I WAS THRILLED YESTERDAY on my day-off to think of all our veterans and to give them my silent thanks as I worked outside on our deck applying a protective coat to the wood so that it could better winter the weather. Little did I know that there was some snow forecast for this mid afternoon!
IT WAS ALSO THRILLING for me to see the pictures in today's Washington Post newspaper taken here locally of some of those celebrating the lives of lost loved ones at our National Cemetery and to realize that one lady pictured had made a trek to the grave site regularly since 2006! And to see others at the various monuments to our veterans was very emotional for me as well, even just reading and looking at the pictures.
TO THINK that some of the survivors would lay face-down on the graves to be closer to lost loved one : that really got to me and I had to stop and reflect and take the moments necessary to give thanks and to be appreciative to all those that have enabled us all here to have such incredible lives free of so many threats and situations that are commonplace in many other parts of the world. We are certainly fortunate, we really are.
WE ARE SO SADDENED by the current events in the Philippines and all the devastation/ destruction - loss of lives and disruption of life there. Our prayers are with everyone there as well as with all their relatives all over the world. I was reading more about it in this morning's Washington Post newspaper and was moved by it all. It was great to see a shipment of medical supplies arriving there that had been planned before there was even any notice of the current events. How fortuitous!
ALL IS NOT MADNESS though, even though it seems this way otherwise.
SOME HEALTHY MADNESS Is Always Encouraged! Have fun, enjoy the moment. Get as much from your surroundings as you possibly can!
WE DO HAVE SOME CONTROL fortunately, we are doing so many things this week here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. You will begin to notice many things happening here inside the store that will make shopping here easier for you all.
WE WANT YOUR EXPERIENCE here to be as easy, as effortless, as pleasant and rewarding as possible so we are going to be re-designing things so that more is visible and less is hidden.
WE KNOW that for many of you the experience is a visual one with cleanliness essential, and being able to see the labels that you are searching for also much easier. We know and appreciate that many of you have taken the time and the effort to take pictures of the items that you like and want to purchase again. Please, if it's imported take a picture of both the front and the back of the label as we need to see who the importer is as we need to contact our distributor to buy whatever it is that you may want?
WE WILL TALK more of these developments here but trust me they are all improvements and should be good for everyone. The good thing is that many will be implemented in time for our holidays and that's great news indeed.
EXPECT TO HEAR MORE from us / me in the first week of November as that will be when we have managed to get many things to a level of development worth bringing to your attention. At that point we can see what you have already noticed, what you have missed?
BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU Season Upon Us :
You know that the Beaujolais Nouveau and the Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau can be legally sold by us Thursday, November 21st, 2013? We can start at 10AM in the morning and continue through the day. We will taste them here with you so that you may decide which you like best?
HAVE DINNER @ LAVANDOU Wednesday,11/20/13 :
Have you made plans to go to Lavandou just at the end of our block and enjoy a meal there? I am sure it will be hopping there. Remember: you reserve a seat or seats with a
IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING " New " for us. That's the way we like it : be inspired and touched by something " new ".
We are excited about the Beaujolais Nouveau this year : the reports so far have been very good that I have heard.
We will open them here on Thursday for you all to taste. We will have four in all :
1) MANOIR DU CARRA 2013 Beaujolais. More hearty and forward, a bit sharper with lively acidity!
2) MANOIR DU CARRA Beaujolais-Villages 2013. A bit more elegant, fuller, rounder, silkier- with a touch more flesh!
3) BOUCHARD AINE Beaujolais Nouveau 2013. The lightest, the mildest, the least body, more delicate toasty cherry-berry flavors.
MIX A CASE of these.
Throw your own " Nouveau " party for your friends and then have some to get you through the end of this year and our fabulous holiday season.
WHAT Is :
NOUVEAU?
It means " new ".
What is BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU?
It's new Beaujolais, new Gamay.
It's all made in Burgundy, France. It is all made from 100% Gamay grapes at the southern tip of Burgundy.
It's fun, it's fresh, it's lively, it's got a slight tart edge, it's got a bit of a bite.
It's toasty and roasted berries and a delight to drink slightly chilled. It goes with everything : all casual meals as well as more fancy ones. it's just a delight for most people.
It's a tradition and it has always been popular though many people in our country I feel still do not know much about it.
SO : either do your own party or go to a restaurant like Lavandou or Bistro Lepic, the Bistro Du Coin, the Petits Plats and celebrate ...
and then continue celebrating at home with family and friends. It's a way to welcome in the holidays.
We can help you, too as you may start celebrating earlier than laterthis Thursday.
We will have the four bottles open here all day long so come and " experience " this year's 2013 NOUVEAU with us!
If you have any questions please do ask us here at the store.
HOW IS NOUVEAU MADE?
It's made with a longer process called " carbonic maceration ".
That means simply that the grapes are put into a tank and that as they are put into the tank the pressure from those grapes on top of those below crush the juice. This way the crush is as smooth and as gentle as it can get, with the least amount of agitation to the grapes so that the juice that comes from the grapes is as pure as and as least-disturbed as possible.
That makes the taste brighter and fresher - all good things.
NOUVEAU IS ALSO BEST WHEN MATCHED with food.
You don't want to drink too much all by itself because AS SOON AS IT'S FERMENTED it is bottled.
This preserves all the natural acidity of the Gamay grapes as there in NO BOTTLE AGE, NO CONTACT WITH wood or oak, only bright and shiny stainless steel.
NOUVEAU :
is not made for aging. However, and this is a big however, it does not go bad immediately. It simply is not intended to be around for a very long time.
Buy it and usually drink it all up over the holidays. You don't really want to be drinking the spring after it was made.
But don't panic, always check what you have first before simply dumping the bottle out. Chill it and taste it to see first what you still have? If you like the taste then you are okay, if not use it to cook with or make vinegar from.
It does lose some of the acidity and soften some as it ages over the months. That is quite agreeable to many as it takes some of the sting and the bite away. But try and drink it up earlier than later.
MOST OF ALL : relax and enjoy the joy that beaujolais and beaujolais-villages nouveau provides each and every year on the thirdThursday of each November.
This one is available here Thursday, November 21st, 2013!
LET'S NOT FORGET APPLE CIDER! We have the FOGGY RIDGE Virginia apple ciders from Dugspur. Anyone ever been there? The owner herself has been here and tasted me on these and we are thrilled to have them. It will be a breath of fresh air after the wines to have some apple cider : Handmade, Serious Hard, Cider Sweet, First Fruit Hard and Pippin for you all to taste. Remember there is no charge. Please join us and bring family and friends.Check to see what we currently have.
WE ALSO HAVE : the FOUR CIDERWORKS, Jefferson, Maryland ciders here for you all :
1) Celebration, $19.99, 2) The Jefferson Hard Cider, $18.99, 3) Kingston Black aged in Bourbon barrels, and the 4) Vintage Hard Cider, $22.99.We have a tasting here with the owners on Saturday, November 16th, 2013 from 2-6PM. Join us, never any charge.
SANTOS just got back in stock the ALBEMARLE CIDERWORKS " Gold Rush " and the " Ragged Mountain " Virginia apple ciders, BOTH at $16.99 a bottle.
BUT HEY, what about some BEER FROM SANTOS?
1) Stillwater Artisanal American Farmhouse Ale ( $12.99, 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz Bottle , 6.6% alcohol by volume, Westmunster, Md. ) : a wheat ale brewed with white sage, go to : www.electricmadness.com for more info.
2) Pumpkin Patch Ale from the ROGUE Farms ( $14.99, 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz bottle, Newport, OR. 97365, ) : Grow the Revolution!No chemical, additives or preservatives. Brewed using 15 ingredients. This is real pumpkin beer with many layers, more taste, try some!
3) Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel ( $16.99 for a four-pack of 11.2% alcohol by volume, 9% Alcohol by volume, Belgium, ) : " Since 1982 Brasserie d'Achouffe, nestled in the lush, green Belgian Ardennes Mountains ... " Not to be missed, really special. Try some.
4) " Milk Stout " from LANCASTER BREWING ( On Special for $9.99, 12 Fl. Oz, from Wilkes-Barre, PA. ) : " Stout brewed with lactose. "
5) Avalanche Amber-Style Ale ( On Special for $10.99, 12 ounce bottles, first brewed in Breckenridge, cold- 1988 , fine Colorado Ale, Denver, 4.4% alcohol by volume, ) from the BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY
AND WE Cannot Forget LIQUOR From Ravi :
RAVI's last day is this Thursday at 2PM, then he's gone and flies to India this Friday.
WE WILL MISS YOU RAVI.
1) Old Reserve 1998 Plantation Rum Guadalupe, Limited Edition ( On Special for $65.99 a bottle, 42% alcohol by volume, Single Cask Rum, 750ml bottle ) : The old bartender at Dino was here this past weekend and thrilled to discover we had it. He was in a restaurant and another bartender served it to him.
2) 1776 JAMES E. PEPPER Straight Bourbon Whiskey ( On Special for $29.99, Old Style , 100 Proof ) : What character for a bourbon, what flame and intensity, and so warming in this cold weather - great value. Cheers.
3) Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years from GLENFARCLAS ( On Special for $57.99 a bottle, 750ml bottle, established 1836 , 43% alcohol by volume ) : " here in the heart of Speyside, wherever the secret lies, we invite you to share in enjoying and savouring GLENFARCLAS. "
4) Anejo Artesanal Tequila from ORO AZUL ( $48.99 , 40% alcohol by volume, 100% de Agave , Mexico ) : check this out.
5) ST. ELIZABETH ALLSPICE DRAM ( $26.99 a 375ml bottle, 22.5% alcohol by volume , liqueur ) : " Tradition of the West Indies . " Go to : www.alpenz.com for more info.
6) Pear Williams Purkhart from Alto Adige - Sudtirol ( $39.99 , 40% alcohol by volume , 750ml bottle ) is a product of Austria. WE are thrilled to have it here. It's a real addition to our store and one that is just in time for the holidays.
7) DOUGLAS XO Premium Blended Scotch Whisky ( $39.99 , 86% alcohol by volume ) is something new and exciting for us and we have had it now for six months and it's time to remind you all about it once again. It's unique and really special. Go to : www.InternationalSpiritsand Wines.com for the scoop on this. I wish I had Alexis here now to wax poetic on it because it is truly one of a kind.
Wines From Tony Michel : These Are Some For Our wines for this holiday to offer as gifts or to enjoy yourselves.
1) Off-dry Cabernet Sauvignon from PODUM BELLUNO ( On Special for $5.99 a bottle, regularly $9.99, from Moldova ) : chill for thirty or so minutes and drink all by itself and enjoy how fresh and bright and easy it is to enjoy all on it's own! Lovely!! It's got 11% alcohol by volume and is fruity but not sweet. It will make great mulled wine as well, or a tasty Sangria even in this cold weather. GREAT VALUE : Highly Recommended.
2) Soave dry white, from CANTINA di GAMBELLARA 2012 ( On Special for $6.99, Veneto, Italy ) : a GREAT DEAL for such a tasty dry white : flavorful, with some real muscle and character and body to hold it's own with more tasty meals. I like it, I like it a lot for it's distinctive qualities, a dryness and almost a saltiness without the salt- just the suggestion!?! How?!? Taste it, decide for yourselves.
4) Malbec 2012 from Argentina's EL GANADOR ( $7.99, Mendoza, 13.5% alcohol by volume ) : Michel and I liked this a lot for this great price : what will you all think?
5) 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Moldova's TAKING ROOT ( On Special for $9.99, 13% alcohol by volume, ) : clean and crisp and bright and fresh and lively and a tasty treat anytime! Thanks Dmitri!
6) Lancellotta Indigenous dry red grape variety from Romagna, Italy originally : also grown and produced now in Moldova at " Taking Root ", this 2012 ( On Special for $9.99, regularly $12.99, handcrafted in Moldova ) is drinking beautifully now : toasty and roasted bright red cherry-berry flavors with just the right amount of spice, wow, delicious! Glad to have it back Dmitri!
7) Bordeaux Red Blended BATACLAN Estate-Bottled 2011, Grand Vin De Bordeaux ( $9.99 a 750ml bottle, 12% alcohol by volume, ) : a bit earthy, spicy, perky, pithy, a good food wine, will get the taste buds up into an uproar gently but surely! GREAT VALUE!
8) Zilavka MOSTAR Winery Citluk, Vrhunsko Suho Vino from Bosnia and Herzegovina ( $13.99 a liter bottle, dry white, 2011, 13% alcohol by volume ) : dry and mineral qualities, that bristle and that shake and that are really nice with a meal, like a cross between a dry Bordeaux wine and a Trebbiano ? Nice, great value, too!
9) A Dry French Southwest Red Blend from Cabardes, Cuvee Premium ( $16.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume, just outside the town of Carcassonne ) : a blend of 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cot, 15% Grenache and 15% Syrah ) : SIMPLE , I was BLOWN-AWAY by this dry red blend this weekend when Oscar Losama opened and poured it for our customers. I forgot how great it was. What an amazingly complete wine and for only $16.99. It over-delivers for the money, Buy several bottles of it, BUY IT! I love it, what will you think?
10) " Devil Elbow " from LONGVIEW Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 ( On Special for $20.99 a bottle ) : just recommended by Dave McIntyre in The Washington Post : a favorite of ours for years! Perfect for this biting cold weather now.
11) BOXWOOD Estate VA. 2008 Boxwood Red
12) BOXWOOD Estate VA. 2009 Boxwood Red
13) BOXWOOD Estate VA. 2009 Topiary Red ( with owner Rachel Martin pouring them ).
14) ELK RUN Gewurztraminer 2010
15 ) ELK RUN Pinot Noir 2010
16) ELK RUN 2010 Off-Dry Riesling
17) ELK RUN Malbec
18) BOKISCH Graciano Dry CA. Red, 2006
19) BRICKHOUSE Gamay, Oregon 20011, $39.99 made with organic grapes
20) SASS Pinot Noir
21) FORIS Dry 2011Gewurztraminer, $16.99from the Rogue Valley Oregon
And so many more to consider ...
More to follow and there will be plenty to taste including the apple ciders and the homemade Wash. D.C. chocolates, too. Hopefully there will be something here for everyone.
THREE-PART Still Wine Weekly Wednesday SALE :
1) BUY ANY Still Wine Bottle over $19.99 and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.
2) BUY ANY 6 or more still wines and SAVE 15% Off the marked sticker prices.
3) BUY ANY 12 bottles of still wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.
WEEKEND TASTING :
FRIDAY : November 15th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Fernando of Tradewinds here to pour Argentina and Spanish wines that are perfect for this cold, to warm and comfort us!
SATURDAY ( 2-6PM ) : WE have both the CIDERWORKS of Jefferson, Maryland here with their ciders mentioned above and the J.W. SIEG PINUAGA Spanish wines to give you flavor, taste, variety and something warming and perfect for this drop in temperatures. Cheers.
JOIN US, NEVER any charge.
I AM SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it is time to send this email now. Check our web page at : www.clevelandparkwine.com , our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and our Twitter at : cpwinespirits as well as chatwine.blogspot.com for more info on what we are doing here.
It never stops, ever.
Thanks for all your support. Cheers and come and see us. Don't be a stranger, call us at : 202-363-4265. We deliver to you anytime we can, just let us know when you need or want something. TONY
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