LOTS COOKING, BREWING, DISTILLING, FERMENTING as we have enjoyed getting our valued government employees back at work starting last Thursday. That's a good and welcome sign. Welcome back everyone! You had forced stay-at-home time off - that was stressful : I took my stay-at-home-week-vacation before the holiday season gets into full swing - and it was refreshing and lacking any real stress!
I RECEIVED AN EMAIL : " DC Council : leave the Cleveland Park Service Lane On Connecticut Avenue as it is - Sign the Petition! " How do you all feel about this? Do you want it to stay the same, do you want it to change. We have or will have the petition here for you all to sign again so that your voices may be heard. This is an important change if it goes into effect and will take time to implement and it will disrupt business as usual we feel this holiday season. So be sure and make your voices heard, if not here then by contacting the DC City Council and letting them know directly through a phone call or an email.
MY STAY-AT-HOME-VACATION : what a : new perspective on life I got as I worked the whole week outside on maintenance and repairs to our home, deck, carport : lots of painting, lots of conquering old fears and beating them back once again and proving to myself that I could! A small leap indeed for mankind but a huge leap for Anthony Quinn!
IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE LIFE and to experience it from balancing precariously up high on ladders scraping shutters and then painting them, scraping wood trim high up over our carport, pulling up tired pressure-treated wood planks on our deck and creating new support and solidity once again for us to enjoy fully our deck. Easier said than done, especially when you do not do this very often and have to learn as you go.
THE VIEW from our roof yesterday was exhilarating as I scraped peeling paint from wood trim and green moss from our roof shingles themselves. Felt good, it really did balancing the quart of white paint in one hand and painting without spilling, laying on my belly at the edge of the roof. What a vision I must have been!
THE MOST SCARY THING was coming face-to-face with our resident shed shiny black snake that was lumpy up-and-down it's body length with mice! It happened twice, actually three times in all : and on the third time I got pictures to show it in all it's glory taking in the sunshine at our shed entrance.
TO BALANCE THAT was the small, flat gray-haired, tiny vole that I saw a couple of times as I pulled-yanked unwanted ivy from the side of our house that was doing it's very best to climb up our brick wall there! The vole sure was cute, glad that the black snake had not found it!
HALLOWEEN IS COMING! BOO!!!
We still have some Pumpkin beers. The category has exploded this year and so you still have plenty to choose from. Unfortunately they were released so early as seems to be the trend today. What are the breweries thinking? The same has been true with the Octoberfest beers. We recommend that like squirrels you come and purchase what want and the " squirrel " it away until you need it. Do as a squirrel!
YOU MAY WANT TO buy some now, however, to be sure you have some for Halloween. Here is one for you :
1) PUMPKIN ALE from ALEWERKS Brewing Company , Crafted in Williamsburg, VA. ( $12.99 a 6-pack , go to : www.AleWerks.com for more info ) : ale brewed with roasted pumpkin and spices. We have worked a lot with ALEWERKS Brewing Company but this may be the first time we have any of the Pumpkin Ale? Come get some now : GO LOCAL, Go Green, support what's close to home.
SANTOS HAS SOME OTHER " Beer " Treats :
1) JOHN HENRY 135 Colonial Cream & Brown Ale ( $12.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz. ( 750ml bottle ), 9.3% Alcohol by volume, from COLD SPRING Brewing Co., Cold Spring, MN, USA ) : " Brandy Spiral Oak-Aged Ale, ... blended 50% Cream Ale and 50% Brandy Oak Spirals. A double-fermented cream ale. " Enjoy!
2) 2010 Belgian Ale CUVEE du CHATEAU from KASTEEL, www.belgianfamilybrewers.be ( On Special for $11.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl. Oz bottle , 11% alcohol by volume , ) : from CASTEL Brewery, Van Honserbouck, Belgium, bottled 100527. Try some! Cheers.
3) ESTAMINET Premium Pils - A Belgian Original, since 1797 ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 5.2% alcohol by volume, Steenhuffel, Belgium, go to : www.palmbreweries.com for more info ) : new and exciting for us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits in our Happenin' neighborhood!
LOCAL APPLE SPARKLING WINES :
1) Heyser Farms' SPENCERVILLE RED Hard Apple ( $18.99 a 750ml bottle, 8% alcohol by volume, may contain sediment, go to : www.spencervillered.com for more info , from the GREAT SHOALS Winery in Princesse Anne, Maryland, www.greatshoals.com ) : " Crisp & Refreshing Apple Wine. Made by hand in small batches, Spencerville Red Hard Apple is blended from freshly pressed premium apples grown and produced by Heyser Farms of Colesville, Maryland - a family farm in continuous operation since the 1700's. This potent drink evokes the hard ciders fermented in the days of colonial times. ...
Spencerville Red Hard Apple is uniquely dry and naturally sparkling with a refreshing taste of ripe, crisp fruit. Enjoy with lunchtime sandwiches, light fare suppers, or simply by itself. Serve chilled. " 2) G Great Shoals Apple Sparkling Wine Traditional Method ( $31.99, vinted and bottled by GREAT SHOALS WINERY, Princesse Anne, Maryland, www.greatshoals.com, 750ml bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ) : " This off-dry wine is inspired by food lovers for food lovers - enjoy with seafood and light fare. Unfiltered. Serve chilled. "
CIDER :
1) America's Best Joker Hard Cider ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack, 6.9% alcohol by volume, produced by the CALIFORNIA CIDER COMPANY, Sonoma County, CA. www.acecider.com ) : " Our Master Cider Maker decided he would experiment and make a strong dry cider. The result is Ace Joker which is European in style and has distinct Champagne characteristics. ".
RAVI, What Have You In LIQUEUR / LIQUOR ?
LIQUEUR :
1) Orchard PEAR Fruit Liqueur from ROTHMAN & WINTER ( $31.99 a 750ml bottle, 24% alcohol by volume, go to : www.a; penz.com for more info, product of Austria ) : " ... combines juice from the second harvest of Williams Pears with an eau-de-vie produced from the same fruit. Distillerie Purkhart carefully selects its fruit each season from family orchards in the Danube Valley and surrounding regions. " Special!
LIQUOR :
1) GLEN GARIOCH Highland 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ( On Special for $65.99 a bottle, www.auchentoshan.com, Oldmeldrum Aberdeenshire, Scotland ) : " Hand crafted since 1797, non-chill-filtered ... gains its distinctive Highland character from a classic marriage of Bourbon & Sherry casks . Fresh heather, poached pears and a hint of oak. " I like the sound of all of that, especially the poached pears! Love it. Cheers.
2) J. P. WISPER'S " Spiced Whisky " Vanilla No. 5 Canadian Whisky ( On Special for $22.99, 43% alcohol by volume , with natural flavor and caramel color : ALSO available is the " De Luxe " Imported Blended Canadian Whisky, On Special for $20.99, 40% alcohol by volume, : since 1857, go to : www.wisers.ca for more info ) : new and exciting for us! From Canada's Best-Selling Whisky! Try both.
3) 100% Agave Olmeca ALTOS Plata Tequila, Hecho en Mexico ( On Special for $29.99, 750ml bottle, # 15207, 40% alcohol by volume, stone-crushed, go to : www.olmecaaltos.com, on twitter at : #altos ) : " Herbal notes of 100% blue agave, the rich, sweet, fruity taste of the pinas with a hint of citrus ... Olmeca Altos is produced using the 500-year-old Tahona method, a volcanic millstone used to crush the cooked pinas to draw out the sweet, rich juice from the agave. "
4) Single Malt Irish Whiskey Since 1762 of The TYRCONNELL 10 Year-Old & Finished In Port Casks ( $81.99, from Riverstown, County Louth, Ireland , go to : www.tyrconnellwhiskey.com for more info ) : " A truly original single malt . TYRCONNELL'S unique soft and elegant flavour has been crafted and refined for over three centuries. The PORT CASK : initially matured in American oak and finished in port casks to impart further depth and flavour creating an inviting single malt with a deep antique cooper colouring. The extra aging and port cask finish produce a silky sweet taste of rich fruits, honey and spice with a beautiful lingering oak finish. "
5) Premium Gin from DELAWARE Distilling Company Distilled Eight ( 8 ) Times for an ultra smooth finish ( $30.99, 40% alcohol by volume ,On Facebook an Twitter : @Dedestill, www.delewaredistillingcompany.com, also go and dine with us at : Restaurant & Bar in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware ) : made from 100% made from grain ) : " with blood orange and a secret botanical blend. "
WINES By MICHEL Et TONY :
WHITES :
1) JEAN SABLENAY Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2012 Loire Valley, France ( $10.99 a bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, from around the town of Tour ) : this bottle is dry, bright, fruit-forward and so refreshing, a real treat!
2) MATUA 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand ( $11.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume ) : refreshing and bright, and reminded Michel and me of the French Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. Like the above J. SABLENAY this offer a freshness and a brightness, a little softer than the above Touraine. Nice.
3) RAPIDO Dry Italian Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, 2012, ( $9.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, ) : it's lovely like the 2 Sauvignon Blancs above : great to sip, sit back and relax and feel good about the rest of the day that you still have to enjoy. Cheers. Franceen came and poured some wines here this weekend, this may have been one of them?
4) HILLCREST Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Durbanville, South Africa ( $19.99 , 13.5% alcohol by volume ) was just tasted here this pastSaturday by John and Theresa Morrison. It's bright, fresh, lively, with a clarity and a focus that's pure delight - liquid sunshine filtered through Sauvignon Blanc, what else could anyone want? Cheers.
5) Moschofilero 2011 from ANTONOPOULOS ( $15.99 a bottle, 13% alcohol by volume, wine of Patras, Greece ) : a lovely dry white , protected geographical region " Arkadia ". We had Sotiris Bafitis here this past weekend pouring the wine for everyone to enjoy. Distinct, aromatic, a touch of floral, very appealing, quite special taste!
6) CM CASTELLUCCIMIANO 2012 Catarrato indigenous dry white Sicilian grape variety ( $17.99, 13% alcohol by volume, ) is grown high up, way above sea level. The owner was here with David Enright and his wines blew Michel and me away and we have some of most of them. This is a medium-bodied, elegant dry white that has subtle tones of mineral and citrus and a velvet-bright taste that lilts and rocks your palate, like being pushed ever so smoothly while in a swing ... nice. This wine is special, really. Enjoy with or without a meal.
7) Pinot Blanc from BARTH RENE , Vignoble de Bennwihr, Alscae, France, 2009 ( $16.99, 12% alcohol by volume ) : with the bottle age this wine has blossomed fully into a delightful, fruit-forward, bright and fresh-round-no-edges- taste that is a pleasure to sip with or without a meal. What a treat! I liked it immediately when I tasted it again about a week and a half ago! Cheers.
8) Adoli Ghis 2011 dry white Greek wine from ANTONOPOULOS ( $21.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume , from Patras ) : amazingly distinct, fresh, clean, crisp, mineral-laden flavors and tastes that make an immediate impression that strengthens quickly and reveals even more character and personality that you want to continue enjoying with a meal. This is seriously impressive wine for you all to enjoy now. Close your eyes, it's got the body and the flavor of a good red. Cheers.
REDS :
1) Anne De Joyeuse MALBEC 2012 " Original " depuis 1868 from Limoux, France ( $14.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, Certified Protect Planet by Bureau Veritas International BVQD ) " this is where Malbec first was planted, even before Cahors in the Lot region to the north and just south of Bordeaux! Wow! It's so bright and red-fruit toasty-berry flavors that that are easier to enjoy and certainly less harsh and tannic : and great value, too! Oscar may have just tasted this here over the weekend?
2) 2008/ 2011 Chianti Colli Senesi from Italy's Tuscan region and from TENUTA VALDIPIATTA ( $17.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume , in Montepulciano, Tuscany where they filmed some of the TWILIGHT movie- Movie Two I believe ? ) : the last few bottles of the 2008 are fully-developed and flavorful, more extraction. The 2011 is softer and lighter and brighter red toasty berry flavors. Both are recommended.
I prefer the 2008. My son will be there this coming weekend seeing and tasting with owners, father and daughter : Guido and Miriam! What fun. We have all their wines here for you all! Come check them all out and enjoy these Colli Senesi Chianti wines in this cooler weather now. 3) 2011 McLaren Vale Shiraz from Thomas GOSS, this Aussie red ( $19.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume, go to : www.thomasgoss.com.au for more info ) has got some real weight, good mouth-feel and grip, and a splash of extra alcohol to warm you even if you enjoy a glass outside in these cooler nights! New and exciting for us here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits.
4) 2006 Private Collection Dry Red Patras Greek red from ANTONOPOULOS ( $21.99, 14% alcohol by volume ) : Sotiris Bafitis was here again this past weekend to taste these fabulous Greek wines with you all. This wine makes a real statement : the best of both the modern and the classic worlds. It's a good medium-bodied dry red to enjoy with a meal. Have a glass all on it's own and then settle into the meal and the benefits of combining both together. Cheers.
5) Notarpanaro dry 2006 Salento Rosso Red from TAURINO ( $24.99, 14,5% alcohol by volume , 100% Negroamaro indigenous grapes ) : Sotiris Bafitis also tasted this here this past weekend while I was on my stay-at-home-vacation. This is a classic, old-world style of barnyard, kitchen sink, herbs and spices and olive, tar, leather and tobacco flavors that cry for food to flesh out these more lean and muscular and less-polished yet highly personable and wonderful flavors and tastes. Medium-bodied : a real class-act: everyone should experience this wine more than once in their lifetimes!
6) CAPE ELEMENTS 2009 dry red South African Blend of Shiraz, Cinsault and Grenache from Nico Van Der Merwe ( $18.99, 14% alcohol, Stellenbosch, South Africa, www.wilhelmshof@xsinet.co.za ) is a medium-bodied Rhone style red with some real polish, brightness and elegance. We tasted the 2009 on Saturday with John and Theresa Morrison and it was a huge hit. Here we have the previous vintage as well for less money and more bottle age. Perhaps buy a bottle of each and compare and enjoy? Cheers.
ALSO : From an old email I copied this here as it's an important story to keep telling : Go Virginia!
VA. WINERIES Recommended By Steven Spurrier : Steven Spurrier had his Caves De La Madeleine and his Academie Du Vin in Paris, France off the Place De La Concorde in the early 1970's and in 1976 he conducted a blind wine-tasting with both French and American judges of both California and French wines and the French picked the American wines as better!
What a scandal ensued! He was just invited back by Virginia's Governor to do a similar wine-tasting with both Virginia and other well-known/high quality wines. The Virginia wines fared really well. Steven had some favorite wineries and wines.
Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post wrote up the results this pastWednesday. Here are some of the wines we have and recommend from Steven's favorite wineries :
BOXWOOD ESTATE, Middleburg, VA.
1) " Topiary " 2008 ( $28.99, 13% alcohol by volume, www.boxwoodwinery.com ) is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec grapes from the ENTAV clones grown and processed in the traditional Bordeaux style :
low yields are harvested and sorted by hand ...
Made like the Right-Bank wines of Bordeaux. This 2008 should really be beginning to open and reveal some of it's many charms. No need to rush. Buy it in the half bottles that we still have some for $17.99 Boxwood and enjoy those while you wait patiently for these full bottles to develop and mature.
They will reward the patient. Steven Spurrier tried the 2010 vintage and wrote about those.
2) " Boxwood " 2009 ( $29.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.boxwoodwinery.com ) is made like a classic Left Bank French Bordeaux wine with a blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes from the ENTAV clones ...
It's heartier, bolder, thicker and usually more tannic and in need of a meal than the " Topiary ".
We have enjoyed them since the 2007 vintage and with family member Rachel Martin's earlier visits here. She even helped me conduct one of my Saturday wine classes. That was quite the fun and educational experience. The 2009 are brighter and more fruit-forward than the 2008 vintage wines.
But they are made to age slowly and gracefully and again the patient of you are all well-rewarded.
Read above again about what I wrote of the two wines enjoyed this weekend from the 1983 vintage to get some distance and perspective.
No need to rush. Buy some and put them away for later.
We have a few bottles left for you all and will move on to newer vintages as soon as Rachel or Andrew taste us on them.
When I visited the BOXWOOD Winery recently and saw my old friend Lucie Morton there, as well as owner Rachel Martin I was very impressed with both the 2011 and the 2012 vintages, the 2011 being quite difficult, and the 2012 being a gift of Nature! What a treat.
WEDNESDAY Weekly 3-Part Still/Non-Sparkling Wine Sale : Includes Sake, Port, Sherry, Marsala and Madeira : Mix them all up and SAVE BIG :
1) BUY ANY BOTTLE of Still Wine over $20 and SAVE 20% Off the marked sticker price.
2) BUT 6 or More Still Wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price.
3) BUY 12 or More Still Wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.
You may assort/include the port, sherry, sake, madeira and marsala bottles ( any size ), and also the box wines, too.
SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines each Wednesday on Still Wine Purchases. Call and ask for Michel or Tony to help you. We also deliver here in the neighborhood. Call : 202-363-4265. SAVE BIG!
NOTE : There's been a horrible accident here at the Cleveland Park metro center on the Red Line. Only heard briefly about it but am sorry to say that it sounds quite sad and tragic. Check before you get or try to get on the Red Line today to come home.
WEEKEND TASTINGS :
Friday, October 25th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Jim Reeves here to taste some of jis amazing French Burgundy Rhones ( GUYOT - dry reds, one dry rose ), as well as the MATILDE Chablis and Saint-Brie Sauvignon Blanc dry whites - and more! Always a great surprise and great value, too when Jim tastes with us all!
Saturday, October 26th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Fernando from Argentina here that works with Tradewinds Specialty Imports here to try some of the finest Argentina and Spanish wines : perhaps some sherry, too as it sure is getting colder, some of the fine sherries from the house of ALEXANDRO, I LOVE the Pedro Ximenez, for example, $32.99. Perfect for Halloween! Decadently thick brown colors that OOZE and leave the greatest legs on the side of any wine glass imaginable! What a treat : a little bit goes a long , long way to making this cold weather seems less cold and intimidating!
JOIN US : NEVER any charge, all our tastings are free. Come and relax and learn and enjoy, meet others, share stories and have a great moment together with us. Memorable. And never stuffy ...
AND TO ALL OUR SUPPLIERS :
We want to thank some of you that came to see us recently with some excellent products that we are considering buying and selling here :
You always have something fun and exciting and worth sharing with you all. Michel and I have been tasting some great wines thanks to them and the many others. Cheers.
I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN many things but it's time to post this so that you all may stop by on this beautiful day after work and see us. We have lots to share with you, really we do. We also want to thanks you for all your support. Check us out
on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, follow us
on Twitter at : cpwinespirits, and also at : wineenabler.
WE DELIVER No-Charge here locally in Washington D.C. with an order of $30 or more. Call us at : 202-363-4265 and we will come and see you. Cheers!
Thanks again for everything, you all are the best! Great to have all you government workers back on the job! TONY
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