Tuesday's April 23rd, 2013 Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email Sent To Customers & Written By Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn , Enjoy!

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

EARTH DAY Yesterday, and glad to see that there was more focus on it this year from all that I have heard and read recently. I was able to work, weed, rake, cut back ornamental grasses and to mow the lawn that sprung up with everything in shades of bright baby greens everywhere and all needing my immediate attention. Oh, and the bird baths got lots of fresh water on two days in a row and the robins, sparrow, cardinals and more all appreciated this from the flutter of their rapid wings and hops in the water before flying off as quickly as they came. Nice. WE ARE PICKING UP THE PIECES still from the Boston Marathon tragedy last week and that has been really hard to bear. Lots being written about it. I spoke to one of our customers that was here that is working on sorting through everything that has happened so suddenly and so unexpectedly and what I took away from him in our brief conversation that was very positive : he talked about what we could learn from this to avert this happening again. THEN THE FLIGHT DELAYS I read about this morning from the effects of the sequestration set into motion recently by Congress : lots to deal with. I hear on MPR Radio yesterday talk about this and one of those that called in said that she was just going to be even earlier arriving at the airport to be sure that everything would work as smoothly as possible on her end, expecting the worst and happy when the situation was better than she anticipated! I DRANK SOME fine 2005 Italian " Super Tuscan " Merlot on Sunday evening with our neighbor that needed some " adult company " after having been with her three children all day. We were happy to have her come and chat and the wine really had lovely overtones of tobacco , tar and leather and creamy spice overtones. It was a food wine and it tasted great with our meal. I am not mentioning the name now as we do not have any to sell anymore and I do not want to tease you all. HAVING SAID THIS we do have some of the " original " Super Tuscan Carmignano 2009 " Piaggia - Il Sasso  " from MAURO VANNUCCI, $40.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, from in Poggio a Caiano, Tuscany that pretty much blew Eon and me away when we first bought this 2009 vintage to offer you all. This is a great and a delightful, wonderful splurge for a nice moment. IT WILL WARM YOU today with this breeze and cool, colder weather that is hesitant to do anything too quickly and is supposed to warm up today and be in the 60's? Are we there yet? I am here inside in our office but will go check soon. ANYWAY: this wine from Carmignano , the " Il Sasso " is a spectacular, classic, world-class Italian red that must be tasted to be believed. Cheers. RAVI WAS JUST TALKING TO ME, EVERYBODY in the beer, liquor and wine business has been talking , EVERYONE about the Costco that just opened here in Washington D.C. : there's lots of changes, the BEFORE and AFTER of Costco and it has already been very hard on many as they muscle their way into Washington D.C. and start trying to call all the shots here. I wish I could feel good about what I am hearing and saying, I have only heard negative things so far, and really only from people in our business. It is quite upsetting and I know that this is only one side. I do feel, however, that I should let it be known that like many big companies they are shaping a whole new " scene " here that. from everything that I hear and see so far would be happy to have none of us here that have been here for so many years now serving you as well as we could and can and still hope to do so for many years to come. ...   IT'S SHADES OF  the little pharmacy up the street across from the Connecticut Avenue entrance to our National Zoo that has been effected greatly ( also been there for forever ) by the larger drugstore chains from everything that I hear but that no one wants to admit to, or let known that they spoke of it for fear of recrimination from lawyers and so on. Upsetting. TIMES, they sure " are a changin' " to quote Bob Dylan. What can we all do?  BUT HEY, It's Time Now to talk about some beer for this weather. What does Santos have up his sleeves for you all ?  :      1)  KULMBACKER Edelberg Legendares KULMBACKER Pils ( On Special for $13.99 a 6-pack, Scho handlich, from Kulmbach, Germany, since 1516, Bavaria ) : I went to their Facebook page and " liked " them and they have already responded on our Facebook page. I asked them for more information and hopefully they will include that soon. This is, however, A PERFECT BEER with only 4.9% alcohol by volume  when the temperatures decide to finally rise as they surely must?!And NOW FOR FUN : the ingredients are : acqua, malto d"orzo, luppolo, estratti di luppolo ... and in yet another language  :  Zutaten :  Wasser, Gerstenmalz, Hopfen, Hopfenextrakt. I love this : Where are you Gabrielle when I need you? Come and try this delightful Pils.      2)  TROUBLE DOUBLE IPA Brewed For Us by FOUNDERS Brewing ( On Special for $13.99 a 4-pack of 12-ounce bottles,  9.4% alcohol by volume, Grand Rapids, MI,  www.FoundersBrewing.com ) : " An Imperial IPA that was brewed to turn your world upside down. Hops will have you coming and going ...  ".      3) Hommel Ale from POPERINGS ( On Special for $9.99 a 1 Pt. 9.4Fl. Oz bottle, 7.5% alcohol by volume, product of Belgium, by NV Van Eecke, B-8978 Watou ) : looks and tastes like the real McCoy! Looks also like it would be PERFECT for this cooler weather now. Cheers and enjoy.      4) Black Mocha Stout from HIGHLAND Brewing Company ( On Special for $10.99 a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, from Asheville, North Carolina, www.highlandbrewing.com, since 1994 ) : " ... having a very malty body with a large, roasted chocolate flavor . ...  ". Taste it, great to have it with the other flavors, too from North Carolina! LIQUOR/ LIQUEUR From RAVI :      1)  EFFEN Cucumber and Vanilla Flavored Vodka from Holland ( On Special for $29.99/ regularly $33.99 a bottle, 37.5% alcohol by volume, go to : effenvodka.com for more recipes and ideas ) : " Expertly distilled from wheat grain. Deliciously enhanced with natural cucumber flavors. Cheers.           TWO ( 2 ) Great Single Malt " Values " :      1)SPEYBURN Aged 10 Years Highland Single Malt Whisky, established 1897 ( On Special for $26.99 a bottle, 43% alcohol by volume,www.speyburn.com, Rothes, Moray AB38 7AG Scotland ) : "  .... created using fresh spring water from Speyside. It's this water which gives our whisky its distinctive character and unique flavour. " Try it, everyone loves it : very smooth and a FABulous value, too.      2) OLD PULTENEY Aged 12 Years " The Maritime Malt " Single Malt Scotch Whisky ( On Special for $42.99 a bottle, Est. 1826, from Wick, Scotland ) : this single malt spends time on the sea and takes on a distinctive sea-ocean flavoring that is unique and all it's own. Our customers love it. Heartier, beefier than the SPEYSIDE. Another FABulous value for you all! AERATING YOUR WINE?      We just purchased some of the DACANTUS Aero Wine-Aerating pourers for you all to make it easier to enjoy your wines now and not have to age them or wait for them tom open so slowly when you finally pull the corks. They cost $14.99 and we recommend that you try them to make your wine experiences more enjoyable, especially when the wines do need to be cellared more ans especially when you are in a hurry and cannot wait! Also easy to carry with you and use on picnics, hikes, other camping trips. Also make great gifts and these are so affordable. Come check them out. Cheers. Available at our register. WINES from MICHEL and from TONY :      1) 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from JARDIN Stellenbosch, South Africa ( $16.99,14% alcohol by volume, Integrity and Sustainability, synergy between soul and soil ) : " ... produced by California-trained Gary and Kathy Jordan on their Stellenbosch property ". Michel and I both liked this quite a bit.      2) Viognier 2011 from Virginia from STONE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS ( $19.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, Dyke, VA.www.stonemountainvineyards.com ) : located in an area known as Bacon Hallow. Really showing nicely. Had our local rep David of Grappoli Imports pour it here recently on one of our weekend wine-tastings.      3) 2007 Marsannay " Les Echezots " from the DOMAINE BALLARIN & F ( usually the F would end with " ils " boys, in this case since there are four daughters and no sons it would end : " illes " girls! I like that, I like it a lot : Go Ladies! )... a dry red 100% Pinot Noir red Burgundy that still needs a couple of hours to open up ( use the aerator above for $15 ) and then enjoy it for it's lovely medium-to-light-bodied taste and flavors of bright strawberries and cherries. It's so silky and fine, so elegant. On Special while it still lasts for $22.99 a bottle : regularly $36.99 a bottle. A GREAT BURGUNDY STEAL! Try some, treat yourselves.      4) Cote de Nuits-Villages " Vieilles Vignes - Old Vines " 2005/ great year in Burgundy- from the DOMAINE HENRI NAUDIN-FERRAND 100% dry red Pinot Noir by law ( On Special for $22.99 a bottle, regularly $45.99 a bottle while supplies last, Margny-les-Villers, 21700 NuitsSaint-Georges, Burgundy, France ) : smells like a strong-scented-perfumed barnyard! It's intense, it let's you know that it is there! The taste is mush rounder, fuller, more appealing and I like it quite a bit. It's a food wine. As Jim Reeves of Comete wines that was pouring it here this past weekend - we both thought it would be a good red meat wine: it's got that presence and flavor and boldness and needs food to " flesh " it out. Great deal, great year, great food wine - get some NOW before we sell out soon. Cheers.  WEEKLY WEDNESDAY 3-PART NON-SPARKLING Still Wine-SALE :      1) BUY ANY Non-Sparkling wine at $20 or over and SAVE 20% OFF the marked sticker price.      2) BUY ANY SIX ( 6 ) Non-Sparkling wines or more and SAVE 15% OFF the marked sticker prices.      3) BUY ANY TWELVE ( 12 ) or more Non-Sparkling/Still wines and SAVE 20% OFF on the marked sticker prices.      THIS INCLUDES all port, sherry, marsala, madeira, and sake. Mix up the bottles. Stock your home and your various needs and SAVE BIG here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits!      CALL US if you cannot come in person at : 202-363-4265 and Michel or Tony can help you with your orders. SAVE, SAVE and SAVE some more @ CLEVELAND PARK WINES & SPIRITS. WEEKEND TASTINGS :      Friday, April 26th, 2013 ( 5-8PM ) : We have Theresa Morrison here coming to pour some of her delicious DE MEYE Stellenbosch dry Shiraz rose, as well as some other COMPASS California dry red  Cabernet or Merlot ( $13.99 both ) ; and the PALAIS PRIVE Blanc from Luberon. France that we LOVE : the 2012! Wow, we have some of the 2011 still so you can take your pick? Cheers. Join us. Call if you need more info.      Saturday, April 27th, 2013 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Jessica coming to pour a selection of the Eric Platt Kiwi-New Zealand portfolio of wines that include a red Pinot Noir Marlborough 2010, $26.99 from FORREST-www.forrest.co.nz ; as well as a dry, flavorful 2012  Pinot Gris, $16.99 and a crisp and lively  2012 Sauvignon Blanc, $16.99 13.5% alcohol, www.ppw.co,nz  from OLD COACH ROAD : BOTH from Nelson, New Zealand and made by SEIFRIED.      I A SURE I HAVE MISSED SOMETHING important here and yet it's time to get this posted. Thanks for everything you have done for us. We appreciate everything!   Take care, cheers,   TONY