 Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits
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SUCH A TREAT to be alive! I love it, say how lucky I am to be
alive, give thanks for being alive. I often say this as I am in my car
in the mornings driving here to work. I do not want my spirit crushed by
anything, though there are many things that try and dampen it. I must
not let them.
I WROTE THE above paragraph and sent it to you all on April 21st,
2018, and I still firmly believe these words! It is warmer and kinder
and gentler outside now as both the temperatures rise, the rain clouds
approach to water on us and help dilute the pollen coming out.
SO MUCH TO SHARE HERE Today and so I star - start with the '
essentials ' here for you all, and finish the email with observations,
thanks, local news, bye byes, and all the rest that is us and our
community and life as we here know it, share it, live it, realize it,
welcome it as best we can. Cheers.
BEER From Santos -
TWO From the COUNCIL Brewing Co. -
1) Beautitude Three Berry Tart Saison with Raspberry, blueberry,
and blackberry , an ale with 4.5% alcohol by volume, On Special for
$14.99, for a 750ml bottle, ... - the French word for ' bliss ', brewed
in the Belgium tradition of tart farmhouse ales.
2) Raspberry Tart Saison , a Raspberry ale with 4.5% alcohol by
volume, On Special for $14.99 a 750ml bottle, ... ' housing a culture
of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus and Saison yeast in our fermenters. Aged
on raspberries, this yields a beer with a lacto forward nose, an
intensity tart raspberry flavor, a doughy complexity, and takes the word
' refreshing ' to a whole new level. '
LIQUOR From Jagir -
1) Asian Pear Eaux de Vie from SUBARASHI Kudamono, $49.99 a 375ml
bottle, : " celelbrates fruit at its finest : fresh, clean, flavorful,
using select gourmet Asian pears from the Subarashi Kudamono orchards
that create a liveliness and intense fruit essence. " A real winner,
come try some, sip it while gazing up at the bright moon now, lovely, an
ethereal experience. I recommend this to you all, from Ashford, CT.
2) Expertly WILD TURKEY Crafted ' Rare Breed ' Kentucky Straight
Bourbon Whiskey, Barrel Proof, made by Master Jimmy Russell distiller
there ( he was here tasting with you all for two hours or more ) for
almost seventy years now! He knows his stuff. I saw a special on the
Today show this past week about Kentucky bourbon and they focused a lot
of the show on Jimmy, went to his office, tasted some Pre-Prohibition
bourbon, and one of the ladies on the Today show later flipped out over
this! Her smile, her reactions, her repeated statement about how good it
was could make them a commercial that would sell this like hotcakes.
Google this and watch her and come here immediately and buy some and '
simply be amazed '! On Special for $43.99 a bottle, now, regular price
is $50.99 a bottle - 116.8 barrel proof No 4 Char. Yes yes yes yes yes!
3) CROP Harvet Earth ( two days ago it was Earth Day! ) Organic '
Artisanal Vodka ', distilled from certified organic American grain, (
USDA organic ), 40% alcohol by volume, $29.99, Princeton, MN, : " This
organic vodka is distilled so efficiently from certified Organic grain
that no carbon treatment or charcoal filtering is required. " Yes si oui
yes yes!
4) FORD'S GIN , a London Dry Gin created in California for
bartenders that complained that many of the London dry gins they used
when creating their signature cocktails lost their pizzaz and punch and
flavor, and so they wanted a gin that would hold it's own against the
other components they were mixing. From Ukiah, California, I tried this
earlier today with Martin Smith-Mattson their national sales rep (he is
part Portuguese and Brazilian ), and I really did like the weight, the
feel, the buoyancy, like a water bed that has spaces on the surface to
hold the fun accents, this gin being able to accommodate and to enable
other things to be accented, but to never lose the brightness, the
freshness, the appeal. Yes. I liked it all on it's own. I also liked the
two rums, the tequila ( it was the strongest of all ), and the Vodka,
and it was probably my least favorite of all, but good for it's purpose
and adding the weight and layers needed for some of the ' new bartender '
creations out there today! Cheers, thanks, obregado Martin.$32.99 for a
liter bottle, next we will buy the 750ml bottle, merci Jean Gagliolo
aussi!
WINE From Chris & Tony -
FOUR Just Arrived - ALL 3 for $33, 6 for $60
1) Dry rose estate-bottled, from Armenia, a 2016 VAN ARDI On
Special for $12.99, with 12.5% alcohol by volume, this has some real
taste, weight, presence, character , and a beautiful color, too! A blend
of the indigenous Kakhet and Areni grapes, and with some Syrah, too.
2) Reserve 2013 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, from the VILLA YAMBOL, On
Special for $12.99, from Bulgaria's Thracian valley. with 13.5% alcohol
by volume, this is an old-world style of Cabernet that really
complements many a meal. Medium-bodied, both highs and lows in the
taste, as well as beauty and the beast flavors and bouquet, too.
TWO From ISA Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue , France - from LES CHEMINS de BASSAC
1) Made with organically grown grapes, a dry white , On Special for
$12.99, this wine really impressed me, so much flavor, so many layers
to accomodate my various mood swings, too.
2) Made with organically grown grapes, this 2014 dry red French
blend again impressed me quite a bit, especially when I heard thes low
prices, and being able to get it down to $10 when you buy six bottles of
any from our special rack, well this is a great value indeed, and
perfect to enjoy now as the weather finally begrudgingly shifts to
warmer.
WEEK'S TASTINGS -
TODAY, Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) :
1) Viejo Feo Pinot Noir rose Villa Alegre, from Chile's Valle de Maule, On Special for $8.99
2) La Grande Cote a California dry blend from Paso Robles, 2016, On
Special for $8.99 a bottle, with 13.6% alcohol by volume, some good
weight and extra layering to buffer the elements!
3) La Burla Rosado from Spain's Tierra de Castilla region, made
from the indigenous grape called Bobal, On Special for $12.99, with 13%
alcohol, will warm our cockles nicely and massage our temples even
better.
4) Malbec rose 2016 from Mendoza, Argentina, from the Bodega Y
Vinedos " Familia Colombi ' Private Selection, some definition with good
acids and more bite and burn , churn and chunk and needing perhaps a
bit of a chew, if you get my grist?!? Cheers. Try it with a meal, $12.99
On Special with 12.9% alcohol by volume.
Wednesday, April 25th, 2018 ( 5-8PM
) : Join Mark Congdon as we taste the fine wines of Argentina from
Ernesto Catena. We are moving our German-Port-Wine-Tasting to Thursday as two of the wines just arrived, but too late to taste tomorrow. More on that soon.
With Mark we will taste the
1)Alma Negra sparkling splash of rose color Malbec blend, mmmmmm , love it, $21.99.
2) PADRILLOS Malbec, 2017, Mendoza, fruit-bright-fresh-forward-
3) ALMA NEGRA M Blend, $21.99 a bottle, I love the purity,
brightness, flesh and gentle warming flame of this incredible Malbed
blend, lovely. Enjoyed it recently with the rest of these at the Del Ray
Cafe in Old Towne Alexandria with owner Laurent and Olivier Lotterie of
the Vineyard Brands, all nice, best soft-shell crabs I have had in my
life!
4) SIESTA En El TAHUANTINSUYU , a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ( we also
have three bottles of the 2012 Cabernet Franc - the very last three
available here ever! ), On Special for $28.99 a bottle, again - such an
amazing purity, liveliness, freshness, richness that is more lustrous
than gold and more brilliant than sparkling rubies! BUY all that we have
- get 20% OFF each bottle tomorrow!
5) Single Vineyard SIESTA de Tahuantinsuyo, a 2014 Malbec that is
also Demeter certified organic, an incredible three-ring circus
representation of the Malbec where all three rings harmonize seamlessly
here and perform as one! $38.99 a bottle.
THESE PRICES will all increase, get them tomorrow at these reasonable prices!
Thursday, April 26th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : Chris and I will taste these four fine Winesellers Inc selections here with you ( me from 5-6:30P, and Chris from 6:30PM-8PM! We have for you-
TWO Selections from Germany -
1) 2016 Blanc de Noir Pinot Noir Qualitatswein from Germany's Nahe
region, estate-bottled, from Paul Anheuser and Dorotee , $16.49, with
only 11.5% alcohol by volume, this is a lovely dry white-clear
expression of the Pinot Noir grape.
2) 2016 Riesling Oppenheimer Sacktrager Spatlese estate-bottled
from Frank the owner of DR. HEYDEN, in Germany's Rheinhessen region -
this will be a great contrast to the dry clear Pinot Noir, come taste
both.
AND -
TWO From Portugal's QUINTA De La ROSA from owner Sophia -
1) douROSA Duoro 2015 dry red blend from a family-owned and run
vineyard, a blend of 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, and 30%
Tinto Roriz - $17.49, with 14% alcohol by volume, with a lovely deep
rose red on the label, this is a medium-bodied dry red that opens slowly
and is still young and will work best now with a flavorful meal!
Cheers!
2) 10 Year Old Tawny Tonel 12 Portuguese Port/ Porto On Special for
$39.99 a 500ml bottle, with 19.5% alcohol by volume, a lovely way to
accent and perhaps even close the doors to one's boudoir after a very
satisfying day and night, not forgetting to have the open bottle close
at hand.
Friday, April 27th, 2015 ( 5-8PM
) : We have Eduardo here from the SALTON Winery in the wine center of
Brazil, Bento Goncalves in the Valle dos Vinedos, southern Brazil inland
from the port town of Porto Allegre, beautiful like the Napa Valley,
rolling hills, like Tuscany, too, with some lovely looming hills where
the fog each morning gets caught in the treetops and nooks and crannies
of everything else, pretty spectacular,I was there. We will taste the
fine wines of SALTON- their ' Intenso ' Series that includes a great
Brut sparkling wine and two fine reds as well - Tannat - a treat, maybe
some Cabernet Franc, too!
Saturday, April 28th, 2018 ( 2-6PM
) : Marianna Annio the owner of the Tenuta PIETRAVENTOSA Winery and
Vineyard is here with importer Robert Kennedy, and so be prepared to
rock your boat and be amazed, pleased, treated to a slice or two or
three of paradise, si si si.
Marianna uses the grape Primitivo from Italy's Puglia, one of the
two famous regions for producing and growing it in the Gioia del Colle
region, and so we will taste FOUR Wines from Marianna with her, and she
will sign as many bottles as you would like, too as gifts with Mother's
Day coming up, oh yeah!
We will taste -
1) EST ROSA Murgia dry rose 2016, $18.99 a bottle - the COLOR
alone is an orgy, a catharsis, a wash of visual transparent reds that
are like looking at a pale skin with the blood under that skin looking
like this color - mezmerizing, a bath like in Manon of the Spring, in
Provence those roses blush deeply as they have been caught in the act of
truely loving their hosts and so blush crimson blush passion, blush fun
and bare free expression of Primiivo grapes like one rarely sees or is
permitted to witness as will our palates and tongues, followed by all
our other attentive, antinicapting senses, mmmmmmmm yes! Not to be
missed!
2) ' Allegoria ' Primitivo 2015, On Special for $19.99 a bottle,
again, here we have an even deeper color, everyone loves the true
finesse and elegance and bright refinement of this Primitivo! I do, you
will, too.
3) ' Volere Volare ' Primitivo 2015, with 13.5% alcohol by volume, is only available during Marianna's tasting on Saturday,
we have 18 bottles, I believe? So come and get some, an accident that
happened in their cellars, what to do?!? And this Volere Volare was
created! It is coarser, rougher, more brute and brash and gutsy and raw ,
rare and rarin' to break on through and out and ahhhhhhhhh, about! Get
my drift?!? Taste it and you will. Cheers!
4) 2011 Primitivo Riserva V.O.P.R.D. On Special for $39.99 a
bottle, regularly $49.99 , this is one to age, and once it ages really
well and all the components are in balance then this sings like the
sound of angels like we seldom are privileged to hear or taste - a true
magic! A real special treat! Cheers, JOIN US.
THANKS for everything and -
READ ON! More still to come.
ALWAYS SAVE TWO WAYS HERE up to 20% two ways each and every Wednesday! Call to find out more, pay on Wednesdays, and SAVE : 202-363-4265.
IT MAY BE RAINING when you get off work and pass by our store. Take
your blinders off and come in and try the four dry rose wines I will be
tasting here tonight from 5-7:30PM thanks to Narayan Campbell that has delivered Saturday these fine wines for the weekend, and samples for me to taste with you all tonight.
IT TAKES a community, a neighborhood, a village, a quartier, an
arrondisement, an association, care and concern and willingness to work
as one to cultivate a greater positive environment for one and for all.
It is happening here, too, bit by bit, foot by foot, step forward
followed by step ...
WE DO ALL THIS QUITE WELL here, though there is room for
improvement, and we must try and keep up with the times and do more
local, and get in ubers less that take us away from our fine
neighborhood that needs our support now more than ever.
SO PLEASE walk slower by our stores, stop and peer in, walk in, see what ' goodies ' we all have to offer you.
REALIZE that we are here to assist you, to help you with whatever
you might need or enjoy, that each sale is important that it lead to the
next, continued business, not just one sale to get rid of something we
may not want anymore. A good sales person will sell what they have to
the right customer where that fits their needs, and not just ours.
REPEAT BUSINESS is essential, as we may think we all are great, but
we are nothing without you, and even less if you do not sing our
praises.
SO BE HONEST, give us more than a chance or two, make it at least
three chances, and each time you do tell us what we have either done
right or that which annoys you.
ONLY IN THIS WAY may we all move forward and continue to be the
vibrant neighborhood we all desperately need and deserve. Cheers!
HAPPY TUESDAY,
hope it is already going well for you, it is here for us , for Jagir
and me at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits - we have been busy since 10 am when we opened, and are not slowing down in the least, no time, have to get lots done.
GOOD NEWS : the Uptown Arts DC House across the street next to
Byblos' Deli has had it's lease extended through September - great news
to keep us all on our toes with a whole generation of younger artists
with so much to offer.
THEY WILL BE continuing to work their in that space on their art,
invite you at times to do the same with them, show movies for the
family, work with the Farmer's Market outside, have skate-boarding
events, music, rap, group art shows, fashion shoots, and so much more,
so knock on the door, ask to come inside, tell Marc, Jamal, Parker,
Maps, Sebe, Maya, and anyone else that I sent you there, get involved,
it is an organic, youthful, exciting youthful environment, really it is,
raw and edgy and creates conversation and reactions from you!
GO BY and say your ' Bye Byes ' To Wake Up Little Suzie, this is
their last month coming up I believe before they close for go, they have
been such a vibrant and vital part of our community. We will miss them
both dearly as they have been a great team and helped many of us with
gift ideas and clothing, too - and rallied us and kept us focused and on
our toes, and provided much political solace and an outlet to write and
share our views, thanks and need to ' let it all out ' so we do not
explode from so much social and political media overload!
THE SOLIDARITY, too over the years that the Cleveland Park Business
Association has provided us all, keeping us focused on our retail
stores here in these two vital blocks to Cleveland Park, working with
IDOT and the various businesses here, with the residents here, young and
old, with the CP Historical Society, with Mary Cheh and the DC
government, with Main Street, with everything and anything that is
important to address here for all of us, often way after store hours, at
her apartment, with emails, texts, the ANC Board,
the CP List Serve, so much that took vision, cooperation, infinite
patience, working as a team, encouraging others to help in the process,
getting the Farmer's Market across the street to become a reality,
beautiful street banners, too, riding us, too of the rat problem in our
alley behind our stores, you name it, thank you Suzie, thank you for all
of this and more.
AND I TAKE THIS MOMENT to personally thank you for the Obama &
Us Window that came to be around the Presidential election last year
when Obama left office - what a great inspiration that was for me, a
great moment of pride and positive energy that has been essential to
sustain us since. I still smile when I look on the right wall and see so
many of the cards that you all wrote to Obama, makes me happy each and
every time I pass by and look there, that, too will be greatly missed,
even though the Firehook Bakery will take over that space.
AND I hope, too that Pierre will get something from Suzie to put in
that space to remind us all of what was once there for so many years!
Just my thought. Just sharing.
AND At City Fitness Gym they are hosting soon their Fitness Fiesta,
, call 202-537- 0539 and ask for Dega Schembri for more details, we are
donating 6 bottles of the Dos Pasos Chardonnay from Chile for a Door
Prize ( thanks to Manuel Rojas that is helping us with this of ALMA and
IN SITU and DOS PASOS wines ). Cheers.Going since 1993! Thanks, gracias,
merci, grazie , obregado ...
WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email I wrote on April 21st,
2015, and so read it if you have time and check for availability and
pricing and vintages, cheers, thanks for everything, you are the best!
EARTH and to walk upon it and to enjoy what is there, natural,
free and often beautiful. Today it is a bit wet and cool and so we will
later enjoy some of the DIOFILI dry Greek rose, $12.99, that I have
chilling in the back that Sotiris Bafitis dropped off this weekend for
us all to enjoy together. Join me and we will see how well the color,
the clarity, the textures and tastes and FLAVors all sit on our tongues
and palates. My daughter and wife quite enjoyed it this past Sunday
at home on our deck in the back yard as I grilled and we enjoyed being
outside, fighting back our allergies to enjoy this otherwise splendid
moment.
ALLERGIES have been bad this year for many of us. It has been
terrible for me, especially this past week. I lost my voice half way
into Saturday
and that was tough. But I think to myself that I still like to be
outside and garden and enjoy family and friends, wine and a meal. SO :
what to do? No easy solution. I hope that if I stare the pollens down
with my unwavering gaze that they will back off and let me alone. Yes, I
am a dreamer.
THIS WEEK is going to be really busy and our South African winemaker event tomorrow, ...
Wednesday here, from 3-6PM will be exciting with three wineries and three winemakers to taste the wines, ask questions, get bottles signed :
1) DeMORGENZON ( winemaker Carl Van Der Merwe ),
2) GLENELLY ( winemaker Nick Bureau ), and 3) EXCELSIOR ( winemaker Peter De Wet ).
AND : Just Included :
4) MORGENSTER ( winemaker Judi Dyer ) from Loures River, Stellenbosch. Jusy will pour both a ...
1) Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blend as well as a ...
2) Pinotage & Merlot blend. What fun/treat!
JOIN US, NEVER any charge.
JUST THINK, think of all the wonderful liquid libations that are available here for this damp and cool weather ...
ALE, BEER, CIDER From Santos :
1) ' Deliria ' A Blond Belgian Ale from DELIRIUM, a family brewery
Huyghe since 1654, $12.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl. Oz bottle, from Ghent,
Belgium ( go to : www.delirium.be
for more info ). This is a limited edition special brewed by women. We
all like that. Charlotte came looking for it here when she first moved
to the neighborhood and asked for it by name. We were out, but it came
back the next week and she was very happy. Glad we could be here to help
you finally find this Deliria.
2) ' Blushing Monk ' 2015 , a Belgian-Style ale fermented with pure
raspberries, from FOUNDERS Brewing, $18.99 a 9.2% alcohol by volume.
3) ' Resin ' IIPA from SIXPOINT Craft Ales, On Special for $13.99 a
6-pack of 12-ounce cans. " It all starts with the infamous sticky
essence inside a green flower. That delicious sap makes us rabid,
drooling in search of the bitter hop antidote to quell fast encroaching
malt sweetness. Yes! ... "
4) ' Big Squeeze ' Shandy UFO from the HARPOON Brewery, On Special for $9.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles. Beer + Grapefruit = Shandy , unfiltered , ' sweet with a hint of tartness, UFO Big Squeeze is perfect for all your summer adventures.'
From Jagir & Malkit :
1) ' Mahina Coco ' Coconut Liqueur from CLEMENT is a French
Caribbean liqueur, a " splendid Creole delicacy of white rhum and
macerated coconut." We have some for you to taste here. Ask and we will
pour you some to taste and decide whether you want to drink this in the
spring and summer months.
2) ' Orchard Apricot ' fruit liqueur from ROTHMAN & WINTER for
$28.99 a 750ml bottle, 25% alcohol by volume, from Austria. " Rothman
& Winter Orchard Apricot liqueur combines juice from the seasonal
harvest of Austria's famed Klosterneuberger apricots with an eau-de-vie
produced from the same fruit..." I love the color, it is beautiful and
makes me want to open the bottle now and take a sip!
3) ( Product ) red Vodka Special Edition from Poland, distilled and
bottled by Polmos Zyrardow, from BELVEDERE Vodka, On Special for $32.99
... : " For every bottle you give ( or keep ), Belvedere Vodka
contributes 50% of our profits to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS
in Africa. ... ( BELVEDERE ) red is a limited edition bottle containing
the same Belvedere Vodka you've always enjoyed. Naturally smooth. (
Product ) red." We like the sound of this, we all like what this can do
to help.
4) FORD'S Gin, Spirit & Spice gin distilled in London, $27.99 a 1 liter bottle, with 45% alcohol by volume,, it distilled from grain in the UK : " Savoury, refreshing , pine, lavender , spice, CITRUS, orange, structure sharp, bright citrus adds dryness brightness, sweet + bitter citrus ELEGANT, FLORAL pungent sweetness and dryness sharp TANGY citrus EARTHY + floral, binds flavour warm, sweet aromatic spice CLEAN, FILTERED neutral, slight graininess."
5) Bourbon Whiskey distilled from grain/artisinal spirit called
FEW, $55.99 a 750ml bottle, 46.5% alcohol by volume, from Evanston,
Chicago, ... : " This three-grain bourbon recipe unabashedly infuses
generations of Southern tradition with the spiciness of northern
rye& a touch of malt for smoothness. Handcrafted in small batches
and aged in charred oak barrels, it is a bourbon of uncommon
complexity..."
WINE From Chris and Tony :
1) Xinomavro & Moschomavro indigenous grapes blended by the
SIATISTA Winery in Greece to make this 2014 dry and elegant, silky,
light and thoroughly refreshing rose that is like the whisper of so many
contented Xinomarvo and Moschomavro grapes as they surround you tongue
and palate so delicately, finely! Nice. $12.99 a bottle, with only 12 %
alcohol, so it is even more elegant and easy to sip.
From South Africa :
1) DMZ 2014 Chardonnay from DeMORGENZON, $16.99, 14% alcohol by
volume, I appreciate the distinct tastes and flavors that are offered up
here, I like that the bar is set high here and that there are unique
flavors that manifest themselves slowly, and lovingly : a thorough wash,
rinse, immersion and hug here from a Stellenbosch wine that I cannot
wait to try again tomorrow from 3-6PM when Carl Van Der Merwe comes to taste it with you all at our free wine-tasting with 4 South African winemakers.
2) Syrah 2012 from EXCELSIOR, from Robertson, South Africa : with
extra coatings and flavors, a more solid and immediately saturating
taste that is great when a meal is close by, and also an excellent
value, too.
3) 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon from ' The Glass Collection ' of GLENELLY, in Stellenbosch, South Africa, 14% alcohol by volume, with great connections in Bordeaux, France this estate in South Africa delivers so much flavor and taste to enjoy with a sirloin steak or filet mignon, it opens very gradually, it takes it's precious time, takes oyrs, too : as both you and the wine must be slow and steady and not be any rush, and then the magic of GLENELLY and a good meal will work their magic on your palates and create another taste that exists only because of this marriage of GLENELLY and the food you pair it with : you will smile and sigh contentedly. That is a great result. Come taste it here tomorrow with winemaker NIck Bureau.
4) A 2010 Merlot and Pinotage dry red blend from MORGENSTER made in
Stellenbosch in Loures River, $74.99 a bottle, this wine by winemaker
Judi Dyer is really a very intriguing, beguiling blend of two grapes
that will add and divide and delineate and multiply and define and
refine each other as they change their relationships to one another as
they grow and expand and spread out their layers of multiple flavors,
what a taste spectacle this is, something exciting to witness
first-hand!
From Austria :
1) 2013 ' Gmork ' Gruner Veltliner from ANTON BAUER in the
Wagram/Osterreich region of Austria, $13.99, this is a delight to sip
and enjoy in the spring and summer, and is as delightful a sipping wine
as it is a food wine. Right Toni?!? Right Klaus?!?
2) Gruner Veltliner Ried Spiegel from BAUER Weingut Josef Bauer, 2013, from the Wagram region of Austria, $16.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume, I love the real lively quality to this, it races, it sails, it breezes with energy, personality and activity.
3) Chardonnay from Carnuntum, Austria, $19.99 from NETZL, with
13.5% alcohol by volume, is really amazing in it's brightness, fullness,
roundness, and yet lilting and airy qualites, I like it, I like it a
whole lot, glad to have it here,
4) ' Kamptal Reserve ' Gruner Veltliner from Karl Steininger,
$21.99 a bottle, 13.5% alcohol by volume, ' Loisium ' , what a rich and
more structured, more layered and monumental style of Gruner, I like the
extra boldness, girth and pith it shouts out with!
5) " Terrassen ' Riesling from Federspiel, a 2013, for $18.99 a
bottle, with 12.5% alcohol by volume, again, more here with a greater
minerality and leanness, some more steel and a strength of Riesling that
bristles and forges forward with alarming alacrity and persistence that
charms slows and completely with a meal and once you palate adjusts to
it's purity and strength of unscripted taste and flavors, all their own,
individuality galore : I like it, I like it a lot, always have :
first-class!
6) Blaufrankisch dry indigenous red from LEO HILLINGER in
Burgenland, Austria, a 2009 with some bottle-age, $19.99, with 13%
alcohol. I always like to chill these slightly, and I love to have them
with my food, outside in warm weather is the best, when I grill, go on a
picnic, a hike, sitting by a rippling spring or brook afterward : what a
wonderful treat, on the Danube river?!? Infinite possibilities.
SAVE BIG EACH WEEK : WEDNESDAY Weekly 3-Part Still Wine Sale:
1) BUY ANY Still/ Or Non-Sparkling Wine ( except Veuve Clicquot, or Moet & Chandon ) over $20 and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price. 2) BUY ANY six still wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price. 3) BUY ANY 12 or more still/ or non-sparkling wines ( except Veuve Clicquot or Moet & Chandon ) and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. This includes port, sherry, madeira, marsala and sake. CALL : 202-363-4265 and place your order if you cannot come. PAY and SAVE on Wednesdays here at Cleveland Park Wines. ALWAYS SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wine And Spirits!
WEEK'S TASTINGS :
Wednesday : South African Wine-Tasting with Winemakers : 4 Wineries/ 4 Winemakers FREE TASTING 4/22/2015 JOIN Us, everyone welcome here.
Friday, April 24th ( 5-8PM
) : Fine Romanian wines with Gabriela and Mizvan tasting the MONSER
wines as well as the organic Babeasca Neagra, too, including Sarba
white, Feteasca Neagra, and Cabernet Sauvignon, too! Free tasting, no
charge.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS : CALL and reserve a place! 202-363-4265. Tell Tony or Chris, or Malkit. Cheers!
Friday, April 24th, 2015 6PM : Private tasting : only 15 seats
available, five are already taken SO : the first ten people to call and
reserve a seat for this ABELOUR Est 1879 with Cory Brim, assistant to
Master distiller that will lead us through this tasting of the various
ABELOUR Single Malts like the 16-year old scotch whisky that is Double
Cask Matured, a Highland Single Malt, On Special for $83.99 a bottle.
And more, call : 202-363-4265. We will take your names and numbers and
first ten callers are assured seats this Friday night! What a great experience with Cory!!!!
Saturday, April 25th, 2015 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Jim Reeves of Comete Wine Imports here to try ' new ' French releases of his Burgundy and Bordeaux wines. This will be fun : fresh off the boat, fresh, lively, energized French wines!
JOIN US, NEVER any charge.
THANKS for everything. check out our ' new ' web page at : www.clevelandparkwine.com.
FOLLOW us on Twitter at : CPWINESPIRITS and also at WINEENABLER, LIKE
us on Facebook at Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits, too. Cheers, thanks
again for everything! TONY 4/21/2015
What follows below is my store email that I wrote and published
back on Tuesday, April 24th, 2015, enjoy reading it if you have a
chance. Cheers, Happy Tuesday, April 21st, 2015, TONY
SUCH A TREAT : EARTH DAY TODAY : Just thinkabout all that we
treasure and love about our earth and what joy and pleasure it brings us
all. Amazing really. Just yesterday I was cleaning out and bagging the
leaves from the flower beds at our home. It's sometimes back-breaking
work and yet it looks so good once it is done.
TODAY our garden and yard at home will be breathing easier today as
I cleaned, and arranged and watered and it all is easier now for all
the new growth to poke up and out and grow up and kiss the sun's rays as
often as possible.
WITH OUR FIRE PIT a lot of the fallen branches and twigs and dried
wild grass, etcetera has been burned along with firewood and warmed us
as I grilled and we sipped our wine : some of the BARBI Umbrian Italian
dry rose On Special for $8.99, and some of the ' new ' vintage JUSTIN
Vineyard's red Cabernet Sauvignon that our local rep Donna Quinn left me
recently. The BARBI was so crisp and tart and dry and flavorful : the
JUSTIN was round and medium-to-light-bodied and fruit-forward, balanced
and overall quite pleasing. Nice. Thanks.
I AM MOST PROUD of our plaque that we have outside ( our daughter
got it for us and it is a treasure of mine as I love to garden and spend
time outside ) that states that we are a friendly natural habitat as we
use no herbicides or pesticides at all. Have to find other ' natural '
ways to deal with the Japanese beetles that love the delicate , pale
old-fashioned tiny pink roses that we have thanks to my mother that gave
us the plant years ago at our old home and which we brought when we
moved. Thanks Mom!
SO HAPPY EARTH DAY, enjoy it, what are you all doing to celebrate it today?
WE HAVE PLENTY of choices here for you all to celebrate Earth Day
later when you get off. Perhaps a picnic, spend time outside. if it's
breezy and cold perhaps some porter or stout or some port? We have
selections of all of those.
IF IT'S RAINING LATER today on Earth Day perhaps you need something a bit more warming as you return from a walk in the rain : some dessert wine, some bourbon or even some good, flavorful apple cider like our local CIDERWORKS, Jefferson , Maryland hard apple ciders, especially the Jefferson Bottle that they make that is aged for awhile in bourbon barrels? That will work, that will be splendid if it's cold and drizzly later.
SO GLAD that the Boston Marathon went off well yesterday and that
we have many happy stories and stories of personal triumph to listen to,
watch and learn about this year, one year after the terrible tragedy
there.
SPRING FINALLY seems to be all around us, everything is so verdant
and blossoming and shades of yellows , pinks, lavenders and greens. I
love that, we all love that, makes us all feel good to see things
pushing up from the ground and the bare brown tree limbs all now covered
in the most delicate shades of baby greens.
I AM SURE I WILL be out soon drawing in my backyard as I like to do.
ON EASTER I drove my family to the National Portrait Gallery where
we went to see the show on the book and movie called " The Monument Men "
and I thought of our customer and friend Amy that works there on all
the Hollywood and film exhibits and shows. Amy we loved what we saw as
we walked towards the Monument Men exhibit : the whole museum is quite
inspiring. And to be in Washington D.C. on a drop-dead gorgeous day and
to see all the zillions of paddle boats out on the Tidal Basin, and what
looked like a whole group of enthusiastic visitors frolicking under a
group of Cheery trees, taking pictures, laughing - all pretty wonderful.
Loved the experience, the drive and the show at the National Portrait
Gallery : what a treasure that is for us all, and free. Now that's
special.
YOU ALL KNOW THAT it's EARTH DAY today, right? Well, it is.
YOU MUST STOP BY today and see what we still have some of - a very little bit of - in stock specially for you!
YES, FOR YOU, ONLY YOU ... I got the idea just now as I remembered
last night's episode of " The Voice " and where Usher said to one of the
singer's that they had to make every person listening that the song was
just for them and no one else. I like that. That's the way we should
all be made to feel : special. We are special, we know it, nice when
others say it to us. Makes us smile, makes us feel good about ourselves.
SO : Ale, Beer & Cider From Santos :
CIDER -
1) ' Original Sin ' Premium Hard Cider is Devilishly Delicious
( On Special for $11.99 a 6-pack , 6% alcohol by volume, 12 Fl. Oz
bottles, from Canaveral, Florida ) : supremely crafted some tasty
original sin hard cider for you all to discover!
2) Cidre de Thierache Brut Methode Traditionelle from CLOS De La FONTAINE HUGO ( $11.99 a 750ml bottle, Producteur Recoltant / Owner Producer , 100% pure apple juice with no sugar added , 5% alcohol by volume ) : from Rozay sur Serre, and brand new here, exciting.
3) Sagarnoa from TXOPINONDO ' eleve sur lie ' from the
Pays-Basque, ( $10.99 a 750ml bottle, 6% alcohol by volume, Cidrerie
Txopinondo, made in Ascain, go to : www.txopinondo.com ) something really new and exciting for us! Perfect for the spring and today, Earth Day!
BEER -
1) : ' Jewbelation ' Reborn from HEBREW The Chosen One (
$13.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, from SCHMALTZ Brewing Company ,
Clifton Park, NY 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz bottle, go to : www.SchmaltzBrewing.com for more info ) : Born 1996, Reborn 2013 ...
2) ' Peaches ' WINDOWPANE Series Peaches Ale brewed with
Natural flavor and aged in Chardonnay Barrels ( $17.99 a 750ml bottle,
from MOTHER EARTH Brewing, Kingston, N.C. , go to : www.motherearthbrewing.com
) : " so delicate, so smooth, so delightful, I really like how
seductive and silky this taste and flavor-profile is - a delight!
Cheers.
LIQUOR - LIQUEUR From Malkit & Jagir :
LIQUEUR -
1) Pecan Liqueur ' Original ' PRALINE Since 1850 ( $19.99 a
750ml bottle, 21% alcohol by volume, New Orleans, LA. ) : " PRALINES
have been a New Orleans tradition since the French first brought the
candy to the Crescent City in the 18th Century. Pralines remain today
the essential confection identified with the city ... "
LIQUOR -
1) Sweet Tea Southern-Style from JEREMIAH WEED , sweet tea flavored vodka ( $ , go to : www.jeremiahweed.com
for more info ) : something that has now been popular for a long time,
and it's the proper time of year now to start things all over again!
2) Blended Scotch Whiskey Aged 12 Years from GRAND MACNISH (
$25.99 a bottle, 40% alcohol by volume ) : I liked the finesse, the
polish and the overall elegance of this line of blended Scotch whiskeies
that we will try here on Saturday, April 26th, 2014 from 2-6PM with
Vince Grande. Come taste, really good taste and really good value, too.
3) Straight Apple Brandy from LAIRD'S ( On Special for $29.99 a
750ml bottle, bottled in bond, from distilleries in both Scobeyville,
NJ and also North Garden, VA., founded 1780, ) : From America's oldest
family of distillers.
4) Bourbon Whiskey Special Release from BRECKENRIDGE ( $55.99 a
750ml bottle, a handcrafted bourbon whiskey, 43% alcohol by volume ) :
Made at 9600 feet with snow-melt from the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge,
Colorado. Something special to be tasting and including on today's
Earth Day!
WINE For Earth Day Today & This Week -
1) Malbec 2012 from La Rioja, Argentina from CHANARMUYO
Estate, Chamas Honnorat Family Wines ( On Special for $9.99 a bottle,
14% alcohol by volume ) : a more earthy, complex, peppery, spicy dry red
that is a steal at $10 and a fine food wine, too : as you walk around
later today and survey your domain, go to your vegetable and herb
garden, take a walk outside and in the park and back home later in the
comfort of your home. Cheers.
2) Cinsault 2012 " Barroco " Dry French red from CAMBIS (
$14.99, a Languedoc Southwest, French wine ) : made from 100% Cinsault
grapes, one of the five grapes found in Cotes-Du-Rhone reds and in red
Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. Cheers. Hearty, robust, steely and tart and a food
wine, medium-bodied, tasty.
3) Nebbiolo dry red from GABRIELLE RAUSSE , 2011 ( $21.99 a
bottle, 13.8% alcohol by volume, from Charlottesville, VA. 22902 ) : a
light, delicate, elegant, refined and delicious dry red that is perfect
for this warm and how weather when it comes - and it will, and it will
be ideal for then - even now to set the tone, set the stage, set the
taste as we transition on this Earth Day into the spring and summer
months. Gabrielle also uses 100% Virginia grapes to make his wines, he
does not blend wine from other states as many do in Virginia today.
4) Cotes Du Provence dry delicate-shaded French rose, 2013
from the DOMAINE DE PARIS ( $14.99 a bottle, from Brignoles, Var, France
) : Michel, Joe and I all really liked this when we tasted it awhile
back and we are delighted to have it here now. What a refined, elegant,
delicate, tasty and thrilling treat to enjoy today on Earth Day and for
the next couple of weeks. it's a winner, it's perfect to sip and also to
enjoy with many a meal.
5) ' Les Galets Dores ' Costieres de Nimes 2012 from the
CHATEAU DU GRES ( $15.99 a 750ml bottle, 14% alcohol by volume ) : a dry
and inviting white blend of 40% Roussanne, 20% Grenache and 20%
Vermentino - I enjoy this, and it's nice with this slightly-cooler day
today. Get some and enjoy some after work as you prepare your meal.
6) ' Le Chant Des Griots ' Dry white French blend of Roussanne
and Viognier from CAMBIS in the Languedoc that needs a little food to
really enjoy it fully. Get some, take it up on a rooftop or a deck or
balcony and enjoy! Cheerful, zesty and engaging in it's flavors.
MAGNUM :
1) California Chardonnay ' Night Harvest ' from R.H. PHILLIPS (
$10.99 a 1.5ml bottle-size ) : we have sold the 750ml bottle size now
so well for so long and now have it for you in the magnum size, too!
2) THE Naked GRAPE California Moscato 3-liter box wine at
$18.99 a box offers value and a treat for everyone. Floral smooth,
fruity, fresh and so easy to enjoy all by itself on this day today,
Earth Day, or for the rest of the week. Once open it's good and fresh
for at least a month!!
SAVE TONIGHT & TOMORROW :
TUESDAYS : 1) BUY ANY sparkling wine bottle over $20 a bottle and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker price ( except for VEUVE CLICQUOT ). 2) Mix six or more bottles and save 10% OFF the marked sticker prices. 3) BUY 12 or more bottles of sparkling or still wine and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices. Includes Port, Sherry, Marsala, Madeira, Sake. WEDNESDAYS : 1) BUY ANY Still Wine over $20 a bottle and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. 2) BUY SIX or MORE bottles of still ( non-sparkling wine ) and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices. 3) BUY TWELVE OR MORE non-sparkling wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. INCLUDED are Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala and Sake. MIX THINGS UP. Have fun, get more of what you want this way. spread out your experiences, too. SAVE , SAVE, SAVE MORE @ CP WINES!
WEEK'S TASTINGS :
TONIGHT
: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 : Come meet Pierre Marselan today that
works with Dan Terrasa od the Willima Harrison portfolio and taste some
of Pierre's fine red Bordeaux wines that include an excellent 2010 dry
red Grand Cru Saint-Emilion. There will be other dry reds from the 2009
and the 2010 vintage! JOIN US soon tonight
on Earth Day : let's celebrate Earth Day and fine French ' value ' red
Bordeaux wines from excellent vintages... oh yeah, bien sur, venez nous
voir ce soir ...
Friday, April 25th, 2014 ( 5-8PM ) : Tony's ' Picks ' this week, I will do another tasting here on Friday. I enjoyed doing the one last Friday so much that I will look around and find the wines I would like to taste here this Friday. Be rewarded and surprised. Cheers, ...
Saturday, April 26th, 2014 ( 2-6PM
) : We have Vince Grande here to taste the blended Scotch whiskey I
mentioned above : GRAND MACNISH - 12 and 15 yr-old, as well as '
Inspired ' floral and fruit-forward red from California that is a
delightful blend, and some 2012 Kiwi New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that
will be great for this weekend.
JOIN US, NEVER any charge, a treat for everyone. Everyone is always welcome.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, we appreciate all that you do for us, all
your faith in us, all your business that you choose to give us. Thanks.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER at : cpwinespirits and also at : wineenabler,
LIKE US on our Facebook account at Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits.
HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE Enjoy some of it, stroll over here, stroll around your yards , the park, see our earth.
OUR EARTH is changing and we have to know that and try and keep up
and control the damage we as humans do to it. But you already know that.
I know.
THIS IS AN EMAIL Below I wrote and posted back on Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 ... TONY 4/22/2014
YOU MUST STOP BY now or after work on this Tuesday, April 24th,
2012 as the sun starts to warm us back up and creep from behind the
clouds of the last two days and the cold, brrrr - too! It's nice to
start warming back up and drying up as we think about our time away from
work when we can relax and recharge our worn batteries for yet another
day. It's always about balance and of course eating-drinking well,
getting plenty of sleep and getting as much out of each and every moment
as is humanly possible for each and everyone of us.
WE ALL MARCH TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER and so it is up to
each of us to find our own personal rhythm and balance. We can help, of
course at least with all the liquid refreshments. Ean, Ravi, Santos and
Tony ( me ) are more than ready to assist you in this most complex and
daunting task of matching you all up to a better balance and situation
as we recommend those beers, liquors or wines that may in fact really
add some special to your lives.
FEEL FREE & COMFORTABLE to ask all anything. That's why we are
here to assist you with whatever situations you find yourself in from
wanting to thank someone for feeding your cat or dog while you were away
with a gift of a bottle of wine, planning a birthday, wedding, block
party, school auction, or even if you are running to raise money for
breast cancer research and need a bottle or more. We are here to help
you with any situation that you find yourselves in and need some help.
Most situations are fairly easy for us to get you through as we have
done this now a million times or more. Who's counting anymore?!?
THE NICE WEATHER JUST MAKES me as I am sure it does you all feel
better. Here are some of the things that I " discovered " as I walked up
and down the length of our store. I mentioned to Ravi that he had quite
a few " new " things on our shelves and I had to put some back as there
were too many to write about in just this one email. But I will try
anyway as Santos, too had quite a few " new " beers in both cans and
bottles. Ravi showed me a " new " 16-ounce can from Budweiser/ MICHELOB
that looks to be a lite beer with citrus flavors added to it : much like
the " panache " that you have in the Paris bars that are so refreshing
in warmer weather. Ravi said that we would all sample this can and see
what we think?
JAQK CELLARS Friday, May 4th, 2012 Blow-Out California Wine-Tasting
of an assortment of the JAQK CELLARS wines ( seven or eight in all? ).
Join us, no charge. It may be our biggest tasting ever with food from
Firehook as well. Please rsvp if you would like to come to : anthony.quinn@
BEER From SANTOS :
1) Imperial IPA" Rampage " Brewed & Bottled by BLACK
DIAMOND BREWING ( On Special for $7.99, 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz, Concord, CA., 9%
Alcohol by volume, www.bdbrewing.com,
Twitter : bdbrewing / Facebook : Black Diamond Brewery ) : " Up front
the nose is big and assertive with aromas of candied orange, grapefruit
and pine. Biscuity malt layers balance the aggressive hops as the nectar
glides over the tongue. Lingering bitterness leaves you ready for the
next satisfying draught ".
Sounds like a great beer to take on a picnic or enjoy outside
at a bar or cafe on a busy street as you watch people pass by.
2) " Florida Lager " from FLORIDA BEER ( we have two types here already, as well as one cider that I will mention later ). This Florida Lager ( On Special for $7.99 a 6-pack, Melbourne, Florida, 32901 , www.floridabeer.com ) just arrived. Santos told me about it last week and here it is already. " Florida Lager is a tropical inspired craft lager ... a perfect blend of 2-row and caramel malt with German Tradition and Northern Brewer hops ".
3) " Hop Ottin " IPA India Pale Ale from ANDERSON VALLEY
Brewing Company ( On Special for $11.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, since
1987, solar powered brewery, go to : avbc.com
for more info, 7% alcohol by volume , Booneville, CA. ) is new and
exciting. There seems to be a whole revolution in putting quality beer
in cans today.
4) SAHTEA Ale Brewed with Black Chai Tea & Juniper Berries
from DOGFISH HEAD ( $13.99 a 1 Pt. 9.6Fl. Oz bottle, 9% Alcohol by
Volume, Milton, Delaware, ) : " Our Sahtea is based on the traditional
9th-century Finnish recipe for Sahti in that we brew it with rye and
juniper and heat the wort with wood-fired rocks. We break with tradition
by adding an exotic Black Chai at the end of the boil ".
CIDER :
1) Irish Hard Cider Double-Fermented Traditional, Pasturized
from JOHN J. KELLY ( On Special for $7.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles,
4.6% alcohol by volume, Melbourne, FL. 32901 ) is : " cider made from
apple juice, water, sugar, malic acid and ascorbic acid ". This will be
fun for this warmer weather and you should all try it if you are hard
apple cider fans.
LIQUEUR From RAVI :
1) Orchard PEACH Fruit Liqueur from ROTHMAN & WINTER ( On
Special for $22.99, 24% alcohol by volume, 750ml bottle, from the
DESTILLERIE PURKHART, Steyr, Austria , www.alpenz.com
) : " The Oststeiermark region near our distillery boasts a variety of
peaches including the Roter Ellerstradter, Weinberg and Haven. This
liqueur combines juices from the seasonal harvest with eaux-de-vie
produced from the same fruit. Delicious with just soda water, and
stunning in whiskey or rum drinks ".
LIQUOR From RAVI :
1) " Cake " from THREE OLIVES , this THREE-O ( On Special for $20.99, 35% Alcohol by Volume, www.threeolives.com
) is : " a delicious imported English vodka flavored with birthday
cake. Enjoy Three-O Cake as a shot, on the rocks, or in your favorite
cocktail ".
2) Pig's Nose Blended Scotch Whiskey ( aged 5 years , On
Special for $29.99, from Spencerfield Farm Inverkeithing, Fife Scotland,
www.pigsnosewhisky.com
) : " The whisky's signature " smoothness " is rooted in its specially
selected Speyside, Islay and Lowland malts which have been aged in oak
casks ... produces a whisky that is truly as " soft as a Pig's Nose ". "
3) Irish Whiskey Gaois Gan Smal of COCANNON ( On Special for $24.99, established 1883, www.ConcannonWhiskey.com
) : " a blend of 100% Irish Whiskey mellowed in Concannon Petit Sirah
wine barrels for optimal flavor and complexity ". this is distilled
& matured in collaboration with COOLEY Distillery in County Louth,
Ireland. It's also new for us here in Cleveland Park.
4) Organic Whiskey Dark Oat Single Barrel LION'S PRIDE (
Distilled from 100% Oat , $49.99, 40% alcohol by volume, also kosher,
distilled and bottled by Kovak Inc, Chicago, Illinois ) : " Lion's
Pride Organic Whiskey is the first ( legal ) whiskey distilled in
Chicago since Prohibition - handcrafted in small batches and named after
the distiller's son, Lion. A single grain unfiltered whiskey made with
organic oat, the Dark Oat is aged in new charred American Oak barrels ".
This is from Barrel # 77. Enjoy.
5) EG Edinburgh Gin Produced & Bottled by SPENCERFIELD
SPIRIT COMPANY in Edinburgh , Scotland ( $39.99 , 43% alcohol by volume,
Inverkeithing, Scotland, www.edinburghgin.com
) : " Edinburgh Gin is produced in small single batch distillations
using an ancient hand beaten Scottish copper pot still. ... added a
Scottish twist with pine and milk Thistle ... premium gin, crisp with a
spicy fruit edge ". Got a Gold from SIP AWARDS.
WINE From EAN & TONY :
WHITE :
1) 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Saint-Bris's CLOTHILDE DAVENNE,
this 2010 ( On Special for $16.99 ) is made in the Burgundy region jsut
by Chablis and is the only Sauvignon Blanc made. It's flavorful and
fresh and with great mineral and even touches of citrus. Medium-bodied,
with both character and enough flavor to stand it's own against many a
well-seasoned dish. You should try it : it's fun and offers a whole lot
and there's such a fun story, too. Discover the only Burgundy Sauvignon
Blanc : from Saint Bris.
2) " V " 2011 Verdelho HERDADE DO ESPORAO ( $15.99, since
1267, 100% Verdelho indigenous grapes ) : " This variety was planted in
2001 on our estate on complex stony soils consisting of granite, schist
and basalt... ". It's pretty exceptional this flavorful and forward and
richly-laden white that bursts with sunshine and freshness and is great
to sip all by itself or enjoy with a meal. It will warm you even with
the cold breeze and the dampness. Danielle poured it here this past Saturday.
3) Pinot Gris 2010 2010 from PEREGRINE in Central Otago ( On Special for $23.99, regularly $29.99, www.peregrinewines.co.nz
, 14% alcohol by volume ) is amazingly rich and layered, textured and
smooth. It really is a treat to sip with or without a meal. It's so
versatile and so pleasing all by itself. We have been selling it for
years ever since owner and wine-maker Greg Hay came to taste us years
ago when Mike Martin was here, going back to 2004 0r 2005 I believe I
will have to check my notes. We have also sold the Pinot Noir and the
Riesling. You simply must try some - it's superb, simply a delight and
so appealing.
4) Vinho Verde 2011 de Portugal called ANJOS ( $8.99 ) was tasted here this past Saturday afternoon by Danielle and see that we sold quite a bit of it. It was perfect for this past Saturday
as it was still sunny and warm and with only 9.5% alcohol by volume and
with a bot of sparkle it is a perfect hot-weather dry white. Of course on Sunday and Monday
it was cold and wet and it would not be as ideal. But the heat and the
humidity are coming and this dry , slightly sparkling, low-alcohol white
with clear glass and a colorful and floral label will be all the rage :
especially at under $10 a bottle!
5) Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Chile's Maipo Valley ( $17.99, 13% alcohol by volume, www.webcodeff.cl
) by DE MARTINO is made from organically grown grapes.It's quite
flavorful with really good mineral and acidity and is best with food.
It's not a casual sipping wine. " DE MARTINO and CODEFF together
supporting the conservation of Chilean flora and fauna ". I like this, I
like it a whole lot! Cheers e bravo.It's also available in a dry red
blend that we also carry and have on our shelves. Both are food wines,
try them both.
ROSES :
1) Cabernet Franc - 100% - De Saumur 2011 " La Cabriole " ,
mis en bouteille a la propriete/estate-bottled ) from the CAVE DE
SAUMUR, Loire valley, France ( On Special for $10.99 ) is always a great
warm-weather delight. Good color, medium-to-light-bodied, good mineral
and acidity with well-defined accents of spice, too. This is a dry rose
to enjoy with a meal as it will cut through many food flavors and
refresh your palate as you eat and drink. Great value, too. We have had
many Loire Valley dry rose Cabernet Francs and they are usually a
minimum of $5 or more a bottle.
2) Costieres De Nimes dry 2011 French rose from the CHATEAU De CAMPUGET ( $12.99, 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah, www.dreyfusashby.com
), this " Tradition de Campuget " is bone-dry with really great crisp
edginess, real mouth-puckering almost flavors that will be great when
you need a steely-dry medium-bodied rose to cut through some bolder food
flavors. That's what it tasted like a month ago, mind you when Ean and I
tasted it together. It may have softened since then and become more
rounded and open and so we will have to taste it with you all, perhaps
this weekend. We will see. It used to be imported by the Robert Kacher
Selections before both parties went their own ways.
3) " Les Ligeriens " off-dry/fruity French Loire valley rose
2011 ( On Special for $10.99 , 11% alcohol by volume, bottled by Les
Vignerons des Terroirs de la Noelle ) is one of the few fruity roses
that we sell here as there are not as many requests for this style. This
is a perfect example of this style from France's Loire valley and sure
to delight.
REDS :
1) 2010 Cotes Du Rhone DOMAINE De La SOLITUDE dry red blend
($16.99 ) is fruit-forward and fresh and bright and quite delicious. I
just had some down at Lavandou a month or so ago when I dined there with
my college roommate. It was showing really well with both the lamb and
the duck that we ordered.
2) Touriga Nacional an indigenous grape variety widely used in Portugal, this 2008 GRAND' ARTE ( $16.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.dfjvinhos.com ) Portuguese vinho regional Lisboa was tasted here this past Saturday by our local rep Danielle. It's a fine food wine, meant to be enjoyed with a flavorful meal inside or outside. It's made from 100% Touriga Nacional grapes and will give you a good idea of what the grape tastes like.
3) Chambourcin French hybrid, this 2010 from FABBIOLI CELLARS in Virginia's Loudoun county ( $18.99, www.fabbioliwines.com,
12% alcohol by volume ) was planted widely back in the early 70-80's in
Virginia and I am glad to see that owner/winemaker Doug has kept this
French hybrid. It's medium-to-light-bodied, has good spice and acidity
and is best with a meal that fleshes it out. As Doug writes : " Try this
with a good marinara sauce or bring it to a summer cookout ". You may
also chill it slightly if you are outside. It will liven up the flavors
as well as ground and focus them. Cheers.
4) Sangiovese ( Brunello Clone , $21.99, 14.9% alcohol by
volume, Paso Robles, California ) is flavorful, hearty, rustic and needs
some food to fill out the flavors. Much like it's Italian inspiration
from Tuscany this is a wine to enjoy with food. We have sold it now for
the last five years or so and done well with it. You should try it soon
as it's still a bit cooler. It's more of a cold-weather wine, although
after a grill sitting outside when the sun goes down and sipping it with
some hors d'ouevres would be very pleasing, too.
SPARKLING WINES :
1) Gruner Veltliner Frizzante from ANTON BAUER ( $16.99, 12%
alcohol by volume, ) is from Austria's Osterreich region. It's soft and
round and fresh and lively and bright : very much like an Italian Veneto
Prosecco. This is nice to sip with or without a meal, anytime, really.
It's a delight and we are very pleased to be introducing it to you all
now.
2) " Cuvee Imperiale " Clairette de Die " Tradition " (
$21.99, 7% alcohol by volume, from France's Rhone valley, Die, Drome,
France ) is an off-dry, subtly fruity and delicate that we have sold
for years now. The owner himself has been here at least twice tasting it
and we generally sell out each time we taste it. Tastes like fragrant,
silky apricots and nectarines and has mild overtones of honeysuckle and
nuts, too. It's a winner no matter how you cut it. Try it again as if
for the very first time : have childish delight and glee when you do!
WEEK'S IN-STORE TASTINGS
FRIDAY, April 27th, 2012 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Anne Haye our Select rep that sells her excellent Italian and Spanish wines through Bacchus imports here to taste a selection of her wines with you all. Maybe we can talk Anne into opening some of the CASA E. Di MIRAFIORE Barolo 2007 when she is here? That sells for $45.99 and is a beauty.
ALSO : Santos has two beer tastings with :
1) LONGTRAIL and also with 2) FLORIDA BEER that I mentioned above.
SATURDAY, April 28th, 2012 ( 2-6PM
) : Ean and I will open some of the wines that we have bought this
month and want to shed some light on like the French roses that I wrote
up here earlier. We will figure the wines out tomorrow so if you want to know before you get here call either Ean or me and we will fill you in on what we have decided.
I AM SURE THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING but it's time to get
this email into you hands before you leave work and get a moment to
enjoy this sunshine and things drying out with a six pack of beer, a
bottle of wine, some gin or Irish whiskey, some sparkling wine perhaps
like the Clairette de Die or the ANTON BAUER sparkling Austrian Gruner
Veltliner " ALL of which I have written of above?!?
MARK YOUR CALENDARS : THIS IS BIG : We have a JAQK CELLARS ( seven
or so wines in all ? ) from the Sauvignon Blanc " Charmed " to the "
High Roller " Cabernet Sauvignon. ALL wines will be On Special this
evening and there is no charge for the event. We have already more than
two hundred RSVP'S so be on time and patient and work your way through
our large crowd which may in fact be the largest ever here! Cheryl the
manager of Firehook Bakery is working yet again her magic and there will
be more food and wine than ever! Come discover and support JAQK
CELLARS. This will perhaps be our biggest wine-tasting of the year! You
can get some and enjoy it later for Mother's Day which is right around
the corner on Sunday, May 13th, 2012. JOIN US : This will be a fun
event! Especially if you come. Cheers. Please do email me and RSVP at : anthony.quinn@
YOU CAN CHECK US OUT at : www.clevelandparkwines.com, on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines, on Twitter at : cpwinespirits and at : chatwine.blogspot.com. Cheers and thanks for all your support over the years. Let us know what we may do for you? WE are always here for you. TONY
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