good weight and richness. The fruit is in the dark berry and grape juice range with just a touch of extra ripeness. This solid, everyday Port has the ability to keep for many weeks after the bottle is opened but enough flavor to make sure it is drunk sooner. Very Good. SPEC's Score: 87 points. Special for SPEC's KEY holders: Buy a mixed case consisting of one 750ml bottle of each of our December 2000 12-Under-$12 selections for only $99.09, a savings of $8.52 over SPEC's already low cash bottle price. Prices for these items and for the mixed case are good in all SPEC's stores. Prices are good through January 3, 2001. The "12x750ml" means the wine comes in 750ml bottles packed 12 to the case. The first price listed for each selection is the cash discounted bottle price. The second price listed is the cash discounted case price. "Spec's" is a service mark of the Spec's Family Partners, Ltd. and is registered with the State of Texas. Prices are subject to change without notice. Prices listed include a 5% discount for cash. "Cash" includes checks and debit cards when you enter your PIN#.
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