Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 : Cleveland Park Weekly Store Email Written and Posted By Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn / Read & Enjoy, History, How Things Come & Go & Change & Evolve!

Cleveland Park Wine Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits IT'S STILL WINE SALE TIME AGAIN - Get CHRIS' Help THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME TO SAVE WITH CHRIS BARKER ( Wednesday and Thursday, March 2nd and 3rd, 2011 ) before he moves to another city with his fiancee. Come and get him to help you assort a case of still wines that we have here in the store now and SAVE 20% OFF on the twelve bottles, even if they are already ON SALE. The weather is so beautiful today and you may ponder all day long what " goodies " that you may wish to purchase. YOU CAN ALSO GET GREG'S HELP assorting a case of twelve still wines to receive your twenty percent case discount on twelve or more bottles. Coming from New York Greg may recommend one from there as he knows them pretty well. We will as you can imagine start to stock more New York state wines as a result of this to make Greg feel even more comfortable and welcome here in our nation's capitol. What do you all think of that : would you like to see us stock more New York State wines? Let us know. THE STILL WINE SALE with 20% OFF TWELVE OR MORE BOTTLES( no bubbly or sparkling or champagne included - if you add those to your case they will get 10% OFF ) also includes : Sake, Port, Marsala, Madeira, Sherry, all size bottles of wines and boxes of wines, too. Mix up a whole variety so that your wine cellar is fuller and more complete as ports and sherries, marsalas, madeiras and sakes are all really nice at this time of the year. ALSO : FOR OUR TWENTY PERCENT STILL WINE SALE : ANY BOTTLES OVER $20 are On SALE by the bottle, in all sizes and this also includes all the categories mentioned above. SO : IF YOU ONLY WANT ONE BOTTLE WITH 20% OFF make it something more special and costing over $20 a bottle. THINGS ARE REALLY WORKING OUT SPLENDIDLY HERE as we make a smooth transition with Chris leaving us and Greg joining us. All last week we three worked on cleaning the store up, arranging it even better, working on the magnums and on the American wine sections as well as with the French and the Italian wines. We have also made more labels to put up in the store to show you where certain wines are supposed to be on a more permanent basis. YESTERDAY GREG, SANTOS, NELSON & CHRIS all worked together to clean and paint or wine cold box and it sure does look great. Great job guys, you really made it shine and now over the week we will label and organize it better than it has ever been for easier shopping EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING IS FOR EASIER SHOPPING. That's the idea to make things more tidy and better-organized. You will see some of all of this when you come today or tomorrow when we start our TWO-DAY/ TWO-PART STILL WINE SALE on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. 1) BUY 12 0r More Still Wines - SAVE 20% 2) BUY ANY STILL WINE OVER $20 - SAVE 20% IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AT WORK ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY as there is so much to tell you all and write about. I have been receiving wines for all these last two hours or so and have both a shipment of " New and Exciting " Kosher Wines as well as a " New and Exciting " batch of Georgian wines including two " new " dry red wines made from the Saperavi grape ( 1) the Nata Vachnadze named after the famous Georgian female movie star of the 1030's , $14.99, - and the 2) 2008 Black Wine Saperavi, both wines from Kakheti , Georgia , Unfiltered $18.49 ) ; as well as a " new " sweeter-style red Kindzmarauli 2007 ( $14.99 ). I WENT TO LUNCH AT Levante's just off of Dupont Circle a block down to the right. Mamuka of the Georgina House Imports invited me to this luncheon with just the two of us to try these two " new " dry Saperavi wines which I really liked and they both need a meal. They are not sipping wines as both the fruit, the acids and the tannins are healthy and out-front and the food softens them up considerably. They worked well with the lamb and the hummus and the Georgian bread that we had with our meal. I asked Mamuka to order for me as he knows both the food and the wines really well. Thanks Mamuka. We will do a tasting of all these wines on Saturday April 2nd, 2011. Join us from 3-7PM, never any charge. WE HAVE " New " KOSHER WINES, TOO : 1) CHATEAU DE CAMPLAY Bordeaux Superieure 2008, $14.99 2) Gedeon Israeli Petit Sirah 2009, $10.99 3) Le CHALET VDP Des Cotes Catalanes 2008, $14.99 4) Jerusalem Hills Shiraz rose 2009, $15.99 5) Senorio Aldaz Cab. Sauv / Tempranillo, Navarra, Spain, $12.99 6) Jerusalem Hills Cabernet-Shiraz 2009, $15.99 These are some really exciting " new " developments and some just rolled through the door. Here they are : 1) FOXES ISLAND Marlborough Pinot Noir, New Zealand 2004 : On Special for $19.99 a bottle, regularly $35-$40 a bottle. 2) PIEROPAN Soave 2007, Veneto , Italy On Special for $14.99, reg: $19.99 a bottle. 3) PODERI COLLA Dolcetto D'Alba " Pian Balbo " 2006, On Special for $14.99, regularly $22.99 a bottle. 4) TERRABIANCA " Ceppate " , 90% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, a Bordeaux - Pauillac-style red Tuscan blend , 2003, On Special for $24.99, ( much more, don't have the prices in front of me - great deal! GREAT DEALS ALL OF THESE : they are in very limited quantities so come by and check them out ASAP or call or respond to this email and we will go from there. NEW Dry White Indigenous Italian White 2009 : 1) CANTINA Del TABURNO 2009, $17.99 a bottle. MORE ARGENTINA JUST ROLLED THROUGH THE DOORS ... 1) LA POSTA Malbec " Pizella " 2008, $19.99 a bottle. MORE AUSSIE With The WINE MEN OF GOTHAM : 1) Shiraz-Grenache 2008, $8.99 2) Chardonnay-Semillon 2008, $8.99 MADE BY the people that bring us GOTHAM, owners Kate and Bruce. AND JUST FINALIZED : SOUTH AFRICAN " Jewels " : 1) MORESON'S " Pine Crest " : The Very Last Of It : Franschoek, a) Pine Crest Chardonnay 2007, On Special for $13.99 b) Pine Crest Chenin Blanc, On Special for $13.99 - Reg: $16.99 a bottle. 2) BLAUUWKLIPPEN Zinfandel 2005, Stellenbosch, On Special for $21.99, Reg : $29.99 3)MORESON 2002 Pinotage, Franschoek, On Special for $19.99 4) MORESON Cabernet Sauvignon, Franschoek, On Special for $19.99 LET'S NOT FORGET FRANCE : Two ( 2 ) PICPOULS - Dry Whites:Both Back By Popular Demand - 1) OINOS Les Perles 2009 Picpoul, Vin De Pays De L'Heurault, $8.99 a bottle. WOW : IT NEVER ENDS! There is always something happening here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and this is just the wine. FOR THURSDAY DELIVERY - More Wine : SAVE 20% in a case of twelve or more bottles : 1) WARWICK First Lady Cabernet , $14.99. South Africa 2) VILAFONTE Series M, South Africa, $34.99 3) Chateau MUSAR Lebanese Jeune- young red/rouge, $18.99 4) Chateau MUSAR " Hochar " rouge, $29.99 From Louis Foppiano, owner of FOPPIANO, CA. Wines : 1) FOPPIANO Lot 96 Red Blend, $10.99 2) FOPPIANO Petit Sirah, $21.99 3) FOPPIANO Reserve Petit Sirah 2003, $46.99 WINEMAKER OF VOUVRAY VISITS US AGAIN last week. The last time he came it was in 2002 I believe. Here's his excellent wine to take advantage of already in the store today: 1) 2009 " Clos Le Vigneau " dry Loire Valley Vouvray made from 100% Chenin Blanc, from A. MONMOUSSEAU, $15.99. It's superb, really a gem. HERE'S THE BEER From Santos Rivera : 1) Sabor Autentico SUPER BOCK, UNICER S.A. LECA DO BALIO, Portuguese beer, 26 consecutive GOLD MEDALS, On Special for $8.99 a 6-pack, 12 ounce bottles 5.2% alc by volume. 2) PERE JACQUES 2010 Belgian Style Ale from GOOSE ISLAND , On Special for $7.99, 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz, Chicago, Illinois - inspired by visits to Belgium. 3) Organic IPA from NAPA SMITH Brewery ( On Special for $5.99,7.1% Alc. by Vol. 1 Pt 6 Fl. Oz ) is new and exciting - at the southern gateway of the Napa Valley - www.napasmithbrewery.com. HERE'S THE LIQOUR From Ravi Sharma : 1) Admiral Nelson's Premium Spiced Rum ( On Special for $9.99 a bottle, 35% Alc. By Volume ). 2) Vincent VAN GOGH Double Expresso Naturally-Infused Coffee-Flavored vodka from Holland, $27.99 a bottle. 3) NUDE Vodka - simply Seductive, from Oregon, $34.99, distilled from grain, tasted here now twice, www.NudeSpirits.com ) - quite refined with some character, too : great packaging, too for a really nice gift. As it says right on the bottle : " Gorgeous in the nude ". 4) Lisa Jewel's own Houlton, Maine USA Twenty 2 Micro-Distilled Superior Vodka. Blend-master/distiller Lisa Jewel has been here twice tasting it and selling it out each time. $32.99 a bottle with lots of fans already. WOW, ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE! WEEK'S TASTINGS : Wednesday,Friday & Saturday, March 2nd, 4th, and 5th : WEDNESDAY, March 2nd, 2011 : If we have any of the wines that Dave McIntyre writes up in the post then we will taste them out here in the store if we have time and can arrange to do so. Call to check it out and see with either Chris, Greg or me. Andrew Stover will be stopping by tomorrow to taste. Join us for the SAWTOOTH wines or Idaho, USA. FRIDAY, March 4th, 2011 : 5-8PM : We have owner of Elite Imports Laurent Givry ( he just called, wants me to decide what to taste. Okay Laurent, tomorrow I will decide with Fran, Chris and Greg ) coming here to taste a selection of his company's excellent wines still to be determined tomorrow here in the store. Inquire with us during the sale, we will know more then. SATURDAY, March 5th, 2011 ( 3-7PM ) : We have Mark Congdon of JW SEIG Imports here to taste his Picpoul and more still to be decided tomorrow. Call us for more info. he promises to have some really special things for us to taste here tomorrow to help us decide which wines to taste. I KNOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS. We had some great wines opne last week and I should be mentioning those from DECERO, Argentina ( Cab, $19.99 : and Malbec, $13.99 ); and the Italian wines : CASE IBIDINI Nero D'Avola Sicilian red 2008, $10.99, VALLE DELL'ACATE " Il Frappato " indigenous red grape variety from Sicily, $19.99for the 2009 vintage : and the Malvasia Di Puglia 2009 dry white " Montevento " , $8.99. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! JOIN US for our 20% Off still wine sale ( no sparkling wines ) on 12 or more bottles on this Wednesday and this Thursday. Call Greg, Chris and me at : 202-363-4265 if you cannot come by in person and we will take your order and send it to you. COME WISH CHRIS " Bye Bye " and get his assistance for this last week : and come say " hello " to Greg. Cheers, TONY P lease visit our website below for more information, events and specials, and our calender of wine tastings!

Drinking Tonight A Low-Fill KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS' 2008 Cabernet Franc,11.7% Alcohol Dry Finger Lakes, New York State Red With Family & Neighbor : LOVING It! Best Red I've Tasted In Years From NY State : A REVELATION!

     

We worked on these pictures together in the sense that I told her what I wanted included in them. What she took are really very nice and more than I was expecting. That's always nice, just like with this KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS' Cabernet Franc 2008 : all my expectations were surpassed. It's been an incredible experience. Great photos, too to share visually some of the real highs and lows from this low-fill bottle. Makes me wish I had a case of it! Is there any more available? I will have to contact the winery and ask? That would be nice. That would be great. At any rate I am overjoyed with this experience and am very pleased to be able to share it with you all tonight on the night that it happened, even as I am very tired and have been watching with my family down here in our family room in our basement old reruns of the popular show : " Grounded For Life ". What a contrast, what a counterpoint to all of this.

   



 




     This, like so many stories has unfolded in many parts and I will include them here : now in an outline form, and if , given time I will elaborate! Suffice it to say that tonight, Sunday here in northern Virginia at home on June 23rd, 2013 my wife, our Swedish neighbor and I have LOVED tasting and drinking this bottle of KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS' 2008 Cabernet Franc New York State Finger Lakes lighter-bodied, bright and clear-transparent-colored dry red : spicy and earthy and flavorful, balanced and refined and filled with unique character and well-defined personality : PERHAPS the VERY BEST Cabernet Franc that I have ever tried EVER over the years outside of the Loire Valley Cabernet Francs' that I LOVE from the towns of Saumur, Saumur-Champigny, Chinon, Bourgeuil, and St. Nicolas du Bourgeuil! That's really saying something from me that is a die-hard lover of the dry red Loire Valley reds, especially those made from 100% Cabernet Franc.

     Anyway, Melvin the owner of KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS came to our store Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits twice to taste and to talk about his fine wines from the Finger Lakes in New York State. It's been fun to get to know him, and he always told me that he would bring his female winemaker to see us someday. We never have even though we have proudly displayed in front of the store three of his wines : two Rieslings and one indigenous dry red made from a French hybrid that I cannot remember now the name of?!? I was just talking to our customer yesterday, Jim Stutsman that reported back on his recent experience tasting it again after many years. he did not like it : said the taste and flavor components were not to his palate.

     We love selling the wines at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits from around the United States, especially those that are closer to us up and down the East Coast. I was thrilled when our rep from Dionysos Imports in northern Virginia, Danielle Davidowitz wanted to bring Melvin to the store to meet us. I think that we already had been selling some of the whites including the Delaware and the off-dry and the dry Rieslings. We have sold the whole line available through Dionysos Imports over the years. They have all sold. We were out, too.

     Our good customer Jeff pointed this out to me a couple of months ago and I told him that I would correct this. I called Danielle and she sent me the three that they currently have in stock. They are out of the Cabernet Franc and the Pinot Noir at this point. That's okay, it's always good to change things up whenever we can. I have called Jeff that is from the Finger Lakes region of New York State to let him know that we had the KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS' wines and also the CASA LARGA wines. It's a start, I buy what we have offered to us and right now there are fewer wines from New York State's Finger Lakes region available to us.

     We have had this one lonely bottle of the 2008 Cabernet Franc, 11.7% alcohol by volume dry red at the store for awhile. Because it had a low fill of about a half-inch below the neck of the bottle we took it off our shelves. Danielle gave us credit for it months ago and I forgot to bring it home and taste it to see how it had been effected by this low fill? I had no idea whether or not it would be tired and oxidized ? I had no idea if there would be any fruit left, if it would be drinkable or not? I had no idea. I was worried and it had leaked and I could see evidence of this on the capsule of the bottle by the cork : did not look good, did not look promising.

     I was hoping it would be good and to heighten my chances I chilled it for thirty or so minutes and came downstairs to email our Swedish neighbor that I would be opening it and that she should come by and taste it with us? I knew that she liked red wines, I knew that my wife and my daughter did not as much, that they preferred white wines to reds. Well, as my wife said when she tasted it out on our deck with the two of us : " That's true except when the red is good ". And this time it was good, it was really good, it was exceptionally good!

     We all liked the wine, I loved it. It has been a wonder and a pleasure and a real treat for me on so many levels as these pictures that our neighbor took with her phone at my request. I will add them here now. See for yourselves. Look at the brilliant light and elegant and clear color : it shines, it ripples , it undulates, it wafts and it reflects the light, it absorbs the light, it breathes beautifully, one breath at a time! Lovely.

     Look at the color of the wine, the color of the green-golden glass as the sun sets?!? Wonderful. These are really artsy pictures like the ones I take. I suggested this angle and shot. My Swedish neighbor obviously sees things like me and I guess I really noticed this earlier when I saw the first three pictures that she took , as she explained them to me. I was impressed, really impressed.

   

  

This has been a great day and a great evening : everything has been quite special from this wine and our cheeses - herbed goats' cheese and French Brie and later the filet of salmon that I grilled outside and enjoyed with some fresh Heirloom tomatoes - reds and yellows - that my daughter selected ( I selected the salmon ) : and tonight my wife informs me that there is a special moon awaiting us? I will go check that out now and report later. In the meantime I want to thank everyone at KEUKA LAKE VINEYARDS for this really super-fantastic, brilliant expression of the Cabernet Franc grape. It was quite remarkable, quite exceptional. Thank you all that helped to make it, we have been blessed tonight drinking it outside on our deck here and it pleases me greatly to be able to share this experience and our. my serendipitous delight with this 2008 vintage. Tell me / us more? What do you all have to add ? Please add any comments here in the comment section at the end of this blog. Cheers and Happy End-Of-Day Sunday, June 23rd, 2013. Hope yours was as special as ours was. Cheers, Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn .... so light and elegant, so much amazing flavor wrapped up nicely in such a clear and bright and transparent sun-ripened red from 8882 County Route 76 Hammondsport NY 14840 607-868-4100 www.klvineyards.com . They write on the back label : " We typically make our delicious wines using fruit from our estate vineyards on Keuka Lake. This bottle of Cabernet Franc is an exception. It is made using grapes sourced from Saw Mill Creek Vineyards- a fine producer on Seneca Lake, one lake to the east of Keuka Lake and in the heart of the Finger Lakes ". THanks for letting us know. Bravo to you both then. Cheers, TONY Time for me to check on tonight's moon? How's it look from where you all are?!? Bonsoir ...

Written On MONTELLORI White Box : Andrea - Happy Anniversary! Drink This For Good Health, Happiness & To Each Other, Bravo! TONY & ABIGAIL 10/30/09 / In Tuscany Now With Great Weather ( Montepulciano )

Wow, to still have this white box, to have come back to the United States with it as I also wrote on the box at the end : Anthony Quinn / Abigail Quinn  Wash D.C. , I guess in case as we returned home from Italy in late October or early November 2009 that it would not be lost?!?

The white gift box with the word MONTELLORI written in big print in bold black and gold was a gift from the owner to both Abigail and me when we left the winery and restaurant headed back to Florence, Italy to meet both Andrea Fossi and Alessandro Furlan, two really great friends of mine that were wining and dining us that evening in a fancy restaurant overlooking Florence from a hotel near ours up on their penthouse floor with a spectacular view of the city!

I am cleaning up my art room and I want to write this story as I do because this box transported wine around Tuscany for us and to Rome, too on the train before we rented our car there when leaving Rome to return to Tuscany and to continue our father/daughter trip in Italy : our first together, what an incredible time and experience we had!

Everyone was nice, everyone was helpful! It did not matter what sex or age or religion or anything that these Italians were : they were all helpful! I will never forget this. They all stopped to help us, even though I spoke little to no Italian and many of them spoke little to no English! Wow, I loved this, I love being able to say this. I love being able to say that everything worked as well as could be expected and all the people that I stopped for assistance whether on the streets, in train stations, on the metro system in Rome, on the buses - they were all helpful and stopped, listened and did what they could. It did not matter where or when or what weather : they helped us : and I am eternally appreciative for all those that did stop to be of whatever assistance that they could be. Grazie!

And the people that we were there to see also opened their homes, vineyards, hearts and whatever else to us as well. They made the effort to make us both feel welcome and appreciated there , they did whatever they possibly could : and our visit could not have been any better, surpassed my expectations as a result!

I have much more to say but will post this " as is " and finish it later. I am here downstairs with my daughter that is reading in our basement family room as I type away here at my desk. She is with her two cats visiting and we are having/ spending a very relaxed and enjoyable Sunday June 23rd, 2013 here in northern Virginia at our home. Nice. My wife is also here and so all is well as our son that will be going to Florence, Tuscany, Italy soon is working. He will be there studying Italian the language, the history, the fashion and much more for a semester as he starts his sophomore year of college. What fun, what a treat : four months in Italy! We may all get a chance to visit him there. We will see?!? That would be fun.

Always lots to look forward to. Cheers,  Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  

Weingut R&R PFAFFL & Schlossweingut Bockfliess & The Dot , OsterreichAustrian Wine Visit Here & Tasting With Owner 2009!

WOW Roman, this was back in March 15th, 2010 and I still have a bottle or two of the Gruner Veltliner WEINVIERTEL DAC Haidviertel, $25.99 2008 in stock! How is it? Is it still drinking well? How does it age? My recollection is that it can age really well? Am I correct? 

What is happening currently? You will have to catch me back up to speed and let me know what is happening there with you all now? How is the red Zweigelt? Cheers, look forward to hearing from you, Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  chatwine.blogspot.com, listen to my wine and life, art, film and food podcast with Malcolm Riddle here at chatwine on this beautiful Thursday June 20th, 2013 here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits in Northwest, Washington D.C. 20008 at 3423 Connecticut Avenue!  Love it, love Austrian wines : yours are classic, balanced, bright, fruit-forward, always fruit-in-full-evidence wines that are best with food anytime, all the time. Happy 1st official day of Summer tomorrow!!!!!  TONY

Dear Anthony,

 

It is already a while since we met at my sales tour! Still, I want to thank you a lot for all your efforts and for your interest in our wines. I really enjoyed the wines we tasted and the photos we made.

If there is anything, we can do for you, please just contact either me or my sister Heidemarie Fischer at heidemarie@pfaffl.at

I am looking forward to our future co-operation!

 

Best regards & thanks again,

 

Roman Josef

 

 

Weingut R&A Pfaffl & Schlossweingut Bockfliess & The Dot
Schulgasse 21 . A-2100 Stetten im Weinviertel . Österreich/Austria
Tel: +43 (0) 2262 673423 . Fax: +43 (0) 2262 673423-21
wein@pfaffl.at . wine@schlossweingutbockfliess.at . info@the-dot.at
www.pfaffl.at . www.schlossweingutbockfliess.at . www.the-dot.at

WEINGUT	WEINE	PRESSE	AKTUELLES	KONTAKT
WINERY	WINES	PRESS	NEWS	CONTACT

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Viktoria Antrey, Weingut R&A Pfaffl
Gesendet: Montag, 15. März 2010 14:01
An: Heidemarie Fischer, Weingut R&A Pfaffl
Betreff: Thank you for our kind meeting

gordon.rappole@odomcorp.com

 

Dear Gordon,

 

It is already a while since we met at my sales tour! Still, I want to thank you a lot for all your efforts and for your interest in our wines.

If there is anything, we can do for you, please just contact either me or my sister Heidemarie Fischer at heidemarie@pfaffl.at

I am looking forward to our future co-operation!

 

Best regards & thanks again,

 

Roman Josef

 

Weingut R&A Pfaffl & Schlossweingut Bockfliess & The Dot
Schulgasse 21 . A-2100 Stetten im Weinviertel . Österreich/Austria
Tel: +43 (0) 2262 673423 . Fax: +43 (0) 2262 673423-21
wein@pfaffl.at . wine@schlossweingutbockfliess.at . info@the-dot.at
www.pfaffl.at . www.schlossweingutbockfliess.at . www.the-dot.at

WEINGUT	WEINE	PRESSE	AKTUELLES	KONTAKT
WINERY	WINES	PRESS	NEWS	CONTACT

 

Black Sheep Christmas Greetings From Hugh Hamilton 2009! So Often It's The SMALL THINGS That Count & Make ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Thanks Hugh, Hope You, The Family & The Wines Are All Well On This Fine Thursday, June 20th, 2013 Of Sunshine & Low Humidity Here in Northwest Washington D.C. In Cleveland Park, 20008! Cheers, TONY

Found this just now cleaning my computer of all the " old " emails that I forgot and yet they contain " gems and kernels " of real pleasure and joy and good cheer. Happy to share them, happy for friends like you and your family Hugh : look forward to having more of your wines here again soon at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits at 3423 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C. Cheers, Happy Thursday June 20th, 2013 !  It's bright and cheery. low humidity, with a breeze today : and my daughter and wife have finished their school year and can finally take a much-deserved summer break as summer officially begins tomorrow! Cheers,  Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn   listen to my wine and life podcast with Malcolm Riddle here and be off on an adventure with us. 

Thanks for that Tony. I’m already thinking about my return trip in 2010. You’ll be on my list again. I’ll let you know later in the year once an itinerary is established.

Best wishes to you and your family for the New Year.

Cheers

Hugh

www.hughhamiltonwines.com.au

www.jimjim.com

www.knickknackwines.com

---

From: Anthony Quinn [mailto:anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwine.com]
Sent: Sunday, 27 December 2009 12:16 PM
To: enquiries@hughhamiltonwines.com
Subject: Re: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BLACK SHEEP

     Thanks Hugh, Happy Holidays to you and to everyone there. I missed you this last time. Your wines are selling well here and I will have to order more again from Arielle in January 2010 to start the year off well. Cheers, you all are the best,  TONY

On Dec 22, 2009, at 7:48 PM, Black Sheep wrote:

		December 2009
		MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BLACK SHEEP
		The Black Sheep is in summer mode “Down-under”. That means family, friends,   sun, surf, seafood, turkey, days off (well one or two anyway) beer, wine, and thoughts for those less off and our absent friends. We have our rose colored spectacles on again and we’re confident of a great vintage in 2010. These specs are an essential piece of kit in the wine game and we never leave home without them! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that 2010 will be a vintage year for you as well.  We very much appreciate your good humor and support over the past year.

My Weekly Tuesday Store Email that I ( Anthony TONY Quinn ) Write & Post, The Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits, 6/18/13 To Our Customers, Cheers & Enjoy!

Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and spirits

WE'RE GETTING READY FOR SUMMER / LET'S DO IT TOGETHER, MAKE THE MOST OF IT! WE'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT WITH YOU! MORE TIME TO SIMPLY " BE ".   I AM TAKING TO HEART THE WORDS OF THE SINGER/PRODUCER NAMED USHER ON THE POPULAR SINGING SHOW LAST NIGHT CALLED " THE VOICE ". HE BASICALLY SAID OF THE REMAINING CONTESTANTS THAT THEY HAD ALREADY PROVED THEMSELVES AND THAT HE WANTED THEM INCLUDING MICHELE HIS LAST-REMAINING TEAM MEMBER " TO BE ", AND TO ENJOY THE MOMENT, THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY REVISIT IT MANY TIMES LATER TOGETHER.   That's some good advice and I do believe that she took it to heart, too as she performed fabulously last night along with the other three contestants. You have all worked hard and proven yourselves, too I am sure and can now hopefully take a moment just " to be " and to enjoy the fruits of your labors?! One would hope so, I would hope so, I see you come to the store having put in the many hours, having traveled much, having met the crunch of a deadline, having worked through the office politics and all the rest.   HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED FATHER'S DAY! Mine was very special. We have some very special things here for you all to enjoy now. You will have to come by and check them out. I will mention some of them here as it has been a period of mad activity here for us all as we have received some of the shipments of ale, beer, ciders, liquor and wines that we have been waiting patiently for. NOW we can finally talk about them with you and not bite our tongues with the excitement over them. That's good : it's all good. It's good / it's actually grand for us " to be " here for you with many suggestions.     ALE & BEER From Santos :        1) Hoppy Bock Lager from HOP KITCHEN ( On Special for $6.99 a 6.9 Alcohol by volume, 1 Pt. 6 Fl. Oz Bottle, from NEW BELGIUM Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. , www.newbelgium.com ) : " Meet the first ... A German-style springtime lager brewed with rye then loaded with Hallertauer. Perle and Fuggle hops for a spicy, earthy aroma... medium body and a slightly sweet malt character perfect for ... "  You get the picture? Good into the summer. too!        2) KALNAPILIS " Original " Lithuanian Lager Beer  ( On Special for $2.99, 1 Pt, .9 Fl. Oz, 5% Alcohol by volume, since 1902, ) : you all have to check this out, not heavy for this hot weather! Cheers.        3) " Karma " from AVERY BREWING Co. , this " Limited Release " Belgian-style Pale Ale ( On Special for 10.99 a 6-pack of 12 ounce bottles, 5.4% alcohol by volume, Boulder, Colorado, ) : " Good ale happens to good people ... Inspired by the principle of Karma and the wonderful farmhouse and pale ales of Belgium, we have created this bright and estery Belgium-style ale... Here's to being good! " Cheers!        4) " Farm House " Summer Ale from FLYING FISH Brewing Company ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, 4.6% alcohol by volume, Somerdale , NJ, www.flyingfish.com ) : " Farmhouse Summer Ale is a perfect complement to all those great things we do while enjoying Daytime Savings Time."   LIQUOR & LIQUEUR From Ravi :          LIQUEUR -        1) " Cactus Juice " Margarita Liqueur from DEKUYPER ( $13.99 a liter, ) : " Cactus Juice brings you the refreshing flavor of an authentic Mexican Margarita. It's blended with Agave Tequila, the flavor is succulent orange & fresh-squeezed lime, & the legendary DeKuyper quality to taste delicious. Come check into the DESERT THRILLER MARGARITA on the back label. Cheers!        2) Virginia Brandy Hand-Crafted- Small Barrel CATOCTIN CREEK from Loudon County ( $46.99, 40% alcohol by volume, Batch B12HI ), made by owners Becky and Scott and taste here recently by Chad. Thanks Chad! " Each carefully crafted batch is made from the finest Virginia wine grapes and distilled and bottled entirely by hand. " Thanks, good luck with your new distillery, the photos look amazing and we have shared them on our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits. Check it out, " like " us ...follow us when you can, become a part of the Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits family .        LIQUOR :        1) Caledonia Spirits BARR HILL Gin, a Spirit of Vermont ( $44.99 a 750ml bottle, 45% alcohol by volume, Hardwick, Vermont, 05843 802-472-8000 , www.caledoniaspirits.com ) : " The best fertilizer is always the footprint of the farmer ". This Gin is made with Juniper and raw honey. Go to our Facebook page to see the pictures : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits . Cheers. " This gin is a celebration of our connection to the land. We use pure grain spirits as a canvas to showcase juniper berry and raw northern honey."        2) Spring/ Summer 2013 GREENHAT Distilled Gin from Washington D.C. ( $34.99 , 45% alcohol by volume,www.greenhatgin.com ) " Every man has his vice... even Congressmen. " We had one of the owners Saul Mutchnick here this past Saturday in the store ( Sales Vice President ) here tasting the regular bottle. Saul said that this SPRING/SUMMER 2013 was such a small batch that he could not sample it out with our customers. The regular has been selling like " hot cakes " and so I am sure we will sell this " new " seasonal-release well and taste it out with you all as soon as we are able. People loved it : Saul sold it really well for us. ALL GOOD. Cheers, thanks Saul. WINE from Michel & Tony :             WHITE :        1) " Perle " LABASTIDE 2012, $10.99, dry white from France's southwest region Gaiilac , 12% alcohol by volume ,  made from the Mauzac grape as I recall, with some fizz like you get in a Portuguese Vinho Verde, and PERFECT FOR this summer now starting officially this Friday, June 21st, and the humidity, too!      YEARS AGO back in the 1980's I drove myself to Gaillac to taste this " Perle " with the owner and I was parched from my hot drive and asked for water when I arrived. He was upset that I did not want his wine instead : all in good time I replied! ENJOY.        2) " Gentiles " 2011 dry white Bordeaux from the CHATEAU CROIX des GENTILS , $10.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Pellegrue, Gironde, mis en bouteille par P. Riviere : ALSO very refreshing and bright for our official summer this weekend!             ROSE :        1) " Chiaretto " Classico Veneto , Bardolino dry rose from MARCHESINI DOC 201 ( $13.99 , 12% alcohol by volume , Lazise ) blew Michel and me away the other day for it's elegance, finesse and charm, brightness, conversation, happy and lively demeanor and beautiful color, too. A win-wine-win situation through and through until through and ready for more! Cheers.        2) GANETA bristling DRY, slightly sparkling Basque country Getariako Txakolina rose ( $21.99, 11% alcohol by volume, Julian Ostolaza Manterola Y Otra, C.B. , www.tradewindsSpecialty.com ) : Estebe, the owner of Tradewinds Specialty was just here tasting this himself with our customers that loved it. Very rare, only two producers of the rose, and Estebe got very little. We have some bottles here now and may be able to get more? We will ask Estebe. Come and get this " rare and wonderful " experience under your belts. AMAZING, so pleasing.               REDS :        1) Barbera Del Monferrato from Grazzano ( $8.99 , 13% alcohol by volume ) has been a favorite of ours and our customers now for years. It's back in stock again having come back from Italy's Piemonte region where Mauro makes it for us specially! You are the very best Mauro!        2) Tempranillo dry red from Spain's Valencia region , made by MARQUES DeZENETTE, this 2012 , $8.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume ) : this is quintessentially fine Spanish dry red wine, spicy, flavorful, medium-to-light-bodied and delicious with food, this heat and even this humidity. Chill 20-30 minutes and enjoy. Cheers.        3) 2010 CHATEAU CROIX Des GENTILS dry red Bordeaux blend ( $10.99 a bottle, 12.5% alcohol by volume ) is a pure delight to drink. It's also quintessential GREAT VALUE/ inexpensive Bordeaux and why I fell in love with it years ago and still love it when it tastes like this! WOW!!        4) 2009 Risco Vinho Regional Peninsula de Setubal, $10.99, 14% alcohol by volume; so tasty and flavorful, balanced, a FINE FOOD dry red, great for when you grill, chill slightly, and want to be outside! This is really very good and so reasonably-priced : loved it immediately, yes!        5) Malbec- Syrah 2011 Valle de Uco Mendoza from PERLITA by Diam Andes, $10.99, 14.5% alcohol by volume,www.diamandes.com : hearty, beefy, robust and very flavorful with a smack and a splash of intense flavors that need some food to flesh out their flavors.        6) Aglianico from ARCOS, this 2010 from Sicily, $10.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume ) : again, really tasty and a very fine food wine and a fine, FINE VALUE, too! What a treat! So many fine wines at such great values.       7) Chianti DOCG 2010 from the TENUTA La CIPRESSAIA , $14.99 that we tasted here last Friday with Brigitte's help of Il Pioppo imports was showing beautifully, medium-to-light-bodied, spicy, earthy, dusty-dry, with everything in balance and calling out ever-so-gently for some food to accompany it on it's journey to please us all. Tasty. Try some! The real taste, the classic flavors of Chianti here inside this bottle/        8) HAUNER CARLO 2009 " Salina Rosso " from Sicily, $18.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, www.bacchanalwines.com , Santa Marina Salina ) is a hearty and flavorful, spice and earth and dried grape delight red blend of Sicily's Nerello Mascalese and Nero D'Avola grapes. Another fabulous food wine when you grill, want to be outside, chill it 30 minutes, let it warm gradually, focus all it's flavors and energize them ... and DELIGHT your palate with all it's history, character, and experiences and overheard conversations/ actions in the vineyards! Yes!        9) Pinot Noir 2010 from New Zealand's Marlborough region, this FORREST Kiwi dry red, $26.99, 14% alcohol by volume,www.forrest.co.nz is the exact opposite of the HAUNER : clean, fresh , bright, elegant, even quite delicate and refined. A treat to enjoy with or without any food, also inside or outside, in the heat and humidity, in the shade and even for awhile in the bright sunshine! Cheers, thanks Eric Platt and owner Dr. John Forrest.     WEEKLY WEDNESDAY Non-Sparkling / Still Wine 3-Part SALE :        1) BUY ANY $20 Or More Still/No-Sparkling Wine and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      2) BUY ANY 6 Or MORE Non-Sparkling Wines & SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      3) BUY ANY 12 Or MORE Bottles of Still/Non-Sparkling Wines & SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker prices.      IF YOU CANNOT come in person tomorrow CALL Michel or me ( Tony ) at : 202-363-4265, or respond to this store email with your orders, and we will take care of them for you so that you may SAVE BIG with us here at CP WINES & SPIRITS every Wednesday, rain or snow or cold or heat - always SAVE! Let us help you.   NEWS UPDATE , Happening Right Now :  Owner John Forrest of the FORREST WINERY in New Zealand is here in town and will be here in the store to say " hello " with importer Eric Platt. It's Dr. John Forrest! Have met John once before and enjoyed it immensely! Cheers.   WEEKEND TASTINGS :        Friday, June 21st ( the FIRST OFFICIAL day of summer ), we have Theresa Morrison here tasting her " new " California releases , her CHATEAU BIANCA Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2008 On Special for $9.99 a bottle, her South African wines from DE MEYE, the Cabernet Sauvignon and the dry Chenin Blanc, and more. What fun! There's always something fun and exciting with John and Theresa Morrison. JOIN US, NEVER any charge! For fun Theresa let's taste the BEAUMONT Pinotage dry red?!? What do you think? I like it.        ALSO : Santos has orchestrated a SARANAC beer tasting of all their flavors at the same time.        Saturday, June 22nd, 2010 ( 2-6PM ) : We have the owner himself of DLC : DISTILLERY LANE CIDERWORKS here from Jefferson, Maryland, www.ciderapples.com to pour some of all of his 4 dry apple ciders for us to taste and enjoy, including one of the 4 that is sparkling. We have tried them all, most sell for under $20 a bottle and they are really refreshing, bright, tasty, distinct, filled with so much personal taste and experience :  1) Celebration Cider Hard Cider, 2) Kingston Black Hard Cider,  3) the Jefferson Hard Cider and one more : using the apples of 1) St. Edmund's Russet, 2) Red Gravenstein, 3) Summer Rambo, 4) Jefferts, 5) Ashmead's Kernel, 6) Freedom, 7) Liberty, 8) Roxbury Russet, 9) Fortune, 10) Splendour, 11) Bramley's Seedling, 12) Goldrush, 13)  & Arkansas Black and with alcohols usually at 7-8%. Join us here in the store, they are located at : 5533 Gapland Road, Jefferson, MD 21755 , located just o utside of Burkittsville, MD.      JOIN US, meet the owner and taste, NEVER any charge. LEARN ABOUT the wonderful world of local apple hard ciders.      ALSO : Gluten-Free!   Cheers ...   I KNOW I HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY THINGS but it is time to post this store email and get it into your hands ASAP! Time for me to proof it now, thank you - THANK YOU! - and push the SEND button here! Cheers, " Like " us and follow us on our Facebook page at : Cleveland Park Wines and Spirits, follow us on Twitter at : CPWINESPIRITS, WINEENABLER, and please do add comments and suggestions to help us do our jobs better.

Weekly Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email Written Most Tuesdays By Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn & Posted By Him To Customers, Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 : Cheers & Enjoy!

I have copied and pasted this store email that I wrote here on my blog : chatwine.blogspot.com on this Tuesday, June 18th, 2013. Cheers and enjoy!   TONY

Cleveland Park Wine Cleveland Park Beer, Liquor & Wine
Featuring a wide, international selection of fine wines, micro-brews and
spirits

We'RE GETTING READY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

HERE IN CLEVELAND PARK we're getting everything ready for a great BIG-THEME
Valentine's Day Wine-Tasting tomorrow ( Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 from
5:30-8:30PM with 30-40 wines from around the world ) at NO COST / no charge for
this chance to sample some really great wines to enjoy starting now and going
through next week.

MAKE VALENTIN'E DAY A CELEBRATION  that spreads over several days so that you
can make the most of it.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU  do this as we welcome Chris Pearmund the wine owner
and wine-maker of PEARMUND winery ( he also makes the wines for nine other
wineries in Virginia - is that right? ) : and tomorrow he will pour the
Virginia wines of PARADISE SPRINGS, VINT HILL and LA GRANGE. We have sold the
PEARMUND wines now for years here as assistant wine-maker D.J. has been here to
pour them at other BIG-THEME Wine-Tastings. Thanks D.J. Mark Congdon our JW
SEIG Selections rep has seen to it that Chris Barker and I have had a chance to
taste these " new " Virginia wines and I must say that I am quite impressed.

MARK CONGDON even brought owner Kirk Wiles of PARADISE SPRINGS Winery here
to taste Kirk's wines last week. You can go to : ParadiseSpringsWinery.com or
to : 703-830-WNE for more info ( 13219 Yates Ford Road, Clifton, Virginia ,
20124 ). I liked the elegance, polish and finesse of these wines very much.
Good job Chris.

WE ALSO HAVE six other tables pouring their selections. Here's a quick
run-down of the Valentine's Day Wine-Tasting tomorrow.
1) TABLE ONE : Chris Pearmund and Mark Congdon pouring six wines from
Virginia that Chris makes : Paradise Springs Winery / VINT HILL / and LA GRANGE
- 2 types from each winery.
2) TABLE TWO : Siobhan Kelly of Calypso Imports that only sells organic/
biodynamic/ vegan and trade-free wines where possible will taste four wines
from Italy and Chile that are both organic and vegan.
3) TABLE THREE : Chip and Alexis will pour six wines together - 4
Mexican wines of L.A. CETTO ( Private Reserve Cabernet as well as everyday dry
Chenin Blanc white and red Cabernet Sauvignon ) from Alexis including a very
tasty and hearty dry red Nebbiolo ; and Chip will pour the CHATEAU FELICE Chalk
Hill, CA. " Henry's Merlot " named after his son as well as the STANLEY-LAMBERT
Aussie Barossa chocolate-infused port-style red.
4) TABLE FOUR : Bush Nichols of William Harrison Imports will pour some
fabulous French BAILLY-LAPIERRE  Reserve 375ml bottles as well as the Pinot
Noir 750ml bottle Burgundy Cremant sparkling wines as well as some of
Argentina's Reserve NEMESIO Pinot Noir  that I used two Saturday's ago at my
wine-class tasting and that everyone loved ; along with the Winemaker's
Selection dry red blend.
5) TABLE FIVE : Oscar, one of the two owners of Voila Selection Imports
( with Olivia Bombart ) will pour a selection of some excellent French country
wines that does include a 2004 CHATEAU MICALET Haut-Medoc from Borfdeaux that
is pretty amazing when combined with food. He's also got a great DOMAINE
PELAQUE Lirac 2009 dry red southern Rhone and to spice things up Oscar will
also pour some " new " and exciting AIRLIE 7 Oregon white from Elizabeth Clark
made from seven varietals! He's got more of course.I should not forget the Dirk
Richter " Zeppelin " 2008  Mosel Riesling from MAX FERDINAND RICHTER Riesling.

6) TABLE SIX : Monument Imports will pour the DECERO ( Remolinos
Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina ) single vineyard Malbec 2007 as well as the 2007
Cabernet Sauvignon ( BOTH sell for $19.99 a bottle ). We just tried them with
our British wine rep and I told her that the wines were balanced, focused and
fruit-driven from start-to-finish - all good things and not too expensive
either. I think they will touch a positive note with both sexes.
7) TABLE SEVEN : Fransisco Astudillo of Elite Selections will pour both
French and Spanish wines and this will give us some real variety to complement
what we already have to offer you. Fran will be by shortly and we will discuss
exactly what he will pour which I think will include both southern and northern
Rhones from DOMAINE DU TUNNEL  Saint Joseph, the DOMAINE BERTHET-RAYNE "
Cairanne "  2007 Cotes Du Rhone Villages ( $20.99 ), the CHATEAU Du CEDRE 2007
Malbec, Cahors ( $27.99 ) : and from Spain the VINA HONDA Monastrell 2007 (
$14.99 ) and the Sinfonia Tempranillo 2009 from the Vino De Tierra De Castillo
( On Special $11.99 ). There will be more and we will have it all ready for you
tomorrow.
WE HAVE SELECTED THESE WINES with the idea that they will complement many
of the meals that you may fix for Valentines' Day and or before or after
Valentine's Day as some of you may travel and not be able to be together on
Monday the 14th of February. Some will work with red meats, some with white
meats, game, shellfish and white fillets of fish, salmon and shrimp and many
with vegan and vegetarian dishes, too. Of course we have included both some
dessert reds like the CHOC-A-BLOC Aussie port-infused with chocolate and the
sparkling wines from Burgundy, the Cremants that have fewer and bigger bubbles
and which as a result are easier on our systems to enjoy with or without meals.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE we hope and in every price range, too. CHEERS and
SEE YOU tomorrow.

BUT HEY, We Don't Just Sell Wine Here!!!!
SANTOS , What Cervezas - Beers. Bieres Do You Have?
1) Beerlao Lager Beer, LAO Brewery Co., Ltd. ( On Special For $10.99 a
6-pack, product of Lao, PDR, www.beer-lao.com ) is " new and exciting " and I
must admit I have not tried it yet but the packaging gets my attention right
away. I also like lager beer. Come check it out.
2) LUCKY U  IPA ( India Pale Ale ) fromBreckenridgeBrewery ( On Special
for $10.99 a 6-pack, ) a Hoppy Homage To A Denver landmark " The Tivoli Brewery
". " Drink up fortuitous one and help support the Tivoli Brewery Preservation
". I like this. Come check this IPA out. Cheers.
3) GAFFEL Kolsch German Imported Beer from the GAFFEL Brewery in
Cologne, Germany ( $11.99 a 6-pack,, 12 fl. oz, 4,8% alc. by volume,
www.gaffel.com ). I like this packaging, too. I might have to take a six-pack
home this weekend. Cheers.

HEY RAVI, what LIQUOR & LIQUEUR Do You Have For Us?
1) ST. GERMAIN from France is On Special for $32.99! That's great!
Finally a price is going down and not up : we all here at Cleveland Park love
this.
2) Pisco From Peru's Valle De ICA , this D.O.C. CAMPO DE ENCANTO "
Acholado "( Brandy of Peru , $39.99 ) is handcrafted and made from the finest
selection of grapes. It looks really good and it's brand new and has all kinds
of California references on the bottle like : " The Spirit of San Fransisco "
and  " Fool's Gold Terroir ". Love these references, what does it all mean?!?
3) Elderflower Liqueur called CHASE ( $27.99, 750ml bottle, 20% Alc. by
volume, will.@chasedistillers.co.uk ) ... billed as " The Finest "  and they
are proud to put their name on it : William Chase.

WHAT'S BEING TASTED HERE THIS WEEK ?

WEDNESDAY,  Our Big-Theme Valentine's Day Wine-Tasting , Feb. 9th, 2011
( 5:30-8:30PM ) - 30-40 wines, no charge, bring family , friends, neighbors and
business associates. The more the merrier. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT of these tastings
and buy at least one bottle as all the wines from bottle-one will be On Special
tomorrow night.

FRIDAY, February 11th, 2011 : TWO EVENTS :
4-6 PM : We have a special tasting of the South African Organic wines of
the STELLAR ORGANICS Winery here ( 4 wines that will be available for purchase
later when they arrive here from South Africa ). Come check them out now,
early, beat the rush. There will be some people in the trade joining us and so
it will be a bit more special and a bit different than usual. You will enjoy it
anyway. There will also be some food from the Firehook Bakery on hand to enjoy
with the wines.
5-8 PM : We have Jody Jackman of Winebow Imports coming to pour some " new
" and exciting wines for Valentine's Day celebrations. Jody has chosen to pour
some CHATEAU LAFRYMELLE white Bordeauz 2009, some Pinot Noir and Grenache dry
red called " Le Hold-Up ", some Complices De Loire and some Domaine De La
Grande Palliere dry red 2007 Cotes Du Provence. Looks like we will be looking
on this evening for some inspiration from France for Valentine's Day. Thanks
Jody, can't wait ...

SANTOS HAS ORGANIZED, Too a Great Lakes Beer tasting for you all on this
Friday evening from 5-8PM. JOIN us, never any charge.

SATURDAY, February 12th, 2011 : ( 3-7PM ) : Marcie Wienstein our rep for
Constantine Imports will be here to taste some of her wines with you : also for
Valentine's Day and so we will select some that will complement what we have
already chosen from the others. Come and join us and see what we have picked.
It will be a cross-selection of her portfolio to be decided tomorrow. Maybe we
will throw in some of the ever-popular Malbecs from Argentina like the ALBERDI
54 2009 ( $13.99 ) and the  BAQUEANO Patagonian Neuquen ( $13.99 ) as it such a
hot category and Valentine's Day is such a hot category, too. Cheers, join us,
never any charge, never-ever ...

RECENT NEWS : Brian, one of  the new owners of the Belgian Stek-frites
going into the old Yanni Greek restaurant here on our corner stopped in last
week. he loved our store and our selections and we talked lots about food and
wine and I introduced him to everyone that came into the store at the time.
It's going to be a good fit, really - can't wait : stek-frites, a vegetarian
pasta with mushrooms, fresh bread all the time like at Citronelle, a small wine
selection focusing on Bobby Kacher's wines I believe and some beer, too? I
forgot to talk beer with you Brian!

JUST HERE MINUTES AGO : Jean Trimbach , one of the two owners of TRIMBACH,
Alsace French wines from Ribeauville was just here tasting with Chris Barker
and me a selection of his wines. We tried the Gewurztraminer 2007, the Riesling
2008, the Muscat Reserve 2009 ( on the water now ), the Pinot Gris 2006, the
Riesling 2002 Cuvee Frederic Emile, the Riesling Reserve  2008, the Pinot Gris
2000 Hommage a Jeanne Trimbach his grandmother ( this is the first vintage ever
of this wine ) 2000 - and they were all spot-on. I did love both
Gewurztrmainers this go-round but am happy to have his wines on the shelf as
they do have that classic Alsace taste and are well-priced, too. We have many
on the shelf now and I did get him to sign several bottles which I placed out
front earlier on our tasting table before he left. Come get a bottle : they are
perfect for this biting wind cold-factor weather.

WE WILL BE DOING A WINE-TASTING HERE with Laurent Guinand of GIRAMONDO
Wine. He does lots of tastings and classes and many of them in our local
embassies here. Go to : laurent.guinand@giramondowine.com for more info. I
loved today's headlines by e-mail : " Best Wine For A PEPCO Moment Is Amarone!
" Yes, I feel for all those Maryland homes without power and electricity. Try
our Amarones here, the LA GIARETTA Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006 (
$49.99 ) is a real gem and we have it in stock along with the DEGANI Classico
2006 ( $54.99 ). I recommend both highly. E-mail Laurent and ask him what else
he is up to and come see him here soon in the store. I will keep you all
posted.

REMEMBER : WE have a web page at : www.clevelandparkwine.com,  also :
chatwine.blogspot.com and chatpoetry.blogspot.com, also on Facebook at :
Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits and also now on Twitter at : cpwinespirits .
Check us out : come give us a visit.

SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW for our BIG-THEME Valentine's Day Wine-Tasting from
5:3-8:30PM. Join us, never any charge, bring family and friends and thanks for
all your support and business.   TONY

Please visit our website below for more information, events and specials, and
our calender of wine tastings!

[1]www.clevelandparkwine.com

If you have any orders, suggestions or questions, you may e-mail us at
[2]sales@clevelandparkwine.com or call (202) 363-4265.

Just Now Seeing A Picture Of Michael Downey On The DOWNEY Selections Facebook Page That Made Me Think Of Way-Back-When I Worked With Michael & Knew Him Best In The Early To Mid Eighties @ The Mayflower Wines & Spirits @ Corner Of New Hampshire Avenue & M Street N.W. Washington D.C. Cheers Michael!

Nice to see this photo of you Michael : we sure did spend a whole lot of time together at the Mayflower Wines & Spirits selling a full array of wines and that is where I got my first real taste for Italian wine and that's where my love of Italian wine really began to form. Those incredible pictures back in the tasting room of the Mayflower transported me there every time as we would sell so many fabulous wines from FOSSI, FRANCO FURLAN, VIETTI, ISOLE E OLENA, The Monte Carlo white, the Pittigliano Veneto white fifths and magnums, ... with Andrea Fossi, Alessandro Furlan and Elisabette Carado ( is that the spelling ) of Vietti would come to work with us and learn English and the business and fill us with hope and promise and cheer with their unbridled youth and attractive personalities and love of wine. Then there was Michael the photographer friend of yours that took the pictures that hung in the back tasting room that rode a motorcycle, Steve the owner of the guitar store, Lucie Morton the viticulturalist, Jim and John Crouch of the ALLEGRO Vineyard, Rob DeFord of the BOORDY winery, Ham Mowbray of the MONTBRAY Maryland winery, Janet Gallaway that gave wine classes and worked at the Robert Mondavi winery with Joel Peterson of RAVENSWOOD Vineyard, your various California friends that made wine there - names I cannot remember now, Allen Krasner that did some of our excellent displays in the store, David that did those incredible wine-tastings for customers in the back of the store, Bob Parker, Jr that shopped with us, Burton Anderson of the VINO Italian wine book, the various Checkers that you would grace us with from bright pink to many other pastel colors, too, Robert Chadderdon that we sold the first of in Washington D.C. with a display of his BILLECART SALMON N.V. Brut in fifths and magnums in those heavy dark wooden bins on the lower floor with a bin next to theirs filled with the then-unknown/ untried NINO FRANCO " Rustico " Prosecco from Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy, the bottles of the KRUG Grand Annee for sale at $24.99 a bottle, the FOSSI Chianto Classicos going back to the early vintages of 1958 and 1959 : The TRENEL Creme de Cassis, all the journalists that loved and shopped with us, the Arnold & Porter crew of lawyers, ... your energy, vitality, friendly and quick greetings, your tennis shoes, your curly mustache, ... all the staff like Iris, Leon, Larry Jennings, Moe Parzoe, John Taylor, Karen the book keeper, ... so many things to remember Michael, the most important being for me that you once gave me a job opportunity to work there at the Mayflower Wines & Spirits and to grow with you and the others and to carve our nitches and to do what we could then as it was once a largely white canvas that we had to work with before the internet and the ipods and iphones and everything being available so instantaneously like it is today. Cheers to you , cheers to all the good times we had and all the good things we did that included so many people here and abroad and which touched our lives as profoundly as they did ours. A win-wine situation for all. Happy Father's Day to you one day late, Brennan and Shannon are pretty amazing individuals thanks to you and thanks to Peggy. TONY

This is what I wrote above and just copied here as I want people to be able to see this and to read it and to be able to fill in the spaces and blanks where they can with their own stories and memories. This is just a start, just the beginning. So many people have their own stories and memories, it would be nice if some of them would include some of them here in the Comments section below. Happy father's Day Michael on day late!   TONY

Dominic M. Symington's ( Wearing His WARRE'S 1670 Port Hat On This Visit ) White Port Long Drink !! His Recipe Given To Me ( Anthony TONY Quinn ) On October 18th, 2005 @ Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits, Northwest, 20008, Washington D.C.

This was a great visit with you Dominic! I had been selling and drinking WARRE'S ports for many years already, having started way back in the early 1980's : and so to finally meet you now was both a real treat and an honor. I have pictures of your visit with you porting ( pun intended after I quickly realized it as I typed it here ) a broad smile and a real sense of contentment. You even brought your own map of Portugal with the region of port on it and are showing me your location in one of the pictures.

Unfortunately I used my camera before the digital age and have not yet scanned these pictures. I will as they are quite good and do show you meeting and talking with at least one of our lucky customers at the time that just chanced to be in Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits  ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008, 202-363-4265  anthony.quinn@clevelandparkwines.com ) at the right time.

You were kind enough to sign my guest book and use one of the pages to include your recipe for a white port hot-weather summer thirst-quencher. Here it is :


                  WHITE PORT ( Using WARRE'S In This Case ) Long Drink !!


                  W/ Approx 50 / 50 white port & tonic water ( not too much ice ! )

                  Sprig Of Mint & Slice Of Lemon Rind ... This Is A Delicious Thirst-Quenching

                 Long Drink With A LOvely Balance Between The Richness Of The White Port

                And The Tartness Of The Tonic.  Enjoy!


     With Best Regards,   Dominic M. Symington

     An Anglo-Portuguese With A French Name!


     I have two cards from Dominic here :


     1) the WARRE'S 1670 Port card says :  Co-Owner / Executive Director with the address and an email address : warre@warre,com  www.warre.com

     2) Symington Family Estates card says : Director with Travessa Bardo de Forrester  4400-034 Vila Nova de Gaia PORTUGAL, Tel: +351 22 377 6300  and email : symington@symington.com.

     I will have to email you Dominic later today but now at 11:33PM it's time for me to go to bed at the end of this glorious Father's Day celebration of mine to get some rest and to continue working away on so many worthwhile projects of mine tomorrow. Cheers, thanks for the recipe, thanks for your visit , and thanks for the excellent ports that you make. We always have the 10-Year-Old Tawny OTIMA in the 500ml bottle in the store ready to sell to anyone that wants a very fine, great quality and appeal port to enjoy. Perfect now, too in this heat! Will have to order a case of the white port to sell as well. Cheers,  Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn   check out my podcast with Malcolm Riddle here on chatwine.