| Our
Vineyard |
Chaiken Vineyards is located in the Valle de Uco, about 60 miles
south of the city of Mendoza, the wine center of Argentina. Our
vineyard is part of a larger vineyard project and is guided by
world renown winemakers and vineyard managers.
Our wines represent the best of the Valle de Uco and Argentina.
Please take a moment to learn more about us and the high quality
wines we will be releasing in 2011.
|
About Chaiken Vineyards
More than 100 years ago my grandparents came to America to realize
their dream of freedom, opportunity, and a better life for their
children. One grandfather, Israel, became a carpenter, while the
other, Sam, founded his own business delivering soda and seltzer to
residents of New York City.
My father, Raymond, continued in the delivery business working six
days per week, while my mother, Estelle, worked as a bookkeeper, a
position she held for more than 50 years. To honor my parents and
grandparents, I started Chaiken Vineyards, a tribute to the
sacrifice they made to offer me a better life.
|
|
We're In It
Together
 In contrast to the glamour associated with winemaking and wine tasting, owning a vineyard is really all about the hard work of
farming. If you've ever farmed, or just planted
a small garden in your backyard, you understand how your fortune is
tied to so many things you have no control over.
We can't control when it rains - hopefully not during harvest
time - or when a late frost arrives - not during flowering please.
So growing grapes, no matter how much we talk about the science of
winemaking, is mostly subject to the whims of Mother Nature.
As great wine is made in the vineyard and not in the
winery, we, as farmers, do the best we can to take care of the
grapes. Once you understand that a greater force plays with you
every season, you understand the need to join forces with your
neighbors to thwart the insults Mother Nature sometimes throws at
us.
In a relatively short time, vineyard owners become close
friends. It makes sense as we are all "in it together." A disaster
in a neighbor's vineyard one year, may easily be your own disaster
the next year. That is why we all help each other any way we can.
If your neighbor needs help during harvest, you share what
resources you can. If you need a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon juice for
your special blend, she makes sure she shares what she has with
you.
With the Private Vineyard Estates
project almost complete, I now have close to 100 new neighbors.
I've met some of them in person in Mendoza and others virtually through email and
phone. Each encounter has been filled with an openness and
willingness to share knowledge and experiences. Clearly they all
understand what it means to be a farmer.
Cheers.
Sincerely,
Barry
P. Chaiken, Proprietor
Chaiken Vineyards
|
|
All About Oak
The
species of oak typically used for American oak production is the Quercus alba which is a white oak species that
is characterized by its relatively fast growth, wider grains and
lower wood tannins. It is found in most of the Eastern United States as well
as Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin where many wine barrels are from. In
Oregon the Quercus garryana white oak has
started to gain usage due to its closer similarities to European
oak.
 In France, the main winemaking oak species is the
Quercus petraea which is known for tighter
grain, high tannins and lower aromatics than its American oak
counterpart. French oak typically comes from one or more primary
forests: Allier, Limousin, Nevers, Troncais and Vosges. The wood from each of
these forests has slightly different characteristics. Many
winemakers utilize barrels made from different cooperages, regions
and degrees of toasting in blending their wines to enhance the
complexity of the resulting wine.
The tighter grain of French oak allows for a more gradual
integration of flavors in the wine. Italian winemakers have had a long history of
using Slavonian oak from the Quercus robur which is known for its tight
grain, low aromatics and medium level tannins. Prior to the Russian Revolution, Quercus
petraea oak from the Baltic states was the most highly sought after
wood for French winemaking. Today Russian oak from the
Adygey region along the Black Sea is being explored by French
winemakers as a cheaper alternative to French oak. Canadian wineries have been experimenting with
the use of Canadian oak, which proponents describe as a middle
ground between American and French oak even though it is the same
species as American oak.
Oak trees are typically between 80-120 years old prior to
harvesting with the ideal conditions being a cool climate in a
dense forest region that gives the trees opportunity to mature
slowly and develop a tighter grain. Typically one tree can provide
enough wood for two 59 gallon barrels. The trees are typically harvested in the winter months
when there is less sap in the trunk.
Differences in French and
American Oak
American oak tends to be more intensely flavoured than French oak
with more sweet and vanilla overtones due to the American oak
having two to four times as many lactones. Winemakers that prefer American oak
typically use them for bold, powerful reds or warm climate Chardonnays. Besides being derived from
different species, a major difference between American and French
comes from the preparation of the oak. The tighter grain and less watertight nature of French oak
encourages coopers to split the wood along the grain rather than
saw.
French oak is then traditionally aged or "seasoned" for at
least two years whereas American coopers will often use a kiln-dry method to season the
wood. Long periods of outdoor season has a mellowing effect on the
oak that kiln-dry methods have difficulties replicating. The
sawing, rather than splitting, of American oak also enhances the
differences between the two styles due to the rupture of the xylem cells in the wood which
releases many of the vanillin aromatics and lactones responsible for
characteristics like the coconut notes.
To be continued in the next issue...
|
|
Futures
Pricing While Wine in Barrel
Strong interest in our wines continues with almost 50% of the
allotted wine already sold. If you are interested in purchasing our
wines, we recommend that you visit our eShop soon to secure current case pricing. The
wines offered are:
Generaciones Vinnez 2010
- is produced from low yield vines of traditional Bordeaux grapes -
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Special handling of
the grapes, berry selection, and aging in new French oak barrels
are just a few factors that go into the making of this special,
handcrafted, limited release wine. Delivery is expected in 2011.
Prices are for a case (12 bottles) and do not include shipping.
$219 per case.
Generaciones Malbec
2010- is produced from low yield vines of Argentina's
premier grape, Malbec. Special handling of the grapes, berry
selection, and aging in new French oak barrels are just a few
factors that go into the making of this special, handcrafted,
limited release wine. Delivery is expected in 2011. Prices are for
a case (12 bottles) and do not include shipping. $219 per
case.
Generaciones Syrah 2010 - is produced from low
yield vines of Syrah. Special handling of the grapes, berry
selection, and aging in new French oak barrels are just a few
factors that go into the making of this special, handcrafted,
limited release wine. Delivery is expected in 2011. Prices are for
a case (12 bottles) and do not include shipping. $219 per
case.
Generaciones Mixed Case 2010 - is a
sampling of of 4 bottles of Generaciones Vinnez, Generaciones
Malbec, and Generaciones Syrah, all produced from low yield
vines. Delivery is expected in 2011. Prices are for a case (12
bottles) and do not include shipping. $219 per case.
Malbec 2010- begins a
line of high quality wines produced from Argentina's premier grape.
The wine is aged in stainless steel with oak staves added to
enhance aromas. Delivery is expected in late Spring 2011. Prices
are for a case (12 bottles) and do not include shipping. SOLD
OUT.
You can purchase these wines by clicking the link below.
Chaiken Vineyards 2010 Futures
|
|
