2007 Birgit Eichinger Gruner Veltliner "Hasel"  $19.10
For the first club selection we take you to Austria, where the varietal Grüner Veltliner has made its reputation worldwide as a unique and formidable grape resulting in beautifully complex, profoundly flavored, and often very age-worthy wines. A glass of Grüner provides a mix flavors that are predominant in other grapes, seemingly combining unlikely floral and fruit notes into an orchestra for the palate. This month's selection from Eichinger demonstrates such layering - bright floral and tropical fruit notes lead to an uncanny melding of grapefruit, lemon, and stone fruit in the main body. The overall mouthfeel is rich with a clean, mineral delivery which ends with a spicy finish. This makes a delightful pair with Thai dishes with peanut sauce, or the rich, spicy cuisine of North Africa or India.

2005 Fidelitas Optu Red  $40
Given the onset of fall weather, we chose a second boldly structured wine. Charlie Hoppes, winemaker for Fidelitas, could truly be the best winemaker in Washington. Even his colleague-would-be-competitors say this about him. The single vineyard wines from Fidelitas figure among the top wines of Washington every year. So when Charlie "plays around" a bit with a red blend, you know it is going to be fantastic. The Fidelitas Optu Red is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc, typical of a Bordeaux style red. The flavor profile of the Optu Red is deep, dark, and complex: proud plum and currant flavors are surrounded by licorice notes, with a generous mid-palate and lasting finish of spicy fruit. A great wine for a cold night, served with something fresh off the grill or a roast from the oven.