My Tuesday Email about Wine and Spirits, Ciders, Vacation, How Will You Spend Yours, Where Will You Be? We Can Help You, Cheers, Come Taste With Me, Tony

Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits
CALL US, or better yet, come by, save, learn, experience @cleveland Park Wine & Spirits       If you cannot stop by Call :202-363-4265 ; We'll deliver ALWAYS! Take advantage of our delivery service, order $30 or more and we deliver here to you Locally in DC : cheers!       WE are getting ready for this long weekend of remembering, celebrating, honoring and also getting ready for summer , the beach, the mountains, traveling overseas, whatever escape we can plan and execute to find some relief from the heat and the humidity and the street of life and work. WE can help you achieve some or part of these plans and goals.   I WROTE this back on May 19th, 2015 and sent it to you all, and it still rings true! So much to be thankful for and to celebrate, to honor, to respect and acknowledge, to remember and not forget, and most of all to not take for granted.   THE POOLS OPEN and so that is a delightful respite from the heat and humidity here in Washington DC, and it is a good time to remember those and the things that made it and still make it possible for us to enjoy our lives here in the great United States of America where many still live and respect others and thank them, too, so many contributions have been made to the fabric of our lives, and thanks, respect should always be given to include and not exclude, to build and not tear down.   I WAS THINKING that as I drove to work this morning, I knew I would have to include it here as we all need to grow, not to grow older, not to grow more tired, not to grow mad, to grow more cynical, not to grow more lazy, not to grow thinking we are owed something, simply to grow, to appreciate, to smile and share and receive more - together.   SAVE BIG ON WINE here tomorrow, especially when you want a special treat costing more than $19.99 a bottle, and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price. Call and order here 202-363-4265. Pay tomorrow and SAVE.   ALSO Buy from our rack of 3 for $33, and 6 for $60 of wines and save all week long, mixed or matched, however you choose. We can assist you.   JOIN US THIS WEEK for :   OUR WEEKLY Calendar of Events :   Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : Come taste with me three wines from Bulgaria the red indigenous Gamza grape, and from France a dry white mix of grapes Cotes Du Rhone, as well as a 100% Semillon dry white Bordeaux. Iwill teach you how to drink and enjoy it and match it with food and get your full money's-worth, too. #freewinetasting #everyonealwayswelcome. #JoinMeTonight!   Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : Join Serghei from Moldova as he teaches us, too about the FABulous wines of Moldova and Turkey, and more ?!? Let us all see what Serghei has up his sleeves tomorrow night for us.   Friday, May 25th, 2018 ( 5-8PM ) : TWO tastings -   Santos has organized a tasting of the DOGFISH HEAD beers for us, Namaste, 60 and 90 minutes, and the ' new ' flavor, too! Join us. #freebeertasting.   ALSO : Jade Smyth of the Jackson Family Wines will be here to try four fine wines :  1) La Crema dry Pinot Noir rose,  2) Edmeades CA. Zinfandel dry red, ... 3) a ' new ' Prosecco from Italy ... AND : from CA. we will taste the 4) Murphy Goode Sauvignon Blanc, too.  JOIN US.   AND : Just Added : Melanie Asher is just back from Peru where she was making more La Diablada and also Macchu Pisco , and will be here making some delicious Pisco Sours - join us!   Saturday, May 26th, 2018 : 2-6PM, Lyss the owner of Red Wolf Wines ( with her customer Ian ) will be here to taste their fine wines of South Africa :  Eagle's Nest, and Babylonstoren and more - four FABulous wines to feel real special and smile and glow/ grow grow grow!   JOIN US, learn, enjoy, profit and share and get all that you can from your moments.   SO : it is about to be vacation time for us , some will start now and that is wonderful, so this email will be about vacation and relaxing, and smiling and laughing, and feeling pure joy.   I HAVE PLACED a number of bottles to write about on our tasting table, so let me start in a more novel approach.   I LIKE TO GO to the beach when I have time-off from work, and so I usually take wine , and sometimes a few other things, but always wine!   Some like dry wine, some like off-dry, and some like sweet, I can see taking a bottle of good Rioja to the beach like this Usoa de Bagordi, it has 14% alcohol by volume, is a ' value ' at only $9.99 a bottle, from the 2015 vintage, good acidity, darker fruit Tempranillo flavors, would chill it 40 minutes or more.   I WOULD ENJOY it anywhere at the beach, on a deck, at night with only the stars and moon to light us, in full sunshine, going off to enjoy the sound side of a beach, pretty much anywhere, with many snacks and or a full meal, something grilled from flavorful fish like some tuna to some hummus and pita bread, a nice pesto dish, some tapas of course, ... yes si si si!    BUT HEY, you can also make some great drinksthat would be refreshing for the heat, and we have some 99 Apples Schnaps liqueur here for you all, $17.99 a bottle, 99 proof, apple is so good in the heat, I would probably do something like add some apple juice and add slices of apples, too, and something to offset the apple with something sweeter, like some slices of mango as well! That would be fun and exciting for me, a learning experience, my experience, not someone else's, a discovery.   AT THE BEACH in beer I would look at the ' Exit Sixteen ' DOUBLE IPA , hoppy highs of Tangerine Mango and Pine from FLYING FISH, a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles with 8.2% alcohol by volume, On Special for $10.99, to go along with the spicier Asian, Mexican, Southwest US, Indian foods that need something to clear the palate, separate the flavors, like a breath of fresh air to make both the food and the wine work brilliantly together! YES!!!   SOME OF US ARE GAGA over hard cider, and the Basque country makes some that will test our devotion to them - unflitered, unfined - cloudy, tart, tangy, real sharp edge to the taste, needs food desperately, and the more flavorful the better. Try it with some  flavorful appetizers - perhaps anchovies, perhaps some pickled choices, even perhaps something mildly sweet, what do you like to serve with ISASTEGI Sagardo naturala / natural cider, with 6% alcohol, $10.99, please give me your suggestions. And some shellfish could be spectacular with this, too, perhaps clams, fried? Some fish with cheese like parmesan added to the white fish, I keep thinking fresh sardines?!?   GREAT NEWS, too -   GRAND OLD PARR Blended Scotch whisky, aged 12-years, from Scotland is back once again. We have not had it for quite some time and have had numerous calls about it, and so it is now with great pleasure that we can announce that we have it here once again, On Special for $33.99 a bottle, with 40% alcohol by volume. What cute small bottle it comes in, great for a gift.   AND ALSO - if celebrating a birthday at the beach, or a graduation, something off-dry would be nice to suit more palates -   TRY THE KOSTER-WOLF Weingut 2016 Riesling Troken, a liter-size bottle, $16.49 a bottle, from Germany's Rheinhessen, with 11.5% alcohol by volume, this is a nice way to have a refresher and something that will stand up to some fruit-based sweets like an angle food cake, something perhaps with pineapple, perhaps some lime pie, maybe something with fresh peaches?!? Or pears?!?     ANY OF YOU going to the mountains?   TRY some GUNPOWDER Irish Gin, so ' new and exciting ', thrilled to have it here, really distinct flavor and taste, and a great transparent cobalt bottle, too. THIS IS MADE with oriental botanicals and gunpowder tea, ' Drumshandbo slow distilled ' , On Special for $39.99, with 43% alcohol by volume, ' from the curious mind of pj rigney ', this is unique, where the ordinary becomes so extraordinary. TRY THIS to give you a new experience after a walk in the hills, after dipping your feet in the cool waters of a lake or stream. So refreshing.    THE ' Dank Wood ' up in the cellars and underground spaces, caves, etcetera up in the mountains and ravines with the pine, the spruces, the mint and wildflowers, all those darker, more sheltered from the sun places might be a great place to rest from a sojourn and open one of the four bottles in this 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles of the FOUNDERS Brewing Company, their ' Barrel-aged series ' , an imperial red India Pale Ale, aged in Bourbon barrels, $16.99, maybe hike in Michigan, cross into Canada, maybe you can even see Russia from where you are?!? Contact Saturday Night Live if you can, they will want to introduce you to Sarah perhaps? With 12.2% alcohol by volume, at Grand Rapids, enjoy the goodness in dank!   FOR WINE in the mountains the FOSSI Rosso, a dry red blend of Primitivo and Merlot, maybe some Sangiovese, too from my good friend Andrea Fossi, $8.49 a bottle, ... enjoy this medium-bodied dry red chilled 40 minutes or more with some pasta, pizza, cheese or even with red or white meats, a treat to easily open , without a cork, the Stelvan-closure you just twist the top and then pour and enjoy and sit by a fire as the sun sets and the chill of the higher altitudes set in for the night.   AND AS THE FIRE softens as the night goes on up in the mountains of West Virginia, perhaps in Lewissburg, outside, brrrrrr near midnight sipping this liter bottle of the WeinkellerErbach 2016 Riesling from Germany's Rheingau, $13.49, withh 11/5% alcohol by volume would be warming and comforting, would not even need you to chill it, the mountains would take care of that all by themselves, you just need to pour and raise your glass to your lips, tilt, and enjoy! Mmmmmmmmmm good!!!!     PERHAPS YOU ARE on a cruise? What will you enjoy on the waters?   PAMA the Pomegranate liqueur is so good for us and so tasty and refreshing on the rocks, blended with many other things, I would have fun and add it with other dark fruit juices like blackberry, maybe even make a smoothie or slushee, whatever, have fun, live, smile, dream awake! $23.99, with 17% alcohol, not too alcoholic, I like that.   ON A CRUISE some of the California ST GEORGE Bruto Americano liqueur, On Special for $20.99 a bottle, with 24% alcohol by volume, would be nice, too. Add it to some good inexpensive sparkling wine like a Spanish cava or a French sparkling wine, like our Pierre Larouse, $9.99, or Painous $9.99.   THE HEERING 200 Cherry Liqeur is finally back in stock here and we are delighted to offer it to you once again, this would be so nice with so many sweets after the meal as you lounge around in lounge chairs on the deck, if it is allowed, sipping and watching the sunset or later watching the moon and the stars, maybe even spot a shooting star?!? With 24% alcohol by volume, mix it or have it on the rocks, and smile broadly, sigh silently yet loudly!     IF I WAS in a car crossing the country I would take some ' Lexington ' Spring IPA from Natty Greene's, On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack from Greensboro, North Carolina, maybe I would head up to Maine, perhaps to Boston, or Vermont, I might enjoy one of the six bottles, and keep the rest to share with anyone I meet on my travels, share the wealth so to speak, with 6.8% alcohol by volume, a seasonal that is brewed with peaches?     IF I HEADED SOUTH in my car to go to Georgia, or down to New Orleans I would take some of the delectable Sweet Pedro Ximenez grape that makes the MALAGA wine like sherry from Spain, $21.99, with15% alcohol by volume, called MALAGA VIRGEN, this is a treat and keeps well, and may be enjoyed many an evening sitting outside in the slight chill or breeze of the evening, especially if you are parked by the ocean. WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is my old store email that I wrote and sent on May 19th, 2015 - read it below, enjoy, and ask for current prices and availability? Cheers, thanks for all your belief in us.   IF I WAS BOARDING a plane this ' value ' MILES' Original & Genuine LONDON DRY Gin On Special at $7.99 a bottle would be a ' must ' to stick into my luggage and share with others when reaching my destination, great value, with 40% alcohol by volume, cheers!   IF I WAS GOING to Trinidad or Tobago I might take some bottles of the MILLS and HILLS Imperial Stout from BROUWERLJ de MOLEN in the United Kingdom, Leyne Ales from Scotland, $8.99 a 11.2Fl Oz bottle, with 9.5% alcohol by volume, easy to pack, something ' new and exciting ' for most, fun to share, cheers!   AND IF I WAS HOME and grilling I would chill forty minutes some of the Romeo from VERONA Merlot and Corvina grape red blend from ITaly, $9.99 a bottle, and enjoy it while I grilled and watched the sun slip down through my canopy of tall trees out back and out of my sigh sight! I AM especially blessed and lucky just now to be eying and slowly sipping this rich amber-colored liquid from France called cognac, called " Cordon Bleu ", called MARTEL. Yes, all true, come and see for yourselves, what a lucky treat.     SO THERE YOU HAVE IT! Happy vacationing, come and see me now and taste with me, cheers, thanks for all your business, stay dry as the heavens are crying here on Connecticut Avenue NW 20008 right now!   TONY   OUR LOCAL REP from Washington Wholesalers spoke about JACOB'S CREEK and a wine collaboration with another winery and whether he could come and taste me on it this next Tuesday? I said : " Yes, between 3-4PM." AS he was packing his bag he asked me if I wanted to try some MARTEL " Cordon Bleu? " I said : " Sure. " It took me a moment to catch my senses and to put it all together. Looking at the bottle brought it all rushing back to me and I smiled inwardly, the smile, like the " Codon Bleu " slowly working it's way outward as I realize and as the silkiness of this amber works it's magic ...   AND WHAT MAGIC it is, I love the caramel overtones, warm and comforting and lilting and rich and bright and , si, oui, just right, juste ce qu'il faut maintenant! Lovely, a real-vrai treat for me to nurse my agitated throat that has valiantly fought against the recent pollen everywhere!   AND YOU CAN HAVE all this for a measly $155.99, the taste will replace your immediate reaction of " ouch! " , with a broad smile and a big " wow!"    MY LIFE is hard I was getting ready to type with a smile on my face as I put a cork in an open bottle of CHATEAU SAINT-VALERY Saint-Emilion 2012 ( so open and fruit-forward, balanced , and really well-priced, tastes good almost immediately, very round and smooth and pure and bright ), $16.99 a bottle I believe?   WE WILL HAVE some by the end of this week when Jim Reeves comes to taste French wines here on Saturday with you all from 2-6PM, mostly red and white burgundy that includes two fine Cru Beaujolais of Brouilly 2013 " H. Brac-de-la-Perriere" , $22.99, and the ' new kid-on-the-block ' that owner Eric introduced here with you all, his Saint-Amour  ' Les Grands Vents ", 2013, $22.99. With a slight chill, lovely both. Our tastings are free, no charge, bring family and friends, make it special.   BUT HEY, SANTOS JUST CAME BACK from vacation and brought me a gift that I want to share with you all this evening to welcome him back. I have missed him. It's a white he bought in El Salvador, a French white from B & G Imports. SO : ask me for a taste along with the Saint-Emilion tonight when you come by after work.   SPEAKING OF SANTOS now, here are some beer selections from him :        1) " Belgique DU NOIRE " 2014 bottle-conditioned ale from OVERSHORES Connecticut, USA, $16.99, 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl Oz bottles, East Haven, Conn., : " A rich and seductive Belgian Style Imperial Stout. ... Pair with chocolate, orange, dates, nuts, balsamic reduction, roast vegetables, duck, lamb." Makes me hungry just to type all of this, I love it! Cheers.        2) ' Palate Wrecker ' Imperial India Pale Ale from GREEN FLASH ( Hop Forward & Aggressive ), On Special for $8.99 a1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz bottle with 9.5% alcohol by volume, : " Weighing in at six pounds of hops per barrel, Palate Wrecker stands up to the happiest heavyweights in the ring. A complex double-brewing process of mashing and sparging ... " New term for me : sparging" ...        3) Imperial American Bock Lager aged in Bourbon barrels " Bock Bock " from SCHMALTZ Brewing Company, On Special for $13.99 a 1Pt 6Fl. Oz bottle, with 9.2% alcohol by volume, CliftonPark, NY, .... HEBREW, The Chosen Beer. Try some, see what you think?        4) Double Chocolate Stout , stout brewed with natural flavor, from ROGUE < $16.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz bottle, Newport, OR, brewed with no chemicals, preservatives or additives : wow, I like the sound of this, like the taste, too. With 9% alcohol by volume.     LIQUEUR/ LIQUOR From Malkit & Jagir :        1) Ginger All Natural Infused with Ginger Root, for a warm, spicy finish, from STIRRINGS, Liqueur On Special for $19.99 for a 750ml bottle, ... : " exotically lush aroma, and sweet- spicy flavor of fresh-grated ginger ... "        2) The King's Ginger, " emphatically ginger liqueur was specifically formulated Berry Bros in 1903 for King Edward VII ... ", $42.99 a 750ml bottle, 41% alcohol by volume : a class-act! Glad to have it on our shelves.        3) Amaro Fratelli Ramazzotti Casa Fondata Nel 1815 ' Milano ' , $22.99, with 30% alcohol by volume. This is a fine staple of ours and we are thrilled to have it back on our shelves as it shifted from one wholesale house to another. Phew! Graham, we are ready for your next visit.           LIQUOR :        1) Rhum Agricole NEISSON from Martinique Reserve Special, a one liter bottle ( that's more in the bottle for all ) from Thiebert-Carbet, On Special $68.99, 42% alcohol by volume, ... lovely color, a great golden color, I say " YES!     NEWS FLASH : Patricio of Palm Bay recommended that Melanie come here today to see me, and in her bag-of-tricks she had three wines and one ' new ' French whisky called ' Bastille " , all four of which I have just tasted. I told Melanie that the SELLA & MOSCA Sardinian Vermentino white, 2013, $14.99 , is lovely and she will bring the Cannanau red to taste, as well never have enough fine Sardinian wine. I also tasted the dry French rose from Marselles from JEAN-LUC COLOMBO that I met years ago, and I told Melanie I could use some of the white Cotes du Rhone now, maybe the rose, too ... and we also trued the MONTGRAS XX 2012 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Carmenere , that was, unfortunately slightly-corked, and yet the flavors were rich and opulent and cradling, I want to try another bottle, $14.99, what fun. Now for Bastille Day in July we just have to finish our plans for a tasting here with Melanie. Thanks Patrizio and Melanie. WINE : From Chris & Tony :        1) Italian 100% Barbera dry 2014 rose from TATI, a paler, more rose-lighter-salmon color, DELIGHTFUL balance, flavor and taste for only $8.99 a bottle! Nice.      2) 2013 off-dry red CASTILLO Del CONDE from Valencia, $9.99, that has more flavor and taste, more nuances, a delightful charming, appealing taste where the flavors keep revealing other elements that they conceal sometimes, reveal others. Chill slightly, nice for this heat and humidity!      3) Dry Greek Rose blend of Xinomavro and Moschomavro grapes, this ' DioFili ' from the SIATISTA Winery in Siatista, Greece, is a delicate color of rose-salmon, $12.99, and drinks beautifully and is charming - engaging! Sotiris Bafitis had it open here this past Saturday, it was a big hit, each year it is, come get some!      4) 2012 Portuguese dry red from the Duoro region, called " Tons " Duorum, $13.49 a bottle, a fruit-forward, more modern and brighter dry blend of three of the many grapes that make up a port : 1) 50% Touriga Nacional, 2) 30% Touriga Franca and ... 3) 20% Tinta Roriz. It showed beautifully when I poured it here this Friday evening, and we sold a lot, even some on Saturday when I tasted the last of it to our customers! Thanks Jody, great suggestion.      5) Ginzo Premium Japanese sake " Well Of Wisdom " from TOZAI, $14.99 for a 300ml bottle, with 14.9% alcohol by volume. Contains no sulfites and is gluten-free ; lovely taste that is rich, with anise accents, and a long finish, too. Beautiful Cobalt Blue bottle as well. What is not to like?!?    6) Gruner Veltliner from Carnuntum, Austria, from NETZL, $15.49 a bottle, this classic 2014 has green apples, lemon zest, is full and refreshing, and lovely accents of pepper on the palate, too! It is a trocken/dry bottle to enjoy even with all this heat and humidity, chill - a great summer food wine as well.      6) 2013  dry 100% Assyrtiko BREAKING KIWI NEWS : Owner John Forrest here from FORREST WINES to say a few words : " always love to come and see Tony, best wines in town! Thanks John!   TASTINGS :        Friday, May 22nd, 2015 ( 5-8PM ) : WE have Robert Kennedy pouring his wonderful selections from Italy : all small producers, family-owned, the very best! Some sparkling and some non-sparkling wines!        Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Jim Reeves , mentioned above coming to taste his fine wines with you all : Beajolais Cru wines, other red and white burgundy wines, too! SAVE BIG TOMORROW :   WEDNESDAY WEEKLY SPARKLING / STILL WINE 3-Part SALE : 1) BUY ANY $20 or more  Non-Sparkling/ Still wine and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price. 2) BUY ANY 6 or more Non-Sparkling/ Still wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices. 3) BUY ANY 12 or more Non-Sparkling / Still wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. Call if you cannot come. This also includes port, sherry, marsala, madeira and sake.  202-363-4265. THANKS for all your support, we appreciate it greatly!  TONY     WHAT FOLLOWS BELOW is an old store email, read it if you have time. Cheers,  TONY THE HUMIDITY is here to bother us now from time to time. We always think we are ready for it but it always catches us off-guard and we are here to help you navigate through and around it as best as you all can on your own terms. We have lots of suggestions for you on this, from cool and refreshing apple and pear ciders to a special Jalapeno 100% Agave tequila to some refreshing ale with Raspberry puree, some chocolate liqueur, some Lucky 13 red ale, some Sloe Gin, some Goldwasser liqueur with actual gold flakes settled nicely at the bottom of the bottle, and many still and sparkling wines, as well as many dry roses. SOMETHING for pretty much EVERYONE!     THE RECENT PAST TORNADOES that have devastated certain areas in Moore a suburb of Oklahoma City I believe? , including the one yesterday afternoon that has leveled two elementary schools is so tragic and getting up to watch more of this this morning with my wife on the Today Show with Al and Matt and the NBC 4 Morning News team was especially hard for us. Out prayers and our sympathies go out to all of them now in their time of need. It's hard to hear someone say that such devastation is so complete. The young lady that had helped with her husband look for survivors remarked that ten minutes before the tornado hit ground there that everything looked fine and that the sky was blue ...     WE ALSO READ THIS MORNING that Ray Manzareck the keyboard player for the DOORS sixties singing rock band just passed away in Germany. My wife showed me the article and I read it completely. Ray was an amazing musician as were both John on drums and Robbie on guitar. Ray had to make his Hammond organ sound like a bass guitar and he did it, too. Jim Morrison the singer that dies so unexpectedly at the tender age of 27 years of age is the best-remembered of the four. Ray's last quote in the article said basically that it was always about Jim, all the conversation, always about Jim! Yet for me it was always about the four of them ; these four guys in the band. As Ray put it, about the music. I agree : it took all four of them to create the sound that they are still famous for in songs like : " Light My Fire " that they sang on the Ed Sullivan show and were banned from ever returning once that Jim Morrison refused to modify his lyrics and sang them as they were intended. Remember?     SO : just like the music of the DOORS where all four players were important, so it's the same with all these wonderful products that I will now mention here. Music is an art form just as are so many fine beverages where multiple elements all have to pull their own weight to be the success that they in many cases ultimately are. Bear with me as I use this in continuing today's store email to you all, to tie it all together : to flesh it out, give it life, purpose and make it interesting, too.     BUT BEFORE I DO THIS I want to say that I received a very nice " Thank You " from Joy Sterling of the famous California IRON HORSE Vineyards that makes both fabulous sparkling as well as still wines using the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir grapes. I wrote on the IRON HORSE Facebook page and " liked " them as  we have sold a whole selection of their sparkling wines over the years including the one that both draws attention to ? and gives back to the ocean called :   " I Am Giving / I Am The Ocean ".   THE RELATIONSHIP we / I have with IRON HORSE is long and strong and includes many individuals and stories from Tim Gural our old Field Sales Manager of Washington Wholesale The Charmer Sunbelt Group to Claude Thibaut that made the very first IRON HORSE " Wedding Cuvee " for Joy Sterling , one of the owners of IRON HORSE Vineyards. We sell Claude Thibaut's current Virginia sparkling wines here, a NV Brut for $30.99 and a Vintage 2008 for $31.99 : BOTH are FABulous! And we sold the : " I Am Giving / I Am The Ocean ", as well as tasted all four that we had from IRON HORSE here two Decembers ago ( 2011 I believe ) with the help of Tim Gural that was so good at promoting them here to us. Thanks Tim.     AND NOW I realize with our good customers Ed and Jinny and another " more recent " good customer Barton Seaver that is a talented and successful  sustainable-ingredients cooking chef  that he helped with Joy Sterling make and promote the IRON HORSE : :  " I Am Giving / I Am The Ocean " - Barton bought our last bottle last year in 2012  that we sold here : and Ed & Jinny are serving the " Wedding Cuvee " soon : SMALL WORLD that comes together and connects in such marvelous ways. I love it. I have called Roberta and am checking to see if we can get any more of the : " I Am Giving ... " to sell here? I also want to taste with Michel the current vintages of the IRON HORSE before I get to , I hope, finally meet Joy for the very first time soon. Maybe Roberta can come and taste us, or perhaps Joy you can taste us? All sounds so promising. Cheers.   WHAT I LOVED about the IRON HORSE : " I Am Giving ? I Am The Ocean " : polish, finesse, elegance, subtle, almost gravity-defying : a wonder and a treat to hold and cradle in my mouth as I sipped and enjoyed it. It was vintage-dated and I believe it was a 2008? Cheers. Thanks Barton for helping to bring this all back to me with the help, too of Ed and Jinny : the harmony of the universe, of the ocean, like the harmony of four musicians playing together to create a wonderful experience where every part mattered/ matters.     WEYERBACHER Riserva Ale with Raspberry Puree added and Aged in Oak Barrels, $17.99, a 2012 vintage, 1 Pt. 9.4 Fl. Oz bottle, from Easton Pennsylvania, www.weyerbacher.com ). This just sounds like it would be great now to sip and enjoy and relax. I guess that Ray Manzareck would be the Oak Barrels used here. Go to their page or to our Facebook page to see these pictures of the oak barrels used, as well as the beautiful color of this ale. Cheers.     LAGUNITAS " Lucky 13 " Mondo Large Red Ale ( On Special for $6.99 a 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz bottle, 8.6% alcohol by volume, from LAGUNITA Brewing Co. in Petalume, California,  ) : Ray Manzareck would be : " ... the Noble Brewer of the planet's only legal Steam Beer ... ". and Robbie of the DOORS might be :  " ... Oregon's Rebel Brewer from Newport ... ". It always takes a team, and everyone's influence is felt by the others daily. Fun.       VAN GOGH Amsterdam Chocolate Liqueur from The HEART of Amsterdam, imported from Holland ( On Special now for $13.99 - very limited availability, 30 Proof, 15% alcohol by volume, distilled in Schiedam, Holland ) : this would be the Jim Morrison while the VAN GOGH Dutch Chocolate Vodka would be the Ray Manzareck - as the two would be mixed together, are mixed together to make a very special drink.     TANTEO 100% De Agave Tequila Blanco  Jalapeno ( $45.99 a 750ml bottle,  infused with natural Jalapeno, 40% Alcohol by volume, 07477 Tan 7-06-12 J12 www.tanteotequila.com ) : I believe that in this recipe - there are many here to consider : Pitcher of Jalapeno Margaritas :  12 Oz I TANTEO Jalapeno Tequila, 6 Oz. I Fresh Lime Juice, 4 Oz I Agave Nectar, combine in a pitcher with ice and stir well and pour into ice-filled rocks glasses ( salted rim optional ), and garnish with lime wedges. Here Ray Manzareck would be the Jalapeno Tequila, Robbie would be the fresh lime juice, Jim would be the Agave Nectar and John the drummer would be the ice cubes! All fun. cheers. All necessary.     STELLA ARTOIS " Cidre "/ Cider  made with Hand-Picked Apples ( $7.99 a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 4.5% alcohol by volume, www.StellaArtois.com/Cidre. Baldwinsville, NY ) : new and exciting! I guess that in this case that Ray Manzareck would be the original beer from Europe as he was in Germany when he died?! Hard to say, and yet this Hand-Picked-Cider could not have been made without it's glorious past and glorious beers that all started in Europe so many wonderful moons ago! LIQUEUR DANZIG " Goldwasser " Der Lachs " 22 Karat " ( $29.99 a 750ml bottle, from the Distillery Der Lachs, since 1598, Norten-HardenbergGermany, www.ourniche.com ) : " The Original Danziger Goldwasser was invented by the legendary pharmacist Ambrosien Vermullen in 1598.  ... owes its reputation to the infusion of 22 karat gold flakes and its bitter sweet taste experience ". I guess that Ray Manzareck of the DOORS would be the Bittersweet taste referred to hear?! Jim Morrison clearly would have been the 22 karat gold flakes! All good fun : all essential in the final product, not one more important than the other, though it is easy to forget this. Try not to.     YOU GET THE IDEA : it's all about team work and that's so often what produces the greatest success stories.       BEER From Santos :        1) Gouden CAROLUS Cuvee Van De Keizer Jaargang 2011( On Special for $8.99 a 4-pack , 11.2Fl. Oz, 10% alcohol by volume, Mechelen, Belgium,  www.hetanker.be ) : brewed by Brewery Het Anker, one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. ... it's a blond ale of top fermentation that illustrates  the subtle balance between  the different natural ingredients. It's pretty wonderful, pretty special, love the bright golden color, love even more it's incredible balance and full taste. A treat!        2)  2012 " Dragon's Milk " Ale Aged In Oak Barrels from The HIGH GRAVITY SERIES of NEW HOLLAND Brewing ( On Special for $9.99 a 23 Plato, 10% alcohol by volume, www.NewHollandBrew.com ) : " A barrel-aged stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath. Pairings : red meat, smoked foods, balsamic, rich cheese and dark chocolate ".     LIQUOR / LIQUEUR From RAVI :          1) PLYMOUTH Sloe Gin from COATES & COMPANY ( On Special for $38.99 a 750ml bottle, 26% alcohol by volume, www.plymouthgin.com , English ) : " A truly traditionalEnglish Sloe Gin, made from a recipe in 1883. It's intensity and richness is the result of using high strength Plymouth gin which extracts the maximum flavour from the Sloe berries ".        2) POW-WOW Botanical Rye Straight Rye Whiskey Infused with Botanicals ( On Special for $41.99 a 750ml bottle, 45% alcohol by volume, 90 Proof, www.BotanicalRye.com, rye whiskey aged over 2 years ). Check this out.         3) MOON MOUNTAIN Wild Raspberry Flavored-Vodka ( $21.99 a 750ml bottle,  traditional  copper pot-distilled , 35% alcohol by volume, ORGANIC, contains elderberry extract, www.Moonmountainvodka.com , Lawrenceburg, IN ) ; new and exciting and different! Cheers.     WINE From Michel & TONY :               4 Dry Rose Wines :        1) Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rose of Sangiovese, Sonoma County ( $14.99 , 13.2% alcohol by volume, since 1962, estate grown and bottled, Wetzel Family, www.avvwine.com ) : always a hot-weather favorite, very refreshing and bright.        2) 14-18h 2011 GAIA Wines, Koutsi, Nemea, dry dark-deep-colored rose made from the indigenous Agiorgitiko grape in the Peleponnisos region of Greek, $16.99, 13% alcohol by volume, ) : a very fine wine when you grill or well-season your food. Delicious.        3) 2012 Domaine de la Solitude Cotes Du Rhone dry French Rhone rose ( $18.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Pierre Lancon, proprietor , www.domaine-solitude.com ) : a fine medium-to-light-bodied red to enjoy with food. Will make you hungry and searching for something to munch on after the third sip. Cheers. beautiful salmon color. That's worth the price of admission all by itself - the color - everything else is extra and a bonus!      4) Domaine Pelaquie Tavel 2012 dry rose from the southern Rhone valley in France ( #20.99, 14% alcohol by volume , a dry blend of 60% Grenache and 30% Cinsault ) : a dark and deep color, this dry rose from the town of Tavel is very famous and a great rose to enjoy with a more flavorful meal. What a treat!           TWO LIGURIAN Italian Wines :          1) DURIN dry white   100% Vermentino indigenous grape variety from Riviera Liugure di Ponente , 2011 ( $16.99, 13% alcohol by volume , ) : amazing character, brightness, freshness and appeal! A JOY to drink , especially with this heat and humidity, and a value for the wines of Luguria!        2) DURIN  2009 Granaccia indigenous red from the Colli Savonesi ( $18.99, 14% alcohol by volume ) : a medium-to-light-bodied red that should be chilled slightly as it has some nice pepper and spice qualities that become energized and also collected better with the cold and thus more refreshing. A very nice hot-weather red for the humidity, too : so distinct, so much it's very own flavor and taste. best with food to flesh it out some more.               TWO MORE REDS  :        1) MARQUES De ZENETE Gran Reserva 2005 Spanish Tempranillo red blend from Valencia, Spain On Special for $13.99, 14% alcohol by volume, AN INSANELY GREAT DEAL & VALUE from Spain : WOW, and from a GREAT VINTAGE, TOO! WHAT A DEAL! NICE ALMOST ANYTIME.        2) " Cuvee Constance " 2008 Cotes Du Roussillon Villages dry southern French red ( $15.99, 15% alcohol by volume ) from Thunevin-Calvet : flavorful, round and nice with meals fresh off your grill. Chill slightly twenty-thirty minutes and enjoy with that good taste of grilled meats and vegetables!     WEDNESDAY WEEKLY NON-SPARKLING / STILL WINE 3-Part SALE :        1) BUY ANY $20 or more Non-Sparkling/ Still wine and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      2) BUY ANY 6 or more Non-Sparkling/ Still wines and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      3) BUY ANY 12 or more Non-Sparkling / Still wines and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices. Call if you cannot come. This also includes port, sherry, marsala, madeira and sake.  202-363-4265.   WEEKEND TASTINGS :        Friday, May 24th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : Come by and meet Ruben as he pours his fine selection of the BULGARIANA Bulgarian dry reds and whites. Fine wines, great values : fine food wines : all dry.        Saturday, May 25th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : Come and taste with owner Estebe of his Tradewinds Specialty Imports selections of fine still and sparkling wines from Spain and Argentina, also his fine Spanish sherries. We will certainly taste his OUTSTANDING Syrah 2011 dry red from Argentina's La Rioja region from the CHANARMUYO Estate, the Chamas Honnorat Family wines for only $10.99 : WHAT A GRAND WINE, what a GREAT DEAL, too! Love it, with a meal, perfect!!!!!!!!          MET OWNER and WINEMAKER Ron Coleman of his TAMARACK CELLARS Walla Walla, Washington State wines ( tried 3 with Jeremy earlier today: a Chardonnay, A fireman's dry red blend 2010 and a dry 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon that is young and needs a meal : liked them all ). We need the Chardonnay, I liked very much the brightness, roundness and softness of the dry red blend. Treats all of them. Ron and Jeremy and I spoke of the passing of Ray Manzareck of the DOORS, we spoke of 1967, we spoke of " Light My Fire ", and " Break on Through ", we spoke of the Grateful Dead and their song " Truckin'  ", and " what a  long, strange  trip it's been ... " with many more still to come, which included for Ron today seeing the pandas at our National Zoo just two blocks away. he even took a picture. He asked me : " And you know what we talked about ?!? " , and I said " yes " but turned out I was wrong when Ron immediately responded/ answered : " Bamboo, of course! " with a big grin and smile! Sounds about right to me. Tomorrow Michel will taste these wines. We've sold them before. We never have too many fine wines from Washington State here : the more the merrier Ron. Cheers. Take care.     LET US KNOW WHAT we may do better for you all?   TONY