Chris Bartha works for Cobblestone Imports and continues to take really good care of us with his many excellent wine selections here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel : 202-363-4265 anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwine.com also now on Facebook at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and also on Twitter at : cpwinespirits ). It's now Thursday, January 12th, 2011 at 10:56PM and earlier today he dropped in to let me know that his rare CEDERBURG South African white was back in stock and we will receive tomorrow four six-packs as we are all sold-out and have customers asking for it on a regular basis. Thanks Chris that will be great to have it back.
Pictured above are six wines that Chris brought with him for us to try at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits : 1) CRISTOBAL Argentina Malbec 2008, 2) CAPITOSO Rioja 2006 was it Spanish red mostly Tempranillo, 3) QUO QUO " Old Vines " Grenache 2006 dry red, 4) OVEJA NEGRA Cabernet Franc and Carmenere dry red blend from Chile's Maule Valley, 5) " Valera " 100% Spanish Monastrelle from Jumilla I believe ( same grapes as France's Rhone Valley and southern French Mourverde grape ), and 6) PALI 2008 " Riviera " Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, California dry and elegant and polished red.
Chris always has something fun for us and that is why his wines are still at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. I always like some more than others as well as I always need some more than others. We choose accordingly to what we need most at the time. We also buy wines that we simply fall in love with as well. We are only human. The store is run in a very fluid, organic manner and I often do things quite serendipitously. Many of our customers over the years have responded very favorably to this and return for it I believe.
Look at the beautiful color of that PALI Sonoma Coast " Riviera " 2008 California Pinot Noir! It's gorgeous. We have some in the store today so come on by or call us at : 202-363-4265 and ask Ean or me ( Anthony - TONY - Quinn ) for more information. We are always more than happy to assist you in any way that we can.
Being an artist many of the pictures I take are taken with an artist's eyes with the idea of making you want to try the wine from simply a visual point-of-view. I respond very much to light and to color and I hope you enjoy these pictures of mine that I took when Chris Bartha tasted us on these six wines back in 2010. I know, a bit late to post them : but better late than never. Also, he is still doing very much the same thing today as he was back two years ago. Thanks Chris.
The CRISTOBAL Argentinia Bonarda is on our shelves now for about $10.99 or $11.99 a bottle? I forget the exact price but we are pleased to have it as Argentina has always planted a whole lot of the Bonarda grape that originally came from Italy's Oltrepo Pavese region of northwestern Italy by Piemonte. It has been an important grape for them until recently when the love affair with the French Malbec grape displaced ALL other grapes there sadly. Oh well, so we continue to mention and sell " these other " grapes from Argentina as well. it's a slow and long process but well-worth our/ my efforts. One person can help to make a difference. You may never know or see this but it's true all the same.
We have used repeatedly ( none in stock now ) the OVEJA NEGRA Maule, Chilean wines and will have to get some more soon. We have purchased them from both Chris and from Frenchman Jean, too. I really like their dry white Sauvignon Blanc blend that I think also includes some of the red Carmenere grape? It's a great big satisfying and flavorful dry mouthful that is great in the cold weather ot for more flavorful and spicy meals.
I was thrilled to find this dry red blend from OVEJA NEGRA of both the Cabernet Franc ( I LOVE this grape variety ) and the Carmenere : a 2008 : a fine food wine - best when served with a meal as it's got some real heft and stuffing.
Look at the beautiful red color of the " Valera " 100% Spanish Monastrelle/ Mourvedre above. Wow, the way the ceiling lights shine through it. We bought and sold it and are currently out.
I like to take pictures and post them like this as they by themselves tell a story as well. I like this : I am telling a story about a particular moment in time here in Washington D.C. our nation's capitol of a wine -tasting with Chris Bartha and us at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits in Cleveland Park N.W. I do relish these moments. I never know quite what will surface or will happen and mostly I am thrilled with the results.
THese two pictures are me delving deep into my artistic soul and having fun. Love that smile below : it mimics mine now as I type these words. Cheers!
LOVE that translucent red Monastrelle color above! Wow, it's pretty amazing along with the wood grains coming through as well. Fun.
Time for me to post this now. I have to get off to work now on this Friday, January 13th, 2012 and get my work day started in Washington D.C. I am home now typing this here. Cheers and Happy New Year to one and to all. Thanks Chris for so many great tastes and such great help at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits helping us to make it what it is. Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn
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