[rcvd 14-Apr-1999] Wineglass Cellars (509) 829-3011 Email: wgcllrs@ibm.net Fax (509) 829-6666 SPRING 1999 Volume 7 We have had some good rest this past winter after the BUSIEST year of our lives in 1998. We still have lots of sorting, organizing and even some unpacking left to do but it is not urgent. We are enjoying our new house and new winery building. David is truly enjoying being a full-time Winemaker and Linda enjoys having him around (most of the time!). We have bottled several times in the new building and it is wonderful to have lots of space to work in. NEW RELEASES: 1996 Elerding Cabernet Sauvignon - A big delicious mouthful of classic Elerding Vineyard. This includes fruit flavors of raisins, cherries and cassis with a hint of anise. The finish is a classic with more than a hint of oak that only the French can give us. I buy only Tonnellerie Sylvain barrels for this cabernet and it spends two years there. Then one year in the bottle before we release it. We made 240 cases of this fine vintage and have 150 cases left. $35/bottle or $357/case. Batch 97 Zinfandel - The Zinfandel we started getting in 1996 is only getting better. The vines were one year more mature in 1997 and left to hang longer before picking. The resulting wine is a mature classic Zinfandel with a load of spicy fruit that completely takes over the senses when tasted. Because these grapes came from California we have to name the appellation as "American" and since we call it "American" we aren't allowed to put the vintage on it. Therefore we named it "Batch 97". This is all Lodi fruit, all Zinfandel and all 1997 vintage. $19.95/bottle $203.49/case. 1997 Merlot - We got a little behind in our bottling this year consequently the Merlot didn't make it into the bottle until the end of February (it should be between Thanksgiving and Christmas). Due to bottle shock it won't be released until mid April (I promise it for Barrel Tasting Weekend). It has the classic Merlot flavors in spite of the fact that 1997 was a challenging year for harvest. The growers we buy these grapes from did an outstanding job. We haven't decided what the price of this wine will be yet. Ralph's Red - Ralph is finally back ! For the Ralph aficionados among you please ask at the winery. We may not always be tasting this wine but it is for sale (and we'll open a bottle for tasting upon request). $9.95/bottle $101.49/case. Upcoming Events: April 16th - 18th - Pre Barrel Tasting April 24th - 26th - Spring Barrel Tasting June 26th - Wineglass Cellars Anniversary Celebration Off the Wall - Having a good palate is a blessing and a curse. Sometimes we smell things that we'd rather not. But occasionally, like now, we get a bonus. Spring is in the air. The air in the Yakima Valley smells so pure and clean. You can sense the fruit that is to come. Now is a grand time to visit the Valley and enjoy the coming of Spring.